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A National Policy for Road Transport

15th November 1935
Page 69
Page 69, 15th November 1935 — A National Policy for Road Transport
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

THAT the control of all roads should be in the hands of 1 a Central Highways Board was an argument put forward by Mr. R. W. Sewill in his address dealing with a national policy for road users at the conference of Associated Road Operators, held at Olympia on Monday last. He pointed Out that the maintenance of the 'reads in this country was in the hands of no fewer than 1,350 local authorities, and that on the London to Birmingham road' alone; a distance of 110 miles, 23 different road surfaces were used. There was, said Mr. Sewill, no co-ordination between the various authorities, and a central board was an urgent necessity.

In addition to controlling all the roads of the country, it .should alse.., control signalling and all privately owned bridges. The elimination of level crossings is also a matter or considerable urgency,

Dealing with the financial aspect of the problem, Mr. Sewill said that the cost of the national trunk roads should not fall upon the ratepayers. The Association cannot, however, accept the policy of the Salter Commission, in which it was suggested that road users should defray the whole cost of the roads: In the opinion of the speaker, two-thirds of the coats should be borne by all road users, the other one-third being paid by public utility companies, such as the light and gas concerns who have a big interest in the highways.

The £100,000,000 Road Scheme Deceptive,

Mr. Sewill commented upon the proposal of the Government to spend £100,000,000 on the roads during the next five years. This, he said, is not so generous as it might appear ma first sight, as it amounts to but ,E20,000,000 per annani, whereas it was necessary that a."100,4100,000 should be. spent immediately to bring the roads of the country up to date.. There is no reason why this sum should not be -raised by way of a .Government Loan, but, said the speaker, had the whole of the contributionS to the Road" Fund been allotted to its proper purpose, instead of large sums being diverted year by year to general Exchequer purposes, we should now have a satisfactory highway system.

A lively discussion followed Mr. Sewill's address, and Mr. Raymond Birch said that no doubt, the Government

found it convenient at this moment to increase the expenditure on the roads, as it provided a good excuse to resist any efforts that may be made for reduced taxation.

Mr. Rees Jeffreys, Chairman of the Roads Improvement Association, fully supported the policy of A.R.O., and he said that operators have fully recognized that traffic is now limited by the capacity ofthe roads. He . suggested that if the Government does alic;t large sums of money for road improvements, careful watch should be kept to see that

this money was spent on the roads and that it did not go to the relief of local rates. In the opinion of Mr. Jeffreys, at least half of the £75,000,040 paid by road users in taxation each year should be spent on the roads.

Several speakers: dealt with the question of a united effort by road transport to gain the support of Parliamentary candidates, and Mr. Lloyd, of Manchester, said that efforts to educate candidates were proving successful, hut that the industry must go further than this and educate the public.

Major the Hon. Eric Long, T.D., J.P., spoke during the afternoon session on the subject of how to obtain recognition of the Association's policy. He outlined. some of the steps that had already been taken to further the industry's demands for fair play.

On the question of police .persecution, Major Long said that Parliament never realized the 'methods which would be employed' to enforce the regulations, and the Association was taking up certain cases with the Home Secretary, drawing his attention to the unfair methods used.

The case for road transport needs no 'exaggeration whatever, said Major Long, but it does require sound explanation so that Members Of Parliament shall fully appreciate the difficulties facing the industry.

On the subject of petty regulations and police persecution, Major Long said that, in his view, 70 per cent, of the magistrates do not appreciate the difficult conditions under which drivers are working. He urged the setting up of special traffic courts presided over by magistrates who understood and appreciated present-day conditions.

Road Transport Essential in Emergency.

Major Long concluded by saying that transport must of necessity loom large in the Government's progranime, for it was, he said, of little use to increase the armed forces of the country and its armaments if the question of rapid tfansport were not at the same time taken into consideration.

During the discussion, Mr. Wilkinson suggested that if the Government really wanted practical advice, heavy goods and passenger-vehicle drivers should be represented on the Advisory Committee.

Several speakers dealt with the question of gaining the support of Parliamentary candidates, and one speaker raised considerable enthusiasm when he said that the candidate in his constituency had first refused to agree to the A.R.O. questionnaire, but had changed his mind and signed the document when it was explained to him that his support of the policy would influence nearly 1,000 votes.


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