ROAD TRANSPORT MATTERS IN PARLIAMENT,
Page 46
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The Government and Petrol Prices. Channel Tunnel Inquiry. Rubber Road Surfaces and Traffic Vibration. Foreign Materials for Roads.
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent, THE Prime Minister made a statement last Tuesday 1 on the communication received from the oil companies relating to the increase in the price of oil. He-said the Government had examined the statement furnished by the oil companies and was satisfied that the U.S. Gulf prices quoted for petrol and kerosene, upon which the companies' statement was based, were correct.
The other items of cost had also been examined and no reason had been found for disputing them. Such camparisons as were possible had been made between retail prices in England and those abroad. In view of these comparisons and of the figures contained in the companies' statement it appeared that the prices now being charged to consumers in this country were not above the level of world prices and that the recent increases did not involve any discrimination against this country.
In these circumstances the Government considered that no action was called for on its part at the present time. It had been suggested that the Government should use its position in relation to the AngloPersian Oil Co. to force that company to reduce petrol and kerosene prices in Great Britain. It was necessary, therefore, again to refer to the terms of the arrangement between the Government and the company as stated in Command Paper, 7,419, of 1914, paragraph 4, which stated in general terms the nature of the assurance then given that the Government's right of veto would be exercised only in respect of tc:ters of general policy. Mr. Baldwin added that the terms of the letter would be published.
A day or two previously the President of the Board of Trade was questioned as to what action the Government proposed to take on the reply of the oil companies to the Prime Minister's communication regarding the rise in the price of petrol and other oils, and whether there was any guarantee that there would be no further rise.
The Prime Minister had already stated that the Government considered that undertakings dominating the -supply and distribution of articles of common use had a duty to supply the commodities on reasonable terms, and to satisfy the public that their prices were reasonable. These considerations would, of course, be equally applicable to future, as well as to present, circumstances. Subject to what he had just said, it was not the intention of the Government to attempt to interfere with the commercial policy of the oil companies.
Maintenance Grants for Rural Roads.
FOR the year 1927-28, the amount of grants from the Road Fund, in respect of the maintenance of scheduled unclassified roads, was 11,661,076, and the mileage of such roads was 55,053. On the basis of these figures the average amount of grants made for maintenance works on those roads was about 130 per mile.
Channel Tunnel Inquiry. Channel Tunnel Inquiry. THE inquiry into the economic aspects of the Channel Tunnel scheme will be set up under the auspices of the Committee of Civil Research. Mr. Baldwin, in making the announcement, said he understood this course was acceptable to the leaders of the opposition parties. The consideration of the political and military aspects of the problem would be postponed until the report on the economic aspects had been receivell`from the Committee of Civil Research. The members of the committee Of inquiry will be Mr. E. R.
Peacock (chairman), Lord Ebbisharn, Sir Clement Hindley, Sir Frederick Lewis and Sir Henry Strakosch.
Rubber Road Surfaces and Traffic Vibration.
IR ARTHUR HOLI3ROOK suggests that, in view of damage to buildings and underground services caused by traffic vibration, technical tests should be undertaken to ascertain whether rubber roads, such as those now under demonstration in London, as cornpared with other methods of road construction, have a beneficial effect. Colonel Ashley says that, whilst bearing in mind the suggestion, he cannot, at present, undertake to carry out special tests of this particular surfacing in preference to other experimental work.
Foreign Materials for Roads.
ATTENTION having been called to the specification of foreign bitumen for road purposes by Clackmannan County Council, whilst neighbouring counties were all using large quantities of British tar, the Minister of Transport said the selection of material for a particular purpose depended upon other factors as well as first cost, and he understood that the Clackmannan County Council considered that the specification it had adopted was best suited to its local requirements. The Minister of Transport was not disposed unduly to hamper the discretion of local authorities in this respect, but where British supplies of any material were available it was his policy that British firms Should be given an opportunity for tendering.
Bridges Bill Advanced.
Tmh Bridges Bill, which has already passed through the House of Lords, was given a second reading in the House of Commons on March 26th. There was practically no opposition, and the measure will almost certainly reach the StatuteBook before the end of the session.
A Register of Bridges.
-01GURES as to the umber of bridges in need or
reconstruction owing to inadequacy to carry modern traffic are not at the disposal of the Minister of Transport, but a register of bridges is in course of preparation, with the objert of obtaining this informatioh. The work entails an exhauslive survey, which will take a considerable time to complete.
Twenty Level Crossings Abolished.
FTHE elimination of level crossings proceeds at a 1 very slow rate. Since 1923-24, according to the Minister of Transport, only 16 schemes involving the elimination of 20 level crossings have been approved for grant from the Road Fund. As, in many cases, he grant is made in respect of a comprehensive scheme embodying widenings or other improvements in addition, the amount applicable specifically to the elimination of these level crossings is not recorded, and the total expenditure incurred by the various local authorities on works of this nature cannot thelzfore be stated.
Increased Mileage of Municipal Undertakings.
rpm mileage of tramway and trolley-vehicle seri. vices operated by local authorities has, during the five years ended March 31st, 1928, increased by 63 miles and 114 miles respectively.