§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Her Majesty's Government intend to propose legislation on the subject of overhead wires, or whether the Local Authorities of urban municipalities and of counties (including the County of London) can deal with these matters under the power of making bye-laws which the Legislature has conferred on them? I beg also to ask the right hon. Gentleman if his attention has been called to the growing practice of erecting spiked wire fences of a character dangerous to young and old along public roads and paths; and, 787 whether the Local Authorities can deal with such a matter by bye-laws?
§ * MR. RITCHIEPerhaps the hon. Gentleman will permit me to answer both these questions. In the case of some boroughs local Acts have been passed which empower the authorities to make bye-laws on the subject of overhead wires. With the exception of these cases, Local Authorities are not enabled to make bye-laws on the subject. It is obvious that no legislation on this question can be proposed this Session, and I cannot make any statement as to what may be proposed in a future Session. My attention has not been called to the practice of erecting spiked wire fences of a character dangerous to young and old along public roads and paths, and the matter is not one with which Local Authorities are empowered to deal by bye-laws.
§ SIR GEOEGE CAMPBELLIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware of the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act and the Local Government Act?
§ * MR. RITCHIEI am aware of the provisions of those Acts, but I am not aware what good government has to do with spiked wires.