No Transport Issue at Next Election, says Mr. Jordan
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THE work of C-licence operators will not be an election issue. Politicians will be so much concerned with unemployment, the hydrogen bomb and foreign affairs that there will be a transport stalemate.
This forecast was made last week by Mr. C. E. Jordan, chairman of the West Midlands Division of the Traders' Road Transport Association, when he spoke at the Wolverhampton Area's annual dinner, "if a stalemate develops I wonder whether politicians on both sides of the House will consider a' full and comprehensive inquiry into transport free of political prejudice," he said. "Such an • inquiry is long overdue and I am glad to note that the proposal now has the support of the national chairman and the chief executive officer of the Road Haulage Association."
Outlining the factors that should be considered in an inquiry, Mr. Jordan said that they should include: (I) The under utilization of the railways and the undue proportion of the British Transport Commission's central charges (approximately £60m. a year) borne by industries tied to rail; (2) Whether closing branch lines would be in the national interest if this resulted in depopulation of the countryside and the decline of agriculture; (3) Whether it had been established that the railway modernization programme was justified, taking into consideration the railways' failure to regain general merchandise traffic, development of the motorways and the increasing use of private transport; (4) The possibility of writing off the large B.T.C. deficit to enable the Commission to "start on an even keel " in, say. 1962. Referring to Sir Reginald Wilson's recent claim that bulk rail haulage could be combined with road deliveries to give a more economic service than that provided by C-licensed vehicles, Mr. Jordan pointed out that traders had to have vehicles at their disposal to provide for emergencies. The railways, he said, would be foolish to urge traders to abandon their fleets.
Mr. A. W. Nash, of Tarmac, Ltd., suggested that the full implications of rcnationalization had not been appreciated by vehicle makers and by the producers of ancillary equipment. It would immediately result in a reduction in the number of commercial vehicles manufactured and a corresponding fall in the demand for fuel, tyres and other equipment.
READY FOR " KERB " CAMPAIGN IN an effort to boost the "Kerb Space I is Precious" campaign which starts in the provinces on Monday. the Traders' Road Transport Association will be organizing various publicity events all over the country. Civic leaders have been enlisted in most areas to lend their support, and in many cities police chiefs will give talks.
The Association say that a considerable degree of co-operation has been obtained from local authorities, trading and industrial communities.
NEW OIL TERMINAL
ROAD tankers will help in the distribution of oil from a new ilm. terminal which is 'being built at Ellesmere Port. Cheshire, by the Mobil Oil Co., Ltd. Capacity of the ocean-fed terminal will be over 23m, gallons, and distribution will also be undertaken by sea and rail.