The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-04-14 00:00:00

THE DOCK COMMITTEE ON THURSDAY

At the last usuil meeting there were present—Mr.
Moore (the Chairman) and eighteen members.
The Secretary read a report from the solicitor setting
forth the alterations and additions in the new dock hill—
none of them material—and the report was adopted. A
letter was read from G. Maxwell, Esq , president of the
American Chamber of Commerce, requesting the erection
of another warehouse for tobacco, the imports of which
had of Ibte years considerably increased. The import.
which in 1839 was 10,338 hhds , had gradually risen until
in 1845 it amounted to 13,370 hhds. Mr. Maxwell sug-
gested the erection of the additional warehouse at the
north end of the town. The committee expressed their
concurrence in the suggestion, and referred the letter to
the parliaigtentary committee.
Amongst the minutes of the last meeting of the Council
was one stating that that body could not recognise the
authority of the dock committee in originating measures
for Parliament, &c.
Mr. Mem. stated that every member of the Dock Corn-
mittee then present opposed the resolution when it was
submitted to the Council. An amendment h=id been
moved to the effect that legal advice should be taken, and
that both parties should be guided by the result. This
was, however, rekcted, and the present resolution adopted.
He considered the resolution most unwise. As there
were representatives of the ratepayers on the committee,
it was, he thought, to a great extent, an independent body.
These, he believed, were the safety-valves of the trustees'
power, arid were it not for their existence, the merchants
of the town would, before this. have urged a more impor-
tant alteration in the trust. If the Committee consented

to the resolution passed in Council, the object for which
the ratepayers sent their representatives would be done
away with. A difficulty had arisen in Parl ament, from
the erroneous impression that the Dock Committee and
the C,,uncil were the same body ; and the resolution of
the Council was calculated to confirm this error. As an
illustration of the effects of the resolution, he brought to
their recollection the circumstances attendant on their
last purchase. The Finance Committee fixed on £350,000
as the purchase money ; and, if this resolution had been
then passed and submitted, the Dock Committee had no
option but to give the money. The Dock Committee, how-
ever, of that day, assumed that they were an independent
body, and remonstrated, as they thought the amount too
great. The matter was left to arbitration, and the conse-
quence was, that the land was obtained at nearly £lOO,OOO
less than the sum fixed by the Council. If any man
wished to denude the trustees of the power they really
did possess, no more potent a weapon could be placed in
his hands than this resolution. He concluded by moving
that the following resolution, drawn up by the dock solici-
tor, at his and the chairman's request, be entered on the
book s :

" The committee being appointed to carry into execu-
tion the Demers and authorities vested in the trustees by
the acts relating to the Liverpool dock estate, and to
manage and conduct their estate and interest in the trust,
and being invested with the right to have, use, and exer-
cise exclusively all and every the powers and authorities
in relation to the execution and carrying into effect the
several purposes of the said acts of parliament, subject to
the rights of the trustees (executing their powers by the
Council of the borough) to annul or make void the pro-
ceedings, resOlutions, and directions of the committee, by
two-thirds of the trustees in council assembled,—this
committee will maintain the full and free exercise of all
the rights and privileges transferred to and invested in

them by the before-mentioned acts of parliament; and
they do not acknowledge any right in the Council to ex-
ercise any authority in the management and conducting

docks, or in controlling the proceedings, resolutions, and
directions of the committee, except in conformity with
the same act of parliament."
Mr. AiKIN objected to the resolution of the Council,
who had a sufficien► power by their vote of controlling the
proceedings of the Committee. He thought_it impolitic,

and that even the appearance of a collision between the
two estates should never have been exhibited.
Mr. SANDBACH seconded Mr. Nicol's re.,olution. He
thought it would be seen at once bow far the Council and
the Committee were independent of each other, and he

believed the votes given on the resolution of the Council
were more from the opinion of the Town Clerk than from
the conviction of the members thi mselves.
Mr. MANN suggested that a Select Committee of the
Dock Committee be appointed to confer with a Select
Committee of the Council.

Mr. TOBIN remarked that if that portion of the Com-
mittee elected by the ratepayers was to be subject t 8 the
instructions of the Council, he could not see that they

were of the least service. They were fixed there by tbe
ratepayers, to keep tte Council in check. lie would not,
and he thought they ought not to submit to any such pro-
ceedings.

---Mr. RIPLEY and Mr. HORSEALL were in favour of legal
opinions being had.
Mr. AIKIN and Mr. HENDERSON doubted the policy
of Mr. Nicol's motion, and urged its withdrawal.
Mr. MANN proposed an amendment for the appoint-
ment of a Select Committee, which was seconded by Mr.
Henderson, and being put was caned by a majority of 7.
Mr. Mool then proposed and carried a resolution to
the effect that the Parliamentary. Committee should obtain
the opinion of some eminent counsel on the powers of the
Dock Committee, and their connexion with new parlia-
mentary matter.
The CHAIRMAN announced that the Bury Railway bill,
which approached the docks in a most objectionable man-
ner, and would have prevented them making more grav-
ing docks at the northrhad been defeated before the Select
Committee of the House of Commons by the opposition
of the Dock Committee.
The board then adjourned.