Cabinet .Rank Helps Minister to • Get Funds A FORMER Minister of

2nd May 1958, Page 71

2nd May 1958

Page 71

Page 71, 2nd May 1958 — Cabinet .Rank Helps Minister to • Get Funds A FORMER Minister of

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Transport, Lord Brabazon of Tara, emphasized on 'Monday the significance of that office now having a seat in the Cabinet in the light of his own experience of the difficulty in extracting mdney from the Treasury.

He was opening the Roads Campaign Council's "New Roads for Old" exhibition at Charing Cross Underground Station, London. It is to remain open until May 17.

Two years ago such an exhibition would have been virtually impossible, Lord Brabazon said. but now more constructive work was in hand than at any time. since 1930.

Nevertheless, the extent of the present and acceptable acceleration of road construction should be kept in perspective. Whilst the Government were spending £14m. on roads this year and had authorized £280m. over the next four years, even this would be only touching the fringe of the problem. It had been estimated that £3.500m. would be required over the next 20 years to bring roads up to date and keep pace With current traffic demands.

Lord Brabazon pointed' out that whilst Budget surpluses of around £400m. had been -spent on the 'atomic, rail and coal industries, it had been calculated by an impartial authority that inadequate roads were costing the nation nearly E500m. per year.

Dealing with the parking problem, the chairman of the Council, Mr. Wilfred Andrews, said that whilst recognizing its extent, they considered that every citizen should have the freedom of choice between private and public transport to reach city centres, An example of benefits to be derived from a small road-improvement scheme, as shown at the exhibition, concerned tice widening of the junction of High Holborn and Kingsway, London, the cost

of which was .£3.530. The estimated savings in a year are detailed as: fuel, £190; goods vehicles; £290; buses, £925; passengers, £410; total. £1,815, or 51 per cent, of the capital cost in the first year.

"INTOLERABLE BURDEN" ON CONDUCTORS

IN allowing an appeal to Bedford

Quarter Sessions by: a bus conductress who had been fined for failing to ensure the safety of an alighting passenger, the Recorder said, last week, that it was not a conductress's duty to prevent passengers from passing to the platform before a bus stopped. He was not willing to hold that the action of alighting started from the time when passengers rose from their seats. To do so would place an intolerable burden on conductors and conductresses.

The case was one in which an elderly man stepped off a moving bus about• 30 yd. from a compulsory stop. In trying to save him, his wife also fell. The wife had not expected her husband's action, said the Recorder, so why should the conductress?