§ Mr. EDWARDSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he has received communications from local authorities protesting against the Heavy Motor Car (Amendment) Order, 1922, which increases the axle weights of vehicles and increased speed on the highways, many of the roads being unsuitable for such speed and traffic; and will he take the necessary steps to revert to the previous position in regard to this matter?
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§ Lieut.-Colonel ASHLEYI have received a number of resolutions of a stereotyped form protesting against this Order, mostly from rural district councils. There appears to be considerable misapprehension as to the effect of the amending Order, which was primarily intended to legalise the use of certain types of tractor and trailer combinations. Apart from this, it increases the maximum speed of certain heavy motor-cars, if fitted with resilient tyres, from 8 to 12 miles per hour, and raises the maximum axle weight of a trailer from 4 to 6½ tons. In these respects the Order follows the recommendations of the Departmental Committee. No change has been made in the maximum axle-weight on any axle of a heavy motor-car, which remains the same as when first laid down in 1904. I am not prepared to revoke the amending Order, which meets to some extent the needs arising from industrial development without imposing any undue burden upon the roads.