Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-01-17 00:00:00

way of transit—steam by land and water, and telegraphs;
add to those facilities, which we possess, a rapid intercom-
munication. and the increased power of machinery for
doing rapid work, I say that the time has come when,
whatever the result may be, the board is bound to in-
quire how far it hae availed itself of the present state of
things, and how much increased work they can get out
of the present costly machinery of the dock estate. I
must say that inmost of thediscession that camebefore us
the other day,in regard. to dock fines, there was an immense
amount of sympathy exhibited for the merchant, and a
precious little amount of sympathy for our docks and
quays. I conscientiously object, on all grounds of
policy and upon all grouncfaot right, to this step that
the board now proposes to take. I say the amount you
ask for is the weak point of the• whole case ; it is so
paltry as to positively become absurd, and it really
seems to me like breaking a bntterffy on a wheel to take
such a step.
Mr. Bonn : I should have been glad to have given a
silent vote on this occasion,. but for the remarks of Mr.
Bushell, who appears to suppose that we are bound in
honour and morality to complete the Birkenhead works
within a certain time, at all hazards and at'all loss that
may ensue, and not to undertake to do anything that
will at all have the effect of prolonging the execution of
those works. Now, I take leave, as a dock .ratepayer,
ratepayers
apoyesristiveevlyerto dweerneypathr
taitesstatotemane ; I
ynt
snehdeny thatthe
contract,
no
matter from whom. it proceeded or by. whom it was
made. I say distinctly that the ratepayers most un-
equivocally protested against it ; that they sent a
petition against such an arrangement to Parliament ;
that they employed counsel to argue against it. before the
parliamentary committee; that, they were, nevertheless,
denied a hearing, and they were denied in a. manner
which appeared to me exceedingly extraordinary, to say
the least of it. In reference to the present question,
I shall consider myself perfectly free to vote for the
expenditnre of any funds I can get to be expended
on the Liverpool side of the water. I am not
in the slightest degree, I conceive, morally bound to
complete the works at Birkenhead, at any rate faster
than we can reasonably raise the money to do it with.
I am afraid, as it is, that we are going on at a rate that
our Exchequer will hardly bear. We are bound to finish
the Birkenhead works, because there is an Act of Parlia-
ment, and therefore the work must be done at any loss,
no matter what the inconvenience may be to the estate.
But as respects the completion of the works, I do not
fsoynr ipsuacthhispor we
sistihn
gt h I
he opinionurry. thatthere is any
don't
fan
fancy
any
onenecessity
ever
asked for these works. , I don't find there is the slightest
pressure from without for their construction. I find, on
the contrary, a great try of the want of accOmModation
on the Liverpool side; and the American trade, with
which I am connected, has been seriously inconvenienced
and put to great loss in numerous instances, for want of
proper dock room. The steam-ship proprietors com-
plain that there is a great lack of accommodation for
them ; and the export trade generally complain that their .
wants are not sufficiently attended to, that the sheds arc not
sufficient to keep the quays clear, and to preserve the goods
from the weather, that many goods are damaged in the
course of shipment, and that goods are landed abroad
in an inferior state to those that are shipped from London.
I find, moreover, that the access to the town from the
pierhcads is not only most inconvenient, but actually in
many cases dangerous, and lives have been lost ; - yet, I
am told,.that we cannot do anything to mend that state
of affairs. I find that we cannot make, a communica-
tion, as we desire it, from one end of the docks to the
other, along the quays. I ask you to employ your sur-
plus revenue in completing the works at the Canada
Dock, which is most pressing, and which, I think, should
be done at once. Is everything else on the other side
of the river to be at a standstill; and is nothing further
to be done until you have finished the Birkenhead
Docks, simply because you will have to go to parliament
for dock sfunds ? I agree with Mr. Bushell that the
amount to be asked for is a small sum; and I think
that our taskmaster on the other side will not let us
.get more, or even so much; but if we do get that, and
can finish the Canada Dock and the other necessary
works, then I think we may congratulate ourselves;
but- if wo do nothing, if wo sit down contentedly as
we are, I am afraid we shall have the ratepayers com-
plaining much more loudly than they have ever done
before. Ido think the ratepayers are beginning now
to attend to their own business; and lam glad to
find they are beginning to look into matters for them-
selves, and I am satisfied you will hear more of them
than you have ever yet done. The old maxim says —" Those
who pay the piper have a right to choose the tune ?" but
the. maxim in respect to Liverpool might be rendered
thus—that the people who pay are to say nothing, and
that those outside who pay nothing are to say everything.
