ORGANIZING TRANSPORT FACILITIES.
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In the widely-scattered domain over which the Road Transport Board exercises control, there are few territories presenting problems of greater emuplexity than that embraced within the scope of the North Midland. counties. Stretching from the confines of Cheshire to points at which Northants lies contiguous to the Huntingdonshire border, and also to the Lincolnshire coast, the area is sufficiently extensive to test the efficiency of official arrangements in a great diversity of ways. Already the executive machinery, which is designed to exercise far-reaching influence, has been got well under way, and, although obviodsly it is too early yet to attempt anything in the nature of a tabulation of results, there is plentiful evidence that the Main essentials enderlying the national scheme are being dealt with upona basis which will be thoroughly comprehensive. In this, the main purport of the Board of Trade reference to the central advisory committee is being fulfilled in aiming at securing co-ordination of the work of existing Government Departments in relation to road transport and ensuring economical use of available vehicles, whilst providing for their efficient allocation to meet the country's needs.
Happily, the plan affords means for a devolution of responsibility at a period when centralization of effort has not been unattendedby a considerable measure of criticism. It has been recognized that, whilst from Whitehall mandatory or other instructions may be forthcoming in sheaves, the entire success of official plans depends upon the co-opeiation of those in the districts concerned, who are conversant with the needs of the localities in which their business interests are centred. For this purpose advisory committees, which have been set up in the Midlands, as elsewhere, have already afforded proof of their utility,. and part paesu with the development of the Government scheme there has arisen a wider measure of interest in the work of the Commercial Motor Users Association, of which, through the advocacy of Mr. F. G. Bristow, secretary of the central
organization and himself a member of the Government Committee, two very promising branches have beeh recently Drought into existence, one for the West Midlands and. the other ler the North M idlends.
From its geographical position in relation to toe area, Nottingham has been selected as the centre of .operations of the North Midland Road Transport Board, offices having been established in the metropolis of the lace industry at Westminster Buildings. Work has now for some months been in progress here, and, although much of it, so far, has been of a preparatory character, the immediate and fuller extension of the operations is indicated by the arrangements which have been perfected for compiling the returns in connection With which all owners of motor, steam, electric or gas-propelled vehicles and all proprietors of horsed vehicles with a, loading capacity of 15 cwt. or over were required to register by the end of July. From such indications as have already been forthcoming, the anticipation appears to be warranted that, a great amount of motive power will be found available in North Midland districts and, in the pcesent exigent times, economy ins its use may, by the means now being adopted, be rendered more easy of realization.
Chairmen of local area committees in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Lincolnshire and Northants have been appointed to serve as liaison officers between the bodies of which they are the heads and the Road Transport Board, but it goes without saying that, in relation to the main purpose, nothing can be substantially accompl4shed without efficiency of direction on the Part Of the chief Gov • ernineut official appointed to the general charge of the area.
In this respect, therefore, when there is so much in many other ways to remind people that Pope's metaphor as to flies in amber is not without its application to some .presenteday occurrences, it is gratifying to know that the Government authorities have been successful in oh taming the services of such an. eminently practical and experienced head of the North Midland Board as Mr. Metcalfe. His presence at the inaugural meeting of the Commercial Motor Users Association at Nottinghani was in itself evidence of a readiness to afford practical help which has since been amplified in an abundance of ways.
Mr. Mettalfe brings to bear upon his formidable task long acquaintance with official and organizing work. For 23 years, before returning again to this country in 1917, he had occupied a. pealtion of considerable responsibility in Central Africa as general manager of the British Central Africa Co., Ltd., which, in Nyassaland, with control of vast tracks of country, fills a place analogous to that of the greater organization in Rhodesia.
Mr. Metcalfe's work in Nyassaland was also associated with the Shire High.lands Railway, which had affiliated interests with the more important company for which he exercised managerial control during the 18 years of his residence there. He acted as repre7 sentative of the railway company clurin its construction by the British Centre. Africa Co., Ltd., the building of which* was rendered necessary by . the difficulties of river transport consequent upon the fall in the water levels. During his regime a railway miming from the head navigation on the Zambesi to Blantyre, the central quarters of the company, was laid down for a distance of 179 miles, revolutionizing conditions bearing upon transport work, and being of infinite service during the -military operations against the German East African forces. The scheme has brought manifold advantagee to a , territory rich in natural resources, and, as a. fitting corollary to other important labours, Mr. Metcalfe in 1808, upon the establishment of the Nyassaland Legislative Council, was appointed one of tho three unofficial members of that body.
The only motor transport in the conictry before the .u.,ar was limited to Albion lorries. Coincident with the period of his tenure of office, sweeping changes were effected in the territory which has Portuguese East Africa and also North Rhodesia, which was once German East Africa, for its neighbours.
With an unlimited range for the expansion of road traffic with a return to normal times, Mr. Metcalfe has taken control of an area presenting manifold commercial possibilities. Certain chimerical nations as to the scope of the Board's work appear still to be entertained in some quarters.
There are.those who, mistakenly, still seem to entertain the nation that this new department of Government activity will be in the nature of it huge carrying concern. But co-ordination of existing plans is the keynote of the scheme, which has for' its raison d'titre the economical utilization of road transport vehicles. Such information as is now being collated should proveeinvaluable in the process of allocating resources to meet national needs, and the work so far as the North Midlands are concerned has been inaugurated under conditions significant of eficonraging prospects in relation to inevitable developments.