§ MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the attention of the Local Government Board has been called to the injury done to the roads between Newcastle, county Down, and Newry by traction engines, and to the inconvenience caused to residents by the working of those engines at night; and whether steps will be taken to limit the hours of working and to compel the owners of the traction engines to contribute to the upkeep of the roads.
§ MR. ATKINSONThe Local Government Board have been informed that the road between Newcastle and Newry has been injured by traction-engine traffic. Under Section 6 of the Public Health (Ireland) Amendment Act, 1879, local authorities have power to make by-laws limiting the hours during which traction engines may pass over roads or highways in their districts. Section 23 of the Highways and Locomotives Act, 1878, empowers road authorities in England to recover the expenses caused by extraordinary traffic, which, it has been decided, includes the use of roads by traction engines. But this Act does not apply to Ireland, and the question of assimilating the law in the two countries would be a proper matter for consideration should a suitable opportunity present itself.
§ MR. MACVEAGHDo the Government propose to make any effort to assimilate the law in England and Ireland?
§ *MR. SPEAKERThat is a different Question altogether.