The Express.
London, England, 1849-07-21 00:00:00

PILOTAGE BILL.

Oa the motion fortis;;;;;;;lreeTting of this Fill,
Sir O. CLERK said that he thought it extretney objee-
*Rahn to bring in a bill on so important a question as this
at so thee • period of the session. He saw no reason why
this mcoure should not have been brought in three months
ago, wcich would have afforded ample time for all parties
sr hoes in to rests were affected to take the matter into considera-
tion. He hoped that as it was not convenient to proceed
with other bills affecting the commercial marine, it would
be considered that it was hotter to withdraw this bill for the
present.
Mr. M. GIBSON mud that every one must en
that the pilotage system, which was reallished when
navigation was differenly anise' on, when surveys
of the tout were imperfect, and when steam power
had not been invented, and when, consequently,
.teem tugs were not in use, required alteration,
and that the time was coma when there must be
made considerable alterations in the pilotage laws of this
couctry. (lien, hear.) With regard to the compulsory
syssem of pilota*e, it seemed to him Waage that you should
twee fen us on ship masters to take charge of their ves-
sels, and if those persona should lose the property there war
no Claim for compensation. (Hear, hear.) Suppose that
on a ship entering the dented • pilot was sent on board to
take charge who was wholly unfit for the duty, woo had
lately very frequently occurred, and that the merchant was
ruined, was it right that he should than be told that Rail lathes
from the anxious drive of the legislatare to take care of
people's property ? (Hear, hear.) There had recently been
several complaints of old and superannuated pilots being
sent on board vowel', and all that this bill did
was to permit the authorities to dispense with send-
ing a pilot in ease, where ship masters showed themselves
ermpetent to the duty. In his opinion the right hon.
the President of the Board of Trade did not go far enough,
many would go mach further, and attack the exclusive
privileges of the Cinque Ports. He would, therefore, as •
matter of policy, recommend the members for Dover not to
oppose this bill, as they =last only brirg upon their con
stituents a more searching and comprehensive measure.
Mr. RICE wished to say a few words in defence of the
Cinque Ports and their interests. From returns he held
in his hand it appeared that from 1839 to 1849 the
Cinque Ports pit els had piloted 3,800 vessels in
safety up the channel, and during that time there bad
been only 14 complaints. He signed with his edit hon. col-
league opposite in many of his observations, but he could not
with honour go the length of altogether opposing a bill which
was demanded by the public interests, lest it should by
chance laterite with the privileges of the Cinque Ports. At
the same time le must say, that if government persisted with
the bill in its present form, he should feel bound at a future
stage to oppose Its progress. In the first place, he thought
that ho perenietive eiteeeeter of the bill should be made more
clear in the wording of the clauses. He objected also to the
licensing clause, inasmuch as it went ti license masters to a
particular clamor vessels. The effect of that would be that such
masters would become a clan of pilots themselves. He thought
it should be mode clear the they were only to pilot their own
vessels. Another part of the bill to which he found fault
I/I/that which prevented masters of vessels availing them.
selves of assistance from the shore.
Capt. PECRELL supported the bill as • step is the right
direction.
Mr. RICARDO wished to put the question fairly beton
the house. There was a monstrous monopoly existing, and
here was an attempt to relax it to some extent in favour of
the shipowners, but the vested interests of the pilots
appeared to stand in the way. The government steps for-
ward to enable the Trinity House to relax their regulations,
and the members for Dover opposed the attempt, lee the
Cinque Ports should be obliged to follow the example. He
thought that the hon. gentlemen would have acted more
wisely by their constituents, if they bad not raised the
question of the Cinque Ports st all. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. ANDERSON wished, as a steam-ship owner, tomake
• few observations. The present system of pilotage fell
mat heavily on the owners of sties-vessels in consequence of
the greater numbs: of voyages. He knew one company, the
Dublin and Liverpool, which paid 6,0001. a year pilotage,
Melones never availing themselves of the services of a pilot.
(Hsu, hear.) Another company had struck out a plan by
which they qualified one of their own often to act. He
should steepen the present bill.
Mr. MOFFAT supported the bill, but trusted that neither
this nor the Lighthouse Bill was to be looked upon as Heal
highlmits.
Mr. LABOUCHERE said he had already declined to
briar/ forward a general and comprehensive measure, owing
to his deeper of bringing such a measure toe ratisfeetory eon-
elusion during the present session. But, seeing an imme-
diate practical opportunity of relieving the shipping interest
on the subject of pilotage, be had availed himself of it, al-
though he maid nee, at the same tines,oelve all the difficulties
surrounding a system so ancient and complicated as our
pilotage !ystem. This meanies was merely permissive to the
authorities to relax their monopoly, by allowing mom
eateries their jurisdiction, to pilot vessels, provided they
had previously proved their competency to do so. He
should add that he did not expect that,thie permission would
be neglected.

GOULBURN emeetted la the propriety of nialgiag
thla a per•iwlte rather than a compulsory ClClElife. The
bow should riemileet that at the pregame moment ore Were
bound by the meiprotity treaties that as additi,nel dam
iambi b, placed on the foreign Wpm beyond that impaled 012
the British able. at eras mast desirable to hear tram the

right how. Feath man the President of the Board of Trade,
erkethirtlas measure would impose a charge upon the trea-
sury of the nation under the terms of the reciprocity
treaties ?

Mr. LABOUCHERE did not believe that the difficulty
suggested by the right hon. gentleman would arise. It a fo-
reign ship comity from ports to the vicinity of enr sterrshad a
master or in.te onboard competent to pilot her it.t4 an Etiolish
harbour, she would have as good a right to employ that in,ts-
ter or sate r any British ship would h►ve.

Mr. GOULBURN was afraid he bad been migunderstood.
It was probable eiiough that if the foreigner imployrd an
English neater et mate, no claim would lie aitainst the
treasury, bat if the foreign., was out to a charge for pilotage,
from grown the Enelisb 'met wag treed, he th..ught the de-
mand would in all probability be made.
Attie soma further discussion, the bill was read a second
time.

Mr. LABOUCIIERE proposed that the hill shoul4 pass
through the committee pro forma, and then that the altera-
tions in it should be printed and laid regularly before the

house.
The house accordingly went into committee, and the bill
11118 round pro
The house resumed, and the chairman reporteti progress.
To be recommitted on Monday at 12 o'clock.
POOR LAW UNION CHARGES ACT AMENDMENT