Let Private Enterprise Build Roads Mr. Rees Jeffreys
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A PROPOSAL that private enterprise rIbe given an opportunity to build .roads was made by Mr. Rees Jeffreys, chairman of the Roads Improvement Association, at its annual meeting last week. He said •that the Government pleaded lack of,funds as an excuse for delays in providing well-designed highways. !` Excuses can always be found by • unwilling governments," he said. "Money and labour would be found if Parliament-and the publicdemanded -adequate and safe • roads. Parliament , and the public remain apathetic and the owners and users of road vehicles, remarkably so."
Turnpike System
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Parliament failed to devise any scheme for providing roads for coach traffic and finally private enterprise was called in. The turnpike system was established and, although it was extravagant, many of themost important highways in Britain were built. "Was it not worth considering whether private enterprise should not be called in to co-operate in building the roads required for modern high-speed motor traffic?" he asked.
Turnpikes were being built in the U.S.A. by private enterprise, and there was a place for them in that country, where the expenditure on roads was several times greater per head of population than in Great Britain. Unless road users wished to be crowded and taxed out of existence, they would have to take the initiative in providing the roads they needed to drive their vehicles in safety and at the speeds for which they were designed.
He alleged that many railway lines, with their level-crossings, weak bridges and severance of land, added largely to road transport costs. The organized railway vote which existed in every constituency deterred many Members of Parliament from considering the problem of road transport in a dry light.
Mr. J. S. Killick, said that the R.I.A. was campaigning for an extra £20m. for urgent repairs. This expenditure would be immediately remunerative and if continued for three or four years, would reduce the present annual wastage of over 040m., arising; from • congestion and road casualties, by 50 per cent. This sounded fantastic but was based upon careful investigations.
ROOTES' CANADIAN EXHIBITS
A MONG the many products of the Rootes Group to be exhibited at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto from August .22 to September 6, will be the following:—Hillman estate car, Commer express delivery van and two 25-cwt. vans. Rootes Motors (Canada), Ltd., will also stage a Hillman estate car.
OPINION ON RULING
rOUNSEL'S opinion has been taken
by St. Andrew's Council on the ruling by the Scottish Secretary cf State to prohibit night work at the proposed bus station to be erected in the town. This has discouraged the sponsoring company from going ahead.