§ 72. Mr. KELLAWAYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to the fact that the Metropolitan Carriage Act of 1869 was framed to deal with horse cars and horse omnibuses, he proposes to amend that Act so as to bring it up to the present-day conditions of motor traffic?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Act of 1869 was brought up to date by the London Cab and Street Carriage Act of 1907. The Commissioner of Police informs me that no difficulty is experienced by the police in the application of the Public Carriage Acts to motor traffic.
§ 73. Mr. KELLAWAYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take the necessary steps to extend the present limits of six miles from Charing Cross of the Metropolitan Street Act, 1867, to the whole of the Metropolitan Police area, so as to enable the police to stop the practice of motor omnibuses picking up and setting down passengers on tram lines?
§ Mr. McKENNAThere is much to commend the extension of the Metropolitan Streets Act, 1867, to the whole of the Metropolitan Police district and the question has been under consideration. I would remind my hon. Friend, however, that Section 14 of the Act, to which I presume he refers, only empowers the Commissioner of Police to prohibit the taking up and setting down of passengers by stage carriages at any particular place, and I am advised that there would be no power under the Section to apply such a probibitation either to tram lines in general or to tram lines in the whole of a particular street.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is the intention of the Home Office to endeavour to get an extension of the limit to the whole of the Metropolitan area, which was recommended by the Chief Commissioner to the Board of Trade?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, Sir, as will be seen from the answer I have given.
§ Mr. BOOTHBefore coming to any decision, will my right hon. Friend consider first the convenience of the public?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, Sir; that will never be lost sight of.