§ MR. A. C. MORTONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the following occurrence:— The body of a man, since identified as William Hall, a glassmaker, was found yesterday morning in Nagers Fields, near Brierly Hill, Stourbridge. He had evidently perished from exposure during the bitterly cold night. His clothing was clogged with ice, and his hands had been torn in an apparent effort to get over some barbed wire fencing, on which blood stains were found; and whether he can take any steps to compel means to be taken by the Local Authorities to 1686 prevent such an accident occurring from the use of barbed wire?
SIR W. FOSTERI have no information of the particular case referred to, but, as the hon. Member is aware, an Act of this Session enables Local Authorities to take proceedings to require the removal of barbed wire which may probably be injurious to persons using the highway. The Local Government Board, however, have no power to give any instructions to the Local Authorities in the matter, or to enforce action by them under that Act.
§ MR. A. C. MORTONOught it not to have been possible for the Local Authorities to have discovered this poor man before he died. Can the hon. Gentleman say why this man was allowed to be out all night before he was found?