1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148 
A Railway Ban on Road Motors
Page 51
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
ITIHE clash between railway and road -Iinterests appears to be reaching a climax, if note be taken of certain intensely significant events which have occurred during recent weeks. Perhaps the most out standing and threa tening of these is the embargo just placed on the collection of fish by motor vehicles, if it be for delivery outside a_ radius of 12 miles from the fish docks 'in Hull, which are owned by the London and North Eastern Railway. Co.
Such a step can be regarded as an interference with „the rights of the public, and is one which.. should be most strongly condemned in every quarter, particularly when it is accompanied by such terms as those included in the licence which has to be obtained for motor vehicles using the docks. • These require that each. vehicle must exhibit a distinguiSh-ing b'adge, shall not transfer its load of fish to any other vehicle, and Shall not operate outside the aforementioned 'radius, whilst the licence • can be withdrawn without the railway company assigning a reason for so 'doing.
This is no case of the mailed fist in the velvet glove ; it is the ungloved fist, and is an excellent example of the autocratic power which can be wielded , by the railways. In this case, it is not only directly against the interests of road transport, but of the public as a whole, for fish can be delivered by ioad to many districts outside the stipulated radius more rapidly and at less cost than by rail.
Such a misuse of its power on the part of this railway .shOiild receive prompt attention. Docks are' Of vital national importance arid it is essential that their use should be comparatively unrestricted. The docks in question should be removed from the control of the railway company • and placed under . the superVision of a board constituted . on the lines of the Port ,'of London Authority. , . .
Road transport is already_ suffering severe restrictions which are likely to be accen, tuated under the Road Traffic Act, yet it is of the greatest economic importance that transport costs be kept . within 'reasonable bounds. Road transport has advanced because it has achieved this desideratum and has done so much to promote the . easy flow of raw., materials, manufactured goods' and foodstuffs.
A considerable .measure of -freedOin iü competitiou continues 'to be essential, and the railways must not be permitted to fetter it.
Since the placing of the embargo a conference between' the railway corn7, panies and others directly interested has been held ; the proceedings were private. Such an event should have been held inpublic, as a vital matter affecting the, nation's food supply is at stake.