A Transport Conference Suggested
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TIIE Minister of Transport has expressed the view that, whilst few questions are more apt to provoke controversy than those affecting transport, there is none which ought to be approached by all parties more from an angle of co-operation, both in.
study and in action.He doubted the utility of establishing another Statutory• Standing Committee for this purpose, but has put forward the suggestion that he has in mind, at an early date, to summon a conference representing a limited number of organizations concerned with the operation of heavy commercial transport, including the railway companies, and. from this to elect a small group of five, or perhaps seven, persons, under an impartial chairman, to report their views as to the proper functions of rail and road.
Th is would certainly appear to be a better method of obtaining coordinated views than is possible when each side is merely stating its own case without any real interchange of opinion. As ,a solution of the problem now confronting road and rail must eve,ntually be found, it might well be assisted by the conclusions of such a conference, which, h o wever, should be fully representative.
We prefer the proposal of Sir Arthur Griffith -Boscawen, who suggests a conference of the various competing transport agencies, the railways, road carriers and representatives of the traders and users of transport. The latter two, as being sections vitally affected, should most certainly have opportunities for pre senting their views, because road transport has done more for the general trade of this country than any other means for transit.
Mr. Pybus has pointed out that the eventual decision as to the definite policy to be followed must, of course, rest with the Government. Therefore, it is all the more important that 'every interest concerned should have the opportunity of stating its case, otherwise the decision to be made may be unduly Influenced by the railway side.
It is of interest to learn that the Minister has decided to issue as a White Paper the observations of motoring and other organizations, h i ghwa y authorities, etc., on the Final Report of the Royal Commission on Transport. This will, no doubt, form a good basis for discussion by any conference which may be arranged.
Whatever be the outcome, it must )be realized that road transport is already bearing far too great a burden. The cost of operating many haulage vehicles shows that the combined vehicle tax and petrol duty is now actually equivalent to the wages bill of the operators of these vehicles,