The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-11-23 00:00:00

WAREHOUSES ON THE DOCK QUAYS,

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The MAYOR called upon the deputy towu-clerk to read

over the resolutions adopted by the Dock and Finance Com-
Mittees, with the notice for the projected new act. The de_
putt' towo-clerk read the resolutions and notices, an abstract
of which we published last month.
Mr. Councillor CURRIE said the requisite notice had been
inserted. The subject was one of so great importance, and
so multiplied were the interests likely to be affected, that he
believed it would be utterly impossible, in full council, to
give it the requisite consideration and discussion. He there-
fore felt more strongly than he did before when he made a
similar proposition, the propriety of referring it to a com-
mittee. That committee, he thought,'should be the Finance
Committee, for it was a committee that was already in ex-
istence, and was so constituted as to give a fair considera-
tion to all the interests col.cerned. By referring this im-
portant subject, therefore, to the Finance Committee, they
would prevent the council from having to perform the pain-
ful duty of appointing a new committee, which, however,
judiciously done, might lay them open to the charge a
having acted invidiously. He would propose that the points
to be embraced in the discussions of the committee should
be as comprehensive as possible. His notice was that the
committee should sit from day to day till their report was
fully matured. It would be his wish, as chairman of the com-
mittee, to obtain a hearing for every interest, and to see that
all the information was obtained that could be desired.
That it be referred to the Finance Commitee to take into
consideration all matters brought before the council by the
Dock Committee, in relation to the proposed measures in
parliament, and in particular, whether it is desirable or not
that there should be warehouses on the Duck quays—if it be,
whether such warehouses ought to be built up to the margin
of the dock, or with quay room between the warehouses and
the dock: with the ground floor part of the warehouses, or
as public quay, or on what other plan ;—and on the number
of stories to which such warehouses ought to be limited : on
increased or decreased danger to the property, shipping,
and the town from tire. Whether the use of these
warehouses (if erected) ought to be compulsory on ves-
sels in the dock, or such vessels might be at liberty to
use any of them, or any other warehouse in the town.
Whether such warehouses (if desirable) must be pub-
lic property, or, subject to reasonable regulations, might
be private property :—if public, whether the property of
the corporation of the trustees of the docks, or of the corpo-
ration of the borough; if private, whether absolute private
property, or in the hands of lessees; and if lessees, whether
joint-stock cotnpinies; for what term or number of years to
be leased; upon what conditions subject to what regula-
tions, and power of regulation, and, with the reversion be-
longing to one, and which of the corporations; and on the
advantages and disadvantages likely to arise front the pro-
posed measure to commerce, the interests immediately con-
concerned, and the general interests of the town,—and that
the reference comprise both the quays of the proposed new
dock near the Salthouse Dock, and the quays of the proposed
new north dock, and also the west quay of the Prince's
Dock, regard being had to the property of the dock estate
therein; and that the Finance Committee be empowered to
confer on Ail the matters referred to them with the Dock
Committee, the commercial associations, warehouse proprie-
tors, warehouse.keepers, and other parties interested, and
to make all neoes.ary inquiries; and that they be instructed
tin record the information which they may attain ; and that
they do report such information, with their opinion and re-
commendation thereon, to the council with all possible ex-
pedition; and that, in the meantime. the Dock Committee
be authorised to take such further measures, consequent upon
the notice given by them, as may be proper and expedient
for securing the ensuing session, it being understood that,
until further consideration, the council do not stand pledged
to ulterior measures; and that the further consideration of
the proceedings and reports of the Duck Committee and of
the Finance Committee relating to the proposed measures,
be postponed until a report of the Fivance Committee shall
be presented to the council."

