§ MR. CAWLEY (Lancashire, Prestwich)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will state the grounds on which the Local Government Board refused the application of the corporation of the City of Winchester to limit the speed of motor-cars to ten miles an hour whilst passing through the city.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURA local inquiry was held in this case at which the application was opposed. The experience gained by the inquiries held in this and other cases led the Local Government Board to the conclusion that the regulation which under Section 9 of the Motor-Car Act, 1903, is only authorised "with a view to the safety of the public" ought not to be applied unless it was shown that the safety of the public is inadequately protected by the other 1345 provisions of the Act, and particularly by Section 1, which makes motorists liable to heavy penalties who drive "recklessly or negligently or at a speed or in a manner which is dangerous to the public." Further, that whatever case there might be for the imposition of the speed limit as regards the whole or part of any particular highway, it appeared to be impossible to hold that the safety of the public demanded that throughout the whole of such an area as the City of Winchester no motorist should under any circumstances drive his car at a speed exceeding ten miles an hour. On these grounds the Board felt unable to comply with the application of the town council.
§ MR. CAWLEYThen are we to under stand that in no case will the local authority have power to regulate the speed?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOUROh, no, Sir.
§ MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the late President of the Local Government Board only got this Bill through on the understanding that the local authorities should have jurisdiction in their area?
§ [No Answer was returned.]