§ MR. BRACE (Glamorganshire, S.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the fact that Mr. J. L. Harvey, Cardiff, 260 was engaged to pilot the steamer "Mercedes," owned by the Government, into Penarth dry dock on 22nd and 23rd August, and that although the pilotage dues, according to the bye-laws of the Cardiff Pilotage Board, and which are the dues paid by all other vessels for similar services, amount to £20 10s., the sum offered by the Government to Mr. Harvey is £6 13s.; and upon what basis of payment does the Admiralty make such an offer.
§ MR. MCKENNAThe local pilotage dues for merchant vessels, which are based on tonnage, are not applicable to His Majesty's Ships. Payment for pilotage of the vessel referred to was made according to a special scale of rates for His Majesty's ships, based on their draught of water, which was proposed by the Cardiff Pilotage Board to the Admiralty in December, 1905, when a question had arisen as to the rate payable for another fleet auxiliary vessel.
§ MR. BRACEBefore the pilots undertake the responsibility of piloting the vessels are they made acquainted with the fact that the Government propose to pay infinitely lower dues than the general trader?
§ MR. MCKENNAI presume it is the duty of the Cardiff Pilotage Board to inform the pilot what dues are payable. I cannot say if they do so.