MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury have the Board of Works, while extending the privileges for equestrians who play polo in the Phœnix Park, issued new rules restricting privileges formerly enjoyed by bicyclists in the use of the park roads; under what statute do they propose to enforce this rule, and what are the penalties for disobedience; is it the fact that the Court of Queen's Bench was obliged, ten years ago, to quash a conviction for furious driving in the park made in the Metropolitan Police Court; have the Board of Works acquired any fresh statutory powers since that date; and have the market gardeners and others at the Strawberry Beds had their old rights to use the park roads restored to them?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTI am informed that the privileges of equestrians who play polo in the Phœnix Park have not been extended, nor have any rules been issued limiting the privileges of ordinary cyclists. For some years cycle clubs have been allowed to hold races on the park roads, application for special permission for the particular day and hour being made in each case by the representatives of the clubs. There were at first few races and few competitors; recently the enormous increase in both races and competitors, accompanied by the attendance of professional bookmakers, has created such a condition of affairs that the Commissioner of Police has called the attention of the Board of Works to the public nuisance and danger thereby constituted. As the permission to hold the races given by the Board of Works somewhat hampered the discretion of the police in dealing with the matter, the Board have decided to limit the races this year to a particular course, and not to issue permissions to race in the next season. The passes to the market gardeners have been extended to 31st March, 1895, to enable the question of the County Roads to be brought before the Grand Jury of the County Dublin at their next meeting for fiscal business. The conviction referred to in the 3rd paragraph was allowed to be quashed, as the 810 summons was informal; the question of law was not before the Court. The Commissioners of Public Works have not acquired any fresh statutory powers since that date.
MR. T. M. HEALYWhen the conviction was allowed to be quashed because it was informal, was the Crown represented at the hearing?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTNo, Sir; the Crown did not appear.