§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of recent accidents to omnibuses licensed by the police, one of which occurred as recently as Wednesday the 2nd instant, whereby, through the overturning of an omnibus in St. John's Wood Road, several persons were injured, will he direct an inquiry into the subject with a view to ascertain the cause of such frequent accidents.
§ *THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. RITCHIE,) CroydonI do not understand the hon. Member's reference to the frequency of omnibus accidents. There have only been two such accidents recently. One was caused by the omnibus being carelessly driven against a lamp post; the other—to which apparently the Question specially refers—by reason of an axle breaking. Inasmuch, however, as the London General Omnibus Company, to whom the omnibus in question belonged, make every endeavour to get the best axles obtainable, it is difficult to imagine what more can be done. Considering the number of omnibuses running everyday, accidents are remarkably few.
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!