§ 36. Mr. Louis Smithasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department owned, or was responsible for, any part of the foreshore which was carried away by the recent high seas on the East Coast; if not, whether he can state on whom the responsibility rested; and whether regular examination is made of the existing earth works against such damage?
§ Captain WallaceAs my hon. Friend will be aware, the term "foreshore" is not applied to land above the high-water mark of ordinary spring tides. The position as regards the ownership of foreshore varies on different parts of the East Coast. Much of the foreshore is the property of the Crown and is under the management of either the Board of Trade or the Commissioners of Crown Lands. Other stretches of foreshore are the property of individual owners or local authorities. If my hon. Friend will furnish particulars of any particular stretch of foreshore in which he is interested I will have inquiries made as to whether or not it is owned by the Crown. With regard to the last part of the question, the Board of Trade have no jurisdiction above high water mark of ordinary spring tides, and, therefore, do not arrange for the examination of earth works constructed above high water mark.