News of the Week
Page 26
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
COMMONS SITS. ALL NIGHT TO FINISH THE BILL ANOTHER all-night sitting on the Transport Bill took place in the House of Commons on Bank Holiday. The House was considering the alternative amendments to the Bill proposed by the House of Lords. These are outlined on page 46 of this issue.
The Minister of Transport resisted the amendment to increase to 40 miles the radius of operation for short-distance hauliers. When he said that the number of vehicles to he nationalized was not unreasonable, Mr. Thorneycroft asked how many vehicles would be affected. This question was supported by various Opposition members, and led to an acrimonious. passage between Mr. Eden andGovernment supporters.
No attempt was made by the Minister to answer the question, and Sir David Maxwell Fyfe said that if neither the Minister nor the Parliamentary Secretary had taken the trouble, a month after the point was raised in the Lords, to secure the information, it was a Mockery to continue debates which took away the livelihood of thousands of people without a qualm.
A motion by Mr. Eden to adjourn the debate, to enable the information to be secured, was defeated.
BLACKBURN PROCESSION: SUMMONSES ISSUED
AFURTHER stage has been reached in the situation arising from the recent anti-nationalization demonstra
tion by hauliers at Blackburn. Mr. W. H. Bowker, of The Craig, Blackburn. head of one of the largest coacerns of transport contractors. in the North-West,. has been called upon to answer a summons alleging that he " conducted a public Procession in respect of which notiee, had not been given, to the authorities?'
Mr.,Bowkerwas. an official in the. procession which comprised about 100 vehicles. Vehicles from Oswaldtwistle
and Darwen turned back at the borough boundary on the advice of the police.
Last Friday evening, Mr. Joseph Ainsworth, chairman of Blackburn branch of the Road Haulage Association, and Miss Phyllis D. Bridge; secretary, both received summonses for organizing the procession.
Our correspondent understands that all the cases were to come before the Blackburn Court yesterday (Thursday), but an adjournment was likely for the defence to be prepared, SEVERN BRIDGE SCHEME WILL START NEXT' SPRING
A FTER many years of delay, con struction of the Severn Bridge has been authorized. The Order came into force on August 1 and construction will begin next spring. Total cost will be £9,000,000.
The bridge will be the largest suspension type in Europe and third largest in the world. Only Golden Gate and George Washington, both in the U.S., have longer centre spans than the 3,300-ft. Severn span. Vertical clearance for shipping will be 110 ft. above high water near the towers and about 120 ft. in the centre. The concrete piers will be about 200 ft. long by 60 ft. wide.
Accommodation for road 'traffic on the bridge will consist of two carriageways each 24 ft. wide, two 9-ft. cycle tracks, and two 6-ft footpaths.