Striking Speeches at
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The Show Luncheon
ATthe inaugural luncheon of the Olympia Show, given by the Society of Moter Manufacturers and Traders, with Mr. P. F. Bennett, 0.B.E., President of the Society, in the chair, the toast of the road-transport industry and exhibition was proposed by Captain A. U. M. Hudson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry. of Transport.
After conveying the Minister's regrets at being absent, Captain Hudson congratulated the Society on the courage which had led it to hold its Exhibition in 1933, a faith which had been abundantly justified.
He then referred to the Five-year Road Plan, and that for the Severn Bridge, mentioning also that other schemes of special magnitude were under consideration. Figures, he said, had shown that the growth of the industry had by no means been checked. The number of commercial-vehicle licences had grown steadily from 458,000 in August. 1932, to 521,000 last year; the increase last year amounted to 15,000. The variety of types covered by the Exhibition was so great that no longer is it necessary for any user to " make do" with any particular type ; he can find anything that he requires:' Improvements and comfort had also greatly increased. He mentioned that during the past six months the number of killed and injured was 10,000 less than in the corresponding period a year ago; the killed were 500 fewer.
The reply was made by Mr. N. A Hardie, Chairman of the Commercialvehicle Committee of the SocietyHe said that the progress of road transpOrt had elevated the importance of the
Exhibition from a trade show to one of national interest. Many of the vehicle changes were the result of regulations: introduced by' the Government. Every-thing conceivable had been done
towards promoting public safety. Special attention had been paid to braking, suspension and springing. It was now up to the Government to construct roads for these vehicles.
Captain Hudson had quoted figures tO show the increase in commercial vehicles, but they did not apply to,
public-service vehicles, there being a decline in the number of these owing to
the Road Traffic Act and the amalgamations that had taken place. As a result the field had been restricted to replacements.
Mr. Hardie reminded Captain Hud son that in one year alone 473,000,000 had been raised in direct taxation from: the motoring public. The latter claimed that the moneys were not properly applied and were used for another cause for which they were never intended.
The road system was insufficient for the traffic, and when one considered that 12i per cent, of the national Budget was supplied by the motor industry it was remarkable that so little political recognition was given to it. The remedy was in our own hands, he said, and the fault was our own.
: A few weeks ago, at an important meeting, it was decided that the motor
industry must now co.-ordinate. This spirit of unity. long overdue, would now have a proper foundation.