QUESTION.—OBSERVATIONS. (Hansard, 17 March 1890)

§ VISCOUNT SIDMOUTH
My Lords, I hardly know whether the question which I am about to ask should be addressed to my noble Friend on the part of the Admiralty or to the Secretary of State for India; but I believe that the Government have made up their minds as to the necessity for a dock at Bombay, and therefore I will put the question to the Secretary of State for India, especially as he answered a similar question in a somewhat hopeful manner two years ago. The question was then put to him by my noble Friend Viscount Midleton, and he then intimated that the wishes of the country would be complied with. I suppose there must be some great reason for the delay, which the noble Viscount will state to us from the correspondence on the subject with the Bombay Government, for I understand that all persons who have considered the question are of opinion that a dock at Bombay is absolutely necessary. I do not wish to weary the House with any platitudes or remarks which have been made on several occasions with regard to our vast interests in the East, but it really does seem to me that the Government have scarcely estimated the very great importance to us of having a dock on the East Indian station. May I remind the House that that station is of very great extent. It comprises an expanse of water upwards of 5,000 miles from east to west, and almost of equal extent from north to south; and in the whole of the vast area of water there is not a single dock which would afford the means of repairing the first-class vessels of our Navy. And let me also remind your Lordships that the necessity for this dock accommodation has greatly increased since my noble Friend Viscount Midleton addressed his question to the Government. We have now great interests in the East of Africa, and during those two years the importance of Zanzibar has very considerably increased. As time goes on we shall no doubt have—in view of the increased interests which will come into play in the East Indian Station—to meet further demands for furnishing the means of repairing our ships out there. From Bombay, in the direction of the Isthmus of Suez, 974 there is a stretch of water upwards of 2,000 miles in extent; it is upwards of 2,000 miles again to Singapore, where there is only a very inferior dock, and it is about as much to the Mauritius, where there is another dock. There was one place where we formerly had a dock in one of the finest situations in the East for repairing vessels, Trincomalee, hut that no longer exists; or, if it does exist, it is now quite unadapted for repairing such vessels as we have at present on that station. Let mo remind my noble Friend, too, that our interests are increasing in the direction of the Persian Gulf, and it is quite possible that before many years pass we may see a Foreign Power in that neighbourhood. There are harbours there which are available for this purpose, and I think something ought to be done; for, as the noble Lord knows, a dock cannot be constructed in a very short time. Even supposing—which I believe is the case—that the Government could construct it much more rapidly than any private company could do it, it would be at least five or six years before a dock could be constructed. At this moment, I believe, there is not a single dock out there on which the Government could lay its hand for the purpose of repairing our first-class ironclads. Last year I pointed out to the House that it had actually happened that when two of our ships wanted repair they had to be taken to Nagasaki and Yeddo, simply because there was no dock on the China station capable of taking them for repairing purposes. These are very serious considerations for us, and I will remind the noble Lord that at the time of the French war, 50 or 60 years ago, the country was in a much better position for the protection of its commerce than it is now. In those days we actually were-able to build some of the finest line-of-battleships in the Navy at Bombay, and all our vessels could then be repaired without the slightest difficulty on the spot. Now, the ordinary docks are not only incapable of taking in our vessels, but we have not the staff or the means for repairing them, as could formerly be done in the case of the wooden ships of old. I hope the Government and my noble Friend will take some steps to push this matter forward, for I can assure them that all naval men are of one 975 opinion as to the absolute necessity of having docks there, and I would, if I may be allowed, add my own humble opinion that, on every large station, the Government ought to possess docks capable of taking for repairs our largest men-of-war. I beg to move for any Papers which are available.

§ * VISCOUNT CROSS
This matter has been before your Lordships for some time, I am sorry to say. Speaking for the Indian Government, they are very anxious that this dock should be made; but at the same time it must be remembered that this dock is not required for Indian, but for Imperial purposes. Correspondence has gone on for some time in the matter between the Admiralty, the Indian Office, and the Treasury, and I am afraid the result has not been very satisfactory. The Admiralty have sent me this answer— The Admiralty are strongly of opinion that a first class naval dock is required at Bombay, but under the pressure of other claims upon the Government, it is not possible at present to allot Imperial funds to cover the share of the cost of a dock of this nature, and they also think it undoubtedly inexpedient at the present time to lay any Papers on the subject before Parliament. With regard to what has been going on in India itself, for the information of the noble Viscount and that of the House, I may state that the Port Trust Dock at Bombay is rapidly proceeding, and although that is not a dock of the description required, its length is considerable. Its length is 500 feet, the floor is 62 feet across, the depth at ordinary spring tides is 27¼ feet, and the width at the coping 90 feet. I am told that this dock will be ready in the early part of 1891, if the present rate of progress goes on. So that, at all events, we may see that the people and Government of India are doing something themselves in the matter. I wish I could give an answer with regard to the construction of a larger dock, but I am afraid that is all I can do at present.

§ * VISCOUNT SIDMOUTH
I should like to ask whether the Government will have the power of using that dock—can 976 the Government lay hands upon it at any time?

§ * VISCOUNT CROSS
Inever like to answer questions finally without notice, but I think I may say that I have not the slightest doubt that would be so. The Government could obtain the absolute power of using that dock, if wanted.