1920.] Lights when Driving AnixMALS at Night. 115 



The desirability of reimposing the requirements of the 

 Lights (Driving of Animals) Order, 19 16,* which was revoked 

 in August last, has recently been con- 

 Lights when sidered by a Committee appointed by the 

 ^''tf irf ht^^^^ Ministry of Transport to consider questions 

 relating to the lights carried on vehicles.! 

 The Order in question was made in October, 1916, and required 

 that persons driving or leading animals after dusk should 

 carry a lamp capable of showing a white light both to the 

 front and rear. 



While the requirement that a hght or lights must be carried 

 with all animals on the road at night would no doubt conduce 

 to the safety of driven animals and of motor traffic, the Com- 

 mittee does not consider that it would be practically possible 

 to secure that lights should be carried with all animals 

 upon the highway, owing to the fact that the roads, par- 

 ticularly where they pass through unenclosed and common 

 land, cannot be kept clear of stray animals. Moreover, a 

 requirement that a light is to be carried whenever an animal 

 is driven on a lane or unimportant by-road used almost ex- 

 clusively by local inhabitants would entail considerable hard- 

 ship and expense on the agricultural community, without 

 adding materially to the safety of the public. 



For these reasons the Committee does not recommend the 

 immediate reimposition of the requirements of the Lights 

 (Driving of Animals) Order, 1916, but is of opinion that the 

 adoption of those requirements on the principal roads of the 

 country should be further considered when such roads have 

 been classified and marked as such. 



^ ^ ^ H: ^ 



On p. 193 are mentioned the proposed new duties on agri- 

 cultural tractors and locomotives. The proposals are based 

 upon the recommendations of the Depart- 

 New Duties mental Committee on Taxation and Regu- 

 Vehicles^^^ lation of Road Vehicles. While the 

 recommendations of that Committee and 

 the proposals of the Chancellor of the Exchequer in regard to 

 motor cars have given rise to acute controversy, there has been 

 little criticism of the new duties on agricultural vehicles. As 

 soon as legislative effect is given to the proposals there should 

 be removed the difficulties and obscurities which have, during 

 the last few years, enveloped the taxation of farm tractors, 

 and local taxation authorities and owners should no longer be 

 troubled over the weight of ploughing engines. 



* See this Journal, November, 191 6, p. 799. 



tCmd. 659, 1920. London: H.M. Stationery Office, 2d. net. 



I 2 



