Reviving the Road Fund
Nor did he add to his reputation by observing that the British road system is still the best in the world—a peculiarly nonsen- sical bit of patriotism. It was left to Sir Gurney Braithwaite, a predecessor of Mr. Molson's at the Ministry of Transport, to provide the one constructive suggestion put forward in the debate. His suggestion is that a thirty-year loan of £500,000,000 should be raised for a radical scheme of road development. Motor taxation could pay it back with no great difficulty, and, unlike the Road Fund laid down by Lloyd George, it would be secure against Chancellors of the Exchequer tempted to dip into it. This is a sound enough scheme. The road transport organisations have given it their support. All that remains is for the Government to admit that it was mistaken. Other- wise it will be continuing unsuccessfuly to walk up a descending escalator, getting nowhere with much fuss.
Previous page
