ROAD TRANSPORT MATTERS IN PARLIAMENT.
Page 8
Page 9
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Rear Number-plate Lighting. Import Duty Distinctions. The Country of Origin of the Post Office Vehicles. Lifting Jacks on Motor Vehicles. Gyratory Traffic Control and Foot Passengers.
riOLONEL ASHLEY is not yet in a position to indicate when it will be possible to introduce his Road Vehicles Bill.
Lighting of Rear Number-plates. AN appeal has been made to the Home Secretary by Sir W. Sugden to take steps to ensure that the owners and drivers of motor vehicles comply with the law as to the adequate illumination of rear numberplates. Sir W. Joynson-Hicks observed that the enforcement of the law was a matter for the police and proceedings were taken in a large number of eases.
Taxation on Laden Weight. Mil. LOOKER suggested to the Minister of Transport that, when considering a revision of the rates of licence duties payable for mechanically propelled vehicles, he should give attention to the question of taxing heavy motor vehicles according to the actual weight carried and placing a limit on that weight. Colonel Ashley stated that the question of the revision of the system of motor taxation would be considered from all aspects, but taxation according to laden weight was open to great objection owing to the difficulty of detecting cases in which the licensed laden weight had been exceeded. Maxima for axle weights were already prescribed by coder.
Import Duty Distinctions.
Tr HE Customs authorities may be depended upon to solve difficulties connected with the collection of duties which, to the casual observer, might seem insurmountable. Quite a number of Members of Parliament have sought information as to how parts of motorcars taxable under the McKenna duties are identifiable as such. There was an inquiry the other day as to the possibility of upholstery materials being let in free of duty, but the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement shows that the method pursued by the Customs is one B24 entirely in keeping with the principle of the import duty. Material such as cloth and leather imported in piece for use in the upholstery of motorcars is not charged with motorcar duty, as it is not identifiable on importation as a component part of a motorcar. If, however, the material is cut to shape for use in a motorcar or has otherwise reached a stage of manufacture which renders it identifiable as intended to form part of a motorcar, it is subject to tax. The same thing applies in the case of timber imported for the making of bodies.
Gars with Pre-1913 Engines.
REBATES in respect of motor vehicles with pre-1913 engines allowed in the year ended November 20th last amounted to £120,000. It would be interesting to learn how many vehicles are concerned, but the figures are only ascertainable from local authorities and the Ministry of Transport would have to make special inquiries entailing a good deal of labour and expense.
More Cab Ranks.
110111 RIGADIER-GENERAL WARNER suggests the 1/provision of more cab ranks as a means of avoiding congestion in London streets, and the issue of a regulation requiring all cabs, after depositing their fares, to proceed to the nearest rank, instead of crawling along the streets and obstructing traffic." There is, perhaps, a good deal in the suggestion from the purely trafficcontrol point of view, but after the recent protests over the Eecleston Square cab rank it is not surprising to have the Home Secretary's assurance that the provision of additional ranks is very difficult. This problem and the contributory causes of congestion are under review by the London Traffic Advisory Committee. Incidentally, the residents of Eccleston Square are not allowing their protest to die down, but have directed the attention' of the Westminster City Council to the depreciation in
rateable values through the "infringement of the amenities of the Square." The Home Secretary is giving consideration to the representations made to him that the cabs needed for passengers at Victoria, Station should be accommodated on the premises of the Southern Railway ; but, so far, he has been unable to rind any practicable alternative to the present arrangements.
Taxicabs Without Sell-starters.
MITE fact that London taxicabs are not fitted with a.
self-starting device has given rise to an idea that the police regulations forbid the use of self-starters. As the Home Secretary has xplained, 2ueli a regulation does not exist, but the absence of self-starters from taxicabs is understood to be due to the reluctance of proprietors to provide the extra current required. The London cabdriver has always been of a conservative disposition.
Post Office Transport Vehicles.
OME cariosity has recently been displayed by Mem
bers of Parliament as to the extent to which Government Departments have been using articles of foreign manufacture. Quite a commotion was Caused by the admission that foreign 'typewriters were in use, until there was,a satisfactory explanatiim, Now attention has been turned to %mechanical transport vehicles in charge of the Post Office, and the following statement is made by the Assistant Postmaster-General Of the amount spent hitherto by the Post Office on the purchase of 'mechanical road transport vehicles, the Proportion representing vehicles of foreign manufacture and assembly is nil. The proportion representing vehicles of foreign .manufacture and British assembly, in the ordinary meaning of these terms, is also nil, but 40 per cent, of the vehicles of British manufacture and assembly contained a small proportion (about 3. per cent.) of foreign parts: The vehicles last-mentioned are made by a firm whose capital is largely foreign. The remaining 60 per cent. are entirely British made by firms whose capital, so far as the Postmaster-General is aware, is British."
