Road Transport Activities
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in PARLIAMENT
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent
London Passenger Transport Bill.
THEJoint Committee of both Houses which is considering the London Passenger Transport Bill met Jest Tuesday, after an adjournment of a. fortnight, when an important announcement was made to the effect that the Minister of Transport had reached a 'settlement with the four main-line railway companies, as well as with the Underground group. These petitioners have, therefore, withdrawn their opposition to the Bill. • .
Mr.' Wilfred Greene, K.C., on hehalf of the promoters, pointed out that the settlement with the Underground group had been approved by the shareholders and its terms would be explained later. All along the Minister of Transport had been anxious to establish a satisfactory relationship between the enterprises which the Board would conduct and the suburban lines of the big rail way companies. In the original Bill closer contact was provided for, and a great limitation of competitive services would be secured in cases where they were uneconomic and detrimental to the public interest.
There would also be rights of obtaining a system of unified receipts and .unification of financial interests. Discussions had led to an agreement on broad and complete lines which provided for pooling the passenger receipts of the Transport Board and of the suburban passenger services and the main-line railways. The peel of the
• receipts would amount to about 37,000,000 a year, and the effect would be to introduce a further element of stability.
Right of Local Authorities.
COUNSEL next referred to the fact that the local authorities were given a right under the Bill which they did not possess before, to initiate suggestions and representations on fares, services, improvements, extensions, facilities and so on, and to submit them to the Board.
Referring to the opposition to the Bill, Mr. Greene stated that on the figures for 1929, 89 per cent. of the total of 2,954,000,000 passengers carried in the London area by companyowned undertakings were conveyed by the Underground group.
It was hoped that it would be possible to institute machinery for facilitating agreements regarding conditions of employment in the undertakings taken
over by the Board. Counsel further expressed the Minister of Transport's readiness to enter into any discussion with parties desiring to come to an agreement.
Mr. Wrottesley, K.C., intimated that the principal objections of the mainline companies had been removed, but there would, he intimated, be amend. ments which the companies would desire to see inserted in the Bill. Sir Leslie Scott, K.C., for the Metropolitan Railway Co., requested that the proposed amendments, resulting from the agreements, should be tabled at once, because it was vital to the Metropolitan Co. that it should have the fullest information from the promoters.
Mr. Greene promised to submit the amendments at once.
Taking Over Undertakings.
riN the resumption of the proceedings the following day Mr. Greene indicated the terms upon which the various undertakings were to be taken over by the Board. He distinguished between those owned by local authorities and those privately owned.
In the case of the local authorities, the service of the loans contracted by them and repayment of principal would be assumed by the new Board, and it would become responsible. The Board was not taking. over the debts. The net effect was that the tramways were transferred from one public authority to the new public body. As members of the travelling public the ratepayers were as well off in one case as in the other, because they were the ultimate beneficiaries.
In the case of the Underground and Metropolitan Railways, the transfer was to be on the basis of the issue of stock. In the ease of the independent proprietors it would be stock or cash, or partly one and the other, as agreed upon or determined by the arbitration tribunal. In the case of the smaller proprietors the transfer would probably be done on a cash basis.
More Taxation Suggested!
ASUGGESTION was made by Sir Charles Oman that the Chancellor of the Exchequer should take measures to implement the recommendations ' of the Royal Commission on Transport by imposing increased licence duties on vehicles weighing more than four tons unladen. He was informed that the Chancellor could not undertake to add to the Budget proposals.
M. of T. Refuses, to Relent.
THE Minister of Transport was asked by Mr. Reiner if his attention had been called to the inconvenience caused to motor manufacturers by the regulation that all motor vehicles must have wings attached, and if be would take steps to meet this difficulty.
Mr. Morrison replied that the driving of a chassis without mudguards, along roads, could cause considerable inconvenience to the public, audit was mainly for this reason that the regulation with regard to the fitting of wings to motor vehicles was made. Temporary wings made of such materials as wood, and canvas could, he said, he fitted with little trouble and expense, and he did not see his way to relax the regulation. .Regulations on Dazzle.
-NTR. REMER called attention to a 1V_Lreeent accident at Meriden, Warwickshire, involving the death of two persons. He asked the Minister of Transport if he could consider making regulations to require overhanging loads on lorries to be more clearly lighted, and issue regulations or recommendations as to proper conduct of motorists in connection. with headlights.
Mr. Parkinson, Parliamentary Secretary, stated that according to his info rmotion the accident referred to was due not to an overhanging load but to the driver of the vehicle concerned being dazzled by the headlights of an oncoming car. The Minister had had under consideration for some time the question of making regulations with regard to headlights; and a draft of these regulations was being circulated to motoring and other organizations.
Non-renewal of Licences.
SIR C. CAYZER suggested to the Home Secretary the collection of different . convictions of • motorists charged with not renewing .their motor licences, from forgetfulness, with the object of reaching a common policy to be recommended to the various benches of magistrates in dealing with such cases, more specially in view of the fact that in some cases motorists had been suspended for a period of .12 months, thus losing their livelihood.
The Under-Secretary, Mr. Short, said it was for the Courts to determine what sentence or order . within the limits allowed by law .was appropriate.
Col. Howard-Bury had a question on the same subject. He asked, the Minister of Transport whether, , seeing that if tif driVer of a..motor vehicle : were to forget by one day to renew his driver's licence he became ,an uninsured person and liable to fines amounting to £70, three months' imprisonmentnnk to have his licence takenaway for 12 'months, be wOuld ask,' :instead of discouraging, all county councils to send out reminders to drivers a fortnight before their licences expired. '
Mr. Morrison said he could not adopt the suggestion that councils should be urged to issue reminders of expiry of motor drivers' licences, as he did not think that the advantages obtained by such a system would justify the expense and work involved. With a view to overcoming the difficulty more effectively than by means of reminders, he was in consultation with the representatives of motor; insurance interests with regard to the particular class of case out of which Col.Howard-Bury's • question arose.
• A Common Practice Deprecated.
TAIOR THOMAS suggested that liLthe Minister of Transport should issue instructions that all public passenger vehicles shall be fitted with some form of door or gate which shall be opened only at authorized stopping places in order to prevent the practice of mounting and descending from these vehicles while in motion.
Mr. Parkinson, Parliamentary Secretary, said he thought that the compulsory fitting of doors or gates to the vehicles mentioned would tend to cause inconvenience and delaY, and would not contribute appreciably to public safety.