HORSELESS LONDON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 238, 7 October 1932, Page 7

HORSELESS LONDON.

Relief of Congestion By Miles of " Tubes." £44,000,000 SCHEME. LONDON, October 6. Sir Charles Allom, a well-known architectural contractor, in the course of an address to engineers and transport experts, foreshadowed a horseless® London, devoid of congestion. This, he said, would result from the inauguration of a new goods way,, the registered scheme for which provided for an expenditure of £44,000,000. There would be 80 miles of underground electric "tubes" for the conveyance of goods. These would be connected with nine railway terminals, also with docks, markets and warehouses. The scheme would reduce road congestion 60 per cent, and the time occupied in transport 80 per cent. The expenditure would be £8,000,000 a year for 5J years. Mr. Frederick Erlund, originator of the scheme, said the construction work would absorb 190,000 people. The permanent staff operators would total 50,000. • Sir Robert Home and General Seeley said that, if London was to survive, its goods traffic must be placed underground. PERFORMING RIGHTS. FURTHER EVIDENCE. SYDNEY, October 6. In giving evidence before the Royal Commission which is inquiring into the question of fees for performing rights, Mr. Sydney Edwards, secretary to the AustAilian and New Zealand Performing Rights Association, said his association's receipts from broadcasting in the 12 months ended Juno 30, 1931, totalled £35,615, of which £28,833 was from A stations, £2512 from B stations and £4270 from New Zealand. Mr. George Sutherland, music publisher, recalled, reiterated that far too much music was being broadcast which was destroying public appreciation. H«r suggested that a greater percentage of non-musical matter should be put over the air. . The Government received too large a share of radio license fees, said witness. The greater proportion of listeners' fees should go to the broadcasting authorities in order to improve programmes. Witness admitted that music publishers sent records of new pieces to broadcasters because they brought in revenue. Nevertheless broadcasting vulgarised and ruined the sale of sheet < music. He also admitted that his firm ■ operated a broadcasting station. This, ' he said, was because it was about the only business now profitable. Mr. Sutherland was asked whether about £800,000 —being the performing right fees throughout the world—if pooled would provide 20 per cent of the new music requisite for broadcasting. He , replied that possibly it would. The hearing was then adjourned.