New Laws Needed for Hire Cars
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nUT-DATED legislation governing '-1 the operation of the car hiring trade is attacked in the annual report of the National Taxi-Car Association. It asks for a clear definition of the functions of a taxi-cab " and a "hire car."
Since the end of petrol rationing, it says, an excessive number of hire cars has begun operating, and the hackneycarriage and bona fide hire-car operators providing a regular service are being seriously prejudiced by the parttime operator seeking the "cream" of public demand.
The N.T.C.A. compare the situation with that existing in the coach arid bus industry before the Road Traffic Act, 1930, replaced legislation in force for the coaching industry under the Town Police Clauses Acts.
Recent attempts by some local authorities to take powers of control ' over private hire cars arc cited as a clear indication of the need for some review of legislation. , NO BIG LONDON ROAD.
IMPROVEMENTS WHEN the House of Commons disW cussed London traffic congestion problems, last week, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Mr. Gurney Braithwaite, again put forward restrictions upon capital expenditure as the reason for failure to embark upon large-scale road improvements. He mentioned, however, the numerous small improvements which it had been possible to effect and which had in toto eased the position.
No-waiting orders would soon come into operation in a number of additional streets, he announced.
Brig. F. Medlicott said that an investment of Om. in underground car parks would help to solve the congestion problees, which cost some £70m. annually. As dollars could be saved in this way, becatise less fuel would be wasted, he wondered whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer had made some caustic comments to his colleagues.
BIGGER EUROPEAN TRANSPORT MINISTERS' CONFERENCE?
PA.A RECOMMENDATION that a conference of European Ministers of Transport should be set up on a wider and more durable basis has been made by representatives of the membercountries of the Organization for European Economic Co-operation, and Spain, Yugoslavia and the U.S.A., which have been meeting in Paris.
The conference would aim to ensure the maximum use and rational development of all forms of inland transport, with particular reference to international co-ordination.
If the recommendation is accepted, a conference of 18 members will replace that representing the six Schumann Plan countries and Switzerland and Austria.