The London Passenger Transport Bill
Page 49
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THE proceedings in Committee of the House of Commons on the . Loudon Passenger Transport Bill were extremely slow, there being evidence of much opposition to the Bill. On the second day the discussion had reference to the Government's amendment to Clause 1 for the appointment of the Transport Board bi a body (referred to as the appointing trustees), consisting of the chairman of the London County Council, a representative of the London „ Traffic Advisory Committee, the chairman of the Committee of London Clearing Bankers, the president of the Law. Society, and the president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and 'Vales; the appointments to be made by the appointing trustees after consultation with such persons as they may think fit.
Mr. Pybus pointed out that the method proposed would give effect to the decision already come to that political changes would not be represented in the personnel of the Board. One of the appointing trustees was to be a member of the London Traffic Advisory Committee, and here again, as in the personnel of the Board itself, they had provided for a proper recognition of the importance of the local authorities in this matter. Of the 30 members of the Advisory Committee no fewer than 23 would be representatives of local government, After a great deal of discussion regarding the appropriateness of the apoointments the Government amendment was agreed to. Several alternative suggestions were either negatived or defeated on a division, including proposals that the appointing trustees should include a .representative of labour, a representative of Middlesex County Council, the president of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, the chairman of the Co-operative Union, and the president of the Society of incorporated Accountants and Auditors.
It was agreed to insert amendments requiring that in the case of two members of the Transport Board they shall be persons who have had not less than six years' experience of the local government within the London Passenger Area. Amendments were agreed to .empowering the appointing trustees, instead of the Minister, to fix the period of appointment. The power of dealing with leave of absence was left in the hands of the Minister. With regard to power of dismissal of -members of the Board, it was agreed after discussion to retain that power also in the hands of the Minister, with the addendum" after consultation with the appointing trustees." Thereafter the clause was adopted by 162 to 63, a series of strong eritieisms being directed against the Bin by Sir K. Vaughan Morgan.
Power to Manufacture Refused.
On the third day of the committee flisecissions, Mr. Parkinson, formerly Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, moved an amendment to Clause 4 to empower the Transport Board to manufacture as well as purchase rolling stock and equipment. He said that the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., had already works at Chis
wick for the Making of ehaSsis, and that this work should be continued.
Capt. Strickland objected to the amendment, as he maintained that it was best for industry generally thnt the Manufacturing &attracts should be open to competition.
Mr. Mitchell supported the amendment because the L.G.O.C. works were within his constituency.
Mr. Pybus, resisting the amendment, said that the proposal that the Board should have powers to manufacture was rejected by the Joint Select Committee on the Bill. Repairs and maintenance work, he assured the Member for Chiswick, would not be interfered with. The amendment was rejected.
In moving an amendment to Clause 8, which deals with the nature of the consideration given for undertakings, Sir Thomas Inskip, the Attorney-General, referred to the Lewis Omnibus Cu. having the choice of accepting stock or cash, and added that cash would be available for small undertakings which preferred to have it in place of stock in the combined undertakings.
Sir Philip Dawson and Mr. Berner moved as an amendment to Clause 14 a Provision that a Tilling undertaking should have payable in respect of it consideration that should not be less than such an amount of Transport stock as would produce income equal to the average annual net profits from the undertaking for three years previously.
Both speakers maintained that the profits for the Tilling undertakings would be reduced under the combine to the level of those of tie L.G.O. Co.
Sir T. Inskip said the London public owed a great deal to the Tilling services, and he personally had a great respect for them. They could not be given a privileged poSition, but if their claim was just the arbitration tribunal would doubtless recognize it.
The amendment was rejected.
On the fourth day of the committee stage, the question of power to manufacture was again raised by Mr. Parkinson on an amendment giving the Board power to manufacture everything required. Mr. Parkinson observed that, from a trade-union point of view, the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., was the best of employers, and it would be regrettable if workers lost their employment through this Bill.
No New Plant.
Mr, Pybus declared that the acceptance of the amendment would mean that the combine would have power to make all rolling stock at the Chiswick works. The Government could not contemplate powers to provide new plant in existing works, when similar plant abounded all over the country. The amendment was defeated.
Among the changes agreed to was the extension of the Metropolitan Traffic Area to include the whole county of Hertford. New provisions were inserted transferring to the Minister of Transport the powers of the Home Secretary with regard to the licensing of tramcars, light railway care or trolley vehicles within the Metropolitan Traffic Area. The Minister may, by order, provide for the granting of the licences by the Traffic Commissioner for the area, and for the granting of licences to drivers and conductors by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis or the Traffic Commissioner.
An order may also be made to transfer the licensing of drivers and conductors of public service vehicles residing within the area, or any specified part of the area, to the Commissioner of Police. The clauses of the Bill were disposed of and the consideration of schedules adjourned.