Road Transport Activities
Page 59
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in PARLIAMENT
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent
Economizing.
T'aISCUSSION took place in the 1JHouse of Commons on a resolution to carry out the new economy proposal relating to loans to the Road Fund.. Under the Finance Act, 1931, authority was given to advance /10,000,000 from the Exchequer. Under the economy proposal this sum will now be reduced to about /2,250,000, which, instead of being borrowed, will be provided out of a vote of Parliament for which a supplementary estimate is to be presented.
Mr. Pybus, the Minister of Transpoet, explained the purpose of the reso: lution, and Mr. Herbert Morrison desired to know the classes of road and bridge work to be decreased and the method by which local authorities were to be negotiated with in order to bring expenditure under the new conditions.
Colonel Ashley emphasized the Dartford-Purfleet tunnel scheme as one which would employ a large number of men. Instead of using money for making useless by-passes, he said, it should be used for purposes requiring the use of steel, thus employing a large amount of indirect labour.
Consulting Municipalities.
irR. PYBUS said that the first work .LYJ_of the department was to get into touch with the local authorities. The department had already met the London County Council, the County Councils Association and the Association of Municipal Corporations, and his general impression was that, having appreciated the gravity of the situation and the need for the decision, they had settled down to accept it.
The works were, he said, being divided into three classes: (1) Those where work had not actually been started, although grants might have been given; (2) works on which a little money had been expended, and (3) those which had advanced so far that it was obvious, they must be finished. The county councils and the other local authorities had been asked to furnish the Ministry of Transport with schedules giving full particulars of the works which they had in hand.
The department would shortly meet the municipalities again in conference and decide how far the money at their disposal would go. Only then would it be possible to say whether any particular work could be proceeded with. By 208 votes to SO the resolution was agreed to.
Passenger Transport Bill.
ANUMBER of amendments has been put down for the committee stage of the Landon Passenger Transport Bill in the House of Commons. The most important of these is a new clause standing in the names of Col. Ashley and other members, whereby it is sought to enable the Transport Boatd to appoint
an executive committee of not fewer than three nor more than six persons for the purpose of operating the undertaking of the Board and carrying out other duties under the Bill.
The proposal is that the members of the executive committee should be paid salaries and that they should be persons who have had wide experience and have shown capacity in transport, industrial, commercial or financial matters, or in the conduct of public affairs.
, Possible Postponement.
IT appears improbable, however, that the London Passenger Transport Bill can be proceeded with immediately in Parliament. As it is a hybrid Bill, understand it is possible to carry it over by resolution into the next session' or, if need .be, the next Parliament, so that a rehearing in Committee may be avoided.
Reports of Accidents.
A SUGGESTION was made that a 11 system should be instituted whereby the circumstances of every fatal road accident in respect of which an inquest as held should be reported by the coroner concerned for the purpose of tabulating the causes of such accidents and the consideration of methods of avoiding them. The Home Secretary declared that it was not necessary to put this duty on coroners. The questions involved were being considered by a departmental committee set up by the late Minister of Transport and the suggestion would, no doubt, be considered.
Traffic Comthissioners and Fares.
FURTHER reference has been made _U to the raising of fares by certain Traffic Commissioners, despite the fact that traffic operators had expressed themselves as satisfied with existing rates. Dr. Peters suggested that in such circumstances the fares should not he raised against the public. Mr. Pybus remarked that with a view to ensuring the co-ordination of transport the Road Traffic Act expressly empowered the Commissioners to attach conditions regarding fares to road-service licences.
Coach Company Championed.
THE attention of the Minister has been called by General Clifton Brown to a petition of 4,000 inhabitants of Wokingham and district against the action of the Traffic Commissioners in refusing to licence the vehicles of the Ledbury Transport Co., Ltd., operating from Reading to London. General Brown asked whether, in view of the recommendations of WokIngham Town Couucil, the Minister would now allow the service to be recommenced.
Mr. Gillett, the Parliamentary Secretary, said that the Ledbury Transport Cu., Ltd., had appealed against the refusal, but had failed. General Brown pointed out that the view of the town council had not been allowed to be properly presented. He asked, therefore, whether the present Minister would not reconsider the matter.
Mr. Gillett said he was afraid that the question was now finished with and that it was impossible to re-open it. General Brown then referred to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply and gave notice that he would raise the question on the adjournment at the earliest opportunity.
Traffic Commissioners' Salaries.
UPON being asked whether it was proposed to reduce the salaries of the chairmen of the Traffic Commissioners who were now paid /1,000 a year in addition to their pension rights, Mr. Gillett said that on the general question of the reduction of salaries, apart from those announced, the Minister, of Transport, pending a decision, was not in a position to make any announcement as to the effect upon the salaries of chairmen of Commissioners. The appointments did not, he said-, carry pension rightS.
Headlight Regulations.
THElate Minister of Transport circulated to motoring organizations and other interested bodies draft regulations on the use of headlights, and the comments since received are under the consideration of the department. No statement is, however, yet possible as to the final form of the regulations.
Yorkshire Drivers' Hours.
A/FR. THOMAS WILLIAMS. asked
.1.11-the Minister of Transport if he was aware that certain transport companies in South Yorkshire were compelling bus drivers to work on and off for periods as long as 14 hours per day ; and would he state what steps his department had taken, or intended to take to improve the conditions of these men?
Mr. Pybus, in reply, said: "No complaints of this nature have reached me from South Yorkshire. Section 93 of the Road Traffic Act provides that the payment of fair wages and the observance of proper conditions of employment shall be required in connection with the granting of a road-service
licence. It is further provided that representations On such matters may be made to the Traffic Commissioners by any organization representative of persons engaged in the road-transport industry and that if the matter in dispute cannot otherwise be disposed of it shall be referred by the Minister of Labour to the Industrial Court for settlement."
Appeals Heard. TEIE appeals against decisions of the Traffic Commissioners, regarding licences and certificates, which have been heard number 76. The decisions of the Traffic Commissioners have, it is stated, been upheld in 41 cases and the parties have been informed accordingly.
In seven other cases decisions have been reached and will be announced immediately. In four of these cases Orders have been made on the Traffic Commissioners.