Road Transport Topics in Parliament
Page 29
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Government Investigation' s Into Imported-oil Substitutes
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent
SIX COMMITTEES WORKING ON SIX SPECIFIC PROBLEMS
AN important statement was made last week by the Secretary for Mines on the steps he is taking to secure the most effective use of home-produced substitutes for imported fuels. He said the subject called for the mobilization of the best technical and business experience available.
He had accordingly appointed Sir Harold Hartley as honorary adviser and asked a number of leading representatives of industry, finance and technical science, under the chairmanship of Sir William Bragg, the President of the Royal Society, to make a rapid survey of the subject in the light of war conditions. Within a month this authoritative body completed its survey, and on its recommendations six committees were formed to investigate six specific problems.
The problems and committees are as follow: 1. The production of oil from coal by synthetic processes.
Chairman, Sir William Jowitt, M.P. Members, Mr. James Bowman, Professor C. N. Hin.shelszood, Sir Walter Benton Jones, Sir William Larke, Sir Robert Robertson, Mr. George Thomson. Assessors, Mr. J. G. King, Mr. W. A. MacFarlane. The liquid-fuel products of low-temperature carbonisation of coal, shale, and cannel and the best methods of using them. Chairman, Lord Henley. Members, Mr. Gordon Macdonald, M.P., Professor W. H. Mills, Messrs. W. F.. Mortimer F. B. Richards, T. E. B. Young. Assessor, Dr. F. S. Sinnatt.
III. The liquid fuel products of high-temperature carbonisation, such as tar, creosote, benzoic, toluole, etc.
Chairman, MT. ,T. Davidson Pratt. Members, Messrs. W. Gordon Adam, S. Billborough, G. A. liebden, A. II. Middleton, Stanley Robinson, A. W. Smith, T. A. Smith. Assessors, Mr. J. F. Ronea, Mr. J. G. King.
This committee has already reported that additional crude benzole is being_ recovered at the estimated rate of 15,000 000 gallons a year and that this is likely to be increased by 12.000,000.
IV. Developing and encouraging the use of alternative fuels for internal-combustion engines.
Chairman Viscount Ridley. Members, Messrs. A. A. M. 'Durrant, J. S. Nichol], J. Arthur Reavell, H. R. Ricardo. Assessors, Messrs. C. G. Williams, 0. W. J. Watson, T. F. Hurley.
This committee is following up on a wider field the work done by the emergency' committee and is dealing with steam acid electricity.
v. The development of colloidal fuel.
Cha:rman, Mr. Irvine Geddes. Members, MT. S. B. Freeman, Sir Leonard Pearce, Professor E. K. Rideal, MT. Vi. .1. Drummond, Mr. 11. Hieken. Assessors, Mr. A. T. Barber, Mr. R. A. Acton Taylor.
Tho more efficient use of fuel generally.
Chairman' Sir Clement Hindley. Members, Capt. J. G. Bennett, MT. E. S. Grumell, Mr. E. G. Hicks, M.P., Professor C. H. Lander, Messrs. C. A. Masterman, R. J. Sadant, G. B. Sharpies, Johnston Wright. Assessors, Mr. R. FitzmaurIce. MT. D. T. Davies.
An assurance was given by Mr. Lloyd that, on recommendations made, vigorous and immediate action would be taken. On certain interim reports action had already been taken, which would result in obtaining in • the current year some 32,000,000 gallons of substitutes for imported oil.
USE OF RAILWAYS OFFICIALLY URGED
A TTENTION was called by Mr.
Burke to the dissatisfaction jolt among many concerns in Burnley regarding the inadequate-petrol supplies for delivery of goods by road, and the policy of instructing concerns to use the railways. This was adding to the difficulties of the railways, which could not supply containers for many classes of goods or cope with the existing traffic.
Captain Wallace replied that as the fuel available for road transport was limited, it was necessary to divert a certain amount of traffic normally carried by road. Where the Regional Transport Commissioner was satisfied tat reasonable alternative transport facilities were not available for essential traffic, supplementary fuel rations would be granted. Restrictions in the supply of petrol, he regretted, were bound to cause inconvenience, but he was not aware that there was any special ground for dissatisfaction in Burnley. • The number of railway containers available, for the country as a whole, was limited, but he understood that the present requirements of Burnley were being met.
CANALS TO BE BOOSTED TO INCREASE TRAFFIC CARRIED
ADISCUSSION on the increased use of canals evoked from Captain Wallace a statement that steps had been taken to bring the facilities they offered to the notice of traders and Government Departments. He added that the Minister of Labour was taking special measures to fill vacancies for canal boatmen, and that inquiries were afoot for a scheme of financial assistance from the Government to make practicable more traffic by canal.
Mr. J. Hollins remarked that canals had been deliberately put out of commission by the railways.
LOWER AGE LIMIT FOR TRACTOR DRIVERS
THAT youths under 21 years 'of age were not permitted to drive agricultural tractors on the road although allowed to drive 2i-ton lorries was referred to by Captain Wallace, who announced that action had now been taken which had altered the position. A Defence Regulation had just been made permitting a person of 17 years of age to drive an agricultural tractor on the road, not merely "in the course of the internal operations of a farm " but also from one farm to another.
SEED TRANSPORT NOW URGENT I T was suggested by Sir Ralph Glyn that the petrol allowance should be increased to seed and coal merchants who were holders of B or C licences in view of the importance in rural areas of providing seed and coal to ensure the steady progress of drilling the land and threshing and steam ploughing.
Captain Wallace stated that special arrangements have been made for local distribution of coal and he recently drew the Regional Transport Commissioners' attention to the importance of seed traffic at this -time of year. He had no reason to believe that the movement of either traffic was being hampered by fuel rationing.
THE HORSE OF MINOR .
IMPORTANCE
ANSWERING a question from Major Sir Jocelyn Lucas, Mr. Berna.ys said he had no evidence of any serious shortage of horses for transport. Moreover, the purposes for which horses could–usefully be substituted for motor road transport were limited and were not those which made the heaviest demands for liquid fuel. Any substantial increase in the number of horses available for transport in the nearfuture would involve importation of horses and shortage of feeding stuffs.