Mr. KINGasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that at Bristol alone, of all Bristol Channel ports, the pilots are not represented on the committee which grants pilotage certificates; and whether, in order to remove the sense of injustice and the slight thus placed upon the pilots of the port of Bristol, he will represent to the Bristol pilotage committee that, in accordance with the recommendation of the Report of the Select Committee on Pilotage, 1888, direct representation of pilots on all pilotage boards should be conceded?
Mr. BUXTONI think that my hon. Friend is under some misapprehension in this matter. As recommended by the Select Committee of 1888, there are, under the provisions of the Bristol Pilotage Order, 1890, three pilots on the Bristol Pilotage Committee. If my hon. Friend has in mind the experts who carry out the examination of candidates, I do not propose to make any representations to the Pilotage Authority pending the consideration of the recommendation of the Departmental Committee on Pilotage which deals with this question.
Mr. KINGIs legislation based on the Report of the Departmental Committee in hand, and will it be introduced at an early date?
Mr. BUXTONYes, it is in hand, but I cannot say when it will be introduced. I am considering the matter.