Road Transport Activities
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IN PARLIAMENT
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent
Rail-Road Conference.
nrillE Minister of Transport stated .1„. last week that he proposed to summon before Easter a small conference of or,ganizations directly concerned in the operation of goods transport by road and rail respectively. Two members suggested that the public and canal interests should be represented. Mr. Pybus replied that all interests would have an opportunity for presenting their views before he made any decision.
Numerous members have expressed to me their doubts as to whether new facts will emerge from the conference.
Hardship to Workmen.
ollt ALFRED KNOX wished to Oknow the reason for the Ministry of Transport refusing a licence, on aPpeal, to Mr. Victor Jones, to continue the bus service that he had been running for 20 months between Princes Risborough and High Wycombe. This refusal was said to have caused hardship to workmen, who had formerly been able to reach Wycombe factories at 7 aan. and works at Princes Risborough at 8 a.m., and to school children, who now had to walk from Bradenham to West Wycombe.
Sir A. Knox asked whether this case was not a typical instance of forcing the small pioneer bus owner off the road in favour of a great combine Mr. Pybus said he was sure that if the member would peruse the notes of the proceedings he would agree that it was somewhat unfair to make that general ex parte statement.
Mr. Marjoribanks asked whether the whole tendency of the administration of the Act was not to drive out the small owner. The Speaker intervened.
Speeding in London. ATTENTION having been drawn to the alleged excessive speed of coaches in London, the Home Secretary stated that the usual methods of obtaining evidence of the speed of motor vehicles were followed in the case of such vehicles. Between November 1st last and February 29th three summonses were applied for against drivers of coaches on the Embankment, and two written cautions were issued in relation to excessive speeds on the Embankment and in Edgware Road respectively.
Cost of Police Patrols.
THE aniount paid from the Road
• Fund in respect of motor police patrols from the inception of the service to February 29th, 1932, was as follows:—England and Wales £63,460, and Scotland £6,565, total £70,025.
The Minister stated that he was
• satisfied with the results already obtained from the use of the patrols, but he understood that the working of the system was shortly to be reviewed by the Home Secretary. The results obtained were certainly commensurate with the cost involved.
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More Detailed Statistics.
TT would seem desirable that a more /Particular classification should be applied to statistics relating to revenue received by the Exchequer from various classes of motor vehicle. For instance, a request was made the other day for a statement of the amount contributed in national taxation by the coach proprietors in the country, under the separate headings of revenue licences, petrol tax and road service licences. The Minister of Transport had to admit that this information was not available.
Road Companies and Key Bridges.
COL. MAYHEW asked the Minister of Transport whether he was aware that one of the railway companies had affixed notices, since the passing of the Road Traffic Act, restricting key bridges on the main roads leading to Liverpool, and whether he would exercise his powers under the Act to prevent this restriction of access by road transport to that city.
Mr. Pybus said he had no knowledge of the facts referred to, but if he were furnished with further information as to the railway company and the bridges concerned, he would cause inquiries to be made.
Reducing Licensing Inconvenience.
ASUGGESTION was made that the present system of licensing longdistance coaches should be altered so as to eliminate the necessity of applying to a number of Traffic Commissioners in respect of the same journey. Mr. Pybus pointed out that the requirement that a road service licence should be backed in each traffic area affected was an essential part of the licensing system, but he fully appreciated the desirability of keeping the procedure constantly under review, and making it as simple and convenient as possible.
Commissioners and Contract Rates.
TN askitesb for information as to the number of services in which contract rates had been increased or reduced under conditions imposed by the Traffic Commissioners, Mr. Lyons suggested the _introduction of legislation to appropriate to national revenue the increase gained by, the operators of the various services concerned.
Mr. Pybus said the information was not in his possession. In view of the Commissioners' powers to secure that fares [shall not be unreasonable, he did not think that action on the lines suggested was either necessary or desirable.
Inquiry Into Appeals.
"A TR. CHALMERS asked whethes IVJ_soine 600 employees of the Green Line Coaches, Ltd., had been or would be dismissed as a result of the refusal by the Traffic Commissioners to grant licences in respect of certain suburban services, and whether the hearing of the appeal would be expedited.
Mr_ Pybus said that the dismissals to which the member referred could not possibly be attributed to the cases now• under appeal. He mentioned that he had appointed a special committee of inquiry, with Lord Amulree as chairman, to consider the appeals in respect of these suburban coach services, and he hoped it would be possible for the committee shortly to open its inquiry.
Minor Motoring Offences.
THE Home Secretary intimated that revised orders as to the procedure in traffic cases were ;ssued by the Commissioner of Police on March 2nd, and they took effect from March 10th. They provided for a greater measure of decentralization in handling the reports in certain classes of case, and extended the categories of offences which might be dealt with by caution.
There would, of course, be no change in the practice with regard to cases of dangerous driving. The orders should result in a considerable saving of the time of the police, the magistrates and members of the public.
Pitfalls of Purchasing.
R. TURTON raised the quedion • 1.11.1. of the loss sustained by bona fide purchasers who had bought second-hand motor vehicles in ignorance of the feet that the payment of hire-purchase instalments had not been completed. He asked whether the Minister would make regulations, so as to provide that the purchaser of a motor vehicle shall have a good title to it, as against the vendor, in all cases where the latter has not lodged a certificate of charge with the registration authority.
Mr. Pybus said he had no powers by regulation to deal with the legal ownership of motor vehicles.
Fire Equipment on Vehicles.
li A S at present advised, the Minister
of Transport is not prepared to make regulations for the carrying of lire extinguishers on all commercial vehicles or private motorcars,
Road Service Appeals.
IT is officially stated that to Marchi 5th inquiries had been held info 448 appeals against decisions of the Traffic Commissioners in respect of licences for coach services, and decisions had been arrived at in 359 cases. Of the decisions, 137 involved Orders on the Commissioners, whilst in the remaining ff.: eases the appeals had been dismissed, and 441 appeals had still to be heard.