ABSTRACT

In mid-February 1926 Mr Winston Churchill, Chancellor of the Exchequer, had received a deputation from motoring organizations who wished to explain to him personally their opinions and views upon the question of diverting a portion of the Road Fund to purposes other than roads. During 1920 and 1930 the Government had set up a Royal Commission on Transport which made three reports. The first merely recommended greater control of road traffic in the interests of public safety. The second proposed a licensing system for public service vehicles. The third report, which was greeted by furious uproar, suggested that vehicles above four tons unladen weight should be discouraged from using the roads — and to this end it was advocated that they should be severely penalized by means of taxation. The Road Haulage Association considered that the membership of the Salter Commission was not sufficiently representative of their interests and complained bitterly, but to no avail.