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162
The General Purposes Committee reported to the Council that
in addition to the resolutions already reported upon by the Works
Committee, the recent Conference of Metropolitan Borough Councils on
the subject of Motor Omnibus Traffic in London adopted the following
resolutions, viz.:—
"That the Local Government Board be asked to take the
necessary steps to allow of a much reduced speed limit being fixed
for mechanically propelled vehicles in crowded and narrow streets,
and be asked to arrange for the Commission of Police in consultation
with the several Metropolitan Borough Councils, to draw up a list
of the streets to which such lower speed should apply."
''That this Conference is strongly of opinion that the time has
come when the Chief Commissioner of Police, or the Home Office
Authorities, should prescribe remedial measures of a compulsory
nature to compel the proprietors of Motor Omnibuses to provide
efficient mudguards for the protection of ratepayers' properties
on the various fines of route in the Metropolis, as the present
damage to property has reached-such a serious point that in many
instances it is resulting in property becoming for all practical
purposes uninhabitable, and thus causing further charges on the
local authorities by reason of increased losses in rates on empty
premises."
The General Purposes Committee recommended the Council that
the resolutions referred to be approved, and communications urging
that effect be given thereto be addressed to the Home Secretary, the
President of the Local Government Board, the Chief Commissioner of
Police, the London County Council, and the Members representing the
Borough in Parliament.
Amending Order of Local Government Board re Noise of Exhaust
Gases from any Motor Engine.
The Local Government Board made an Order amending
Article IV. of the Motor Cars (Use and Construction) Order, 1904, as
amended by the Motor Cars (Use and Construction) Amendment Order,
1909. The effect of the Order, which came into operation on the 31st
March is to prohibit the use of any cut-out or other device which will
allow the exhaust gases from any motor engine to escape into the atmosphere
without passing through a silencer or other contrivance for reducing
the noise which would otherwise be caused by the escape of such gases.