§ MR. HERBERT WHITELEY (Ashton-under-Lyne)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that application was made last year by Messrs. Isaac Boulton and Company, engineers, Ashton-under-Lyne, that their patent wheels in connection with traction engines should be legalised under the Act of 1896; and whether, in consequence, these wheels were examined by the Inspectors of the Local Government Board in the month of February last, and if any objection was taken by them to the wheels; if so, could it be stated to the House?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. HENRY CHAPLIN, Lincolnshire, Sleaford)An application was made by Messrs. Boulton and Co., and the wheels were examined by Inspectors of the Board as stated in the Question. As regards the reports of the Board's Inspectors in the matter, I can only state generally that they considered that further information should be obtained as to the results of the use of these wheels, and the Board, as I stated in reply to a Question on Monday last, caused communications to be addressed to a considerable number of local authorities on the subject.