ROAD TRANSPORT MATTERS IN PARLIAMENT.
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The Licensing of Two-seater Cabs for London. The Cost of Traffic Regulation. The Debate on Buses and Taxicabs.
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent.
Date of the Budget. r THE Budget statement, according to present arrangements, will be made by Mr. Churchill on 14Ienday, the 26th 'inst., when road users—particularly heavy
ehicle owners—and local authorities will know the worst I
Introduction of Two-seaters.
EFORE rising for a short Easter recess, the House _L...1of Commons had a useful debate on the reduction of omnibus services and the licensing of two-seater taxicabs. The arguments against the two schemes werewell presented by Mr. Benjamin Smith and Captain Fraser respectively, but the chief interest lay in the ministerial replies. Sir W. Joynson-Hicks, in effect, based his decision to license two-seater taxicabs on public necessity and the failure, after many months, to induce the taxicab owners to agree to a suitable reduction in fares. The first application to have two-seaters licensed was made in 1024 and a Departmental Committee reported some time ago that it would not be right to refuse such "licences, although negotiations with the cab trade ought to take place, with a view to the reduction of fares. As is well known, negotiations have proceeded, but without acceptable offers by the trade. In the circumstances,, the Home Secretary cannot be charged with precipitate action.
Sir W. Joynson-Hicks took the line that it was wrong to maintain that London was to be deprived of cheaper taxicabs simply because it would be injurious to the existing cab trade. He reminded the House that the horse-cab drivers and horse-omnibus driverswere displaced by the advent of the motor cab and motor omnibus, and they could not keep back the clock. Much has been said about the addition to traffic congestion which would follow upon the appearance of two-seaters, but the Home Secretary made little of this argument. In the last three weeks of March 8,000 new vehicles were licensed in London. At the present rate of 2,500 a week, there would be, within the next six months— during which period 500 two-seaters would be put on the streets-26 times 2,500 new vehicles, so that the 500 two-seaters woull be a drop in the bucket. He expressed the opinion that with :reduced fares there would be a great increase in the number of people using cabs. He also mentioned that he had no intention of altering the fares for four-seater cabs.
Limitation of Omnibus Services.
CMONET, ASHLEY, speaking on the limitation of omnibus services, was very symgathetic towards the drivers and conductors who might be displaced, but he impresked the House with his main reasons in support of the steps he was taking. First, he advanced the argument that the London Traffic Act had to be worked and neither he nor the Advisory Committee could shirk their statutory duty, which was to relieve the congestion and, consistently with the public interest, to see that the various means of transport had a Chance of living together and providing for the travelling needs of people going to and from work. The only way to reduce congestion, he said, was to limit the rannber of vehicles. -An interjection by Mr. Macquisten brought out the remark that private motorcars might perhaps have to be interfered with in the not distant future. Colonel Ashley defended the existence of the tramways in the• interests of working people. Unless something were done, Some of these undertakings, he said, would cease functioning. This would mean the abolition or
workmen's fares and, if the L.C.C. cars ceased, a yearly burden on the ratepayers of 1500,000 or £750,000, instead of £250,000. In addition, the ratepayers would have to pay for the upkeep of the track now maintained by the tramway undertaking. Rates for equipment and buildings would also come upon the ratepayers.
The Minister gave some striking figures of capital sunk in tramways in the metropolitan area. The total
is about £28,000,000, of which the L.C.C. undertaking represents £17,000,000, whilst the borough councils have sunk £5,000,000 and private enterprises £5,000,000. Only £7,000,000 is sunk in omnibuses compared with £28.000,000 in tramways. The overriding consideration, however, is the need for facilities for getting people to and from their work. Whilst there are between 4,000 and 5,000 motor omnibuses in London not more than 600 or 700 are to be taken off over a period of twO years. The proportion of 400 Combine omnibuses to 200 independent omnibuses, or two to one, is based on the figures for the year 1923, which the Advisory Committee took as the datum line, being the year when the L.G.O. Company got back to their prewar strength.
Two-seaters and Four-seaters.
NOW that the regulations for the licensing of twoseater taxicabs in London have been published, the question is being asked : How many are to be licensed? The Home Secretary states that he has no power to impose any limitation of numbers, and any cabs presented for licence which comply with the Police Commissioner's requirements will be licensed. This, however, does not mean that London will be immediately flooded with two-seaters, the expectation being that probably about 500 will be running on the streets in the autumn. Future additions will depend on the popular demand and on the action of the proprietors of fourseaters in respect of fares.
New Names Wanted for the Two Types of Cab.
ONE does not like the sound of " two-seater " or "four-seater," and there is to be no endeavour to find official distinctive names for the two classes of vehicle. " Taxicab " is generic and we shall now have two species. Some ingenious people have been inventing names for the two-seaters, but the suggestions emanating from certain quarters are perhaps a little fantastic—at any rate, for official purposes. "Jixi" Is, however, just the sort of semi-slang name that may appeal to the Londoner, associated, as it is, with " Jix " —the nickname Of the Home Secretary who sanctions the appearance of the vehicle in the streets of London. Ingenuity must be exercised to find a new designation for the old four-seater, else the theatre-goer with his wife and two daughters who calls a "taxi " may find " jixi" drawing up at the kerb. Why not " taxi-four " and "taxi-two"?'
Cost of London Traffic Regulation.
THERE are about 1,300 Metropolitan police constables engaged on traffic regulation at a cost of about 1420,000 per annum. Colonel Day asked the Home Secretary whether the cost should not be placed on the Road Fund se that further protection might he given to life and property, and Sir W. Joynson-Hicks promised to pass on the suggestion to the Chancellor of the Exchequer "in connection with any proposal he may see fit to adumbrate in his Budget statement."