Road Transport Activities
Page 39
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
IN PARLIAMENT
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent
Penzance-London Flowers Service.
T t TR. O'CONNOR asked the Minister IlL of Transport whether his attention had been drawn to the inauguration of ' a daily service of lorries designed to haul 16 tons of produce, from Penzance to London, in what was said to be a running time of 13 hours for the distance of 305 miles. In view of the impossibility. of maintaining this service without frequent breaches of the speed limit, the Minister was asked whether he proposed to cause proceedings to be taken against the company which had instituted this service.
Pybus replied that he had seen a reference in the Press to the inauguration of the service. The enforcement of the provisions of the first schedule to the Act with regard to the speeds at which motor vehicles might be driven was a matter for the police, whose attention was being drawn to the question. [An official of the company has stated that the figures for time and distance referred to in Parliament are inaccu rate—En.]
Services to theSeaside-.
CROOM-JOHNSON called the 1.Y.Lattention:of the Minister of Transport to the decision of the Western Traffic Commissioners in refusing licences to coach proprietors who had run express coaches from London and other popular centres to seaside resorts in the west of England. He suggested that, in view of the importance of assisting such resorts in every possible way during the prevailing economic difficulties, the Minister should issue a circular inviting the Commissioners, in arriving at decisions, to give consideration to the desirability of encouraging holiday-makers. Mr. Pybus said he had received representations from certain local authorities on the matter. In view of the provisions of -Section 72 of the Road Traffic Act, he did not think it was necessary for him to issue general directions on this point.
Extension of L.G.O. Services.
SM A. KNOX asked the Minister of Transport on what grounds he. on October 9th, allowed the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., to extend its services between Slough and Windsor, thereby reversing the decision of May 22nd, 1931, by the Traffic Commissioners of the Southern Area. Many small owners had already been refused licences to continue existing services, their applications being in ajmost every case opposed by the L.G.O.C. on the ground that the services: on this road were already sufficient.
Mr. Pybus said that the company lodged appeals against certain decisions of these Commissioners on four through services, on a route of which the road in question formed a part. An inquiry was held into these appeals on August 6th, and, after careful consideration, his predecessor decided to make Orders on the Commissioners requiring them to modify their decifion in regard to three of the four appeals.
Small Owners Supported.
MHEN Sir A. Knox asked whether, in 1.-view of the fact that this decision of the Minister was in direct variance with his expressed intention, stated in the House, that he would give a fair deal to the small owners, he would reconsider this case. Mr. Pybus replied that no evidence had been produced that a fair deal had not been given in this case. Sir A. Knox wanted to know whether it was not a fact that• eight small bus owners were banned from this bottle-neck through Eton and that extended facilities had since been given to the L.G.O.C. • Mr. Pybus said it was obviously impossible to discuss, across the.floor of the House, the details of cases which took days to hear, but if Sir Alfred had anything 'that he would like investigated he would be glad to go into it.
Are Central Signals Better ?
TT was suggested by Major Thomas that all traffic-signal lights should, in future, be hung up over the centre of the road, where they could be more easily seen than when erected at the side of the road. Mr. Pybus said that the question of the best position for light signals was under consideration by the departmental committee.
Road and Bridge Schemes.
THE Minister of Transport is not yet in a position to publish'the special tabulations including the saving to public authorities due to the postponement or withdrawal of road schemes.
He informed,Mr. Parkinson that 28 Lancashire schemes of road and bridge improvements aided from the Road Fund had been postponed or curtailed in the interests of economy, whilst others were under consideration. The deferred expenditure was estimated £1,250,000.
Road v. Rail Struggle.
SEVERAL members have been assured that the information and representations wljdch Mr. Pybus recently received from the four main -railway companies, in S memorandum on the question of the effect on railway traffic of the competition of road transport, were now being carefully examined. Plea for Simplified Licensing Procedure.
QUDSTIONS arose regarding the difficulties of small bus owners in Presenting their cases before the Traffic Commissioners. Mr. Lawson asked whether the procedure could not be simplified. He pointed out that great combines could employ costly counsel and that the small man had, therefore, no chance.. His suggestion was to prohibit legal representatives and let applicants put their own cases.
Mr. Pybus said he had previonsly indicated his desire to 'see that everyone appearing before the Commissioners had an absolutely fair chance, but he obviously could not go so far as Mr. Lawson suggested. Mr. Lawson invited the Minister to visit one of these courts when cases were being examined and be would agree that the small man had no chance. Mr. Pybus remarked that he had already made such a visit. Another complaint was that some small bus proprietors had had to give up their right of appeal because of the expense involved, including the supply of typewritten copies of the evidence. Mr. Pybus was content with saying that typewritten copies of the evidence -were necessary only in the event of cases going to appeal.
London Coach Restrictions.
A REQUEST was made for a statement of the restrictions imposed by the Metropolitan Commissioner on the passenger services connecting London with Epping, Waltham Cross, Waltham Abbey, Hertford, Ongar, Bishops Stortford, Dagenham and Southend, of the appeals that had been made and the results.
The Minister stated that the preparation of such a comprehensive statement would involve considerable labour and would impede the Commissioner in carrying out his duties.
Lost Property on Coaches.
SIR J. HA.SLAM asked the Minister if he was aware that Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., was making a minimum charge of 2s. and a maximum charge of 13s. 6d. for returning lost property to its owners. The company retained 1s. and the balanco svas paid to the conductor or finder of the property. In view of the fact that finders who failed to restore lost property Were liable to prosecution, the Minister was asked whether he would consider an alteration of certain of the provisions of the Road
Traffic Act. ' • . • Mr. Pybus said he was aware that certain hardships had arisen-out of the provisional regulations now in force, and he had already, asked the various interests concerned for their views as to the possibility of amendment in the future.