DICTATORSHIP

DICTATORSH IP

Sir, is with regret, and not A little disgust, that I have received the news of Mr. .Ernest Marples’ latest step towards converting this country into a Police State.

The unhappy, pestered, pushed-around British motorist! We have so much to think about While trying to enjoy our motoring, so many worries, that at least we must be thankful that Mr. Marples is not as yet trying to dictate which brand of petrol we must use. Ten-year tests, ‘increased road tax; and now, to add insult to injury, spot checks by police on any vehicle they suspect of being defective.

It is hardly surprising that there is such an increase in crime, the police are so busy pursuing that arch criminal, the driver.. Is this latest “..Marples. Mess ” an admission that the ten-year test has been a failure, financially or otherwise, or does lie no longer trust the ” 15c-a-time ” test certificate garage proprietor ? I am sure that Mr. Marples would be the first to assure me that this Spot check does not only apply. to old cats,. but also to some of the mass-produced, characterless; chromium-plated, mobile “

gin-palaces,” that, so many seem to prefer to drive. How many new Cars will be checked ? Not many, I feel sure!.

The question we must now Surely ask is this : ” How near the day when we Will have to have a Man walking in front of our -car, waving a red flag?” Chipping. Enwtuto Diatre„ [Quite so! We despair. It seems sometimes that Mr. Marples’ aim is to bring us all to .a standstill. Look at just one instance, the C.hertsey Road, a useful entry to and exit from London for motorists living in Middlesex and Surrey. Formerly this wide flair-lane highway was -derestrieted except for a short 4o-m.p.h. limit. Now nearly all of it is subject to a 40-m.p.h. limit Soon only Trojan owners, or perhaps those who invest in D.A.F.s, which are ingenious: but not notably fax cars, will be happy! I low “daft “I Spot-checks in addition to to-year tests ate a move towards the jackboot State and one hopes the Police will check grit-trucks that drop stones and spray our screens with water, short-wheelbase quarry-lorries that emit permanent black smoke clouds, multi-wheeled ” heavies ” that every so often rush down hills Out of control, defective bicycles; horses out of control, pedestrians with defective hearing-aids; and prams without parking brakes, as well as motorists.—End “‘