§ MR. J. ROWLANDS (Finsbury, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a case tried at the Marylebone Police Court on the 22nd instant, when, to settle a dispute as to a cab-fare, it was necessary to use the official pedometer; is he aware that it was asserted that it was impossible to use the pedometer, as it was out of gear, and that the Office of Works would not incur the necessary expenditure for putting the pedometer in order; whether as Head of the Department that has control of the Metropolitan carriages, he will order that the instrument be put in thorough repair; and whether, out of the surplus left in the hands of the authorities under the charges of the £2 police licence for supervision, he has at his disposal the necessary finances for covering the cost of such repairs?
§ MR. ASQUITHYes; I am informed that the Office of Works do not supply pedometers: but I will bring the matter under the notice of the Treasury, with the hope of obtaining their sanction for payment of amount necessary by the Receiver out of the police court funds.
§ MR. J. ROWLANDSIs there not a large surplus every year under the Metropolitan Carriages Act at the disposal of 1811 the Home Secretary, and could not the money for this necessary purpose be taken from that fund?
§ MR. ASQUITHThere is a surplus, but I think the charge will now properly fall on the police court funds.