HL Deb 12 August 1839 vol 50 cc182-3

House in Committee on the Shannon Navigation Bill.

Lord Ellenborough

thought that little effect would be produced by the bill upon the market of labour in Ireland, as not more than 80,000l. a year would be expended.

The Marquess of Lansdowne

said, that while the public works would be beneficial, from the employment which they would afford as far as they went, there could be little doubt but that they would give rise to a great number of other undertakings, not under the control of the Government, and thus produce indirectly, a great additional demand for labour.

Viscount Duncannon

wished to make an observation, with reference to a question put to him on a former evening, upon the subject of a new commission having been appointed to superintend these works, A noble and learned Lord opposite (Lord Lyndhurst) had, on a former evening, read part of a letter, from which he inferred that this new commission was not in conformity with the recommendations of Sir J. Burgoyne. He would read to the House passages from letters of Sir J. Burgoyne, showing that his suggestions could not have been carried into effect without the appointment of a new commission. The noble Lord proceeded to read the passages to which he referred, and which confirmed his statement.

The Marquess of Lansdowne

said, that it was entirely in consequence of the advice of Colonel Burgoyne that a separate commission had been appointed to discharge the functions which were to be performed under the present bill. To impose these additional functions on the Board of Works would be extremely injudicious, for that board had too much to do already.

Lord Lyndhurst

said, that he would not oppose the bill, if the noble Viscount would assure him that Colonel Burgoyne would be one of the commissioners under the bill, that there would be but one paid commissioner, and the only other officer a paid secretary.

Viscount Duncannon

assured the noble and learned Baron that this would be the case, and that no expense would be incurred for an office, inasmuch as an apartment would be provided for the use of the commissioners under the roof of the Custom-house.

House resumed; Bill reported.

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