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I.T.A. Objections to Traffic Bill

12th May 1933, Page 60
12th May 1933
Page 60
Page 60, 12th May 1933 — I.T.A. Objections to Traffic Bill
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

STRONG opposition to many of the clauses of the Road and Rail Traffic Bill is being put forward by the Industrial Transport Association. It says that the Bill in its present form, and the increased taxation in the Budget, constitute a severe handicap on trader-owned vehicles which must retard trade and lead to unemployment. The Bill not only seeks to place upon road transport an undue share of road costs, but denies to it the unrestricted use of the roads consistent with regulations for public safety.

The Bill does not attempt to define the factors which will guide the licensing authorities in determining whether any particular vehicle shall be permitted to run. As presented, it would empower the Minister to prohibit the transport by road of goods of any particular class, or the use of vehicles for any purpose. It seeks to remove, by the introduction of a method of railway charging completely contrary to previous practice, the safeguards obtained B42 by industry' after prolonged negotiation.

Whilst the Association is prepared to agree that certain amendments to the Railways Act, 1921, and other statutes may be desirable, it cannot subscribe to the drastic changes proposed, as there is no warrant for this in the Final Report of the Royal Commission on Transport, or the Report of the Conference on Rail and Road Transport, Severe limitation upon the right to run on the road, relief of railways from legislative restriction, and increased motor taxation, jointly provide the elements for a monopoly of inland transport by the railways, more complete than ever before.

The Association maintains that the new taxation, together with existing laws and regulations, adequately meet any supposed injustice suffered by the railways by reason of the alleged favoured position of road transport. Before any further change in the law be attempted, the whole question of the Proper division of function between road and rail transport should be completely investigated by an impartial and judicial committee, before which trade and industry should be fully able to state its case.


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