IN PARLIAMENT
Page 79
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By our Special Parliamentary Correspondent
lir R. HERBERT MORRISON made, last week the fol11Llowing important announcement in the House of Commons regarding the Government's policy on London passenger traffic:— "The Government has now examined the London traffic situation. We agree with the opinions expressed by'''the London and Home Countibs Traffic Advisory Committee, that no lasting solution of the dual problem of the congestion of the streets and the provision of proper facilities for the travelling public will be found unless further steps be taken towards eliminating uneconomic and unnecessary competition.
"We also agree generally with the Committee, that a farreaching measure of unification under public control is essential to progress, and that, on the other hand, given unified management, and efficient operation of the various passenger-transport agencies in the London traffic area, there is little doubt that the consequent elimination of the present wasteful competition would result in sufficient revenue being obtained from the' operation of the several undertakings, at the present level of fares as to leave, after meeting all legitimate claims and obligations, a margin available to attract fresh capital sufficient to provide for a programme of steady and continuous development of the traffic facilities of the,area.
" We have given the closest attention to the form which the pooling of resources and co-ordination of management thus indicated should take, and we have come to the conclusion that the ends in View can be fully achieved and that the public interest can be fully• safeguarded only if existing sectional financial interests be consolidated by the replacement by a single and simple form* of public ownership of the complicated networeof separite.interests, private and municipal, which now add so greatly to the difficulties of the situation.
"We shall, therefore, proceed at once to explore with all the interests concerned, and with the asSistance of an eminent chartered accountant, a plan for the complete consolidation upon fair and equitable terms of the passengertransport a_gencies now providing services by bus, by tramway or by‘locil railways in the London traffic area. We hold that in any such schtme all the existing municipal interests should be included from the start. The relations to be established between the consolidated enterprise and the amalgamated railways is an important point which merits and will receive careful consideration.
"Whilst the Government has decided that the principle of public ownership should be applied, it desires to make it clear that its intention and aim will be to assert and effectively to provide for the principle of commercial management of a self-supporting, consolidated transport system, thus ensuring the advantages of vigorous business enterInise. We take the view that with efficient management the potential earnings of London passenger traffic, fully coordinated as we propose, are such that no form of liability need be entailed upon public funds or public credit, and upon that assumption we shall proceed.
." In conclusion, I would add that, in view or the intricacy of the matters to be pursued, no further statement is to be expected for some time." In reply to questions, Mr. Morrison added that the statement he had made meant that the LondonATraffic Bills which were previously before the House were, in the opinion of the Government, not a solution which was adequate or in the. public interests. The responsibility of providing an alternative scheme fell upon the Government, and it accepted that responsibility.
This was the basis and principle upon which it would proceed. He did not think that his statement %bore the interpretation put upon it by Mr. Harris, that it was intended to set up a new form of traffic trust, to which municipal tramways would be handed overaway from municipal control, but Mr. Morrison stated that he could
not at that stage go further into details of the subject. It was generally assumed in the lobby that the authority which the Government had in mind was a body similar to the National Electricity Board.
.Dumping American Vehicles.
COLONEL HOWARD-BURY suggested that, in view of the fact that a million American motor vehicles might, next spring, be dumped on the European market, owing to the financial depressiois in the United States, and that a conference was to be held on December 10th, in Brussels, to try to establish a quota system for the import of American cars into the various European countries; the President of the Board of Trade should take steps to be represented at the conference. Mr. Wm. Graham said he assumed that the conference referred to was the regular meeting of the various associations representing the motor, .manufacturers in the various European countries. He Was informed that British motor manufacturers would be represented there, and no question arose of participation by His Majesty's Government.
Foreign Army Vehicles.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL BROWN Pointed out that Yeomanry regiments, which, eight years ago, were converted into Tank Corps companies, were still equipped with obsolete foreign vehicles, and suggested that the Secretary for`War should have them supplied with British machines. Mr. T. Shaw said it was realized that the vehicles in possession of the Territorial Army Armoured Car Companies were obsolete. This yea i a certain number of Rolls-Royce cars was made available for training in camp, and two light six-wheeled lorries were, throughout the year, issued to each company for transport and elementary-training purposes, and were increased to four during camp periods. The arrangements for next year were under consideration.
Public Authorities and Licence Duty.
REPRESENTATIONS have been received by the Government from*Bethnal Green Borough Council and other local authorities, urging that mechanically propelled road vehicles owned and used by public authorities for highway construction, maintenance, cleansing, or other publichealth serviaes should be exempt from licence duty. Mr. Morrison points out that Parliament has not seen fit to differentiate in the matter of licence duties between vehicles in the ownership of public authorities and similar vehicles otherwise owned, such duties being levied upon the road user without reference to ownership.
Delegation of Road Functions.
IT is officially stated that 580 district councils have applied, under the Local Government Act, 1929, for the delegation of functions in respect of unclassified roads. Seven county councils have granted all applications for delegation and 29 have refused. The 'remaining county councils have granted some applications and refused others. Appeals against refusals are under the consideration of the Minister of Transport.
Horsed Traffic in London.
T"prohibition of horsed traffic in the more congested streets in the West End and the City of London, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., has been suggested by Mr. Ball-Caine. Mr. Morrison points out that the matter has been considered more than once by the London Traffic Advisory Committee, but in view of trade requirements and the conditions under which certain traffic is conducted, the proposal is not considered practicable.