.
Mr. Alderman LEATHOM said. be was not aware that such
a resolution was to be brought forward, but the Dock Com-
mittee would readily accede to the proposal of Mr. Currie,
as their wish was to have the most full and complete investi-
gation. lie, for his own part, could have wished the subject
to be considered by a special committee, but he agreed with
Mr. Currie that it would be difficult to form such a committee
without the risk of giving offence. He begged to second the
resolution. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Councillor MASON said, he had no wish to express any
disapprobation of the Finance Committee, but it seemed
strange that all subjects should be referred to that commit-
tee. He thought that this question ought particularly to be
gone into by a separate committee. He begged, therefore,
to move that a special committee be appointed. He thought
the Finance Committee had already enough to do, and that
with so many subjects to engage their attention, their time
niust be very fully occupied.
Mr. Alderman EVA NS said, whatever committee might be
appointed for the consideration of such a question as this
must embrace a large proportion of the members of the Fi-
nance Committee, therefore the difficulty advanced by Mr.
Mason was not got rid of by the expedient which he pro-
posed.
Mr. Councillor HIGGINS seconded Mr. Mason's motion.
He had prepared a list of names which he thought would be
unobjectionable. Mr. Higgins was about to read the names of
those who wished to have been placed on the committee, when
he was reminded that such proceeding would be irregular,
before it had been decided whether a select committee should
be appointed or not.
Mr. Alderman BOOTH expressed his opinion that it would
be more desirable to have the subject referred to the Finance
Committee than to a Special Committee.
Mr. Councillor WRIGHT said, as it appeared that they had
land to spare on the duck quays, he would suggest that they
Should enlarge the Prince's Dock. It would save a great
deal of expense.
Mr. Councillor Mason's amendment was put to the vote,
when there appeared for the amendment—
Council!ors—J. Heyworth, B. Frankland, J. Mellor, J.
Walrnsley, J. Lawrence, J. N. Wood, V. Higgins, and J.
Mason.

Aldermen—H. Shiel and J. Hamby.
Against the amendment,—

Councillors—J. Holmes, W. Thornhill, Isaac Holmes, W
Shand, W. Preston, T. Case, J. Barton, G. Wright, H.
Holmes, 'l'. Bolton, E. Pitcher,-J. Priestley, J.Woollright
J. Bibby, W. liathbone, C. Lawrence, J. Cooper, W. Las
sell, T. Harvey, T. Blackburn, 'l'. Morecrolt, E. Segar, J
Smith, G. H. Lawrence, J. S. Leigh, F. Jordan, J. Platt
W. M. Duncan, W. W. Currie, and the Mayor.
Aldermen—T. Booth, T. Leathom, G. Hjit, C. H. Jones,
R. Benn, W. Earle, jun., J. Moon, E. Evans, 'l'. B. Bar-
clay, T. Bulley, T. Holt, W. P. Freine, and E. Harvey.
Absent—D. Hodgson, 11. Houghton, Thomas Sands,
Might, T. 13rocklebank, J. Carson, It. Gladstone, 'l'. Cog-
lan, J. Cropper, juu., G. Rams& Li, and Alderman H.
kell. • . _ .

For the amendment, 10; against it, 43. Majority, 33.
Mr. Alderman EVANS said those who were best informed
on the subject were the gentlemen of the DoCk Committee.
He would move, therefore, as an exception to the general
rule, that Mr. Walinsley be added to the committee during
its consideration of this subject. He had been so recently
a member of the Dock Committee that he would be able to
supply a great deal of information which the Finance Com-
mittee would not be able to get elsewhere.
Mr. Councillor PLATT seconded the motion.
Mr. Councillor WA LAISLEY expressed his diskike to being
placed in such a position, and requested Mr. Evans to with-
draw his motion, •
Mr. Councillor CASE wished to know whether it would not
be wise in the Finance Committee, on this particular occa-
sion, to allow every member of the council to attend their
sittings without voting or taking any part in the dissussion.
He rernbered that, on occasions when matters of aeat pub-
lic importance wete to be discussed, this used to be allowed
formerly. He would therefore move that on this particular
occasiou, every member of the council should have access to
the committee.

Mr. Alderman LEATHOM thought it ought to be a close
and private committee till the inquiry was finished and their
report matured. The subject was one that had excited so
much attention that the proceeding would be carried out of
doors from day to day—they would be talked over on 'Change,
and perhaps much misconception would be the consequence.
Mr. Councillor CASE w►thdrew his amendment. The
original motion was put and carried unanimously.