HC Deb 01 August 1878 vol 242 cc979-80

(The Lord Advocate, Sir Matthew Ridley.)

COMMITTEE.

Bill considered in Committee.

(In the Committee.)

Clauses 1 to 4, inclusive, agreed to.

Clause 5 (Steam locomotives to be constructed so as to consume their smoke).

MR. W. HOLMS

moved, in page 2, line 24, after "smoke," to insert "and so as to consume its own smoke." He said, that as the clause stood at present it was only necessary to have a locomotive constructed on the principle of consuming its own smoke. He wished the clause to be amended, so that locomotives should actually have to consume their own smoke. In his opinion, there was no reason why locomotives on roads should not consume their own smoke as well as those on railways.

THE LORD ADVOCATE

would appeal to the hon. Member not to press his Amendment, for this reason. An understanding had been come to, upon which hon. Members were fairly entitled to rely that the Government would bring in a Bill for Scotland on this subject in the same form in its clauses as the Act for England. As the Bill at present stood it was in accordance with that understanding, and, no doubt, many hon. Gentlemen who took a different view from the hon. Member were relying upon the clause remaining in its present form. He could only say that an attempt was made to put a provision similar to that proposed into the English Bill, but after discussion it was not pressed. For these reasons, he could not consent to the Amendment being made.

MR. J. W. BARCLAY

said, the proposal now made was almost impracticable. It was impossible to construct engines which should, under all circumstances, consume their own smoke. It was well known that, although the law was that locomotives on railways should consume their own smoke, they did not do so. Nevertheless, he thought the adoption of the principle of smoke consumption should be compulsory on every locomotive.

MR. W. HOLMS

said, that after the statement of the right hon. and learned Lord Advocate, he would withdraw his Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause agreed to.

Clause 6 (Power to local authorities to make orders as to hours during which locomotives may pass over roads).

MR. W. HOLMS

moved, in line 34, after "use," to insert "and speed." He said that he was a Member of the Select Committee with reference to the use of locomotives on tramways. Two of the points to which the Committee directed its attention were the consumption of smoke and the regulation of speed. In his opinion, it was desirable that powers to regulate speed should be placed in the hands of the local authority.

THE LORD ADVOCATE

said, he must object to this Amendment on the same ground as the others, and would ask his hon. Friend not to press it. The Amendment proposed was not in the English Bill, and those who had relied upon this Bill being the same as that would have reason to complain if the Amendment were introduced. On the other hand, he must not be understood to speak upon the assumption that there was no power to regulate speed, for he considered that the general power of regulation naturally applied to speed.

MR. W. HOLMS

Do I understand that, as the clause now stands, the local authority has power to make bye-laws and to regulate speed?

THE LORD ADVOCATE

Yes, in my opinion, it has that power.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause agreed to.

Clause 7 (Power of county road authority to licence locomotives).

MR. J. W. BARCLAY

moved that the clause be omitted.

Amendment agreed to.

Clause struck out.

Remaining clauses agreed to.

Bill reported; as amended, to be considered To-morrow.

House adjourned at Two o'clock.