§ MR. LAWSON (St. Pancras, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a man named Lennox was killed in a ballon ascent connected with a parachute exhibition; whether there will be any inquiry other than a coroner's inquest; and, if he adheres to his determination to take no action in the matter?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have seen in the Press an account of a balloon acci- 850 dent, which appears to have had no connection with the parachute exhibition which accompanied it. I cannot say whether there will be any further inquiry until I learn the result of the coroner's inquest. I have no power to prohibit adult persons from risking their lives in dangerous adventures, such as ballooning or steeplechasing, and cannot therefore take any effectual action in the matter. If the public ceased to encourage such shows, by their presence or their money, that would be the most effectual way of stopping them.