§ 25. Mr. BECKETTasked the Secretary to the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the burden that ratepayers in certain localities are called upon to bear in consequence of the damage done to the highways by the haulage of quantities of timber; and whether, as the timber is cut and required for national purposes, he will endeavour to arrange by legislation or otherwise that some portion of the cost for the repair and maintenance of the roads in the districts affected shall be borne by the National Exchequer, and so not fall entirely upon the local ratepayers?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Hayes Fisher)Only one or two specific complaints on this subject have reached my Noble Friend. I understand that arrangements have been made by the Department concerned whereby, in cases of damage caused or likely to be caused by the hauling of timber on behalf of the Home-grown Timber Committee, such repair and strengthening of the roads as is considered necessary to keep them fit to carry this traffic is undertaken by the Road Board on behalf of the Committee, and the cost of the work is defrayed out of funds at the Committee's disposal.