HL Deb 30 July 1924 vol 59 cc119-21

Purposes or Matters for or with respect to which Regulations may he made by the Minister.

(6) For prescribing the number and maximum size and weight of trailers which may be drawn on streets by vehicles or vehicles of any particular class or description either generally or on streets of any class or description: Provided that the regulations may prescribe that a man should be carried at the rear of the trailer.

LORD PARMOOR

My Amendments to this schedule are merely drafting.

Amendments moved—

Page 26, line 12, leave out from ("description") to ("that") in line 13, and insert (" and for prescribing ")

Page 26, line 13, leave out from (" carried ") to the end of line 14. and insert (" on the trailer or, where more than one trailer is drawn, on the rear trailer for signalling to the driver ").—(Lord Parmoor.)

LORD MONTAGU OF BEAULIEU

My Lords, I should like to call the attention of the noble Viscount on the Woolsack and the Lord President to the fact that there is a curious difference between the words of Clause (6) of the schedule as the Lord Chancellor is reported in col. 1108 of the OFFICIAL REPORT as having put them to the House and the words in lines 13 and 14 on page 26 of the Bill. When the noble and learned Viscount on the Woolsack put the Amendment to the House on Report he added, I think with the general consent of the House, the words " for signalling to the driver." Those words appear in the OFFICIAL REPORT. They are not now shown as part of the clause which ends with the words " a man should be carried at the rear of the trailer." I think we are all agreed that " for signalling to the driver " was a rather important addition. Several noble Lords supported me, and I would like to know whether this Amendment is intended to put that right.

LORD PARMOOR

I did not hear all that the noble Lord said, but I understand that he thinks that something has been put into the Bill or the schedule which is not in accord with the determination to which the House actually came.

LORD MONTAGU OF BEAULIEU

The words on the Paper are not the same as those which appear in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

LORD PARMOOR

I am afraid I do not appreciate what the noble Lord's point is.

EARL BUXTON

I was going to take the opposite line and suggest to the Lord President whether it was wise to put in the words " signalling to the driver," and for this reason. You do not want to go too much into detail. I think it would be better to leave those words out and to give greater opportunity to the Minister of Transport if he thinks that for any other reason than signalling there ought to be a man on the trailer.

LORD BANBURY OF SOUTHAM

I do not agree with the noble Earl. You are driving and trying to pass a vehicle with a trailer behind it, and it is making a great noise. You blow your whistle, or whatever it is, and nothing happens. Eventually after a very long time you get by, and if you say some bad words to the driver he replies that he did not hear you, and probably he is speaking the truth. We want a man on the trailer who will see that there is someone coming behind and will give warning to the driver.

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

So far as I am aware the words proposed by the Lord President are right, and I think that was the intention of the House.

LORD PARMOOR

They are intended to carry out the intention of the House

On Question, Amendments agreed to.

LORD PARMOOR

I beg to move that this Bill do now pass.

Moved, That the Bill do now pass.— (Lord Parmoor.)

THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

My Lords, if I may be allowed to do so, I should like to thank the Lord President for the very courteous way in which he has treated our Amendments. I am sure that the whole House very much appreciates his courtesy.

On Question, Bill passed, and returned to the Commons.

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