Rapid Building Too Inflationary .
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THE Minister of Transport told the Conservative Party conference at Llandudno last week that although his -Ministry were making progress on road construction, he would not build new roads at the-price of making the nation bankrupt bY creating too much inflation.
Ile was urging the -ejection of a resolution which regretted "the hiek of progress in the -development of Major road
schemes." • The Minister pointed out that' since the subject was debated a year ago, the Department had started 28 major • road schemes at a cost of .-E20rn., and in the next six months they proposed to begin another 26 schemes costing £15m. In addition, 1,500 smaller schemes had begun since 1955.
A special section in the Ministry was now bringing road needs up to date so that they could build the roads really needed in the next 15 or 20 years.
After referring to the trunk road schemes already announced, the Minister insisted that he had already committed a large sum of money on roads—more than many people realized.
" We have a clear plan for the future which will give us this new trunk network of motor roads. The speed at which I build theta must be conditioned by my determination not to build roads that will either draw labour and material from export or increase the inflation. Subject to that consideration I am going to build the roads as fast as I can."
The resolulion was defeated.
"C LICENSEES TAKE TRAFFIC FROM HAULIERS"
" THERE are far too many vehicles on the road and some C-licence operators are carrying goods for hire or reward. Quite recently 1 quoted for a particular job and my price was £36. and the .work was completed by a Clicenee operator for £21," These statements were made before the Western Licensing Authority last week by Mr. H. Miller, operator of an A-licensed vehicle. when Bathamplon Coal Service, Holt, Wilts, sought to extend the radius of their B licence. Mr. Miller had been asked by the Authority why his vehicle had been idle for 100 days so far this year.
The application was refused for lack of evidence of need.
MILFORD HAVEN PROJECT
PLANNING to build a UOnt. oil refinery at Milford Haven, the Fsso Petroleum Co.. Ltd.. have applied for permission to develop about 1,000 acres of land in the area. The refinery would have a throughput capacity of 5m. tons a year.
The company's plant at Fawley has a capacity of 8m. tons a year, but work is in progress to expand it to 10.5m. tons by the end of 1958.