The Work of the Road-Rail Com • mittee.
Page 40
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WE have several times expressed our surprise at the wide terms of reference as originally drafted for consideration by the new Committee on Road and Rail Transport appointed by the Minister of Transport.
As a result of protests which have been made, the Minister has now decided to revise the opening clause of the reference, so as to define more closely the scope of the inquiries.
It is now stated that the Committee has been formed from the point of view of establishing what would be a fair basis of competition and division of function between the rail and road transport of goods, and for the purpose of furnishing advice and information upon which the Minister of Transport will invite the views of highway authorities and other interests concerned; to consider the facts relating to the incidence of highway costs in relation to the contributions of the different classes of mechanically propelled vehicle, and to consider the nature and extent of the regulation which, in view of modern economic developments, should be applied to goods transport by road and by rail., The proviso which strikes us as being the most important is that which concerns the opportunity given to the various interests affected to give their views on the results of the deliberations of the Committee. To enable this to be done thoroughly, the opinions expressed by the Committee will have to be circulated fairly widely so that all the interests concerned will be able to express their views regarding them.