TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 144, 14 March 1931, Page 13

TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

Royal Commission’s Advice ‘ABOLITION OF TRAMWAYS’ Drastic changes, in various forms of transport are advocated in the final report of the Royal .Commission set up in England tq go into the question of transport. After more than two years of effort, it recently issued its findings. Dealing with 'the whole of England, the commission declared that no more tramways should be built. They should gradually disappear, being an obsolete form of transport, causing congestion and danger. Abolition should begin at once in some of the towns. The suggestion is made that trackless trolleys might form an economical transition from tram to omnibus. It disagrees with the Parliamentary view that private motor-cars and motor-cycles are one of the chief forms of luxury expenditure. “In these days,” declare the commissioners, “the motor is an essential to many.” Another feature of the report is thestatement concerning the road v. rail fight. It is advocated that the chief method of the railway companies to protect themselves was to go on the road themselves. So far as this contributed to co-ordination, the commission welcomed it, but expressed doubt “whether it is 'wise for the companies to expend large capital sums for the purpose of establishing services which may be in direct competition with .their business, as railways. ■ “We feel,’’ the members of the commission said, “that possibly such capital would be better applied to the electrification of their suburban lines.” To prevent further losses, the railways should cheapen and. speed up their services, and free excursion tickets from irritating conditions. . ' Dealing with roads, the recommendation is that no more great sums should be spent on making new arterial roads, but rather in widening and improvement schemes. Raids on “road funds are stigmatised as being “bad finance and the suggestion made is that the motorists should contribute two-thirds of the total cost of the highways, and the ratepayers the remainder.