§ MR. SUTTON WESTERNsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is his intention to introduce a measure founded upon the recommendations contained in the Report of the Select Committee appointed to inquire into the expediency and practicability of abolishing Turnpike Gates; and, if not, whether he will consent to leave out of the Continuance Act those Trusts that are free from debt?
MR. T. G. BASINGsaid, in reply, that although there was a general concurrence in the advantages which the public would derive from the abolition of turnpike gates, there was great difficulty in the way of carrying the object into effect. The Committee had recommended an extended area of rating, considering that the maintenance of the turnpike roads when thrown upon certain parishes would be very hard. Government, however, were not prepared to introduce any measure on the subject during the present Session. With regard to the second question—namely, whether all Trusts free from debt should cease to be continued in the annual Continuance Act, the Committee declined giving any 952 recommendation of that kind. It was at the same time certain that wherever there was a real injustice in the case, it would be of advantage to the public that the trusts free from debt should be abolished, and where any strong case could be made out for their continuance, that they should be continued in the annual Continuance Act.