§ 22. Mr. PENNYasked the first Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the recent accident to the"Maid of Kent"by fouling the obstruction at the entrance to Dover Harbour, he will state what navigational instructions, if any, are given by the Admiralty in regard to the mail steamers; and whether any steps are being taken to remove these dangerous obstructions?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Bridgeman)No special instructions are issued to mail steamers, but a caution is printed on the published Admiralty Chart of Dover Harbour warning large vessels against the use of the Western entrance in certain states of the tide. The Dover Harbour Board are promoting a Bill, now before Parliament, which gives them power to close this entrance to navigation altogether.
§ Mr. SMITHERSIs it not the fact that it was only because that caution was disregarded that the"Maid of Kent"had this accident?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI should not like to give a direct answer to that question, but no doubt, if the caution had been observed, and she had proceeded by the other exit, the probability is that there would not have been an accident.
§ Mr. PENNYDoes the right hon. Gentleman recall his previous answer, in which he stated that if the ship in question had obeyed Admiralty instructions, the result might have been different?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo; I think what was mid in the previous answer was that if notice had been taken of the warning on the chart—not of instructions—it would not have happened.
§ Sir W. DAVISONMay I ask why the obstructions are not removed? Could they not be blown up??
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThat is a matter for the Harbour Board.
§ Mr. PENNYMight I press this, because it would have been on Admiralty instructions that the answer was given?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI could not say without reference, but I think the reference was to the warning on the chart. I do not, however, see what difference it makes.
§ Mr. SMITHERSIs it not the fact that this ship left half an hour after low water, whereas the caution said that she had better not leave for two hours after low water?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe caution is that at the Western entrance it is inadvisable for large vessels to leave the harbour by this entrance from one hour before to two hours before high water, or to enter from two-and-a-half hours before high water to high water, except in an emergency.
§ Sir W. DAVISONWould the right hon. Gentleman consider approaching the Harbour Board with regard to the removal of these obstructions from one of our principal ports?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIt is not for me to interfere with the Harbour Board, but one Section of the Bill which they are promoting asks for powers to remove these block ships.