Motor Road Transport For Commercial Purposes
(Liquid Fuel, Steam, Electricity)

INTRODUCTION The events of the past few years have focussed atten- tion as it has never been focussed before on the commercial possibility, or rather necessity, of road haulage by mechanical transport. The war, and the railway strike of 1919, demonstrated fully to the public the permanent character of motor traction in our national life. Let me quote but two examples, one of a military and the other of a civilian nature. When our forces made their advance after the Armistice towards the German frontier, the leading troops at one time had to be provisioned by mechanical transport at a distance of over 100 miles by road beyond the furthest point at which the railway could be repaired. At home during the strike, the faet that fleets of road vehicles carried out successfully the work of railways, as far as concerned the essential food supply of the community, must have convinced even the sceptics. Complementary not Gompetitive. It must not be assumed, however, from the above, that road transport can replace rail transport, especially where a ton mile basis is concerned. As Mr. Philli- more, with admirable broadmindedness, has pointed out, rail and road transport are not real competitors; rather is the one complementary to the other, and it is a nice appreciation of the possibilities and limita- tions of road haulage that will in the long run lead to success in its working. Undoubtedly, one reason why traffic organization has received comparatively little attention in the past, is the faet that in this country practically no large vii