ROAD TRANSPORT MATTERS IN PARLIAMENT.
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Two-seater Taxicab Questions. Employment of Displaced Buses. An Old Objection Renewed. Curiosity About Road Fund Grants.
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent.
A N interesting series of questions has been addressed ilby Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy and others to the Home Secretary regarding the licensing of two-seater taxicabs in London. First of all some information was desired as to the alleged delay in putting the cabs on the streets and as to designs approved and cost of building to those designs.
Sir W. Joynson-Hicks, after stating that he had already signed the order to permit the introduction of two-seater cabs at the lower tariff, said that approval so far had been given for two designs. In one of these cases the cab had been submitted and, subject to rectification of certain points, it was practically ready for licensing. In the other case drawings had been submitted and approved, and the vehicle, it was understood, was in course of construction. He was not in a position to speak as to cost of building.
In conjunction with the Commissioner of Police he had reconsidered the whole of the existing regulations and specification with regard to cabs, and it would be possible for a cheaper type of cab to be built and used under the new regulations now being issued.
In further reply the Home Secretary stated that the regulations would admit of a narrower wheelbase, and answering a Labour member, who challenged the right of the department to fix the price of this service, as against any other service performed by anybody else, he simply remarked that he had the right.
Mr. R. Morrison wanted to know whether any modifications in the design had been passed by Scotland Yard, and whether any modification on the present type of taxicab was contemplated. The Home Secretary replied that at present there had been no demand for any alteration in the design of the existing taxicabs. As lie had stated, he had reconsidered with the Conant-issinner of Police an adaptation of those specifications to tie new type, and new regulations would be issued.
Alternative Routes for Omnibuses.
the Minister of Transport being interrogated as
to the finding of alternative routes for privately owned motor omnibuses that had been ordered to give up their normal routes, Colonel Ashley stated that the proprietors referred to had been informed that the department were prepared, in conjunction with the Commissioner of Police, to examine concrete proposals for the extension of existing omnibus routes and for the establishment of new routes not directly. competing with other passenger transport services so as to. enable these proprietors to retain in service any of their omnibuses which might otherwise be displaced. So far he had received only one such application. He was not aware that any of the omnibuses belonging to the proprietors had yet been withdrawn from service.
Where Traffic is Blessed.
IT would appear that the creation of a by-pass road is not always regarded by the village community as an advantage. As a matter of fact, Telford met,the same objection many years. ago. Many owners and occupiers of property in the village of Langford, Somerset, petitioned the County Council of Somerset against the diversion of the main road on the ground that such diversion would injuriously affect the trade anti prosperity of the village. The Minister of Transport, on being asked whether, before sanctioning the diversion, he would direct a local inquiry to be held at which the views of the inhabitants could be expressed, pointed out that the improvement which the Somerset County
Council were effecting at Langford with the assistance of the Road Fund formed part of the comprehensive reconstruction of the trunk road between Bristol and Exeter. Owing to the narrow and tortuous character of the village street and the very restricted sight line, the county council considered it advisable to construct a by-pass rather than incur the much heavier outlay involved in remodelling the old road and demolishing the buildings fronting it. He had concurred in the council's proposal, which, he believed, would conduce to the comfort and convenience of residents in the village. As the contract had already been let, a local inquiry would serve no useful purpose.
Road Fund Grants.
OME members are displaying an unusual interest the amount of grants from the Road Fund paid to, particular counties during the last year—for what reason it is not quite clear. Let us hope that county rivalry or, worse still, rural district council rivalry is not going to be an element in the administration of the Road Fund.
Condition of Pevensey Marshes Road.
A TTENTION having been called to the dangerous _ticondition of the road crossing Pevensey Marshes, between Eastbourne and Bexhill, Colonel Ashley stated that ha was aware of the condition of this road, a part of which had been classified Class I. Grants had been made from the Road Fund for the repair of this length. The section between'Eastbourne and Pevensey was not classified, but he was informed that the highway authority concerned was preparing an improvement scheme with a view to submitting an application for financial assistance from the Road Fund. A scheme had been submitted for improving the portion in Bexhill, and this was now under the consideration of the Ministry of Transport.
Decrease in Motorcar Imports.
ACCORDING to Treasury figures the number of
• complete ntotofcars liable to duty imported during the period January 1st to March 31st of this year was 2,669 and . their value £459,042, the net amount of duty collected during the period being £128,229. The number of complete motorcars of descriptions now within the charges of duty imported during the corresponding period of 1925 was 7,531 and their value Y1,386,798.
