§ MR. FELL (Great Yarmouth)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the almost daily accounts of tramway cars getting out of control when descending hills; and whether, having regard to the accidents that follow, he will consider the advisability of proclaiming such hills dangerous and forbidding their use until some safe method of controlling the cars is adopted, or what other steps he proposes to take to safeguard the public. I beg also to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, having regard to the fact that there is apparently no brake which can be safely relied upon under all conditions to arrest tramway cars on steep gradients, he will consider the advisability of the Board of Trade refusing to grant any new orders for tramway lines to be laid on hills which have more than a very moderate gradient.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRADE (MR. KEARLEY,) DevonportIn reply to the two Questions of the Hon. Member pending the receipt and consideration of reports by the inspecting officers of the Board of Trade on the accidents of this kind which have recently been the subject of inquiry, I am unable to state what action it will be found necessary to take. The whole subject is, however, engaging the most careful attention of the Boards technical advisers.
§ MR. FELLWill any further orders be issued enabling tramways to go up. 877 hills which might be classed as dangerous pending the inquiry?
§ MR. KEARLEYsaid the Board of Trade already possessed prohibitory powers as regards mechanical traction for tramways on hills believed to be dangerous.