Ill-timed Anti-road Propaganda
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AFEW days ago a letter appeared in The Times, from the pen of Mr. Ernest Short, general secretary of the British Railway Stockholders' Union, asking for an analysis of the amount of traffic passing through St. Albans, as a prelude to the Ministry of Transport inquiry into the proposed by-pass for this city. The writer suggested audaciously, that much of the traffic could be diverted to the railways and said, " . . . only social planning at its craziest can ignore existing railway facilities when vast expenditure upon high-speed roads is under consideration."
Mr. Gaston Vincent, of the B.R.F., however, promptly pounced on this glaring example of .untimely anti-road
propaganda, and the result was a suitable answering letter in The Times of last Tuesday. Mr. Vincent points out how contrary the suggestions are to the current railway cleclaratioin that they have no desire whatsoever to interfere with other transport services. Further restriction would gravely harm both the trade of the country and the community in general, whilst for defence, industry, and public safety a new through road to the north is absolutely essential.
Mr. Vincent concludes: " No one wishes to ignore existing railway facilities, but equally we cannot afford to ignore the value of road transport in these critical times, which make it more than ever essential that it should be provided with adequate tracks to run upon." POPULARITY OF B:R.F. NEWPORT EXHIBITION.
The exhibition of the B.R.F.'s large working model, at the premises of Messrs. Atlas Garages, Newport, was .officially opened by the Mayor of Newport last Monday morning. Mr. Kenneth Read, assistant public relations officer of the Federation, was to have voiced a vote of thanks to the Mayor but owing to the considerable lateness of his train, he was unfortunately not able to do so.
Local interest has been aroused to such an extent that arrangements have been made to exhibit the //rode] for a. further week (that is, during next week). It is expected that members of the police force interested in road conditions will be inspecting the model, and a representative of the Federation is in attendance to explain the principles of a modern road syst6m.
Scottish Grocers Help the Grouping At a council meeting of the Scottish Federation of Grocers' and Provision Merchants' Associations, held in Glasgow, last week, it was reported that particulars of the emergency scheme had been sent to all the affiliated associations, quite a number of which had taken the necessary action for the formation of groups, and had placed their services at the disposal of the authorities.
North-West A.R.O. Has New Chairman.
A change has been made in the chairmanship of the A.R.O. North-Western Area Committee, Mr. T. Lawrenson having been elected chairman and Mr. Leonard Stubbs vice-chairman. The chairman of the Liverpool Sub-area is Mr. F. Blomley, of North Staffs Haulage, Ltd., and the vice-chairman Mr. A. S. Hughes, of Messrs. E. Hughes and Son.
Progress of A.R.O. in the West-Midland It should be noted, with reference to a paragraph in the issue of April 14, entitled " More Operators Join Western A.R.O.," that this applies to the WestMidland Area of the Association, and not that stated. Also, in the paragraph entitled " A.R.O. Sub-area at Whitchurch " in the same issue, the name " S. Parker" should be substituted for " S. Tucker."
New Council Members for B.S.A.T.A.
At the recent annual general meeting of the Ballast, Sand and Allied Trades Association, the following new members were elected to the Council:—