The Minister at the Show Luncheon A T the Show luncheon
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the Minister of Transport, in proposing the toast of the commercial-vehicle industry, referred to the tremendous development of road transport. He could not fail to be impressed by its virility.
Inventors on the commercial side appear to have more originality, than those whose products were eXhibited at the Motor Show.
He was struck by the Nocial contribution of road transport. It made men and women more mobile and able to escape from the rut of their daily work. Working people and dwellers in rural areas could now visit places of beauty.
He was also interested in the fuel problem. It was precarious to depend upon imported fuel, but he congratu'lated those who were developing alternative fuels.
Dealing with the trolleybus, he rejoiced that this was a British inven tion. Tramways were the cause of much congestion. He was anxious that municipal undertakings should *appreciate the merits of the trolleybus. He hoped that the Hours and Wages Bill, to be introduced shortly, would receive approval. It would be a blessPing for road safety. It was necessary to have a rates structure, which would require careful attention.
There were now 4,000,000 driving _ licences renewed annually. If each represented a 15-ft. car, the length of the Brighton road would be covered 226 times.
Industrial traffic must come before pleasure traffic. Statistics of the .tonnage of -goods vehicles and cars passing had been made. A curious result was that they showed a relatively. small number of goods going any considerable distance. Only, one in seven goods _vehicles was travelling 150 miles or „more. This was important when considering the segregation of traffic.
Replying, Lord Kenilworth, C.B., said that t-ke Minister of Transport was giving evidence of goodwill to our industry. We must cultivate this. The speaker paid tribute to its strength and ability. Commercial vehicles were a revelation with daring technical innovations. He referred to the accessories and garage-equipment sections as being of great importanee. "The Guests" was proposed by Mr. C. B. Nixon. •Next to armaments, he thought that the spending of about £200,000,000 on new roads would be the best investment for this country.
The reply was made by Sir G. Clarke. C.S.I., C.B.E., President of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce. He was caustic on the road question. We had nothing to display in the way of scientific roads since the days of the Romans.