Captain BROWNasked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Government have withdrawn their promise of an indemnity to local authorities for the cost of repairing highways in respect of damage done on Government account; if so, whether he is aware that there are large quantities of timber in Northumberland cut on Government account which it will take a very long time to haul and which, if hauled in winter, will cause great damage to the roads; and if, under these circumstances, he will reconsider the withdrawal of the indemnity?
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§ Mr. FORSTERThe indemnity that is being withdrawn referred to timber intended for Government purposes eventually, but not actually in the ownership of the Government at the time it was hauled. The question of making a contribution in respect of any extraordinary damage that may be caused to roads by the haulage of timber directly on Government account is therefore not affected by the withdrawal of the indemnity.