Lifting Jacks on Motor Vehicles.
ATTENTION having been called to a collision between a steam lorry and a motorcycle in Bristol, when the cyclist was pinned underneath the lorry for nearly half an hour, and the suggestion having been made that it should be compulsory for such vehicles to carry lifting jacks, the Minister Of Transport stated that he had no power to make any regulation such as that proposed. In any Case, he was afraid that mlequate lifting tackle was so heavy and bulky that it would not be practicable to require that all lorries, etc., should be so equipped.
Emission of Steam.
(10LONEL ASHLEY has given the following short
outline of the law relating to the.discharge of steam by road tractors. Tractors which are light locomotives must, under Section 1 of the Locomotives on Highways Act, 1896, be so constructed that no smoke or visible vapour is emitted except from a temporary or accidental cause. As regards tractors which are locomotives, as distinct from light locomotives, there is no provision forbidding the discharge of steam, although, under Section 30 of the Highways and Locomotives (Amendment) Act, 1878, such vehicles must be constructed to consume so far as practicable their smoke. The Minister expressed his doubt as to whether it would be practicable to require arl steam-driven vehicles to be fitted with condensing apparatus.
Mats for Police on Point Duty.
rp HE Home Secretary—who has been informed that J. the experiment of supplying _Birmingham police on point duty with rubber mats appears to be giving satis fa. ctory results, though it is too soon to give a final opinion—is to consider the possibility of a similar experiment in London.
Two-seater Taxicabs.
THERE were 8,262 motor cabs and 10,226 motor-cab drivers licensed in the Metropolitan Police district on January 31st last. In 1920 the number of cabs licensed was 5,547 and in 1923 7,222. The number of drivers licensed in those years is not available, as the tabulated records have been destroyed. The figures showing, as they do, a great increase of taxicabs were supplied by the Home Secretary and they gave an opening to Mr. Robert Morrison to protest against the suggestion to flood 'the streets with two-seater taxicabs. Sir W. Joynson-Hicks declared that there was no such suggestion. The interests of the public were concerned and if people were prepared to put on two-seater taxicabs at a lower fare than that charged for four-seater taxicabs it would be difficult for him to refuse a licence. Mr. Morrison pointed to the anomaly of reducing omnibuses and increasing the ntunber of taxicabs, whereupon the Home Secretary observed that there might be a greater demand for the taxicabs.
Slate Dust for Roadmaking.
LATE dust mixed with granite macadam has been 1...)used experimentally for roadmaking in the Festiniog district, but the experiment has not yet reached the stage at which the Minister of Transport would be justified in expressing a definite opinion upon it.
Local Speed Limit Powers.
OUNTY councils and county borough councils have kipowers under the Loeomotives on Highways Act, 1896, to impose speed limits with respect to bridges, which are not subject to the consent of any Government Department.
Foot Passengers in Gyratory Traffic.
fr HE question of facilitating the crossing of foot-IPassengers where the gyratory system of control is in operation presents some difficulty. It is now being considered by the Ministry of Transport officials, along with representatives of the Metropolitan Police, and a suggestion by Colonel Day that a broad white line to indicate the crossing should be painted on the roadway will he referred to them.
' Obtaining Details of Road Requirements.
ASOMEWHAT formidable request was made by Mr. Hurd when he desired the Minister of Transport to state the mileage of clas,sified and unclassified roads in the county of Wiltshire that were held to be unfit for modern traffic, the estimated cost of making them fit, and the mileage of roads which needed to be widened or diverted and the estimated cost.
As Colonel Ashley pointed out, it is not practicable for the Ministry of Transport to undertake the detailed survey and examination of all classified and unclassified roads in a county and the preparation of estimates for their comprehensive modernization.
Mr. Hurd returned to the subject later, and wished to be informed as to the cost of reconstructing classified and unclassified roads throughout Great Britain. He received the same kind of reply, whereupon he inquired how the Minister could advise the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the proposal to raid the Road Fund unless he could tell him how much money was necessary. Colonel Ashley did not reply.
If the Government were to undertake a sort of road Domesday Book in respect of every county in the kingdom -and keep it up-to-date, they would almost require to set up a brand-new department. Presumably the Minister of Transport regards as a good enough indication of the needs of the situation, certainly in respect of classified roads, the representations made to him from time to time by the people who have most knowledge as to local needs, namely, the highway authorities arid his expert advisers: