MR. CATHCART WASONI beg to ask the Secretary to the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to a decision of the magistrates at Gates-head with reference to furious motor driving or driving to the public danger; and if he will, with reference to future legislation, take the case into consideration with the view of trying motor-driving charges before similar tribunals, as in Scotland.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI beg to answer this Question on behalf of my hon. friend. I have made inquiry into this case. The police took the number of the car before it disappeared, and the owner, on being applied to, furnished as required by statute the name of the driver. When the case was heard the accused pleaded not guilty, and as there was no one present who could identify the driver the case was dismissed. It appears to me that the justices should in the circumstances have granted a remand, when the owner could have been called to give evidence, and I shall so inform them. I do not, however, see any need to alter the procedure by which charges under the Motor Acts are dealt with by the ordinary Courts in England.