Lord Radnorbegged to call the attention of the noble Duke to a provision contained in the Cinque Ports' Bill, which was thrown out last Session in consequence of the noble Duke's opposition. The provision was for the establishment at Folkstone of permanent stations of Pilotage, and that, the noble Duke asserted, he, as Warden of the Cinque Ports, could carry into execution without an Act of Parliament being necessary. Such an establishment was greatly desired, but that the noble Duke now found that he had no power to carry it into effect. As it appeared, however, that his Majesty's Government intended to issue a Commission for examining into the state of the Pilotage of the United Kingdom, he wished to know whether that Commission would report upon the particular point, whether it would report in time to enable some step to be taken in reference to it this Session, and, if not, whether the noble Duke intended to adopt any measures for effecting the object in question?
§ The Duke of WellingtonThe noble Lord has done me the honour to refer to what I said in the debates of the House respecting the Cinque Ports' Bill; but the noble Lord is undoubtedly mistaken in supposing that on that occasion I asserted I could carry into execution the objects of the Bill without resorting to an Act of Parliament. I was perfectly aware that I had no power to carry into execution the clause he alludes to. The clause, I think, enabled the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports to appoint certain boatmen to reside at Folkstone, and that power, I knew, I did not 936 possess. With respect to the appointment of Pilots to reside at Folkstone, I must tell the noble Lord that it is not in the power of the Legislature, according to the existing system, to oblige the Pilots to reside anywhere. When they are made Pilots, and have received their general warrants as such, they are not to reside at Folkstone or on any other part of the coast, but they are to cruise off Dungeness in certain vessels which, by Act of Parliament, they are required to provide for that purpose. With regard to the Commission appointed to inquire into the state of the Pilotage and the time at which they may be expected to make their report I can only say in reply to the noble Lord, that his Majesty's Government are desirous that the Commission should proceed with the utmost activity, though not without due deliberation, and that the whole matter should be regulated on the truest principle of the public welfare. Should the Commissioners be of opinion that it would be advisable for certain Pilots who are now required, by Acts of Parliament, to cruise off Dungeness to reside at Folkstone I can have no objection to the Legislature making provision accordingly; but, at present, there is no means of compelling them to reside in any particular place.
§ Subject dropped.