ROAD TRANSPORT MATTERS IN PARLIAMENT.
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Emissions from Steam Wagon Funnels. The Third Readings of Two Important Bills. Grants from the Road Fund for New Roads. The Danger of Railway Level Crossings.
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent.
A FTER a Deng and bitterly fought passage in comrienittee and on report the Merchandise Marks (Imported Goods) Bill received a third reading in the House of Commons last week and was sent to the House of Lords. Briefly, the purpose of the Bill M to ensure that imported goods are marked with the place of origin and not sold as British. It shall not be lawful to sell goods to vsrhich there is applied any name or trade mark being or purporting to be the name or trade mark of any manufacturer, dealer or trader in the United Kingdom, not being goods produced or wholly or mainly manufactured therein, unless the name or trade. mark is accompanied by an indication of origin. Upon application to the Board of Trade reference may be made to a committee in respect of any class or description of articles and, according to the report of the committee, and the decision of the Department, an Order in Council may be issued requiring the marking of origin. Provision is made for exemption where, for example, the trade of the United Kingdom and Imperial trade with the United Kingdom or public interests would be prejudiced by such an Order. The Bill may affect very closely the motor trade in respect of foreignmade parts used or assembled in this country, but this will depend upon the nature of representations made to the Board of Trade, the findings of the Committee of Inquiry and the powers of the Department to take action or otherwise. Apart from prohibition of importation in the case of goods not being marked when required by Order to be marked, there are penal clauses for offences against the Act.
One of the opponents of the Bill spoke of motorcars as a good illustration of what he called the farcical results that would attend this legislation. He pictured a person at next year's Motor Show solemnly ascertaining how many foreign parts were used in each car presented to his notice by smart salesmen before delivering his judgment as a purchaser, and scouted the idea that anyone on discovering that, say, 50 parts were foreign and 49 British would prefer another car in which the numbers were reversed. He maintained that a buyer's judgment would be decided by the test of running power and quality, as well as by taste and length of purse.
In the case of commercial motors the imported parts which are used to any extent are Belgian steel castings, roller bearings, universal joints, magnetos and coilignition devices, only a small quantity of engines, gearboxes and back axles being imported.
The Main attack against the Bill was on the old battleground of Free Trade, but the Government repudiated any idea of Protection and supported the proposals, chiefly on the ground that the consumer was entitled to know whether he was buying British or foreign goods.
A New Electrical Era.
THE Electricity (Supply) Bill has now been passed by the House of Commons and has received a second reading in the House of Lords. Its passage into law this session is assured. A motion in the House of Lords to commit the Bill to a Select Committee was defeated, otherwise the measure would have had to be abandoned until next year. In the course of the discussions the main recommendation of the Bill has been the prospect of its securing a cheap supply of current
all over the country. Supporters of the Bill have spoken of a halfpenny a unit as the probable general charge, and much has been said about a speedy electrin24 fication of the railways as the result of the new organization of the industry. References have also been made to the possibilities of cheaper electrical road transport, and doubtless, if the hopes entertained by the Government sponsors of the measure are realized, vast changes lie ahead not only in transport, but in the industrial activities of the nation.
Steam Wagon Funnel Emissions.
IQ IR FRANK MEYER has reopened the question of L./the emission of steam, smoke and sparks from steam lorries and desired the Minister of Transport to take steps to deal with this "inconvenience to the public and danger to traffic." Colonel AShley informed the House that the matters referred to were under consideration in connection with the Road Vehicles Bill, which he hoped would be presented "at no distant date." Colonel Day wanted to know if restrictions would be placed on those vehicles going into the West End during the daytime,but he was bidden to wait and see. This prompted Mr. R. Morrison to remark that the Minister of Transport had been promising this Bill "at no distant date" for two. years now, and the House would like to know whether they were getting any nearer to it. Colonel Ashley smilingly replied that it was approaching nearer and nearer.
Commander Bellairs asked whether the Government had no authority at present to prevent the nuisance in the streets of London and other towns, bat Colonel Ashley did not know that it had. Mr. Ben Smith suggested that there were regulations dealing with the emission of smoke and steam from vehicles, and he asked when they would be operative. Colonel Ashley said he thought that was for the local authorities and not the Ministry of Transport. Mr. George Hardie remarked that it was necessary to tell people who used that form of power where they could get fuel that did not give out sparks and smoke. Mr. Hardie has been hammering at this subject for years.
Post Office Lorries.
THE Postmaster-General states that it is the present practice of the Post Office to purchase motor lorries of British manufacture and he proposes to continue that practice. All the lorries bought last year were of British manufacture.
Grants for New Roads.
rilHE grants from the Road Fund towards the cost of constructing new roads were approximately £935,000 during 1925-26, and grants to the amount of, roughly, 1850,000 have been made since April 1st last, apart from those towards the current expenditure on constructing the Mersey Tunnel.
Street Accidents in Southwark. THERE were 1,409 street accidents involving personal injury in the borough of Southwark during the year ended November 16th, compared with 1,248 in the preceding 12 months. In 1926 the number of fatal accidents was 27 and in 1925 30.
Level Crossings.
'V ARL RUSSELL has given notice that, on December
.41st, he will call attention in the House of Lords to the accident at Naworth level crossing and ask the Minister of Transport what steps, if any, it is proposed to take with regard to railway level crossings in this country.