Minister Against Road Board
Page 37
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THE idea of a national highway authority was attacked at the anniversary luncheon of the Institute of Transport in London last week by Mr. J. A. Boyd-Carpenter, Minister of Transport.
Action to improve the roads would not, he said, necessarily be secured by setting up another Government body. The authority would be no more effective than the Minister in obtaining funds from the Treasury.
At the same time, the claims of transport for an -increasing share of capital resources was beginning to be recognized. Since April I last, 240 schemes on trunk and classified roads had been started,
Mr. Boyd-Carpenter hinted that strong objections were being made to he routes of the proposed new roads. An interesting phase had, he said,. been reached in the public approach to roads, In the past there had been a unanimous demand for them, but to that chorus had now been added calls to build them almost anywhere but in the places proposed.
Mr. Peter G. Masefield, the president, opened the subject of transport expenditure by pointing out that every pound wisely spent would be returned in eight yea Ts.
DIRECT VAN DELIVERY TO CONTINENT
TO avoid shipping delays asSociated with usual methods of exporting, Bevan Funnell, Ltd.,. Finsbury Road, Brighton, 7, makers of reproduction furniture. last week sent one of their Bedford vans laden, with furniture by ferry to Holland so that the goods could be delivered direet.
The van was taken to London for loading on the s.s. Falcon. The crew of two, one of whom is Dutch-speaking, then flew to Holland to meet the van at Amsterdam. They also mapped the delivery route so that future drivers can be briefed.
PROMISES, BUT NO WITNESSES ALTHOUGH an appellant had received offers -of work, provided that he could obtain a B licence for two tippers, he had been unable to persuade .tnyone to travel to London to give evidence in his favour.
This explanation was given to the Transport Tribunal last week by Mr. H. Grannum. representing Mr. J. T. Kennedy, 24 Ruckles Close, Stevenage, whom the Metropolitan Licensing Authority had refused a B licence for two tippers.
Respondents were W. Harrison and Sens (Garages), Ltd., Welwyn, and F. Savage and Co:, Walkern. Mr. Grannuin said that these operators had described themselves as general carriers, whereas his client wished to carry topsoil, muck and rubbish, which could not be construed as " general goods."
The appeal was dismissed.
Walsall Concession Bill for Old People •
DER MISSION to allow concession' I travel for old people is tO be sought by Walsall Corporation in a Parliamentary Bill.
When the recommendation came before the council, Sir Cliff Tibbits, chairman of the finance committee, accused ClIr. F. Thicken, chairman of the transport committee, of misleading them on the estimated cost of the concession.
Thickett had said the cost would be between £.8,000 and £9,000 a year, bin two years earlier the transport manager had estimated that jt would cost £15,000-£.23,000.
The council accepted the recommendation by 34 votes. Sir Cliff abstained from voting.
COUNCIL GIVE "CO AHEAD"
AT their meeting last week, Birmingham City Council decided to promote another Parliamentary Bill seeking authorization to extend free travel facilities and concession fares on corporation buses to certain categories of disabled person.
Earlier this year, a similar Bill was rejected by a Select Cornmittee of the House of Lords after it had been approved by the Commons.
BILL ON RURAL SERVICES ABILL to provide for the improvemerit of road. rail and water traitsport in rural areas is to be read in the House of Commons for the second time on December 9. It was 'presented last week by Mr. Baldwin.
IN A LINE. OR 'TWO
Skefko Ball Bearing Co., Ltd., are issuing 400,000 £1 ordinary shares. 'The issue will raise 1650.000.
Kennings, Ltd, are issuing .585,991 .5s. ordinary shares and £600,000 51 per cent. unsecured loan stock.
A van of the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society, described last •week as a Dennis, was in fact an Albion.
All drivers of the Bristol Division of the National Benzoic. Co., Ltd., gained safe-driving awards for last year.
A bus station built by Washington Urban District Council at a cost of £11,000 will come into operation nextMonday.
Plates. at 5s. each, for attachment to tipping lorries to give warning of the danger of reaching under the raised body, are now available from the National Road Federation.
.About 650 people, including Mr. E. R. chairman, and Mr. W. 12. Pearson, managing director, attended the annual ball of Searnmell Lorries., Ltd., at Watford, last Friday.
The annual dinner of the West Midland Division or the Traders' Road Transport Association will be held in Birmingham on February 6. The Coventry Area's annual dinner will take place at Kenilworth on November 23 and the Wolverhampton Area's dinner at Dudley on November 30.