Road Transport Activities
Page 57
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
IN PARLIAMENT
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent
Road-rail Committee.
Doran suggested that, having 1.11regard to the national interests involved in the dispute between the railway and road-transport companies, the Minister should consider abandoning the Committee he had set up to review the position until all other interests involved—ratepayers, road makers, local authorities, the Treasury, etc.—were represented.
Mr. 'Pybus repeated his assurance that all interests concerned in this matter would be fully consulted before the Government reached any decision.
The constitution of the Committee was outlined in our issue for last week.
Checking Excessive Speed.
MHE Home Secretary has made the .1 following statement with reference to the special measures to be taken to prevent excessive speeds by heavy vehicles:—
The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has issued orders that special attention is to be given to the enforcement of the law regulating the speed of heavy road vehicles, and that excessive speed by heavy commercial and other vehicles is to be stopped. The speed of such vehicles will be checked by motor patrols and by foot police on certain stretches of roads. These steps will be taken at irregular intervals. The purpose of these measures is not to secure a number of convictions, but to prevent accidents.
Private versus Municipal Bus Services.
mHE Minister of Transport was ques
tioned by Mr. Mallalieu and Mr. Glossop regarding the bus service between Holmfirth and Sheffield. Mr. Mallalieu called attention to alleged inconvenience to inhabitants of Holmfirth and adjoining districts by terminating the service of Baddeley Bros., Ltd., and asked the reasons for the refusal of the appeal.
Mr. Glossop, after pointing out that the fares charged by Sheffield Corporation, on the Sheffield-Stocksbridge route, were higher than those charged by the concern in question, asked whether this factor was taken into account in the appeal. He wished to know what steps were proposed to ensure that the people of Stocksbridge were not subjected to undue charges by Sheffield Corporation.
Commissioners' Reasons.
PYBUS said that in their obI_Y_Lservations on this case the Traffic Commissioners stated that they had given the fullest consideration to all local transport requirements, and that under their decisions all villages and townships in the area would be provided with satisfactory services to both Sheffield and Huddersfield.
After considering the report of a full local inquiry into the appeal, he could find no sufficient reason for setting aside the Commissioners' decision. The Commissioners were charged with the duty of ensuring that the fares in force on any service were not unreasonable, but they were required to consider representations on the subject that might be made to them by any local authority concerned.
On this point a copy of the questions and his answer would be sent to the Traffic Commissioners concerned.
Municipal Representation at Appeals.
ASUGGESTION was made by Mr. Glossop that when further appeals against the decisions of the Traffic Commissioners were heard by the Minister, local authorities in the areas to which the appeal referred should be invited to send a representative to submit their opinions.
Mr. Pybus said that the persons appointed by him to hold inquiries into appeals against decisions of the Traffic Commissioners had discretion to hear additional evidence, including the views of local authorities concerned. Representations of this nature had frequently been accepted.
Road Fund Revenue and Expenditure in London.
FIGURES have been furnished showing that, whilst the motor licence duty collected in the administrative County of London, including collections by the Post Office, amounted to £3,453,133 in 1930-31 (having gradually risen from £2,873,103 in 1926-27), the payments out of the Road Fund for the area were £1,085,816 in 1930-31. The payments amounted to £637,365 in 192728, £570,817 in 1928-29 and 1949,159 in 1929-30.
The figures relating to the collection of duty exclude the proportion of the licence duties on motorcycles and vehicles taxed on the basis of horsepower retained by the Exchequer.
Urgent Bridge Building.
AREQUEST was made that, in view of unemployment in the steel trade and the recommendation of the Royal Commission On Transport, the future allocation of Road Fund grants should be concentrated upon the reconstruction of bridges which the local authorities desired to proceed with.
Mr. Pybus intimated that he would continue sympathetically to consider applications for financial assistance from the Road Fund towards the reconstruction of weak and dangerous bridges. In the present circumstances, however, grants must be restricted to cases presenting features of special urgency.
Mr. Guy impressed upon the Minister the immediate need for a large number of new bridges in Scotland.
Inspecting Petrol Pumps.
THE Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, in reply to a question as to the intervals at which the Department tests petrol pumps, stated that under the Regulations it was the duty of local authorities to arrange that petrol pumps should be inspected and tested at least oncee a year. Municipal authorities also have to arrange for special surprise visits to be made from time to time.
Continuance of Maintenance Grants.
UPON being urged to increase road grants to local authorities, within the next 12 months, in view of the unemployment in the roadstone quarrying industry, Mr. Pybus referred to the necessity, at the present time, of limiting expenditure. He pointed out that he had recently informed the highways authorities that the percentage of grant given towards the maintenance of classified roads would continue to be made during the forthcoming financial year.
Life of Trunk Roads.
THE Minister of Transport was asked to state the estimated life of the great trunk roads from the date of completion. Mr. Pybus said that excavation, foundation and surfacing materials obviously had varying lives, but for loan-repayment purposes the three were generally equated to 20 years.
Damage by Fast Traffic?
ACOMMUNICATION having been sent by Isle of Ely County Council, pointing out that harmful effects are likely to be caused to Ely Cathedral by the unrestricted speed of traffic passing along the adjoining road, Mr. Pybus stated that he would give careful consideration to any proposal that the county council might make. He was prepared to hold an inquiry under Section 46 of the Road Traffic Act if it were justified.