§ Mr. M'ARTHURasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that the Departmental Committee on Light Dues, appointed in 1894, in their Report deprecated the accumulation of any balance exceeding £100,000, be could say why the balance standing to the credit of the General Lighthouse Fund had been allowed to grow until it amounted approximately to £529,000, instead of being applied to a reduction in the dues?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWith the object of reducing the accumulated balance the dues authorised to be levied by the Merchant Shipping (Mercantile Marine Fund) Act, 1898, were reduced by 12½ per cent. in 1903, and by a further reduction of 7½ per cent., making 20 per cent. in all, in 1907; but these reductions of dues were more than counterbalanced by the increase of shipping tonnage which took place and on which dues are paid. A further reduction of 10 per cent., making 30 per cent. altogether, came into operation for three years from 1st April last, and unless the tonnage of shipping increases at a more rapid rate than appears to be the case at present, it is anticipated that the effect of this reduction will be a large diminution in the amount of the accumulated balance.