Uneconomic Use of Vehicles Under Haulage Scheme
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AST week, in the " House," Captain
Strickland asked the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the M.O.W.T. whether he was aware that on November -5 a -16-ton wagon and trailer, No. .7 Q I0/ 16, was sent empty from Bristol to Cardiff by his Department to report to the A.R.H.O. and that up to November 13 this vehicle travelled 408 miles empty and 378 miles partly loaded. He asked whether, in view of the wastage of petrol and rubber involved, he would take steps to see that road transport was mcire economically employed?
Mr. P. J. NoehBaker, in reply, said that the vehicle in question is a 7-tonner operating with a 6-ton trailer. It was sent to South Wales to carry urgent and essential traffic for which local transport was not available. It was there engaged in delivering cement to various points, at none of which back loads were available. Every load it carried was of 10 tons, this being the
maximum weight which its mechanical condition made it safe fin it to take. In view of these facts„I cannot agree. that the vehiclewas wastefully used.
Captain Strickland: Are you aware of the scandalous misuse of road transport generally—the cast which I have quoted. is only one of many hundreds—and of the enormous distances that unloaded vehicles are sent, with great wastage of petrol and tyres?
Mr. Noel-Baker: This vehicle was sent, with many others, to deal with a particular emergency in South Wales, and, taken as a whole, I think the job that was done in .that .emergency was a very good one. In such cases the unloading Must be unbalanced and there must be some empty running, but if you will send nie details of any other special cases I will look into them, and I think that the answer will be as satisfactory as I venture to think my answer in this case has been.