Mr. BOWER MANasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that after the second conviction of motor men of stage carriages for exceeding the speed limit it is the custom to deprive the men of their licences; whether he is aware that in the case of motor-car drivers this action is not taken; and whether he will take steps to remove this inequality of treatment by having motor men of stage carriages treated the same as the ordinary motor-car drivers?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEThe drivers of public motor carriages, whether stage or hackney, who are convicted of dangerous driving, or of twice exceeding the speed limit within the year, forfeit their licences. This is done for the protection of the public, since the Commissioner of Police is required by statute to satisfy himself that public carriage-drivers are fit persons to be licensed. At the same time the Commissioner is always ready to consider applications for the re-grant of a licence after the lapse of a, certain period. Every driver of a public carriage is fully warned of the consequences of default when he is first licensed.