Trade and Industry First
Page 31
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE Government, m . its efforts to bolster up the railways at the expenSe of road, transport, fails lamentably to appreciate , to the full the real crux of the transport problem, that is, the needs of trade and industry.
In these days of intensive production of merchandise and foodstuffs, both for home consumption and for export, economic and, perhaps, what is more important still, rapid transport is a most vital factor which often affects both: price and quality. Many manufactured articles involve transport at several stages during production, so that extra costs and delays in transit may be multiplied several times. Road transport does more than any other form to reduce time wastage, especially on the shorter hauls, and this at rates comparable with those charged by other services. A few days ago the Chairman of the West Midland Traffic Commissioners, in granting an A licence for a larger vehicle, stated that the positive need of newspapers for better delivery was more important than the problematical competition with and Industry the railways by increased road traffic. Although this remark concerned a particular Class of load, it might well be applied to many others, and it helps towards the establishment of an important principle—that the efficient conveyance of goods is of far greater moment to industry than the mere question of competition between rival systems. It is satisfactory that such an expression of opinion should have been made by an important official, fully conversant with the requirements of the Traffic Acts and occupying his position as an /unbiased authority forced to adhere to the strict letter of the law. We hope that this reasonable attitude will be reflected in other Traffic Areas, arid it is one which should constitute a strong point in the arguments put forward by the Parliamentary Road Group and in the programmes of the associations representing road transport.