§ MR. HAROLD COX (Preston)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that in many parts of the County of Kent landowners are deliberately enclosing roadside strips or permitting such strips to be overgrown with underwood in preparation for their enclosure at a subsequent date; and whether he will introduce a Bill empowering all road authorities to remove 784 underwood and other obstructions from any part of the highway, and, failing action on the part of the road authorities, to empower the Local Government Board to take any necessary action.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS,) BatterseaI was not aware of the allegations mentioned by my hon. friend. I would, however, point out to him that district councils have full power to take action to protect all public right of way and to prevent the obstruction of any such right. I suggest that in any particular case of the kind to which he refers the facts should be brought under the notice of the council of the district concerned. I would draw his attention to the provisions of Section 26 of the Local Government Act, 1894, on this subject.
§ MR. CROOKSPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman will call the attention of the Secretary of State for War to the enclosure of Woolwich Common.
§ MR. HAROLD COXMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, failing action by the district authority, who are, very often, under the thumb of the very landowners who are stealing this land, he will take action?
§ *MR. SPEAKERThat Question is rather argumentative.