§ DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in consultation with municipal or county; authorities or otherwise, he can do something to relieve the rural and suburban districts of London from the annoyance caused by motor-cars, which dash along in defiance of the comfort and convenience of those who use the road, poisoning the air with fumes of petroleum, and destroying the vegetation of trees and hedges by clouds of dust, which also render safe steering difficult or impossible
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. WALTER LONG, Bristol, S.)I am afraid I do not see my way to any effective action in the direction suggested by the hon. Member. I can only hope that a strict observance of the law on the part of the drivers of motor-cars and due consideration for the comfort and convenience of pedestrians will tend to minimise the evils incidental to the use of these vehicles.
§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork County, E.)Has any record been kept in the right hon. Gentleman's Department of casualties caused by these motor-cars?
§ MR. WALTER LONGNo record is kept in my Department, and no record can be kept, because I get no information on the subject except what appears in the Press. I see records of accidents, and I am fully aware of the fact that in many cases the drivers of these cars do not take sufficient precautions for the protection of the public. The law, as amended by the Act of last year, is fully sufficient to meet such cases if the public will help themselves, and the law is fully administered by those responsible for its administration.