EXEMPTION FROM PILOTAGE. (Hansard, 23 July 1897)

*THE PRIME MINISTER

, in moving the Second Reading of the Merchant Shipping (Exemptions from Pilotage) Bill, explained that it dealt with a small matter, but it was necessary he should 872 bring it forward as Foreign Minister, as it was required by our engagement with a foreign Power. In 1824 or 1825 we came to an engagement with Sweden that in all matters of pilotage the Swedish pilots should not be put to any greater expense than English pilots or pilots of any other nation. It was a most-favoured-nation clause, in fact, for the Swedish and Norwegian pilots. Since that time it was enacted that all pilots coming up the Thames must pass through certain examinations; but an exemption, a special exemption, was given to certain pilots indicated in the Act who went by one particular portion of the Thames called North Reach. The Swedish Government had demurred to this exemption; they said they were obliged to obtain examined and certificated pilots, while these particularly exempted shipping companies were allowed to escape from this obligation. There was some doubt, he admitted, as to the justice of their contention; he suspected that lawyers might find a way out of the Swedish demand; but on the surface, and looking at it as a layman, it did seem that by the existing state of things we were requiring from the Swedish pilots conditions not required from the pilots of our own country. If we were doing that we were undoubtedly contravening engagements into which we had entered. On this ground it had been pressed strongly upon him by the Swedish Government, and he had thought it right to yield to the pressure, to remove these exemptions which offended them, and to require alike for all pilots the requisite examinations and certificates before they were employed. He could, of course, produce documents and more minute information on this matter should such be wanted by the noble Lord opposite, but probably the matter was within his recollection.

THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY

said he had some recollection of the circumstance, though, of course, if he had not he would at once accept what the noble Marquess had said as to the clause put forward by Sweden. He remembered enough of the matter to know that the Swedish Government had strongly pressed their claim to be exempted from this provision, and the Foreign Office had some doubt as to the precise application of a remedy. It was a matter he knew which had often been discussed in the 873 friendly spirit which had ever characterised our relations With the Swedish Government. It wits desirable to remove the cause of complaint, and, so far, went with the noble Marquess, and was not disposed to object to the particular mode of redress suggested in the Bill. Only one remark he would make. He believed that those who had carefully studied this rather vexed and difficult question of compulsory pilotage would say it was not desirable for many reasons to extend the system. The method adopted in the Bill for relieving the Swedish vessels was by levelling up as he should call it, removing exemptions, and making liability to compulsory pilotage general. He merely made the remark and did not profess to be an expert, but he thought those who had studied the whole question would feel, without dogmatising on the subject of compulsory pilotage, that careful consideration should be given to the matter before extending the system. But looking at the whole matter, probably the noble Marquess had taken the most convenient way out of the difficulty, and removing what had been a Source irritation to the Swedish Government. He offered no opposition to the Bill.