June 1895.] PARLIAMENTARY PUBLICATIONS. 



87 



The mileage of such lines constructed under special Acts has 

 also been inconsiderable. 



This lack of progress in rural districts has also beeii in great 

 measure due to the want of latitude left to the Board of 

 Trade by law, and in other cases by the conditions which 

 the Board considered it their duty to impose for the public 

 safety. 



It has also been stated that obstacles have arisen in the case 

 of tramways and tramroads in consequence of the local 

 authorities requiring conditions which were considered too 

 onerous by the promoters of new schemes. 



The Committee believe that the impediments to construction 

 may be greatly diminished, and that on a large proportion 

 of such lines as are contemplated by their inquiry, the 

 regulations which have been enforced with a view to public 

 safety may be considerably relaxed. 



In the case of lines of small traffic, having few trains in the 

 day and working at a moderate speed, there is little risk 

 compared with that occurring on great trunk lines having 

 numerous sidings and branches, and carrying at high and 

 varying speeds, a complicated traffic of passengers, mer- 

 chandise, minerals, and cattle, at all hours of the day and 

 night. 



It seems reasonable that details as to route, width of gauge, 

 fencing, level crossings, bridges, gates, the use of public 

 roads, stations and station requirements, signals, continuous 

 brakes, and many similar matters — unnecessary expendi- 

 ture on which take a together adds greatly to the cost — 

 should differ in different parts of the country, depending in 

 each case upon the nature of the country and the traffic to 

 be conveyed. 



The same remarks apply to limitation of speed and regulations 



for ensuring reasonable safety in working. 

 There are several other items involving expenditure, such as 



the provision for deposit of security, the lodging of plans, 



advertisements, &c., in which there is room for considerable 



economy. 



The Committee think that it is not reasonable that under- 

 takings of limited scope, when they are approved of by the 

 locality they are intended to serve, should be forced, as 

 they are now, to have recourse to the expensive tribunal of 

 a parliamentary inquiry. 



The Committee are of opinion that the recent creation of 

 popular local authorities of various degrees throughout 

 Great Britain opens the door to an escape from the great 

 cost attending applications to Parliament, by enabling 

 powers and responsibilities with reference to the authorisa- 

 tion and control of light lines to be conferred on those 

 bodies, and that the time has arrived for Parliament to 

 consider whether this should not be done, an ultimate 

 appellate jurisdiction being reserved to the Government 



