§ MR. MORRELL (Oxfordshire, Henley)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether ho is aware that as the law now stands with regard to the Upper Thames there is no express duty laid upon the Conservators to preserve the river and its banks as a place of public recreation, and that with the decay of the river as a means of commercial traffic many ancient rights of the public have been lost; that within recent years public access to the river from places on its banks has not been maintained; that rights of way along portions of the towpath have been disputed; that public crossings of the river have been closed, and that in every case the Conservators, when appealed to, have stated that they are unable to intervene; that great loss has been caused to the inhabitants of many riverside parishes through excessive floods, and that the Conservators in their recent Reports, while recording their attempts to deal with this evil, state that they are not a flood authority or charged with the duties of carrying out measures of flood relief; that the Conservators hold their meetings in private; that they are not responsible to any Government department and that there is no appeal from their decision; and whether, in view of these facts, the Government will again consider the advisability of themselves introducing legislation to extend the duties of the new Conservancy Board, and, where necessary, to increase their powers, so 1466 that the interests of the public in the Upper Thames, and of the population along its banks, may be adequately protected.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. CHURCHILL,) DundeeAs I have already informed my hon. Friend I am taking steps to ensure that the new authority for the Upper Thames shall include representatives of those who use the river, and who will be interested in preserving and extending public rights. I have no doubt that the authority will consider whether they have sufficient powers for the preservation of the amenities of the river and for the prevention of floods. I fully recognise the importance of maintaining the rights of the public, and the interests of the riparian population, but as I have already stated, I am advised that these matters so far as they involve increasing the powers and duties of the Conservators cannot be dealt with in the Bill now before Parliament. Before considering the question of introducing any further legislation on behalf of the Government, it is necessary to await the constitution of the new authority and to give them an opportunity to consider what further powers, if any, they desire to obtain.
§ MR. MYER (Lambeth, N.)Will the action of the Government be retrospective?
§ [No Answer was returned.]
§ MR. MORRELLIs it the intention of the Government to extend the duties of the Conservancy as well as its powers? And is there any precedent for a new authority applying to Parliament itself to have more extended duties placed on it?
§ MR. CHURCHILLI should like to have notice of that Question.