MR. LAWSONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that at the inquest held at Manchester on 18th July, on the body of the man Lennox, the Coroner expressed his opinion that there ought to be some legislative re- 986 striction on balloon and parachute ascents made, not in the interests of science, but in order to make money; whether the jury recommended an application to him "in order that such displays of ballooning by persons of insufficient knowledge should be prevented;" and, whether any memorial has been forwarded to him?
§ MR. MATTHEWSAccording to the newspaper report of the inquest which has been sent to me by the Coroner, the Coroner did not express an opinion on the subject, but left it to the jury to say whether there should be some legislative restriction. I have received a recommendation of the jury that "something should be done to prevent such displays of ballooning on the part of persons without sufficient knowledge." In this case the Coroner was of opinion that the parachutist was justified in believing that the deceased had sufficient knowledge to act as assistant.