§ ADMIRAL FIELD (Eastbourne)I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he can now inform the House of the amount of the grant-in-aid sanctioned under Vote 10 by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to enable the Harbour Board at Auckland, New Zealand, to equip the new dock there with requisite machinery and plant 523 so as to make it available for Naval purposes, in accordance with the application made last year, and supported in this House?
§ THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. A. CHAMBERLAIN, Worcestershire, E.)The Admiralty have, with the sanction of the Treasury, agreed to give the Auckland Harbour Board an annual subsidy of £2,950 for 30 years. The principal conditions attached to the grant are (1) that the Harbour Board shall, at their expense, erect certain additional buildings and machinery, a deep water jetty and sheers, and shall put and keep the dock and appliances in an efficient condition; (2) that the Admiralty shall at all times have priority of use of both dock and machinery; (3) that no charge shall be made for their use by Her Majesty's ships beyond expenses actually incurred by the Harbour Board; (4) that in the event of the earnings for the use by vessels other than Her Majesty's ships of the machinery, etc., provided under this arrangement exceeding the amount required for maintenance and wages, the Admiralty shall participate in such earnings; (5) that the Admiralty shall have the right to terminate the agreement at any time, should the dock, machinery, etc., not be kept in working order to the satisfaction of the Commander-in-chief on the station.