MERCHANT SHIPPING (FISHING BOATS) ACTS (1883 AND 1887) AMENDMENT BILL. (Hansard, 10 July 1893)

§ LORD PLAYFAIR

, in moving the Second Reading, said, this was not a Government Bill, but a Bill of a private Member. It was introduced last Session by Mr. Heneage, the Member for Grimsby, and, after some modifications proposed by the Board of Trade, was withdrawn, and was again introduced into the House of Commons at the end of the Session, shortly before the General Election took place, as a Bill approved by the Government. The Bill had been again introduced, not by Mr. Heneage, but by Mr. Fenwick, exactly in the same terms as it was before the General Election. The object of the Bill was very simple. There were two Acts regulating the merchant shipping of this country—one of 1883, and the other of 1887. By the former, the Board might require the skippers of vessels—even fishing vessels of a certain tonnage, generally above 25 tons—to take a certificate of competency; and, by the latter Act, it was further provided that all trawlers above 25 tons measurement should require their second hand, or mate, to take a certificate of competency. Lately, fishing vessels had become much increased in size; and it was contended by the promoters of this Bill that the same powers of the Board of Trade should be extended to them, so that the second hands, or mates, in those large fishing vessels of above 25 tons should take certificates of competency. But the Bill was only discretionary upon the Board of Trade. By the 3rd section of the Act of 1883, the Board of Trade might inquire before it enforced certificates of competency upon any class of vessel. The Board proposed to apply that to the present Bill, and to carry the power into effect only after due and proper inquiry under Section 3 of the Act of 1883.