§ LORD MONTAGU OF BEAULIEUMy Lords, I rise to ask His Majesty's Government whether, if the Royal Commission on Motor Cars reports before Easter, there will be any legislation thereon during this session. I make no apology for saying a word or two this afternoon on this subject and for asking His Majesty's Government to make some definite statement so that we may know whether or not they have any legislation in view. I understand that the other day, in another place, an answer was given, not in very precise terms, but intimating that so far as His Majesty's Government are concerned they will not this year introduce any legislation. The reply, however, was not given in so clear a form that we could draw an absolute conclusion there-from.
It is well known that a Royal Commission has been sitting for some time on this subject. It was supposed at the end of last session that the Commission would report in time for legislation to 1064 be introduced this session, but we now understand that it will certainly not report before Easter. It is highly undesirable that any legislation should be framed in a hurry on this very difficult question, which requires much time and consideration if the legislation is to be satisfactory to the public and to the mercantile community. The Act under which motorists run their cars to-day was passed in 1903 somewhat in a hurry. Noble Lords will remember that it left this House in one form, and assumed, to its detriment, a totally different form in the House of Commons. It is very desirable that there should be no such hasty and ill-considered legislation this session.
I would suggest that the present Act, which would otherwise expire this year, should be included in the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill. We should then have the advantage of plenty of time in which to consider the Report of the Royal Commission. At the same time I would plead that there should be no undue delay, for the present state of the law is satisfactory neither from the point of view of the public nor from the point of view of the motorist. There are complaints every day of misbehaviour on the part of motorists—complaints which, in many cases, are well founded, and at the same time motorists suffer grievances and hardships which were not intended when the Bill of 1903 was introduced and which show that the present legislation requires amendment. But the new legislation should be well thought out, and for that reason I suggest continuing the present Act for another year.
I understand that the Royal Commission have taken evidence from a great variety of witnesses on both sides, and I would ask whether it would not be possible to issue an interim Report. The reference to the Commission was a very wide one; it comprised all kinds of matters intimately concerned with motoring. Bad driving and the dust question were included, and if the portion of the Commission's Report dealing mainly with these two subjects could be produced it would be of great advantage. These are two very urgent subjects, and I would not suggest for one moment 1065 that action upon them should be put off for another year, for in the interests neither of motorists nor of the general public should the present state of things in this direction be allowed to continue. I beg to put the Question standing in my name.
EARL RUSSELLMy Lords, I should like to associate myself with the noble Lord opposite in his appeal that, whatever happens, there shall be no more hasty legislation on this subject. We have had enough of hasty legislation in the present Act, and, speaking from the point of view of motorists, we suffer considerably in consequence of the ill-considered provisions of the Act of 1903. Though I recognise the improbability of our getting fresh legislation this session, I should be very sorry indeed to see the present Act continued indefinitely. There is one particular blot on the Act which makes its continuance longer than necessary very undesirable. I refer to the insertion in that Act by the other House of an artificial speed limit. Your Lordships took the more sensible view that an artificial speed limit was the very worst way of protecting the public against danger. I think one may fairly say that, although not in the opinion of motorists a wise or useful provision, it has been so administered in the larger part of the United Kingdom as not to cause great hardships; but in certain counties that particular section of the Act is administered without any regard to the object for which it was inserted in the statute. This is much to be deprecated, because it creates bad feeling between motorists and the police, and tends to make the administration of the law more difficult. For that reason I hope that the present Act will not be continued longer than is necessary, and that this point will be dealt with. There are many penalties in the Act which are out of all proportion to those in other Acts for corresponding offences. I hope that the Report of the Royal Commission will not be much longer delayed, as it will require a great deal of careful consideration both by His Majesty's Government and by those who represent motorists.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (Earl CARRINGTON)My Lords, I can assure the noble Lord opposite that His Majesty's Government fully recognise the importance of the subject he has brought before the House. As the noble Lord is aware, the Royal Commission only commenced their labours in September, and they are unable to give the Government any idea as to when they will be able to report. In these circumstances it is manifestly impossible for the Government to make any pronouncement at all on the subject; but I can assure the noble Lord that there will be no delay or undue haste. As it is almost certain that the Report will be presented so late this year as to make it impossible for any new legislation to be introduced, the present law will be continued for twelve months, and before the expiration of that time we hope that a Bill will be brought in which will be acceptable to noble Lords on both sides of the House.