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Road Transport Indispensable

31st July 1936, Page 19
31st July 1936
Page 19
Page 19, 31st July 1936 — Road Transport Indispensable
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

THE transport of goods and people by road is increasing and must, in the nature of things, continue so to do—and this even in , the face of major and petty restrictions definitely designed to stem its progress. One is reminded of the story of King Canute endeavouring to arrest the tide.

This has become a road-minded era. The public, in general, and the trader demand modern means for transit, not necessarily cheaper than that by railway in respect of actual cost per mile or per ton, as the case may be, but truly economic by reason of the saving in time and inert capital; in packing and damage avoided by the smooth travelling; in handling, cut out by door-to-door delivery, and in elaborate accounting.

Those concerned in the welfare of road transport do not, in our opinion, lay sufficient emphasis on the evidence in this direction which is constantly cropping up at hearings before the Licensing Authorities. Manufacturers and traders frequently give valuable facts as to the indispensability of road transport to their businesses.

Typical points from actual hearings are that goods travelling by road are in the hands of one, or, at most, two men the whole time, they can be loaded without costly packing, and, in many cases, are not disturbed until delivery be made.

A Birmingham manufacturer of musical instruments of an extremely fragile nature has stated that when sent by rail his products were often damaged by wet and ill treatment. Road transport has saved the company a great deal of money, and only corrugated paper is required to protect the goods. Another maker declared that the despatch of goods by road would increase his business by 15 per cent.

That even such powerful arguments against the opposition of the railways usually fail to induce the Authorities to issue licences for extra tonnage is merely one more proof of the unfair manner in which the railways are pampered.

The Government and the nation must be brought to the realization that our future welfare Lies in the hands of trade and industry, and any barrier placed in their path is a menace, particularly at .a time like this, when rearmament is proving a drain upon national resources.

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