Road -transport Activities IN PARLIAMENT
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Road Transport in the Empire. Mr. Thomas Meets Makers.
By our Special Parliamentary . Correspondent
Unauthorized User of Vehicles. Effect of McKenna Duties.
TriHE following statement was made by Mr. Lunn, Partia l. mentary Under Secretary for the Colonies, in reply to questions with reference to the development of mechanical transport in the overseas Empire, as the result of the grant made by the Empire Marketing Board :— "Considerable progress has been made with the work of the Overseas Mechanical Transport Directing Committee, and the first meeting of the Overseas Mechanical Transport Council was held last month. The grant was made by the Board in order to enable the work of the Committee, which was appointed last year, to be put in hand without having to wait until the Governments of the other parts of the Empire could be consulted as to the payment by them of a share of the expenses of the Committee.
"As a result of this grant the Committee was able to begin work on November 15th, 1928, and is at present con'centratiug most of its attention upon the evolltion of transport units which would deal with loads in excess of those which it is possible to handle with existing motor vehicles. The Committee has issued a Progress Report, which has not been published. The Committee has been in touch with a number of firms in the industry in connection with its work.
"It is contemplated that the cost of the research work will be shared between the Empire Marketing Board, which will provide half the total amount, and the Governments of the other parts of the Empire which wish to participate lit the work. The expense of the first year's work is being borne entirely from the Board's grant. His Majesty's Governments in the Commonwealth of Australia and in New Zealand, together with the Government of India and the Government of Southern Rhodesia, have undertaken to contribute towards the cost of the Committee's work.
"The following Governments have also promised to contribute :—Gold Coast, Nigeria, Northern Rhodesia, Sierra Leone, South African High Commission Territories, Tanganyika Territory and Uganda. Replies are still awaited from a number of other Governments."
It may be recalled that the measures referred to by Mr. Lunn were the outcome of the Conference of Colonial Governors, which was held nearly two years ago,' and the Empire Agricultural Conference, convened some time later. It was recognized that some concerted steps *ere necessary to develop transport facilities, by track-laying machines, over roadless territory and to explore the utilization of the abundant supplies of timber for the production of gas fuel in tilace of petrol.
The Empire Marketing Board agreed to make a grant for the purpose of research and the subsequent developments are outlined in Mr. Lunn's statement
Mr. Thomas Meets Makers.
IT has been arranged that a meeting of representatives of the Br,itish moior manufacturers, with Mr. J. H. Thomas, should take place to-day (November 26th), when the possibility of increasing our export trade with the Dominions will be discussed. Mr. Thomas, it is hoped, will indicate the policy of the Government with regard to the retention, or otherwise, of the McKenna Duties.
He stated in the House of Commons, the other day, that discussions were proceeding satisfactorily, but he was not yet in a position to make a further statement on the matter.
Unauthorized Us zr of Vehicles.
TEM Bill which Mr. Clynes, Home Secretary, introduced to deal with the unauthorized user of motor vehicles is shorter and simpler than that brought forward by Sir Ger
vais Rentoul. The operative clause declares thet every person who takes and drives away from any place any motor vehicle without the consent of the owner thereof and without having other lawful authority shall be guilty of an offence.
c34 That person Shall be liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment not exceeding three months, or to a fine not exceeding £50, and, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment not exceeding 12 months or • a fine not exceeding f100, or to both such imprisonment and fine.
It shall be a defence to proceedings if the accused proves that he acted in the belief that he had lawful authority or that the owner would have given his consent if he had been asked therefor. If the jury, on the trial of an indictment for stealing a motor vehicle, finds the defendant not guilty, it is empowered' to find him guilty under the provisions of the new Act.
Any constable may, without warrant, take into custody any person reasonably suspected by him of having committed an offence under the Act. "Motor vehicle" is defined as any mechanically propelled machine, intended, or adapted, for use on roads, and " owuer " includes a person in possession of a vehicle which is the subject of a hiring or hirepurchase agreement. The Government intends to pass the Bill, if possible, before Christmas, so that it may come into operation on January 1st. Scotland and Northern Ireland are excluded from its operation.
Effect of McKenna Duties.
T GIVE below some extracts from a brief memorandum 1 which was prepared by political supporters of the McKenna Duties, with reference to motor vehicles and tyres.
"When, in 1924, Mr. Philip Snowden took the duties off, importation fell from the time of his announcement. The prices of foreign motorcars did not fall proportionately when the duty was removed and did not rise on reimposition. On the contrary, they fell in order to compete with the British motor-vehicle prices. Under the duty, exports of British machines have increased until they now surpass imports. "A. well-known motor manufacturer was compelled to stand off 1,250 men and to put about 4,000 on short time,
until September. Six foreign tyre companies have established factories in this country, employing about 1,000 men apiece. Since the duties were imposed, seven factories have been erected by foreign car producers. Some 30,000 people are now working in factories set up in this country by foreign companies.
"The commercial-vehicle industry has shown a wonderful advance, judged by the Show this year. The private-car industry has not only been able to compete in this country, but is now effectively carrying competition into foreign lands."