§
Motion made, and Question proposed —
That this Bill be read a second time,"—(The Chairman of Committees.)
§ THE EARL OF WEMYSSMy Lords, I have been asked to present a petition against this Bill at this stage on behalf of the Shipping Federation of the United Kingdom. They have asked me to oppose the Second Reading, but I do not think that advisable, inasmuch as their objection can be urged before the Committee to which the Bill will be sent. The Bill is a very important one, for it practically changes the whole power and management of the Thames watermen and lightermen, and puts the power and management in the hands of the lightermen themselves. The Shipping Federation say they oppose the Bill on the ground that its proposals are contrary to public policy, and would interfere materially with the interests of the petitioners, who also deny that any public necessity exists for the granting of the powers sought, and that any public advantage will result therefrom. I desire to present petitions against the Bill from a number of other bodies —namely, the Association of Master Lightermen and Bargeowners, the BargeownerB' Protection Society, the Amalgamated Society of Foremen and Lightermen, the Conservators of the River Thames, the Corporation of West Ham, and the Master Wardens and Commonalty of the Watermen's Company, who object to the Bill variously on the ground that it would place all the powers of the Watermen's Company practically in the hands of the working lightermen, and that this might tend to the relaxation of discipline and to the disregard of the public interests for the supposed benefit of the Lightermen's Trade Union. I beg leave, my Lords, to present these petitions.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRADE (The Earl of DUDLEY)My Lords, I hope this Bill will be read a second time.
§ THE EARL OF WEMYSSI do not oppose the Second Reading.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRADEI am glad to hear that my noble Friend does not intend to oppose the Second Reading of the Bill, because really the question of the preamble of this Bill is merely the future construction of the court which governs the affairs of the lightermen and watermen upon the Thames. I do not agree altogether with my noble Friend that the effect will be to throw the whole management into the hands of the working lightermen themselves. That is primarily a question to be best decided by the Committee to which it will be referred; but there are one or two clauses which I think will require consideration, and care will have to be taken to see that there it, no undue overlapping of authority between the court and the bodies which have jurisdiction now in matters such as the manning and sanitary condition of ships that ply upon the Thames.