§ MR. C. H. WILSON (Hull, W.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government have considered that one of the effects of raising the light dues on vessels trading to the Baltic, as proposed by their Bill now before the House, may be to cause Russia, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, which will have this additional charge, placed on their vessels trading between Great Britain and the Baltic, to retaliate on British shipping; and whether the Government can see their way to abandon this proposed increase of light dues as regards the Baltic Sea.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEThe intention of the Mercantile Marine Fund Bill is not to raise the light dues, but to substitute a uniform charge for the present complicated system. The effect of the Bill will be to considerably decrease the charge on shipping generally, although in some cases there may be an increase; but as the charge is the same for home as for foreign ships, there would seem to be no justification for the retaliation the honourable Member fears.
§ MR. C. H. WILSONAm I distinctly to understand that the light dues on Baltic shipping will not lie increased?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADENo, Sir; the honourable Gentleman is not to understand that. It may be that comes within the category of exceptions to which I have referred.
§ MR. C. H. WILSONI understood the right honourable Gentleman to say they would certainly not be increased.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEWhat I said in my reply was that the effect of the substitution of a uniform system for the other system which has been generally complained of is to reduce generally the charge on shipping, although in some directions a slight increase may be made.
§ MR. C. H. WILSONIs the Baltic shipping to pay higher dues? That is what I want to know.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEThe honourable Gentleman is much better acquainted with Baltic, shipping than I am.