§ MR. A. C. MORTONI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he was aware, when he referred to private enterprise in connection with the reclamation of slob lands, that the Crown by Act of Parliament in 1866 had taken possession of all the foreshores in the United Kingdom, and that since that time private enterprise could not be made much use of; and whether he will consent to a Select Committee being appointed to consider the question of these reclamations; and, if not, whether the Royal Commission on Agriculture could consider the matter?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE,) Edinburgh, MidlothianWith regard to the appointment of a Select Committee, I must refer the hon. Member to the answer already given by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The hon. Member is under a misapprehension when he says there was an Act passed in 1866 by which the Government took over these lands. The Act of 1866 effected a change in the management from one Department of the Government to another, but did not establish any new proprietary rights or affect in any manner those proprietary rights which already existed. I may mention that the Commissioners are themselves about to undertake a reclamation of 500 acres of laud on the Humber. This may be taken to show, if it succeeds, 98 that there is no indisposition to give effect to this principle of reclamation when it can be done with the certainty of public advantage. Every reasonable facility and encouragement is being given to private persons who are disposed to undertake enterprises of this description. But, so far as the Government know, there is no great disposition in this country to embark capital in such enterprises; and, for my part, I should be very much gratified indeed if there were more.
§ MR. A. C. MORTONThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the last paragraph of the Question.
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEIt would not be within the province of the Royal Commission on Agriculture to consider the matter, nor would it be convenient for them to do so.