Road Investment Pays in Three Ways—B.R.F. Chairman
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I AM convinced that there is no form
a capital investment which can produce better returns more quickly than money invested in roads. A modern highway system operates in three main ways. It enhances the efficiency of road transport and thus boosts productivity; it reduces accidents, and thus saves much suffering as well as a great deal of money; and it is indispensable for strategic purposes, thus ranking logically as an integral part of any rearmament programme."
This view was expressed by Lord Sandhurst, chairman of the British Road Federation, at the annual general meeting of the Federation in London on Tuesday. For whichever of these purposes, such a highway system is provided," Lord Sandhurst continued, "it automatically serves the other two. I believe that this fact is recognized in high places, which makes it all the more astonishing that road development does not feature on the Government's list of priorities for capital investment.
Pelion on Ossa "In ccintradistinction to this disregard of road development. I am bound to add that road transport appears to have top priority when it comes to taxation. Each succeeding Budget has piled Pelion on Ossa in the way of additional taxation on motor fuel, and to crown it all comes the White Paper proposal to impose a levy. All these impositions have been energetically opposed by the Federation, and we have no intention of relaxing our efforts in the future."
Referring to a memorandum on London's traffic congestion prepared by the Federation at the request of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee in 1950, Lord Sandhurst said: "Traffic congestion in London is an only too familiar problem to us all. For this reason I feel bound to say a word on the excellent report published in February of last year by the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory' Committee. It is regrettable that neither the previous Government nor the present one showed, or show, any inclination to take action to heal the festering sore of London's traffic. lt has been, however, and will continue to be during the present year, the Federation's intention to focus public attention on this question."
In a Line or Two
The Quasi-Arc Co., Ltd., 13ilston, Staffs, has issued a brochure describing the Twin-Arc process.
The Lincoln Electric Co., Ltd., Welwyn Garden City, Hefts, has published its 1952 Weldirectory.
Albion Motors, Ltd., it is understood, has been awarded a contract to build a large number of 3-ton military vehicles.
"The Corrosion Resistance of Tin and Tin Alloys" has been issued by the Tin Research Institute, Fraser Road, Greenford. Middx, The Dutch road transport organiza
tion, Wegtransport has changed its address to 1, Rutger Ian Sebimmelpennicklaan, The Hague.
Members of the Engineers' Guild will hear an address on "industrial Relations," by Mr. R. Brown, M.P., at Caxton Hall, Westminster, London, S.W,1, at 6 p.m., on June 20.
Indexes to Volume XCIV of "The Commercial Motor," August 3, 1951January 25, 1952, may be obtained from Temple Press Ltd., Bowling Green Lane, London, E.C.1, price Is, 2d., postage included.
DRIVERS' NEW PAY DRIVERS of C-licence vehicles in the ballast and sand industry beneht by wage revisions agreed upon by the national joint council. With effect from June 7, class 1 drivers of vehicles under 12 tons gross weight will receive 2s. Hid. per hour and class 2 drivers 2s. 10d. Class 1 drivers of vehicles over 12 tons will be paid 3s. Old. per hour and class 2, 2s, Hid.
MK CAPITAL INCREASE?
O0,N June 20, an extraordinary general of J. Brockhouse and Co., Ltd., will be held to obtain sanction to increase the authorized capital from E2m. to £5m.