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ROAD TRANSPORT MATTERS IN PARLIAMENT.

7th August 1928, Page 43
7th August 1928
Page 43
Page 44
Page 43, 7th August 1928 — ROAD TRANSPORT MATTERS IN PARLIAMENT.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Higher Speed Limits for Commercial Motors. Mirrors Compulsory. Expenditure From the Road Fund. Public Protests Against Traffic Noises.

By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent.

ANimportant statement was made by Colonel Ashley in the House last week with regard to speed limits for heavy motors.

Sir Henri Jackson asked him whether he had received representations from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and from the Commercial Motor Users Association with regard to an Increase in the existing maximum speeds for heavy motorcars, as laid down in the heavy motorcar Orders, particularly as regards an increase in the permissible speeds of heavy motorcars fitted with pneumatic tyres, and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.

Colonel Ashley replied: The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I have decided to make an order which will come into force on October 1st next and which will have the effect of fixing the legal maximum speed of a heavy motorcar if fitted entirely with pneumatic tyres at 20 miles per hour instead of the present limit of 12 miles per hour.

The maximum speed of a heavy motorcar drawing a separate trailer twill at the same time be increased from 5 miles per hour to 12 miles per hour If both vehicles are fitted entirely with pneumatic tyres, and to 8 miles per hour if both vehicles are fitted entirely with tyres made of soft or elastic material, though not pneumatic.

The same Order will provide that all heavy motorcars shall be equipped with driving mirrors unless a conductor or other person is carried on the vehicle who is in a position to draw the driver's attention to the fact that tire driver of a vehicle in the rear

is desirous of passing.

Charing Cross Improvements.

THE Minister of Transport states that no decision, has yet been reached as to the assistance which can be offered from the Road Fund towards the cost of the provision of road facilities and other improvements on the south side of the Thames to the west of the proposed site for the new Charing Cross Bridge, which are part of the modified scheme. At the meeting of the London County Council on Tuesday, however, a grant from the Road Fund of 75 per cent, of the whole cost of the scheme was obviously expected.

Plea for Restoration of Original Oil Tax.

Pthe debate on the third reading of the Finance Bill Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon argued that the change from the oil tax to the petrol tax was wrong. He thought the Chancellor of the Exchequer was going to have some difficulty in collecting money from motor vehicles, because already the employment of kerosene instead of petrol was coming in and, on the heavy side of motor locomotion in this country, the advent of the Diesel oil engine, with its heavy oil untaxed, was sweeping upon us. He did not say that this year, but certainly in two or three years' time very, few of the heavy industrial vehicles would be run on petrol. They would be run on heavy oils. Consequently, in the near future he could see the Chancellor of the Exchequer automatically having to shift his tax on to the heavy side simply in order to collect money from the motorists. He pleaded not for a shifting of the oil tax to the light side, but for having a tax on all oil, both light and heavy. That would have an influence upon the coal trade.

Road Expenditure.

THE total expenditure, including grants received from the Road Fund by local authorities in Great Britain on highways, bridges and ferries during 1925-26, the latest year for which complete figures are available, is officially given as follows:—

Expenditure (excluding loan charges) met out of revenue.—England and Wales, £42,474,718; Scotland, £5,164,247; total, £47,638,965.

Loan charges.—England and Wales, £6,993,768; Scotland, £524,183; total, £7,517.951.

Expenditure met out of loans.—England and Wales, £10,310,083; Scotland, £1,189,717; total, £11,505,800.

In addition to the above expenditure, payments amounting to £848,327 were made from the Road Fund and other Government Funds in respect of works carried out directly by the Ministry of Transport.

From the General to the Particular.

ATn. HARDIE was unsuccessful in his attempt JL to obtain from the Minister of Transport the cost of road upkeep per mile entailed by the running of a 10-ton motor lorry. He expressed astonishment that since they knew the cost per mile to build a modern road the engineers of the Department should not know what weights travelling over it would waste the road. Possibly the weather and other essential factors did not occur to the honourable member, whose interrogations excited some amusement in the House.

