The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-01-25 00:00:00

THE DOCK BILL

The Parliamentary sub-committee recommended that
the dock bill be proceeded with in the present session, and
that powers be sought to enable the trustees—lst, to
build warehouses round the docks, in conformity with the
60th section of the 9th and 10th Victoria. That it be re-
commended that the warehouses to be erected be limited,
at present, to the quays of the dock at Wapping; and,
also, that the warehouses so to be erected shall not be
opened by the trustees until it be determined by Parlia-
ment whether such warehouses shall be subject to the
payment of poor and other parochial rates. 2nd, to pur-
chase the land at the North Shore, for the accommoda-
tion of the timber trade, and for other purposes. 3rd,
to convert the bond debt into stock. And 4th, to obtain
the necessary amendments in the existing dock acts,
relative to the levying of rates and charges on vessels
using the docks of the trustees ; and, also, to take powers
for more effectually collecting the tonnage dues.
Mr. SAUNDERS asked if the Council would allow such
a bill to pass ?
The CHAIRMAN said it would be necessary for the
Council to come to some resolution, in order that they
might know what they meant, for they had already passed
conflicting resolutions.
Mr. HENDERSON considered that a great majority of
the Council were of opinion that the matter should be
deferred.
Mr. Tosiw.—Then you leave it to a Parliamentary
committee to say whether the rate-paying clause shall be
inserted or not ?

The CHAIRMAN said the probability was that on this
part an amendment would be moved in Council.
Mr. Nicol. said the subject had been well considered,
and if it were expected of the Dock Committee to put
rates on the dock warehouses, more was expected than
they, as honest men and trustees, could do.
Mr. ToBIN believed they could not get the bill through
the Council in its present shape, and they ought not to
get it.
Mr. HENDERSON said it would be injustice to attempt
to get dock warehouses exempted from rates, throwing
them on the people of the town, to the advantage of the
merchants.

Mr. SANDBACH proposed the adoption of the report,
with a request that the chairman of the Dock Committee
should take the necessary steps for obtaining a special
meeting of the Council, to take the subject into conside-
ration.

Mr. KENDALL seconded the motion

Mr. HOLT asked if the chairman could give a pledge
to the Council, that so far as the Dock Committee was
concerned, no opposition would be given to the insertion
of a rating clause.
The CHAIRMAN said if the Council expressed an opinion
that warehouses ought to be rated, then he should himself
be bound not merely to be passive, but to use his endea-
vours to obtain the rating clause, in deference to the
opinion of the majority of the trustees.
Mr. Hon' objected to the limitation " at present."
The etrAy.).l,N_exulainetl th.t th rnmmiffna
take power to build warehouses anywhere round the docks,
but that at present they considered it desirable not to go
beyond the quays of the docks at Wapping. Hereafter
they could be enabled, by a resolution of that board,
confirmed by the Council, to proceed with the erection of
warehouses in any other place.

Mr. HENDERSON contended that warehouses were not
required in Liverpool, that he had lately discovered an
error of between £5OO and £6OO in the accounts of the
Albert Docks, which would completely alter the notion of
these warehouses being lucrative. They were not likely
to pay unless the charges were advanced. Proceeding
with the erection of dock warehouses would postpone in-
definitely any reduction in the dock rates. He considered
the course recommended as to the erection of dock ware-
houses an unjust aggression on the property and business
of the people of Liverpool.
Mr. KENDALL said dock warehouses were of great be-
nefit to the trade of Liverpool, for before the Albert Dock
warehouses were erected, they had great difficulty in getting
rid of their cargoes.
Mr. HENDERSON said the transit sheds afforded greater
facilities than the Albert Dock. He added that the dock
officers did all they could to prevent the working of the
transit sheds effectually.

Mr. Woon said the transit sheds cost the estate £ll,OOO

a year.

Mr. MANN said the Dock Committee had studied the
interest, of the warehouse owners in the rates and charges
fixed upon, and they were less mindful to the warehouse
interest than any company could be who might lease land
and erect warehouses.
the committee then divided, and Mr. Henderson was
the only member who voted in opposition to confirming
the recommendation of the Parliamentary Sub-committee.

It was ordered that tenders for printing and stationery
for the next twelve months should be advertised for, ten-
ders to be sent in previous to the Ist of February, and no
tender to be accepted except from bona fide printers and
stationers.