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Road Transport Activities
Page 103
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in PARLIAMENT
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent
Tourists and Commissioners.
1/1-R. D. G. SOMERVLLLE asked 111.the Minister of Transport whether there was any organization which was concerned with representing at the proceedings before the different Traffic Commissioners the reasonable claims of pleasure seekers and ordinary tourists in respect of the provision of coach
traffic. If there was not, would he consider the desirability of ensuring the representation of this point of view at all inquiries.
Mr. Morrison replied that he was not aware of any organization of the nature referred to. The Traffic Commissioners were required when considering applications for road-service licences to have regard to the extent to which any proposed service was necessary or desirable in the public interests. It was open to the applicants and local authorities concerned to argue before the Commissioners ,that there was a public demand for the service in question and to call evidence in support of their contention.
The Use of Trailers.
SIR C. OMAN asked the Minister of Transport whether he would take measures to prohibit the use of three or more trailers on commercial vehicles passing through towns or along narrow roads. Mr. Parkinson pointed out in reply that the number of trailers as limited by the Road Traffic Act was: in the case of a heavy or light locomotive, three ; in the case of a tractor, one if laden or two if unladen ; and, in the case of a motorcar or a heavy motorcar, one.
Agricultural implements and vehicles used solely for carrying water for the drawing vehicles did not count as trailers for the purposes of the section. The Minister was empowered to reduce these numbers by regulation, but he did not think that at the present time there was sufficient ground for the exercise of these powers.
Carrying Passengers in Lorries.
SEVERAL questions and answers were heard regarding the conveyance of passengers in lorries. Mr. Freeman asked Mr. Morrison whether he was aware that to enable lorries to convey .persons on special occasions a road-service licence involving an expenditure of £5 or fa per lorry must be first obtained, and whether, owing to certain difficulties, he would consider granting facilities to meet the case, Mr. Morrison said the matter was governed by Section 61 (3) of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, and the question involved was not the payment of a fee for a licence as a public-service vehicle, but the fact that vehicles of the lorry type could not conform with the conditions prescribed for vehicles used for the conveyance of passengers. The provisions of the section referred to were aimed at preventing the use of such a vehicle for the conveyance of eight or more passengers, except in the special ease where the lorry was being operated to convey workpeople in the course of, or to or from, their employment. Mr. Morrison added that he could not alter the law.
More Opposition.
THE Conservative Agricultural Committee, on the motion of Major Colfox, MP., last Tuesday, appointed a deputation to wait upon the Minister of Transport to press for the amendment of the Road Traffic Act in order to facilitate the use of farm lorries for the conveyance of cricket and football teams, etc.
Granting Road-service Licences.
IT was suggested by Rear-Admiral Sector that the Minister should arrange to bring forward into the lists of notices and proceedings of the Traffic Commissioners all applications from operators for road-service licences in respect of services that had been commenced since his warning in July last, and that the hearings for these should be expedited.
Mr. Morrison said that the fixing of the dates of hearings was a matter for the Traffic Commissioners concerned and he saw no reason for interfering with their discretion.
Sir Frederick Hall suggested that a more expeditious and less expensive machinery for dealing with applications might be considered. Mr. Morrison said that with a view to saving time and expense arrangements had been made by the Commissioners to sit in various parts of their areas, and he was unable to suggest any more expeditious or less expensive machinery for dealing with these applications than that at present in operation. He had every hope that so soon as the Commissioners' decisions were given upon a number of applications involving questions of principle it would be possible for them to deal with the remaining applications more rapidly.
Motor-vehicle Regulations.
MHE Minister of Transport was
asked by Mr. T. Snowden what statutory and other provisions regulating the use of motor vehicles had been repealed by Orders made under the Road Traffic Act, 1930, and what was the position of matters meanwhile. For instance, Mr. Snowden asked, was there any provision now in force restricting the overcrowding of buses and other public vehicles, and did he intend to consolidate the numerous Orders made since the passing of the Act together with those made prior thereto, affecting motor vehicles under the Lighting of Vehicles Act, 1927, the Roads Act, 1920, and the Highway Code, so that those affected thereby might understand their obligations?
Mr. Morrison stated that generally where provisions relating to the use of motor vehicles had been repealed by Orders made under the Road Traffic Act, 1930, their place had been taken either by the provisions of the Act itself or by Orders or Regulations. There was not at the moment any provision in force governing the carrying of standing passengers in buses, but regulations on this somewhat difficult subject had been discussed with the organizations interested and would be made shortly.
So far as he was aware, the only other provisions relating to the use of motor vehicles which had been repealed and had not yet been replaced were certain articles in the Heavy Motor Cars Orders -restricting the use of weak bridges. These would be replaced by Section 25 of the Road Traffic Act so soon as the form , of the necessary notices, which he was discussing with the railway companies and others interested, had been determined. With regard to the collection and consolidation of the Regulations, he had the point in mind for consideration at a later date.
Bus Proprietors' Deputation Refused.
iurR. CAMPBELL asked the Minis1Y.Lter of Transport whether he had considered the request sent to him from the Association of London Omnibus Proprietors for official guidance as to the representation of its interests on the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee, and as to the need for closer definition, so far as the association was concerned, of Section 99, sub-sections 2 and 3, of the Road Traffic Act, 1930. Mr. Morrison wee also asked whether he would receive a deputation on this subject.
Mr. Campbell further wished to know whether there was any member on the Advisory Committee representing, and nominated by, the Association of Loa, don Omnibus Proprietors and, if not, whether the Minister would consider the appointment of such a member.
Mr. Morrison replied that he had considered the applications of the association referred to and that replies had been sent. The association had been infoimed that he was unable to receive a deputation.
Oil from Coal.
INFORMATION as to whether the 'International Hydrogenation Patents Co. had been registered for the extraction of fuel oil from coal, whether It was operating in this country and whether the directors were foreign was sought by Mr. Batey.
Mr. Shinwell, Secretary for Mines, said, concerning the formation of the International Hydrogenation Patents Co., that it was part of an arrangement between the interests in this and other countries which held the principal patent rights and technical information concerning the hydrogenation process, for a pooling of the rights and information, with the object of securing the proper development of this process.
The company had not been registered in this country, but had its headquarters on the Continent and, as was to be expected with a concern of this kind, its directorate was international in character. The company was, he said, not an operating company,