ROAD TRANSPORT MATTERS IN PARLIAMENT.
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The Motor Vehicles Bill. The Uncertainty About the Two-seater Cabs. The Gravesend-Tilbury Ferry Services. Petrol Pump Inspection.
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent.
pARLIAMENT reassembled on Tuesday last, the 9th iust., for the autumn session, and one of the first announcements .made, bearing out the statement made in these columns some months ago, was that no hope could be held out that the Bill relating to road transport would be introduced during the present session. This long-expected and much-overdue measure is thus postponed indefinitely. May it be suggested that the Minister of Transport ought to use all his persuasive powers to prevail upon the Prime Minister and the Cabinet to give facilities for the introduction and progress of this Bill, in which mechanical road transport interests are so materially concerned, in the early part of next session? The projected legislation, though it may be classed as departmental, is really of more importance than the usual run of departmental Bills which are struggling to see the light and for which the Chief Whip always finds the greatest difficulty in procuring an odd corner in the sessional programme.
Success of Roundabout System.
THE Minister of Transport has made the modest and belated claim that the roundabout system of traffic control in London has proved very successful. The House cheered assent. There is still, however, a fly In the ointment. Following upon caustic magisterial comments and some agitation in the daily Press, it may be assumed that the effect of the new arrangements upon the convenience and safety of pedestrians will be brought forward a little more insistently, and there is also the alleged disadvantage of one-way traffic from the shopkeeper's point of view. This latter aspect was touched upon by Colonel Ashley. He said that the Westminster City Council had informed him of complaints which they had received from shopkeepers in certain areas where the system was working to the effect that their trade had been adversely affected. In the case of one street—the Haymarket—the Council had asked for a reconsideration, and he was hopeful that a satisfactory arrangement might be reached.
'Two-seater Taxicabs.
THE Home Secretary has been interrogated once more regarding the advent of the two-seater taxicabs in London, and from his reply it would seem that the date of the appearance of the new vehicles on the streets is still very uncertain. Commander Bellairs asked how many taxicabs with cheaper fares were now plying in the London area, what were the prospects of the near future under the £350,000 guarantee, and how many of these cheaper taxicabs were being placed on the streets by the Beardmore Taxicab Co.
Sir W. Joynson-Hicks replied : "I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that no taximeter cabs are yet licensed in the Metropolitan Police area to ply for hire at the cheaper rate of fare. Two different types of cabs, namely, the K.R.C. and the Beardmore, have been approved by the Commissioner. In the case of the K.R.C., delay in licensing is attributed to the fact that it is not possible to obtain the materials for mandac ture, owing to the present dislocation of industry. With regard to the Beardmore, it has been ascertained that the cab which was approved as the first of its type has been sent to Scotland for the making of patterns and laying down of plant, etc., for the purpose of production. No definite information can be obtained as to the number it is proposed to place on the streets."
Sir Frank Meyer suggested that as there must 6e prolonged delay in putting the cabs on the streets, the Home Secretary should reconsider the position and c26
-lower the present fares. Sir W. Joynson-Hicks observed that that would be impossible till the promoters of two-seater cabs had been given a chance, which really they had not yet had, to put them on the streets.
Crawling Taxicabs.
THE question of crawling taxicabs is still under the consideration of the London Traffic Advisory Committee and no indication can yet be given, when their report will be made. As the Minister of Transport points out, the subject is one of considerable difficulty and complexity.
Gravesend-Tilbury Ferry Services.
UPON Mr. Albery urging the need for an improved and cheaper ferry service betwe.en Gravesend and Tilbury, the Minister of Transport stated that he had communicated with the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company, who informed him that a new steamer designed for vehicular traffic was placed on this service in October, 1924, and that, in view of the increasing number of motorcars using the ferry, they were considering the question of providing an additional steamer of the same type. He was also informed that the ferry charges were revised at the beginning of this year and were reduced in several cases. The company assured him that the ferry service was continuously under consideration and that they would take any reasonable steps to meet the wishes of the public.
Inspection of Petrol Pumps.
REGULATIONS under Section 2 of the Weights and Measures Amendment Act, 1926, are now in process of preparation by the Board of Trade, but have not yet been made. This official informatics.) comes in reply to a somewhat premature inquiry by a member who wanted to know if any proceedings had yet been instituted under the Act in regard to petrol' pumps, Little Danger from Trolley Wires.
T"question of danger to pedestrians resulting from breakage of electric tramway trolley wires having been raised, the Minister of Transport mentioned that the number of reported cases of injury caused by the falling of conductor wires in the Metropolitan Police area was very small, and it would not seem that any legislation was necessary.
London's Travelling Facilities.
THE London Traffic Advisory Committee's report on the inquiries held regarding passenger travelling facilities in North and North-east London and East London may be published in a few weeks. It is now in the hands of the printer.
Grants to Rural Areas.
A PPLICATIONS for grants from the Road Funcl tiunder Circular No. 234 have been received by the Ministry of Transport from 56 borough councils in England and Wales. Eleven of those boroughs have lbeengaccepted as eligible for grants under the scheme, the decision in each case being based upon a careful study of the general character and population of the locality. Upon being asked how it was judged whether a borough cotincil was rural or not, Colonel Ashley hesitated to give reasons for his decisions, as some of them might be challenged, but, broadly speaking, the requirement was that the area should be rural in character and the population not more than one to the acre.