Transport Inquiry Not Expected Before Election—R.H.A.
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ACCORACCORDING to the annual report of DING Road Haulage Association, issued this week, they do not expect the Government, on the eve of a General Election, to accept their proposal for an impartial inquiry into transport. They hope, however, that the survey will be conducted after the Election, " so as to ensure that very large sums of money are not expended needlessly and without return on a section of transport which can never operate on a successful commercial basis."
This passage follows a paragraph on railway modernization, in which it is stated that the railways expect to improve and expand their road transport fleets, thus taking work from C-licence and hauliers' vehicles.
Little Benefit from 30 m.p.h.
There is said to be no evidence that the increase in the speed limit of heavy goods vehicles to 30 m.p.h. had either reduced drivers' earnings or, in the majority of cases, increased productivity. The bulk liquids group, in particular, say that they have been prevented from obtaining any advantage from the higher speed limit.
The Association admit that the appeal for funds for the publicity campaign was at first disappointing. One of the difficulties in timing the campaign was to forecast the likely date of the General Election.
A national licensing and objection scheme had been a failure. Revised conditions of carriage were being prepared.
The express carriers' group report that a memorandum on parcels operations had been drafted. Exploratory discussions have taken place on the possibility of members being able to offer, when agreement has been reached on a free trade area, a delivery service to Continental countries and a delivery service in Britain for Continental traffic.
Traffic Wrongly Placed The heavy haulage and machinery carriers' group complain that certain Government departments continue to pass abnormal loads to concerns having no facilities to handle them and accordingly have to sub-contract the work.
Discrimination by health inspectors against hauliers is alleged by the meat and allied trades transport functional group. "Complaints have been made that health inspectors, -although anxious to ensure that members operating specially designed vehicles equipped, in many cases, to a standard higher than that required by .the Food Hygiene Regulations, do not transgress the requirements of •the Hygiene Regulations, appear to condone the practice of meat being carried on the back seats of private cars, on the floors of utility vehicles and, in some cases, in vans with fruit and vegetables."
Members have been requested to secure information on the regular use of unsuitB7 able vehicles for moving meat from markets, so that further representations can be made to the Ministry of Health. The Home Office and the Ministry of Transport had been asked to assist in curbing illegal activities in the carriage of meat from markets, According to the tipping vehicles group, the agreement between the Central Electricity Generating Board and the British Transport Commission for the transfer of coal from road to rail, had, in some cases, raised thesost of moving coal to power stations.
Last year's subscription income (134,786) was a record. The Association's general fund at December 31 last stood at £126,146.
• PROTECTION SOCIETY FOR PASSENGERS
THE Passengers' Protection Association was launched officially at a Press conference in London yesterday—its main aim to campaign for better bus services.
President of the association is Finchley Liberal councillor, Mr. Frank Davis, who last winter helped to organize a free local' bus service in protest against London Transport's "inadequate services."
The association aims to enrol 250,000 members at an annual subscription of 10s., employ a 24-hr. official staff to deal with passengers' complaints and run its own fleet of buses for use wherever needed.
NEW GARAGE FOR NORTH WESTERN
NE'garage and workshop premises at Oldham will go into operation for the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., despite the objection of Oldham Town Council. The company's appeal to the Minister of Housing, following the council's objection, was upheld providing certain access conditions were observed.
The Minister said the corporation's fearthat. heavy ;traffic in the streets would be increased was not borne out. He also stressed that the company would be able to effect some economies as a result of the added facilities.
NEW L.T.E.COUNTRY GARAGE
THE second new garage to be opened
this year .by London Transport came into operation at Stevenage this week. It has covered accommodation for 49 buses and can accept a further 16 vehicles parked in the open.
The garage features an unobstructed floor space of 185 ft, by 98 ft., and the building blocks incorporate workshops, stores, administrative offices and a public inquiry office.
Bus and coach services formally worked from 1-litchin will be taken over, and the existing temporary garage in Stevenage will be closed.