ROAD TRAFFIC ACT, 1930. (Hansard, 18 February 1931)

§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Mr. Herbert Morrison)
I beg to move, That the Motor Vehicles (Variation of Speed Limit) Regulations, 1931, which were presented on the 29th day of January, 1931, be approved. I can explain this to the House in a few sentences. In the first Schedule of the Road Traffic Bill there was no proper provision for the speed limit of motor cycles carrying goods, and, in strict law, they can only travel at five miles per hour, and the Order which I submit to the House will enable them to travel at 30 miles per hour, the same as other goods vehicles. The second point is that we decided to deal with fire engines, ambulances, and police cars by Order rather than by Statute, and this Order permits those vehicles to run without any speed limit so long as they are engaged on the duties of such vehicles. That is the simple explanation.

§ Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWN
There is one small point which I think is omitted from the Order. Light trailers behind motor cars are not allowed to go more than five miles an hour. This is a very great hardship to a great many small poultry farmers and others in my constituency. You have made an Order that a motor cycle can go 30 miles instead of 1416 five miles an hour, and it is just as important that small traders and poultry farmers with trailers between 12 cwt. and six cwt. behind a light car should be allowed to go at the same speed. The sale of these motor trailers has been seriously affected and, indeed, stopped owing to their not being in this Order. If the Minister cannot meet this point now, I hope he will consider it, as it will be a very great help to these people.

§ Mr. C. WILLIAMS
May I ask the Minister one question. Do "goods" in this particular case include flappers as well?

§ Mr. BOWEN
I should like if the Minister could consider another point arising from the remarks of the first speaker concerning trailers used by farmers. Farmers have complained very seriously to me that the trailers which have been used must in certain circumstances provide for an additional man, and it is suggested that the Regulations which now require that a certain weight of vehicle should carry an additional man should have a reduced weight in order to give them facilities. Under the existing Regulations it appears that it is not at all profitable for them to use trailers and they would rather use a horse and cart than undertake the inconvenience and expense of having the additional man for the vehicle.

§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISON
As to the question of trailers raised by the first speaker, he will appreciate that this Order is really nothing more than formal, to put into a sensible form things that were not quite provided for. I am not sure that he is right as to the actual 1417 speed at which they can travel. At any rate, the problem of trailers was very carefully considered when the Bill was in Committee, and I hardly think it would be right so soon to make a variation specifically provided for in the First Schedule of the Bill. This Order relates to something that was not provided for. I do not quite get the point of the hon. Member for Torquay (Mr. C. Williams). He used a term which is possibly known in Torquay, but which I do not recognise as a Londoner. If he will discuss the matter with me privately, I shall be pleased to meet him. As to the point raised by the hon. Member for Crewe (Mr. Bowen) regarding the additional man on trailers, he will realise, as a member of the Trade Union Congress, that it has been immemorially raised at the Congress, and, in fact, is known as one of their hardy annuals. It is very largely to meet the point of the Trade Union Congress that this was done in the Bill. I should hesitate already to break away by Order from my industrial brethren, but at all times we are willing to receive representations from those concerned.

§ Mr. BOWEN
I have not the slightest desire to go back on anything I have said in requiring an additional man on trailers, but this does impose a burden on people more than they can carry, 1418 and that difficulty can be met if the weight could be reduced so that the vehicles would not require a second man.

§ Mr. MORRISON
I can only say that, if representations are received, they will be considered, but the provision about men on the trailers was very carefully considered in Committee.

§ Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWN
May I point out that the trailers I am talking about cannot carry a man? It is a small trailer from six to 12 cwt., and that regulation has been done away with. It is the speed limit alone.