MR. MACFAKLANE (Argyll)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that a fence has been erected at Ballachulish Pier for the purposes of excluding the coaches of all but one coach owner; whether the terms upon which the erection of the pier upon the foreshore was granted justifies a proceeding which reduces the general accommodation of the public; if he will order the removal of the fence in question; and whether a charge of 3d. upon every passenger landing on the Ballachulish Pier is legal?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. MUNDELLA, Sheffield, Brightside)I am now in possession of sufficient information to enable me to answer the hon. Member's question. The pier at Ballachulish was built about 30 years ago by the then owner of the estate for the service of the estate, without statutory powers or the knowledge of either the Board of Trade or the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, who then had the management of the foreshores, and upon no terms or conditions. This unauthorised pier is no obstruction to navigation; and at this distance of time it would be useless to raise the question of the ownership of the tidal land upon which it was constructed. There is no authority for the charge made for landing, except the will of the owner of the pier. The fence which has been erected by the present owner is between the public road and the pier, and is on his own ground, which is now, and always has been, above high-water mark. I cannot interfere with it or order its removal.