Rotarians Hear Major Crawfurd on Road Transport
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SEVERAL rotary clubs have recently been addressed. by Major H. E. Crawfurd. A.F.C., President, A.R.O. Last Friday be spoke to the Bath Rotarians on the subject of transport and the future of town and country planning.
He pointed out that the motive behind much of the planning was the desire to establish industry in places where the workers could live healthier and happier lives. Formerly, factories had crowded up against the railways, and the workers clustered near to their work. The result had been slums.
Employers have already shown their desire to escape from crowded areas. This had led to an increase of factories on the' perimeters. Factories, wherever established, can be served efficiently by road transport, provided that we have a good system of roads. It can move in small or large units and from door to door. Thus, whatever the requirements of any particular industry they can be fulfilled, but their cost must not be unduly enhanced by high transport charges, and comparatively isolated works placed at a disadvantage. Therefore freight rates must be equalized.
Again, at Hendon, last Monday, Major Crawford challenged the recent statement by Mr. Herbert Morrison that there was general agreement amongst political parties that the whole of inland transport should be placed under centralized Government control. This would indeed be disastrous, Although the Government Department concerned is beginning to take to itself credit for transport achievements in war time, this is really due to the executives and operators in both road and rail, who have done the work.
Both these services, aftera bitter struggle, have agreed en the basic principles on which competition between them in the future should be founded, and are working out the details. It would be folly for Parliament to interfere with this service to industry and the public. Road transport, in particular, is so flexible that its 'value would be greatly diminished if its independence were lost.