§ VISCOUNT SIDMOUTHMy Lords, I beg to ask whether, in view of the offer of the Natal Government to provide a large supply of coal for the use of the 1352 Royal Navy, the Government intend to take any steps for the purpose of rendering the harbour at Durban more accessible to Her Majesty's ships. In asking this question, I need hardly remind the House of the very handsome offer which was made by the Colony of Natal of 12,000 tons of coal for the use of Her Majesty's ships, which offer, I hope, has been duly recognised by the Government, and which I had hoped to see recognised by Parliament also. I wish to call the attention of the House to the peculiar situation and capabilities of Port Durban for giving access to Her Majesty's ships for the purpose of using this coal. I can speak from experience of the dangerous bar at the mouth of the harbour, having on one occasion nearly lost my life there. It is a most dangerous harbour, and one which is hardly ever used by Her Majesty's ships; but when you get inside, the harbour is a good one, and the only good one which we possess on that coast. I believe that inside there is a considerable depth of water, and that vessels can get up to what is now the town of Durban. It seems to me that considerable difficulty will be experienced on the part of Her Majesty's ships in making use of this valuable gift of coal unless something is done to render the harbour more accessible, and the question which I wish to put to the Government is whether, in return for the very handsome, patriotic, and generous gift of the authorities at Natal, they will take steps to ascertain whether anything can be done by the Government to make that harbour thoroughly useful for Her Majesty's ships. If the harbour is rendered more accessible, it will prove a valuable adjunct to our resources in that part, as there is no other harbour along that whole line of coast which is available for Her Majesty's ships.
THE EARL OF HOPETOUNIn reply to the question of my noble Friend, I have to state that for many years past great efforts have been made by the Government of Natal to improve the entrance to Durban Harbour. These efforts have been crowned with considerable success, and at the present time the harbour may be considered accessible by 1353 vessels drawing about 17 feet of water, so that a very large number of third-class cruisers already use the harbour, except occasionally after gales. It must, however, be borne in mind that the bar is a constantly shifting one, and that work which it has taken months to carry out may be rendered useless by 24 hours of heavy weather from the east. This is a very serious consideration, as the harbour might be suddenly rendered inaccessible to our larger ships at the very moment when they most needed to make use of it. Her Majesty's Government are fully alive to the patriotic motives which have prompted the Government of Natal to offer so liberal a supply of coal for the use of Her Majesty's ships, but, looking to the facts which I have laid before your Lordships, they do not deem it advisable to make an Imperial naval and coaling station at the port of Durban.
§ House adjourned at 4.45.