The Grant for Sidmouth Sea-wall.
SIR FRANK MEYER, the Conservative member for Great Yarmouth, has been greatly exercised over the grant from the Road Fund for the road and seawall at Sidmouth. He desired to know the length of the road adjoining the sea-wall which had been classified, when the classification was made and whether the road was used as a through route for traffic or only as an access for houses fronting the esplanade. He also desired a specific description of the road works in respect of which a grant of £15,935 was offered, as distinguished from the work of constructing the seawall. Colonel Ashley explained that the estimate for the repair of the sea-wall and the road which it supports was not subdivided, and the figures did not lend themselves to dissection under these heads. The length of the classified road which needed reconstruction was approximately 580 ft. The roadway itself had
been reconstructed with concrete and tar-macadam. The length of the classified road at Sidmouth adjoining the new sea-wall was approximately 238 yds. It was classified as part of road B 3,176 five years ago. It formed part of an indispensable link between the two principal roads leading into Sidmouth from the north.
Mirrors in Air and Road ;Traffic.
THE use of mirrors on aircraft is a different proposition from the use of mirrors on road vehicles. According to Sir Philip Sassoce, Under-Secretary for Air, the subject was investigated during the war and again last year, when it was found that the analogy to street traffic did not apply, owing to the much wider field of vision required if a pilot was to obtain any practical advantage. Such use is open to the objection that the pilot may be temporarily dazzled while flying away from the sun and that each mirror in itself constitutes a further blind spot.
Regulation of Petrol Pumps.
THE Weights and Measures (Amendment) Bill which had been passed by the House of Lords was given a second reading without a division in the House of Commons on the 20th inst. and committed to a standing committee. The Bill, as the President of the Board of Trade explained, has been approved in principle by all parties. The object, he said, was to give the Board of Trade power to make Regulations regarding measuring instruments which were not now within the scope of the law. Under the Bill the Board of Trade would be able to deal with measuring instruments in regard to the measurement of superficial areas and they would also have full power to deal with pipes and petrol pumps and to give local authorities the right to stamp petrol pumps of the approved type. This particular power, he said, was largely overdue. The Bill also makes proper arrangements with reference to fees for testing.
Licensing of Petrol Pumps. THE anomalous position of owners of petrol pumps which are situated on the highway of the arms of which extend over the highway has been, on several occasions, the subject of legislative proposals, but hitherto there has been failure to get an Act of Parliament passed to set matters right. The position is such
• that the belief is entertained that owners of such pumps • may in some cases be held liable for an infringement of
the law. It is time the position was regularized one way or the other.
Sir Frank Meyer has taken up the question, and on the 20th inst. he presented a Bill to provide for the licensing of roadside petrol pumps by highway authorities. The Bill, which is backed by Capt. Brass, Lieut.Colonel Horlick, Lieut.-Colonel Asslieton Pownall and Mr. Benjamin Smith, was formally read a first time. As all the Fridays for Private Members' Bills are already crowded up, the prospects of the measure in the present session are not too bright, unless by a happy chance the second reading slips through at a late hour some night at a sufficiently early period of the session and provided the Committee stage does not disclose any serious opposition. The text of the Bill will be available in a few days. It is similar in its provisions to the Bill introduced some years ago.
The Vanishing Road Vehicles Bill.
THE Prime Minister has been asked to state whether it is the intention of the Government to find the necessary time for the passage of the Road Vehicles Bill this session, but the reply was that "in the present state of public business the Prime Minister is not able to make any statement on the subject."
Restrictions on Movable Dwellings.
SIR GRANVILLE WHELER'S Bill for the regulation of movable dwellings which has been presented and read a first time applies to vans, carts, carriages, wagons and other vehicles, as well as tents and structures. It gives a local authority power to prohibit or limit encampments where dangerous to health and, by order approved by the Minister of Health, where constituting an annoyance or interfering with the amenities of the neighbourhood. Due regard is to be had to the interests of travelling showmen, proprietorE, of roundabouts and stallholders so that they shall not be hampered in the exercise of the legitimate business of their calling. The local authority is also empowered to purchase land and provide camping grounds under conditions to be approved by the Minister of Health. When sufficient land for camping ground has been provided the occupier of a movable dwelling shall not encamp within the area of the local authority upon any common or roadside waste without the permission of the local authority or its officer. This is another of the long list of Bills which are destined to reappear in another session.