HC Deb 14 February 1879 vol 243 c1192
MR. ESTCOURT

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether the Highway and Locomotives Act, 1878, may be considered an optional, or whether it is a compulsory measure?

MR. SCLATER - BOOTH

Sir, I hardly know whether my opinion is worth more than that of my hon. Friend. I should say that "compulsory" is a hard word, but that the Act is of the same obligation as other Acts of Parliament, though, no doubt, there is reserved to local authorities a good deal of discretion as to the extent to which the powers contained in the Act should be put into operation.