THE ROAD MOTOR'S INFLUENCE ON RURAL LIFE
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An Agency which Changes Personal Qualities and Requirements, Checks Depopulation and Benefits Agriculture
AN interesting paper concerning the effects which the improvement of road transport has had upon life in rural areas was read last week at the Public Works, Roads and Transport Congress (1931) by Mr. F. Cl. Richens.
The author pointed out that road transport, essentially a product of this age, has contributed in no small measure to the development, economic and social, of Great Britain. No country, he said, can be regarded as economically developed until every part of it is within easy reach of an efficient transport organization, and, here, this was not so before the introduction of motor vehicles.
Lives Profoundly Affected.
Recent statistics, although difficult to analyse, suggest that such a vast amount of road traffic, urban and rural, cannot have failed to affect profoundly the lives of village dwellers.
Fifty years ago they were served only by railways and local carriers with horse-drawn vehicles. The railways touched few villages and often the station was—and still is— miles from them, whilst the old-time carrier gave relatively slow and uncomfortable transport. In hilly districts the usual practice was to dismount from the vehicle and to help push it uphill, whilst in the winter it was not unknown for a homeward, journey to be postponed in the hope that the next day would bring more favourable weather. Fares, after allowing for the changed value of money, were about twice as much as is now charged on regular bus services. Travel is more comfortable, swift and reasonable in price, and regular services provide connections with main-line trains, thus simplifying travel for the village dweller and bringing rural communities into intimate contact with the great transport systems of the country.
The reform of road administration was as essential to the development of road transport as was the improvement of the roads themselves. There was one other factor vital from a traffic standpoint, that is, the effect of modern traffic requirements upon rural buildings, streets and amenities. In this connection, the Roads Improvement Act of 1925 has been of great assistance in facilitating the removal of old obstructions and the prevention of the erection of new ones. Many isolated buildings have been demolished and numerous village streets widened, whilst, by the removal of hedges, visibility has been improved at many corners. In some cases, however, it has been found to be more practical to by-pass a village, rather than to reconstruct its ancient arrangements.
Possibly the most important effects of the road motor upon village economy have been those in the sphere of agriculture. At the present time over 1,000,000 people are employed in this work. There is no doubt that motor vehicles are being used increasingly by farmers and those connected with farming. In September, 1929, there were 2,164 vans and lorries and about 250 tractors registered purely for farm purposes, and there are thousands of other vehicles, both passenger and goods, giving valuable service in one way or another to the community.
Supplies may be ordered and delivered in one day, often direct to the farm, large stocks need not be maintained, there are no heavy labour charges for perhaps half-aday's hauling, loading or unloading at a railway station is probably avoided, but even if it be necessary to send a man to an adjacent railway station, the lorry 'greatly decreases the time spent upon the journey. The transport of produce is also improved by the use of motor vehicles, and a similar reduction in wages cost is effected, whilst time --very precious where perishable farm commodities are concerned—is saved.
Exhausting Droving Avoided.
Another problem which has been simplified by the motor vehicle is that of the transport biy rohd of horses and cattle, by which long and exhausting droving is avoided.
The tractor is still the subject of some controversy, and it has been contended that the gain in time is more than offset by the indifferent quality of the work performed, but ploughing is certainly speeded up, and the comparatively recent innovation of mole drainage has been encouraged by the fact that tractors give the even pull that is necessary.
Small holdings are peculiarly assisted by a convenient and efficient means for transport, as these holdings are often established in districts which would otherwise be quite inaccessible. Close connection with the national transport system is essential to a small holder if he is to secure a ready market for his produce. It must also be remembered, when considering the question of land settlement as a remedy for unemployment, that the settlers are frequently people used to town life, and they would certainly object to being transferred to a remote district if they had not the benefit of road transport.
*Better Supplies Assured.
Apart from a tendency to reduce prices, the increased efficiency for motor delivery has brought to the • average villager a far wider range of commodities and goods than was at one time obtainable. It removes or reduces inequalities. between the prices and varieties of goods sold in town and village shops and in different parts of the country, and perishable commodities are more widely consumed than in former days. Certain classes of meat, at one time rarely found on the cottage table, are now commonly eaten. Beef, and, in sonic districts, mutton, have only recently been eaten by ordinary villagers.
There was even considerable enmity existing between the inhabitants of different villages. Cases are known where residents of one village could not enter the other without running a grave risk of making acquaintance with the village pond, and little attempt was made to break down the Barriers of ancient animosity, but the coming of road transport and regular bus services have changed erstwhile enmities into a keen rivalry which finds vent in football, cricket and other forms of competitive sport. Thousands of villagers have to thank road transport for the manner in which it has widened the circle of acquaintance and the field of sport.
Education has been improved to a marked degree. It is impracticable to build a senior school for one village, but now children from a distance can be transported daily to and from school.
Foremost amongst the many benefits should be ranked the revolution which has taken place in the distribution of newspapers.