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Road Transport's Opportunity
Page 71
Page 72
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ELDOM does the road transport industry have opportunities of placing its considered views before Parliament. The coming General Election, however, affords an invaluable chance of impressing upon candidates not only the urgency of many of the problems concerning our industry, but of indicating to them the enormous power which lies within the capacity of the transport vote.
It is of the utmost importance that we should have a stable Government, but it is vital to the interests of road transport, both on the manufacturing and operating sides, that the new Government should not be so overwhelmingly railminded as that which has just been dissolved. It is only by educating the individual members and obtaining from them promises to pay sympathetic attention to the many urgent matters constituting our case that we May expect more impartial treatment in the future.
Untrammelled by restrictions imposed in the interests of the railways, coastal shipping, etc., road transport would have no need to fear fair competition. At present, however, it is burdened by grossly excessive taxation and legislation designed to limit its activities and reduce its strength. Yet our industry has done more to reduce . unemployment than any other. It employs many more workers than the railways for a corresponding tonnage of goods or number of passengers carried. The more it be encouraged, the more will unemployment be benefited.
Questions to Ask Candidates.
At the forthcoming election, questionnaires as to his sympathy with the requirements ofroad transport are to be placed before every candidate.
One from the Associated Road Operators constitutes a searching catechism which should prove of the utmost value. It asks whether the candidate agrees that, apart from the general question of support for the League of Nations, the principal issues before the electorate are the provision of adequate defence forces efficiently equipped to deal with any national emergency, and further measures calculated to reduce unemployment; whether he agrees that such provision is dependent upon the further development of road transport, in view of the fact that it is the only form. of inland transport which cannot be readily paralysed by enemy action from the air, and that its further development would help to solve the unemployment problem, over 1,250,000 people being already dependent on road transport for their livelihood as against 700,000 dependent upon the railways.
Points on Taxation and Discrimination.
It goes into the question of taxation and asks if the candidate agrees that there should be no fiscal discrimination between the different forms of transport, and if special taxation above the proper contribution. of motor vehicles towards the cost of the roads be levied, that similar special taxation should also be imposed on all other forms of transport, so that they may compete under fair conditions. Whether he agrees that there should be an immediate reduction in the petrol and oil duties and in the licensing duties on goods and public-service vehicles; if there should not be a Central Highways Board free from political influence, which should take over privately owned bridges and deal with the elimination of level crossings and the control of road traffic.
Other important points are whether increased safety could not be secured by providing a road system which would eliminate congestion ; that the principle of denying to traders the right of free choice of their road-transport facilities should be condemned; likewise any legislation designed to limit the radius of action or function of commercial vehicles ; and that proprietors of public service vehicles should be permitted to provide enough vehicles to accommodate passengers who desire to travel by road.
Finally, it asks if the elected candidate would be prepared to join a committee of Members of Parliament pledged to hold a watching brief in the interests of road transport and to take measures necessary to secure a fair deal for the industry.
If the other associations concerned put forward similar points just as emphatically, the results cannot fail to be of considerable benefit to the trade as a whole.
As vr,e go to press a list of questions for submission to Parliamentary candidates has been received from the Commercial Motor Users Association.
These also deal with the rights of manufacturers and traders to free choice Of transport, the speeding up of the highway programme, the allocation of the whole of the proceeds of commercialmotor taxation to the highways,. and freedom for coach operators to provide an adequate number of Vehicles. An additional question concerns an impartial investigation of railway, finance, with particular reference to redundant capital, before any further legislation restricting road transport be passed.
Another Minister of Transport I
PTHE present Minister of Transport, Mr. Hore .1 Belisha, is apparently to be faced with strong opposition in his constituency, and there is considerable doubt as to his being re-elected. If this prove to be the case it will mean that we shall have another Minister Of Transport. In any case, there is no certainty that in any Ministry the existing Minister will return to it. In this event, the whole transport system of the country may again be subjected to the unsettled conditions engendered by the indiscriminate experiments of an individual.
It would be fai better for the industry if the whole constitution of the Ministry could be changed, and the control vested in a permanent committee of thoroughly qualified men with a transport expert at the head.
This is not the first time that we have expounded this view, but each change makes the need even more apparent. It is little less than tragic that our business should be upset by the whims and, perhaps, political ambitions of men seldom selected, for their knowledge of the problems existing. Surely an important appointment should not be treated as a stepping-stone.
The World at the Show
FROM November 7 to 16 inclusive the Cornmercial Motor Exhibition at Olympia will be the focal point of road-transport operators or potential buyers throughout the world. Wherever one goes abroad one hears the British-built commercial vehicle highly -praised. There is no question that the foreigner has an excellent opinion as to the capabilities of our designers, and there is little doubt that many of those who visit Olympia will be there to learn.
In the vehicle section there will be 91 exhibitors, 15 more will be found in the special hall devoted to municipal vehicles, appliances and industrial motors, whilst the accessory stands will be occupied by over 220 concerns. From the details of the exhibits which we include in this issue, it is certain that this great Exhibition will be one of the utmost interest. Everyone who wishes to keep his transport up to date and operate it on the most economical lines should not fail to visit this Show and to make a most careful examination of all classes of vehicle which may meet his requirements.