§ MR. BRYCE) (Aberdeen, S.I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the attention of Her Majesty's Government has been called to the frequent interruptions of the service of passenger steamers across the Channel, interruptions which have at Dover become more frequent owing to recent alterations in the harbour; and whether, having regard to the impossibility 49 of employing larger steamers for the cross Channel traffic until larger and better harbours have been provided, the Government will endeavour to accelerate the execution of the works for the construction of a new harbour at Dover, and will, pending the completion of those works, endeavour to have a scheme prepared for remedying the difficulties and delays to which the passenger and mail service across the Channel is now exposed.
§ THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN,) Worcestershire, E.There are two distinct sets of works in progress at Dover— namely (1), those for the construction of a commercial harbour designed for and carried out by the Dover Harbour Board; and (2) the National Harbour works of the Admiralty, which will, when completed, entirely surround and protect the commercial harbour. The difficulties alluded to in the Question are caused by the extension of the Harbour Board's pier beyond the head of the existing Admiralty mole. The engineers of the Harbour Board pointed out to that Board in August, 1896, that these difficulties would arise if they continued their extension in advance of the Admiralty works, but for reasons into which I need not enter the Harbour Board decided that it was undesirable to interrupt the progress of their contractor. The difficulties are in no way due to the Admiralty works, though they will disappear as progress is made with the latter. The extension of the Admiralty pier will be proceeded with as rapidly as possible. I shall be happy to show any honourable Member who is interested a plan of both sets of works, which will explain what has happened.
§ MR. BRYCEI should like to ask the honourable Gentleman two questions arising out of his answer. The first is, when the Admiralty expect that their works will be completed; and the second is, whether I am to understand that until these works are completed nothing can be done to remove the very serious disadvantages under which the service now labours.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe whole of the Admiralty works are to be finished in 10 years from the date of the 50 contract. The Admiralty mole is to be completed eight years from the signing of the contract. But while the work is in progress, and long before it is actually completed, these difficulties will have disappeared. If there is anything further to be done to meet the present necessities of the situation, that should be done by the Harbour Board, whose work has caused the difficulties, and not by the Government, who are not responsible for the difficulties which have arisen.
§ MR. BRYCEThen are we to understand that no direct responsibility is recognised by the Government to endeavour to make the service better than it is now, or to endeavour to improve the harbour accommodation?
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