The enquiry was interesting and instructive. It brought out the fact that much as many people object to motors, they one and all agreed that they had come to stay. It was also proved that since railways had withdrawn the heavy traffic from the highways, the roads had been allowed to fall into poor condition, and to this could be attributed some part of the complaints as to dust. I was personally in favour of limiting the speed to twenty-five miles an hour in the open and ten miles through towns and villages; but as all the other members of the Commission felt that in the open country we should rely upon the powers of the present Highway Act, which makes it a serious offence to drive at a speed causing danger to the public, and were in favour of a no-speed limit, except through villages, I gave way so that our report might be a unanimous report. We made a long list of recommendations for the better regulation of motor traffic. I am glad to say our report was well received, and although no bill has been introduced to give legal force to its recommendations, they are being very generally acted upon. I have often since regretted that I did not press my recommendation restricting the speed in the open to twenty-five miles an hour, as I feel it would have largely solved the speed question. The powers under the Highway Act would still have remained, compelling motorists to drive at all times with due regard to public safety. CHAPTER XVII. THE EARL OF DERBY. APPOINTMENTS TO THE COUNTY BENCH. I was brought into such frequent contact with the late Lord Derby, in connection with my duties as chairman of Quarter Sessions, that I should like to add a few words of appreciation of his lordship's great kindness and consideration. I must, however, in order to make my story quite clear, preface my remarks by a reference to the late Earl of Sefton, who was the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire for so many years. Lord Sefton in his appointments to the bench, took an infinite amount of trouble to select good men, and men who when appointed would do their work. He was good enough frequently to consult me, and I certainly did my best to support him in his choice of suitable men for the office of magistrate, which I hold to be a position of importance and responsibility. It is not generally recognised that magistrates are endowed with very great power over the liberties of the people, and they ought therefore to be selected with great care. Two magistrates sitting at Petty Sessions have in a sense more power than a judge sitting at an Assize. They not only determine the guilt of the prisoner, but can and do impose considerable terms of imprisonment. At the Assizes the jury decide if the prisoner is guilty, the judge only awards the punishment.