Rural Road Grants.

I-11HE Government intends to include the assist./ anee given by the Road Fund towards the cost of maintenance of unclassified rural roads in the block grant to be made to county councils under the Local Government Reform Bills to be brought forward in the autumn.

Urban Traffic Noises.

A NUMBER of members of Parliament are insist ing upon something being done to meet the, growing public protest against street noises. The Home Secretary thinks there is good ground for the complaints. He states that he has done all in his power to see that the nuisance is abated so far as this is possible by police action under existing powers, but he will consult with the Ministers of Health and Transport as to whether anything further can be done. Sir R. Thomas rerninded the Home Secretary that a high medical authority at the British-Medical Association meeting estimated that the loss in efficiency to the nation owing to the noises amounted to no less a sum than £1,000,000 a week. Mr. Lansbury suggested that the L.C.C. shbuld he asked to keep the tramway tracks in order and prevent the "most infernal noises." Another suggestion was that the Home Secretary should look into the practice in the United States of zoning areas where certain noises are prohibited. Royal Commission on Transport. THE Royal Commission on Road Traffic and Transport will not commence its inquiry until the autumn. The proceedings will last for a con-, siderable time, the scope of the reference including all forms of transport and coastwise traffic. It is anticipated that members of the Commission will visit a number of foreign countries to examine the systems of regulation and control of transport there in force. In all probability the Road Traffic Bill will now be indefinitely hung up until the Commission has reported.

The Relation of the Commission to London Traffic.

SOME curiosity has existed as to whether the Royal Commission on Road Traffic and Transport would include the London and Home Counties area within its investigation. It is apparent from a statement of the Minister of Transport that the London traffic area will be excluded. Sir Henry Jackson asked for information on the subject, and Colonel Ashley replied as follows :—" Under the London Traffic Act, 1924, it falls to the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee to advise me upon all matters within the scope of that Act and the appointnient of the Royal Commission on Transport caLnot derogate in any way from their responsibilities. I must accordingly centinue to rely upon the Statutory Committee to advise me upon the special traffic problems of the London area, including the problem of co-ordinating the various forms of passenger services in that area which stands expressly referred to them." •

• As the Royal Commission is not expected to report until two years hence, this announcement means that, if the London Traffic Advisory Committee brings its renewed negotiations with reference to the London traffic pool to a successful conclusion at an early date, legislation will be possible in the course of next year.. Other traffic legislation will

have to wait until the Commission's conclusions are known and the Bills are prepared. At the earliest, no Government transport or traffic scheme apart from the London proposals can see the light until 1931, or later.

Heavy Uniforms in Summer. , MR. LANSBURY, after calling attention to the lhardship suffered by tramway and omnibus conductors and others employed in transport services who are obliged to wear the same uniform in all seasons of the year, suggested that a circular should be issued to local authorities advising that lighter and more suitable uniforms' should be supplied in the summer time. The Minister of Health said he thought that was a matter which he must leave to the discretion of the authorities concerned: Experimental Rubber Carriageways.

REFERRING to the experimental stretches of rubber carriageway in New Bridge Street, Blackfriars, and Thurloe Place, Kensington, Colonel Ashley stated that his staff were keeping careful observations upon those interesting tests, but a longer time must elapse before definite conclusions could be reached upon the suitability of the material in respect of cost, durability, non-slipping qualities and sound-deadening properties.

Post Office Motorcycles,

A BOUT MO motorcycles and combinations are m use by the Post Office for the conveyance of mails and are mainly employed in rural districts.

Cost of Rural Road Maintenance.

ACCORDING 'to official figures, the estimated gross expenditure per mile by rural district councils on the maintenance of scheduled roads for the year 1927-8 is £134. Of this expenditure 25 per cent. falls to be met from the Road Fund.


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