ROAD AND MOTOR PROBLEMS.
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Municipal Views Expressed at a Meeting of the County Councils Association.
VARIOUS matters affecting roads and motor vehicles were considered atthe recent quarterly meeting of the County Councils Association,
Locomotive Trailers,
The Bedfordshire County Council urged the Association to consider the question as to the number of wagons which locomotives should heallowed to draw, with a view to securing uniformity throughoutthe country in the matter. The authority suggested that it was undesirable that more than three loaded wagons, exclusive of a water-cart, should he drawn by a locomotive on any highway.
The Association decided that the general relaxation of the provisions of Section 3 of the Locomotives Act, 1898, which was countenanced during the war, should no longer be permitted, and. that the consent of county councils to the drawing of more than three loaded wagons, exclusive of a water-cart, should only be given in exceptional circumstances.
The Association also asked a sub-committee to consider whether, in view of the alteration of traffic conditions since 1898, and in order to obtain uniformity, Section 3 of the Act ought now to be amended with a view to removal of the power of consent thereby conferred upon highway authorities.
Sparks from Steam Wagons.
The Cheshire County Council drew attention to the danger and nuisance caused by the emission of sparks from steam wagons, whilst the Monmouthshire County Council urged that steps should be taken to ensure that the use on the public roads of steam locomotives not constructed so as to prevent the
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emission of sparks shall be effectively prohibited.
This matter was referred to a subcommittee to inquire into.
Traffic and Taxation.
Regarding heavy traffic the County Councils of Carnarvonshire, Dorset, Durham, Gloucestershire, Lindsey, Mcrioneth and East Riding drew attention to the disproportion between taxation now payable in respect of heavy mechanical vehicles and the damage caused by such vehicles to the roads, and to the consequea necessity of an increase in the existing scale of licence duties, in order that the cost of road upkeep may be more equitably borne. It was stated that. the Association had already decided that 50 per cent. of the cost of all main roads should be provided from Imperial sources, but refused to recommend any alteration of the taxes on motor vehicles.
Nevertheless, the matter was referred to a committee to report upon.
Lights on Vehicles.
With regard to lights on vehicles, the West Suffolk County Council urged that rear lights on all vehicles should be compulsory, hut that the matter should be dealt with by legislation rather than bylaws of local application. The council also urged that lighting-up time during the winter months should be half an hour after sunset instead of one hour after sunset.
There was a communication from the Cambridgeshire County Council' to the effect that. it was essential on the grounds of public safety that cycles should, between the hours of one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise, display a red light in the rear.
The Association supported the views
of,the West Suffolk County Council and decided to urge upon the Government. the desirability of introducing at an early date a NH dealing with the whole subject. of lights on vehicles. • Municipal Transport Congress.
The Association considered a letter received from Sir Henry Maybury, as chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Public Works, Roads and Transport Congress, 1921, forwarding the following resolution passed by the committee as to their continuance on a permanent basis, and expressing the hopo that the Association will agree therewith :— " That, in view of the importance and extent of the duties with which local authorities and their officials are now entrusted and the consequent. great advantage of provision being made for the periodical discussion of the methods by which such duties may be most efficiently carried out, the Organizing Committee of the 1921 Congress desires to make a unanimous recommendation that., for this purpose, a permanent Congress Committee, consisting of members of the Associations of Local Authorities and the societies and institutions of officials of local authorities now represented, together with such other bodies and persons as they may consider it advisable from time to time to co-opt, be established for the purpose of organizing a Public Works. Roads and Transport Congress in 1923 and every two years thereafter, concurrently with the Public Works, Roads and Transport Exhibition, on the understanding that no financial responsibility is thereby incurred by anyof the associations, societies or institutions concerned."
The Association ekpre.ssed agreement with the views detailed in the resolution.