§ MR. STUART-WORTLEYasked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether it is the fact that overhead telegraph and telephone wires are in some cases stretched across streets, not only by Her Majesty's Post Office, but also by persons not empowered to do so, either by Act of Parliament or by licence from the public bodies in whom is vested the soil of the street across which such wires are stretched; whether there exist any means of ascertaining the number of overhead wires in the Metropolis which belong to private owners or companies which have ceased to use them, or for other reasons have teasel to keep them in repair; and, whether it may not be the case that there is an increasing number of overhead wires, of which the owners cannot be identified, which are practically abandoned, and which are daily falling more and more out of repair, and becoming more dangerous to the public?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKE, in reply, said, that the first and third branches of the Question referred rather to the general question than to that relating to the Metropolis. The second part referred to the Metropolis alone. He had received a deputation to-day on the subject with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, as representing the two Departments concerned. The matter had also been referred by the Home Office to the Metropolitan Vestries for information. As to the first of the hon. Member's Questions, his answer would be in the affirmative, though some of the Vestries seemed to dispute the extent of their powers. In reply to the second Question, many of the Vestries which had been communicated with stated that there were many such lines in the district, others said there were none; but the greater portion had replied that they were without information. In the City and certain parts of Westminster, no doubt there were a certain number of abandoned lines. The Vestry of St. Mary, Newington, stated that if any such existed in their district they would immediately take steps for their 1416 removal; but he (Sir Charles W. Dilke) should like to read to the House some extracts from the letter from the Vestry of St. Giles's, because that seemed to show that ample powers already existed. The letter stated—
Overhead telegraph and telephone wires had been stretched across the streets by persons not empowered to do so; but in all such cases where the owners had been found the Board. had taken steps to obtain the removal of such wires, or had permitted. them to remain under proper conditions and supervision. Where private wires had ceased to be used or to he kept in repair, the owners had been ascertained by the Board's inspector. The increase in overhead wires is constantly watched and dealt with.In other portions of the Metropolis he believed the erection of overhead wires was disregarded. The whole of the legal points at issue were about to be raised in actions to be brought by the Local Board of Wandsworth.
§ MR. STUART-WORTLEYThe right hon. Gentleman has not stated whether the Local Boards dispute their liability to any person injured by the fall of such a wire into the street?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEThat is a wholly different Question; but I may say the liability is on the person who erected the wires. Of course, if there was no owner to be found that would be another matter; that is a question, however, which has not up the present time been raised.
§ MR. STUART-WORTLEYWill the right hon. Gentleman consider whether there is any such liability?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEAs I have already stated, one of the Vestries say they have power to take their wires down. It will be bettor to have this point cleared up by a legal decision before any other matter is entered upon.