§ SIR JOHN KENNAWAYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, considering the frequent occurrence of fires, he will take into consideration the possibility of introducing a measure providing that public inquiry or inquest shall be held into the cause and origin of such outbreaks when they occur?
SIR WILLIAM HAECOURT,in reply, said, no doubt this would be a very desirable thing, and he should be glad to do anything to encourage it. But the real opposition had been on the part of the Local Authorities, not unnaturally, for these were very expensive inquiries, involving a very heavy charge upon the rates. It would be extremely difficult to compel the Local Authorities to undertake such a task. He was happy to say the Metropolitan Board of Works had expressed a desire for an inquiry of this character in London.