§ Mr. Owenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the loss of agricultural production as a result of damage caused by motorists to boundary walls and fences in rural areas; and whether he will investigate this matter with a view to making such damage to farm property a reportable offence.
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§ Mr. WatkinsonI have been asked to reply.
I have no information as to the loss of agricultural production from damage caused by motorists to boundary walls and fences in rural areas. Whether drivers of motor vehicles should be required to report accidents involving damage to property was debated in Parliament during the passage of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, and a limited aspect of the problem was raised in discussion on the Bill which became the Road Traffic Act, 1956. Parliament decided on both occasions not to require drivers to report accidents involving damage to property, and I have no reason to think that the grounds for the decision are not still valid.