I shall vote for Mr. Rankin's motion; but I should have
done so with greater pleasure if it had been for a larger
'sum. don't think we can complete the Birkenhead
Docks in the form specified by act of parliament ; but
seeing that there are already nine acts of parliament
with reference to Birkenhead, andseeing that they stated
that the docks there were to be completed by a certain
time, and seeing that none of those acts of parliament
have been fulfilled, I do think if we admitted it right to
defer the completion for a few years longer, parliament
would give us the necessary authority, if we could give a
good reasonfor desiring it.
Mr. Graves : Sir, I do not know that any alteration
has taken place in the necessities of the port since this
question was last discussed ; on the contrary, it appears
to me almost every week devclopes new requirements for
the trade of the port. I look upon it, from whatever
source it comes, whether from surplus revenue, or by a
loan, sanctioned, by Parliament, that we have certain
works we must undertake. I look upon it, that, between
Liverpool and Birkenhead there will be a most
intimate and constant traffic ; and I ask you, how
is it possible to provide for that trade with the
present facilities we have on our side of the river ? It
was only within the last two months that the docks and
quays' committee, after searching the whole line of your
(locks, were able to find one solitary spot to berth a
single fiat in, as a permanent berth. (Hear, hear.) How,
then, sir, is it possible to conduct that great trade, which
I look to as consequent upon the construction of our
great works at Birkenhead, unless we at once provide
those facilities. It is necessary that that provision
should be made to suit the times. You cannot make
that provision very well .to the southward of the
Princes' Dock, because it would prevent flats getting
into the docks on the other side of the water in
the-§ame tide. `1 look upon it that at the north
end we shall require for the water carriers con-
siderable facilities, so that, when the dock gates are
open, fiats can in the same tide. reach the opposite shore.
I look upon it that our steam trade requires much greater
facilities and space than at present exists for its accom-
modation. At this moment the docks and quays com-
mittee are unable to provide a weekly coasting steamer
with a permanent berth. Only last week, I was waited
upon in connection with a large line of packets of a very
extensive character, and of a very large class, as likely to
start semi-weekly from this port. I say at present we
are utterly unable to provide for such a line of packets,
so far as dock accommodation goes. I look upon it that
our timber trade requires a certain amount of further
accommodation. It is unnecessary to discuss that, how-
ever, for it has been admitted by nearly every member of
the board. 'lf, then, these necessities exist, I think it is
our duty, as trustees for the commerce of the port, to
endeavour to meet those necessities. But Mr. Smith
argues that these necessities can be met out of surplus
revenue. Now, sir; I rather agree with Mr. Bbult, that we
have other purposes to which we can apply our surplus
revenue for some rears to come, and I should be sorry
to think that 'we. should be deprived, by the appropriation
of surplus revenue to other purposes, from seeing that
those improvements which are incumbent on us to carry
out, from seeing those necessities supplied. Last week;
the engineer told us one of . the greatest necessities we
had to meet was to alter the sheds of'the Prince's Dock,
so that greater improvements. may be made there.
When we ask why it could not bo done we were told
that there was no money. In the same way Mr.
Bushell and the docks and quays committee are.eon-
"Sidering what mechanical appliances, can be used around
our docks; but if you appropriate surplus revenue as
recommended by Mr. Smith, where is •the money to come
from for making those improvements. This estate, sir,

if it is to keel) _peace With the progress of the times,
will require a great amount of annual expenditure,
which can come only from surplus revenue ; and there
fore lam very unwillin that it should be appropriated
to any other purpu,... Mr. Smith has alluded to the
opposition that we shall be likely to meet. with in Par-
liament. He has alluded to the view the Government
would take of this matter through the representations of
their nominees at this. hoard. Now Mr. Smith must for-
get that; I think in his presence, the late president of the
Board of Trade admitted that au increased expenditure
at Liverpool waa required. We have, in the report of
the President of the Board of Trade, an absolute recom-
mendation to go to parliament, in these words ;—" That
the Birkenhead plans should first be finally settled and
fairly put in hand; and that in the next or future years
it would be competent for the new Mersey Board, which
would then have received, its final constitution, if they
should bo of opinion that the trade of the port required
dock extension at Liverpool, either on the north or south
of their estate of the Mersey, to prepare a well-consi-
,-rheme, in which the works to be done, and the
to be ;,pent on them, should be fully brought to
. el. Parliament." Now, I ask, sir, whether the
government would be likely to support our expenditure
if we, without any notice whatever, were to appropriate
our aurplus revenue to those purpoees I ask would s'Ne