§ MR. LAWSON (St. Pancras, W.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether there were issued in 1886 from the Public Carriage Office 4,853 licences to stage coach drivers, and 6,615 to conductors, whilst there were only 2,531 licensed stage coaches, showing that there were 2,322 drivers and 4,084 conductors holding licences in excess of the number required for the licensed carriages on each day; and, whether, in view of the long hours of labour imposed upon the employés of the Tramway and Omnibus Companies, he will take into consideration the expediency of restricting the issue of these 568 licences under "The Metropolitan Public Carriage Act, 1869;" if so, whether he will consider the advisability of adding to the existing Rules a provision that no person shall be eligible to be licensed who has not resided in the Metropolitan Police District for at least three years, unless able to produce an authorized promise from some licensed stage carriage proprietor to give employment to the applicant, except in such cases as are deemed otherwise desirable by the Commissioners of Police?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)Yes, Sir; the figures are as quoted in the Question. I have no intention of restricting the issue of licences in the manner proposed by the hon. Member, or of adopting Rules which shall artificially limit the number of drivers.