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Rural Roads Must be Improved
Page 59
Page 60
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WHILE so much attention is being devoted to the need for a national system of arterial highways as a means for defence, as well as to promote economy in transport, it is natural that the question of the improvement of rural roads should, to some extent, be side-tracked. Nevertheless, good, safe thoroughfares in rural districts are a national necessity, for they have an important influence on the prosperity of agriculture.
What use is it to expend large sums on increasing the internal efficiency of the agricultural industry if the produce cannot, by reason of an inade quate system of roads, be rapidly conveyed to -market and retailed in the freshest possible condition? The nation's milk supply depends largely upon expeditious road transport, but is being hampered by a lack of suitable roads and bridges in the producing areas. The matter has reached a crucial stage with the refusal of the Minister of Transport to increase the grants for road improvements in the agricultural counties. The county authorities claim that they 'cannot afford to carry out the five-year road plan unless larger grants be awarded to them, and there is talk of the councils concerned declining -to implement the scheme. Thus, there is a possibility of agricultural road transport being further hindered by a continued lack of adequate highways, although motor users pay some £75,000,000 a year in taxation and provide a sufficient sum to ensure a first-class system of roads suited to modem needs.
Agriculturist " Hauliers " Given Unfair Advantages
IT is opportune just now, when matters agrikultural are so much to the fore, to bring forward a grievance under which hauliers whose chief interest lies in the transport of agricultural produce are labouring. Under the Road and Rail Traffic Act agriculturists using motor vehicles for the transport of their own produce are also permitted to carry the goods of neighbouring farmers. They have special advantages, the Road Fund tax is approximately halved, they are not called upon to take out other than C licences, they need compile no drivers' records and, of course, are subject to no kind of regulation governing drivers' wages. These privileges are being abused in rural areas all-.over the country. . Advantage is being taken -ofthese clauses in the Actto set up haulage busi,nesses, and to operate freely in conveying goods for hire or reward in competition with bona-fide • haulage contractors who pay the full tax, must have an A or B licence, must keep drivers' records and• must comply with conditions and wage schedules as set out by the Conciliation Board. Of the several instances of this class of thin_gwhich have been brought to our notice we need mention only two : one is a" farmer "in the West Country, owning 16 acres of land but nevertheless operating two three-ton lOrries, one for the general haulage of agricultural produce and the other for cattle carrying. The more flagrant case, not 30 miles from London, is a butcher who has bought a plot of land seven acres in extent. He operates three vehicles under agricultural licences, using them for the purposes set out above, and at the time we investigated the circumstances of this case he was actually quoting, in competition with bona-fide hauliers in the district, for a contract to carry between London and Birmingham In this second case a local haulier has written to the Ministry of Transport giving the facts of the case, but in the course of four months has been unable to derive any satisfaction or assistance from that source. He hopes in the near future that the A.R.O. or the C.M.U.A. or the two combined will be able to assist him and the haulage industry generally by taking up the matter. It is outrageous that such a state of things should continue.
The situation in respect of haulage rates and the difficulties in the way of establishing a reasonable economic basis for those rates are bad enough when those concerned are to a large extent on level terms, one with another, as regards such matters as have reference above. If this other factor be allowed to prevail, of competition from those who operate in a whole sheaf of advantageous circumstances, hope of any approach to stability becomes impossible.