ROAD TRANSPORT MATTERS IN PARLIAMENT.
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Road Vehicles Bill Again Deferred. Railway Amalgamation, and the Unrealized Economies. The Rear Lights Measure.
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent.
pARLIAMENT was opened on the 8th inst. and the 1King's Speech revealed the fact that the Government cannot pledge itself to introduce the Road Vehicles Bill this session. It may be remembered that, a year ago, Colonel Ashley actually gave formal notice of the introduction of the BR but the session came and went without its appearance. He naturally does not wish a repetition of unfulfilled promises, or implied promises, although doubtless the House of •Commons will this session have to listen many times to the repetition of his favourite phrase—" as soon as Parliamentary time permits."
At the end of last session doubt was expressed in these columns as to the advisability of reverting to the original plan of proceeding with a big omnibus Bill instead of legislating by instalments and dealing first with public service and commercial vehicles. From the manufacturers' point of view this legislative instalment is the most urgent. Manufacturers desire to know where they stand in relation to restrictions upon design, etc., and one would have thought that this aspect of the matter would have made a greater appeal to the Government, which is concerned to assist and stimulate trade and commerce.
A comprehensive and complicated Bill covering all phases of road traffic has less chance of being proceeded with than one of restricted scope and practically non-contentious character.
Much disappointment will be felt that legislation is still in the air. There is only one small ray of hope. The King's Speech refers to "other important measures as time permits." But this is not too promising. The definite programme of public business for the session appears to be sufficient to keep the House fully occupied until the beginning of August, when it is proposed the session should end, a new session commencing in November and extending to the following August with a long winter interval.
Under the new arrangement it may just he pogSible to get the Road Vehicles Bill squeezed into the November programme.
It is, of course, a matter of great difficulty for the Government to satisfy the legislative demands of all departments, which have numerous Bills drafted and awaiting Parliamentary attention. The Road Vehicles Bill is in the departmental category and has, therefore, to compete with a large number of others for the residuum of Parliamentary time left over from firstclass Bills and urgent sessional business.
Record of the Railways.
ALONG-DEFERRED discussion on the position of the railways since they were amalgamated is promised for the 16th inst. Lord Monkswell is to ask the Government for its conclusions as to the result of the amalgamation, whether the expectations of economy have been realized and what steps the Ministry of Transport has taken to urge the railway companies to introduce improvements tending to better and safer service. In view of the recent decision to raise railway rates such a discussion might be useful at this time, but peers have a habit of frequently postponing their notices of motion.
Reintroduction of Rear Reflectors Bill.
CAPTAIN BRASS informs me that as the Road, Vehicles Bill is not being brought forward he hopes to reintroduce this session his Bill for making the CA rrying of rear reflectors on cycles compulsory. It
C26 may be remembered that, last session, the House, with a few dissentients, gave the measure a welcome on first reading, but as Captain Brass had not been fortunate in the ballot for private members' Bills, he had to take the chance of getting an unopposed second reading for his Bill after eleven o'clock. Those opposing, however, were watchful and, in spite of the gallant member's determination in seeking to move the second reading, a single "No" was sufficient on each occasion to prevent the progress of the Bill to committee. It is unfortunate that this stage was not reached, as the whole question of rear lights and reflectors might have been thoroughly discussed and the weight of the objections measured in relation to the interests not only of motor drivers but cyclists themselves.
Thames Bridges and Traffic.
ANUMBER of members are to interrogate the Prime Minister regarding the intentions of the Government relating to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Cross River Traffic and the reconstruction of Waterloo Bridge. This matter is likely to be the subject of conference with London County Council representatives, and thus a full statement may not he expected for some little time.
Medical Inspector of Factories.
TIORD ARNOLD intends, in the House of Lords on 1 the 23rd inst., to raise the question of Sir Thomas Legge's resignation from the position of Senior Medical Inspection of Factories, also as to the draft regulations made under the Lead Paint (Protection Against Poisoning) Act.
Covent Garden Bill.
ONE of the most interesting fights in the Private Bill Committee Rooms this session will take place over the Covent Garden Bill. The Bill proposes to• transfer Covent Garden market to Bloomsbury. This would, among other improvements, permit of what may be described as a second and wider Strand running parallel with the existing Strand, to the immense relief of traffic congestion in the district. There is, however, a large body of opposition, including the local authorities as well as private interests. Bloomsbury residents and property owners are concerned about the effect of planting a new market in their midst, and it is not surprising that the large business population located in and around Covent Garden are also a little perturbed about the possibilities of disturbance.
Bus Stopping-places in London. • ONE hears a certain amount of criticism amongst bus passenger g of the activities of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee in the allocation of stopping-places for buses in the metropolis. Formerly both tramcar and bus stopped close up to a road junction, and in changing from one service to another passengers had perhaps ten yards to walk, or, at the most, had to cross the road. The policy of the committee seems to be to have the tramcar stopping-places, as they were, but to stop the buses from 100 to 200 yards befora or after the road junction. Thus passengers have from 150 to 300 yards to walk when making achange, involving so much loss of time that much of the advantage of quickened means of travel is sacrificed. Fifteen of these retrograde alterations came into force on Monday.