ROAD TRANSPORT MATTERS IN PARLIAMENT.
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London Taxicab Drivers and Their Complaints. Smoke Emission. Straying Cattle on the Road. An Additional Coach Attendant.
'By Our Special Parliamentary. Correspondent.
TAST week Mr. Benjamin Smith introduced a d d 4tation of 18 London taxicab driverstoa,.m meeting of Conservative members at the House of..Commons. The object was to urge reconsideration of the question of fares, in view of the Order requiring the alteration of taximeters to be made before September 1st. It was submitted that the Order should not come into operation until it had been ascertained whether the experimental reduction of fares Was to become a permanent reduction.: •
Arguments were reiterated against the reduction, it being pointed out -that the anticipated increase of custom had. not materialized and that, although the Reduction of fares was equal to 25 percent., the actual increase in the number of journeys had not exceeded 2i' per cent. Statistics were produced showing that the new scale was pressing with great severity upon the trade and details were given as to the cost of vehicles, police requirements and other circumstances which handicap the taxicab in competition with other modes of conveyance.
A good deal of sympathy was expressed with the case put by the ttrivers, and Sir William Bull, who is chairman of the Committee of Conservative London members, was requested to see the Home Secretary and discuss with him the present pogtion.
Emission of Smoke.
WIRE Home Secretary states that during the twelve ..I_ months ended June 30th, 1927, three reports were submitted by the 3rIetropolitan Police regarding the emission of smoke from steam tractors, but, owing to the qualification in Section I (1) of the'Locomotives on Highways Act, 1896,. as to the emission of smoke or visible vapour from a temporary or accidental cause, it was not possible to take proceedings in these cases. This qualification also accOnnted for the small number of eases reported. " The police, however, in the same period -instituted proceedings under a London County Council by-law for the prevention of smoke and noxious vapour in Blackwall and Rotherbithe tunnels in 180 cases, 29 of which are still pending, and 'secured convictions in practically every case.
The Road Transport Lighting Bill.
A S is stated on our first news page, Mr. Lougher's Bill has reached the Standing Committee and has been amended in slight detail. It is hardly likely to reach the third-reading stage in this Session.
Urbanized Beauty Spots.
THE disfigurement of the countryside, especially ' beauty. spots and -holiday resorts, with advertisements, industrial plants and other objects was the text upon 'which Sir Robert Thomas urged the Government to introduce preventive legislation. The Home Secretary, whilst willing to consider any practicable suggestion for protecting the natural beauties of the country, said he was unable to conceive how at would be possible in a single measure to deal with a' matter of such complexity involving so many different interests.
• Extensive powers had been conferred on local anthortties by the present Parliament to protect their districts against disfiguring advertisements, and in town-planning schemes for land about to -be developed for building, provision might be made for securing the amenities Of the area.
Sir Robert Thomas then asked the Minister of Health whether, in view or the steady encroachment of urban conditions upon the countryside, in consequence of the easy access afforded by road transport, the Government had considered the desirability of Setting apart ' certain districts as national parks for the purpose of health and holiday-making, with restrictions upon the erection of houses and industrial buildings. Mr. Neville Chamberlain stated that measures in this direction were not contemplated. Action on the lines suggested would involve considerable expenditure and he did not think the time had come for it. Much could be done by local authorities under town or regional planning schemes.
Straying Cattle on the Roads.
THE Justices of Essex Quarter Sessions having _L recently adopted a resolution that, in view of the increase in motor traffic, be 'maximum fine of 5s. imposed on owners of cattle straying On the highway was inadequate, the Minister of Transport has expressed his agreement that the maximum penalties are not heavy enough. He should be prepared to conSider their'increase in connection with any Bill to amend and consolidate the general law relating to highways and does not think a provision dealing with this subject could be included in the draft Road Traffic Bill, which deals mainly With the amendment of the law relating to vehicles.
Attendants for Motor Coach Trips.
TE Minister of Transport, in reply to the suggestion • that he should make a regulation that all motor • coaches proceeding on trips of more than one day's duration should carry an attendant in addition to the driver; in order to look after the safety and interests of the passengers in case of emergency, states that he has _no power to make a regulation of this kind. A. member advised him to take .powers under the Road traffic Bill.
Toll-gates on Rye-Winchelsea Road.
NEGOTIATIONS are proceeding between the Departments and the local authorities concerned for the taking over by the latter of the Rye-to-Winchelsea road, on which military tollgates are situated, The exact terms, of the agreement are still under discussion, but the Minister of Transport hopes tfiat a final settlement will very shortly be reached.
Road Grants to Scotland.
IT is estimated that the allocation to Scottish authorities out-of the revenues of the Road Fund available for distribution in grants during the current year will amount to i2,110,000. This sum does not include any payments towards expenditure incurred on works still in hand towards which grants have been made in previons years. !
Method of Road Grant Payments.
IT has been suggested by Mr. Remer that cheques for grants to classified roads should not be-sent through county councils • as this causes increased expenditure in local and national administration. Colonel Ashley pointed out that the bulk of classified roads were main roads, for which the county councils were financially responsible, or district roads towards the maintenance of which they contributed. It had been found .a convenient procedure to make all payments through the same channel.