§ MR. SKEWES-COX (Surrey, Kingston)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the death by drowning of Police Constable Goulder, stationed at Barnes, whilst patrolling the towing-path near Hammersmith Bridge, on the morning of the 1st April, when the tide was high and the air misty; whether he is aware that at the inquest it was stated by police officers that the towing-path, being entirely unprotected, was a source of great danger not only to the police, who were bound to patrol it, but to the public generally who have occasion to use it, owing to the tide overflowing and there being nothing to indicate the edge of the embankment; and whether, seeing that representations have been made by previous coroner's juries respecting this danger, on account of deaths from drowning having occurred there, he proposes to take any steps to prevent the recurrence of such accidents.
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, BlackpoolThe Secretary of State's attention has been called to this unfortunate occurrence. The condition of the towing-path appears to be as described in the question, and the Commissioner of Police is in communication with the local authorities with a view to steps being taken to prevent the recurrence of such accidents.