§ SIR J. W. MACLURE (Lancashire Stretford)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether it is proposed that all the steamers and ships of Her Majesty's Navy, under the provisions of the Mercantile Marine Fund Bill, are to be entirely excused from light dues, and the whole of the costs and 1166 charges of the maintenance of lights and lighthouses to be thrown on the Mercantile Marine?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEThe position of Her Majesty's ships under the Bill will be exactly what it is at present—namely, that they will be exempt from payment. No additional burden in that respect is thrown on the Mercantile Marino by the Bill, which, on the other hand, confers relief from certain payments now chargeable.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEYes, Sir; but even then the balance is largely in favour of the Mercantile Marine.