§ If any person wilfully obstructs any person acting under the authority of the Admiralty in setting out the line of the pier or works connected therewith, or pulls up or removes any poles or stakes driven into the ground for the purpose of setting out the line of the works, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five pounds.
§ Motion made and Question proposed, "That the Clause stand part of the Bill."
§ Mr. BOOTHThis Clause provides for a penalty, which is not to exceed £5. From that you would think it was a trifling offence. It is nothing of the kind. It is where "any person wilfully obstructs any person acting under the authority of the Admiralty in setting out the line of pier or works," is liable to the penalty. The obstruction of this mighty Admiralty which protects us from all the world, only involves a penalty of £5. Are the Admiralty prepared to say that anyone who opposes their wishes is to be let off with a penalty of £5? If a pole or stake to mark the line of pier is removed in defiance of the Admiralty, to say that the penalty shall be only £5 is ridiculous in the extreme. We know that the limit is £5 and that the magistrates will make it about ten shillings or a pound. I appeal to the Admiralty to increase the amount to some substantial sum.
§ CLAUSE 6 agreed to.