HL Deb 30 June 1898 vol 60 cc609-10
*THE EARL OF NORTHBROOK

I beg to move the following Amendment to this clause— Page 5, line 38, after 'purposes' insert 'or locomotive belonging to and used by a road authority.' That Amendment is suggested by the London County Council, so that their own engines should be enabled to go along the roads. I do not think there can be any objection to that Amendment.

*LORD HARRIS

It is not confined to the London County Council. In the terms of the Act it would apply to all those authorities covered by the Bill—county councils or municipal authorities. If they were exempt from taking out a licence for their locomotives, the idea being, of course, that a county council might own and use a traction engine for the purpose of hauling its own material, the locomotives might pass out of the area of the council's jurisdiction, and then would be traversing the roads of some other authority without a licence. I am not sure that that is advisable quite. I should say that as there is this capacity to travel considerable distances outside the area of the council's jurisdiction it would be reasonable that they should take out a licence in these other areas, and, if that is so, I think it is advisable that they should take out the licence in all areas.

*THE EARL OF NORTHBROOK

Would the noble Lord be satisfied if I inserted words to limit the power to the area of the authority—that is, within its own district?

*LORD HARRIS

I will consider the point if you will withdraw the Amendment now.

*THE EARL OF NORTHBROOK

I withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

*THE EARL OF NORTHBROOK

I have an Amendment to move to the 9th subsection of clause 7. It was represented to me, and I think the criticism was a good one, that the enactment that a locomotive shall not be used on any highway in a county in which it is not licensed, except on payment to the council of the county, of a fee not exceeding two shillings and sixpence for each journey made, was rather vague; and I propose, instead of the words "for each journey made," to insert the words "for each, day on which it is so used," making it quite clear how long the journey is to take.

*LORD HARRIS

When I first saw the Bill I thought it was rather vague that the journey should not be defined. It seems a question whether the definition should be put into the clause itself or in the definition clause at the end. I do not object to the Amendment, but I am not quite sure that it is in the best place.

Amendment agreed to.

Question put— That clause 7, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

Motion agreed to.

Forward to