1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148 
Moves Against Diesel Smoke
Page 47
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
FROM OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
ROADS1DE tests with portable smoke meters and policemen equipped with tinted glasses . . . these are examples of the types of idea aroused by Mr. Rupert Speir's Diesel Fumes Bill, which goes to the Commons for a second reading today. (Details were given in The Commercial Motor last week.)
Mr. Speir is banking on the public spirit of his fellow M.P.s on both sides of the House to get his Bill over today's hurdle. The Government would rather he hadn't bothered with it. Mr. Marples shows no signs of wanting additions to his worries.
But, undaunted, Mr. Spelt points to his own two precedents, the Anti-litter and Noise Abatement Acts, and to the success that other M.P.s with their own reforms have had in the Commons from time to time.
He has found perhaps unexpected allies in the National Road Transport Federation.
Although they are alarmed that the only present thoughts about diesel smoke and fumes are on punitive lines, they have soberly stated their anxiety, and base their argument on the need for more research.
What the Federation have certainly not done is Come out in hidebound opposition to Mr. Speir's .measure. Indeed, I have detected a willingness to work in with him-though if the Govern: ment were solidly behind the Bill the attitude might be slightly different.
The Federation's ease is that the operator is forced to accept the vehicle he gets from the manufacturer and the fuel oil provided by the industry. It believes that much of the equipment and fuel provided today is below the standards that could be achieved regarding smoke and fume-free combustion.
It fears that operators and owners will be exposed to punitive legislation while these basic shortcomings remain. The Federation is therefore seeking to stress the need for immediate and effective research into two engine fundamentalsthe need for engine and injector system standards and, concurrently, for minimum power ratings relative to intended gross weights.
As regards diesel fuel, the needs are again twofold-a British Standard which would bar undesirable fuels, and an immediate investigation of the quality of fuels currently on the market.