Mr. C. WILSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport in the case of all municipal motor omnibus powers which are granted either by Provisional Order or Bill to municipal corporations, why a Clause is inserted providing for a contribution by the corporations towards any cost which may be incurred in any adaptation, alteration, reconstruction, or strengthening of roads 311W or bridges to which the powers apply; and why, seeing that the Roads Act taxes all motor vehicles in the same way, an additional charge is put upon municipal motor omnibus undertakings?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe Clause referred to relates only to the use of roads for the maintenance and repair of which the corporation are not liable, and which usually lie outside their area. Further, a contribution is only payable where the Minister of Transport determines that it is necessary to adapt, alter, or reconstruct the road or bridge in order to provide for the running of an omnibus service under the powers of the Act or Order. Municipal corporations are unable to operate omnibus services without Parliamentary sanction, and Parliament has always imposed this provision since 1914.