HL Deb 01 April 1884 vol 286 cc1253-4

Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.

LORD SUDELEY,

in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, that the object of the Bill was to amend the Acts of 1872 and 1874, as some of the provisions in those Acts bad been found impossible to be carried out. Under the Act of 1874 harbour dues might, with the approval of the Board of Trade, be imposed on all vessels using the harbours of the Island. It had been found impossible to impose these dues, as it would seriously interfere with the trade of vessels calling at the ports of the Island on their way from England to Ireland. If these vessels were charged with dues on their tonnage it would not be worth their while to call, as the amount of freight was often very small, and the result would be that a large amount of shipping would be kept away; altogether from the Island. To remedy this it was proposed by Section of the Bill that when tonnage dues were imposed they should be charged on the cargo landed, and not on the registered tonnage of the vessel. In Section 3 power was taken to levy tolls on docks, piers, or quays. A costly iron pier was lately erected at Ramsay, and was used for landing passengers and as a promenade. A local Act was passed authorizing its construction and contemplating the tolls; but it had been found advisable to have the insular legislation confirmed by Parliament. There were also clauses I relating to ferries. The Bill was warmly supported by the local Legislature, and a Resolution approving it was carried without a dissentient voice.

Moved, "That the Bill be now read 2a—(The Lord Sudeley.)

Motion agreed to; Bill read 2a accordingly, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on Thursday next.