Road Transport Activities in
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PARLIAMENT
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent
Nationalization and Co-ordination of Road and Rail Traffic. Imported Concrete Kerb
THE Minister of Transport, on being asked whether it was the intention of the Government to introduce legislation to nationalize the railway services and co-ordinate them with road transport on the basis of a living wage for all railway and transport workers, said the provisions of the Road Traffic Act would, in his opinion, enable a substantial measure of co-ordination to he achieved between railway and road
passenger services. The Act would also contribute towards the establishment of better conditions of employment in the industry of road transport.
The Royal Commission on Transport had received evidence as to the possibility of co-ordination between goods transport by road and the railways, and on the question of nationalizing the railways. He should prefer not to anticipate the findings of the report.
I understand that the report is likely to be issued early in the New Year.
Suggested Thames Riverside Road.
IN its report the West Kent Regional Town Planning Committee suggested the construction of a riverside road on the south of the Thames, starting from Plurnstead Bridge, in the Woolwich area, and continuing through the areas of Abbey Wood, Belvedere, Erith, Cray. ford and Dartford. Mr. Morrison stated that he had not received any official application in respect of the road.
The question would doubtless be considered in connection with any townplanning scheme which might be prepared by the local authorities through
the areas of which the road would pass. He was advised that at present it could not be regarded as a main line of communication.
Concrete Kerbs.
TAJOR CHURCH recommended itithat in view of the shortage of supply of British granite kerbs (as reported in our issue dated November 11th) the Minister of Health should give consideration to the use of concrete kerbs, for which a British engineering standard .specification was drawn up in 1928, in connection with housing schemes involving making up roads, and should instruct his inspectors to recommend the use of such concrete kerbs instead of imported Norwegian material.
Mr. Greenwood said that he did not receive exact statistics on this subject, but his impression was that concrete kerbs had for some time been used by local authorities to a considerable extent and their use was encouraged by his officers.
Major Church declared that at least one of the Minister's inspectors was apparently unaware that the use of concrete kerbs had been recommended by his department, or that that there was a standard specification, and had deprecated the use of such kerbs.
Foreign Roadstone.
THE figure of 172,000 tons of broken stone imported during the past nine months, chiefly from Belgium, having been mentioned in a request that representations be made to those making
roads to obtain the material from home quarries, Mr. Morrison, the Minister of Transport, pointed out that it must not be assumed that the whole of the imported roadstone was used for works over which his department had control.
In considering the figure of 172,000 tons it should be recalled that the total tonnage of roadstone conveyed over the railways in Great Britain during 1929 was little short of 9,000,000 tons, to which must be added materials conveyed by other means for transport.
Rubber Paving for Roads.
MR. MORRISON has informed Mr. Naylor that the experimental rubber paving in New Bridge Street, London, was laid for the City Corporation in October, 1926, but it is too enrly for opinion to be given on the results.
Standing in Buses.
THE breaking of regulations concerning standing passengers in London buses having been referred to by Mr. Sorensen, the Tinder Secretary at the Home Office, Mr. Short said it was the declared policy to allow some latitude in the matter during the rush hours, provided that the number of standing passengers did not exceed five.
Where this number was exceeded or standing passengers were carried at other times of the day, notice was taken by the police and in 12 months ended October 31st last proceedings were instituted in 110 cases. In addition, proceedings were, in 70 cases, instituted against conductors of motor coaches.
Reminders to Drivers.
ASKED in connection with the decision to discontinue the issue of notices to drivers whose licences are expiring, Mr. Morrison said he was antisfied that it was necessary that there should be uniformity of practice in this matter, as difficulties had arisen in eases where a person had moved from the area where reminders were issued to another in which they were not.
After careful consideration he bad, he said, reached the conclusion that the expense entailed by the adoption universally of the practice of issuing reminders would not be justified.
Mr. Morrison had, therefore, notified licensing authorities that as from December 1st, cost of issuing these reminders could not be accepted as a charge against the Road Fund.