Road Transport Activities
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IN PARLIAMENT
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent
HYDROGENATION AND ROYALTIES.
THE Secretary for Mines was asked to state what sum would be payable in patent royalties in connection with hydrogenation of coal under the Government Scheme on the basis of hydrogenating 250,000 tons of coal per annum and whether these rvalties would be payable to interests in this country or abroad. Mr. E. Brown said the question of payment of royalties or fees was a commercial matter between Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd., and its partners in International Hydrogenation Patents, Ltd. He did not consider that he should be justified in asking Imperial Chemical Industries to Aisclose information of this character.
CONNAUGHT ROAD BRIDGE.
MR. GROVES having called attention to the proposal that no vehicle exceeding 5 tons should cross Connaught Road Bridge, South West Ham, and to the congestion of traffic to and from the docks that would result, Mr. Stanley said the bridge belonged to the Port of London Authority, which proposed to prohibit. the use of it by vehicles with an axle load exceeding 51 tons, which represented a total weight considerably above the 5 tons mentioned.
DIPPING OF HEADLIGHTS: NO COMPULSION.
lk 4R. R. RUTHERFORD asked if-it .1-V1 was intended to make the dipping of headlights at night compulsory. Mr. Stanley said that ordinarily a driver should dip his headlights when approaching another vehicle at night, but in an emergency such a coarse might cause rather than prevent danger. For this, among other reasons, he had up to the present decided against making any regulation.
TRACKS FOR CYCLISTS.
A aR, STANLEY states that only one liflproposal by a highway authority for the provision of separate tracks on the public highways for cyclists has been submitted. It is one in connection with the extension of Princess Road, Manchester.
HYDE PARK LIGHTING.
UPON a request for the provision of extra lamps on the roadways in Hyde Park, especially on the North and West, in view of the great amount of traffic, the First Commissioner of Works, Mr. Ormsby-Gore, said the class of vehicle which could use these' highways was limited and there was a 20 m.p.h. speed limit in the Royal
Parks. He was afraid that in these circumstances, and having regard to the financial considerations which it involved he could not see his way to entertain the proposal. In considering next year's estimates, he would look into the matter.
THE HIGHWAY CODE.
jAt SUGGESTION was made that the PA. revised edition of the Highway Code now in course of preparation should be issued free from the condition by which Crown copyright was reserved, so that those responsible for the production of newspapers, periodicals, journals and books might be encouraged to assist in making the provisions of the code known to all road users by reproducing copious extracts from it or republishing it in a popular form. Mr. Stanley stated that the copyright of all Government publications was vested in H.M. Stationery Office. Permission was, however, readily given for the reproduction of the provisions of the Highway Code.
LIGHTING OF TAXICABS.
SIR J. NALL pointed out to the Minister of Transport that Section I of the Road Transport Lighting Act, 1927, which exempts drivers at authorized car parks from keeping vehicles illuminated during hours of darkness did not apply to taxicabs on authorized ranks, and he asked whether, having regard to the difficulty of maintaining lights during long intervals of standing, particularly in provincial towns, the Minister could take steps to apply the exemption to taxi-' cabs in appropriate cases. Mr. Stanley said he would consider the suggestion in connection with the subject of regulations generally, which is at present under review.
HUMBER CROSS-RIVER TRAFFIC.
'UPON the question of assistance tog." wards a new modern bridge over or a tunnel under the Humber being revived, the Minister of Transport said it was for the highway authorities concerned to consider whether they desired to renew their efforts to obtain Parliamentary powers for this project, but in the present financial circumstances it was not possible for the Government to make a grant towards the cost.
GOVERNMENT AND ACCIDENT RISKS.
THE Assistant Postmaster General staled that the drivers of mail vans owned by the Post Office were not insured. In the event of an accident in which the driver was involved, it was the practice of the Department to accept the same degree of liability in respect of a claim for civil damages as was imposed on a private employer. The Government did not insure its property or it servants.
LOCAL SPEED LIMITS.
THE following applications for local speed limits have been granted:— Southampton County Borough Council, 15 m.p.h. on roads in the Southampton Docks; Isle of Ely County Council, 10 m.p.h. for heavy vehicles on a short stretch of road in Wisbech; Oxford County Borough Council, 80 .m.p.h.; Worcester County Council, 4 mph. on a short stretch of road through the Abbey Gateway, Malliern.
Applications not granted were received from Isle of Ely County Council, West Riding County Council, Berkshire County Council, Dundee Town Council, and Tottenham Borough Council
HYDROGENATION OILS BILL: COMMITTEE STAGE.
TH first rst meeting of the Standing Committee of the House of Commons to which the British Hydrogenation Oils Production Bill has been committed took place on Tuesday.
Mr. Grenfell moved an amendment to permit Parliament to terminate the preference at any time, his object being to maintain control over the manufacturers. In the discussion it was suggested by a member that there was a possibility that the production of coal would be increased by 25 per cent. by this legislation for the protection of the manufacturers. The amendment wab rejected by 32 votes to 4.
Another Labour amendment which was also rejected by 34 votes to sought to apply the preference only to motor spirit manufactured under State ownership and control. Mr. Grenfell said he objected to State money being used in the interests of private companies. Mr. E. Brown, Minister of Mines, remarked that if the enterprise which had produced the new processes had been left to the State the start would have been made in the year 2035 instead of 1935.
• The first clause was agreed to and the committee adjourned. 825