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Spalding Protests Against Nationali2ation

11th January 1946
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Page 24, 11th January 1946 — Spalding Protests Against Nationali2ation
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

AMEETING of protest against the proposed nationalization of road transport was held last Friday in the Corn Exchange, Spalding. Organized by Mr. A. Battley, of Battley's Transport, Ltd., Spalding, it was attended by some 400 people from all parts of South Lincolnshire, and included hauliers, farmers, produce merchants and the headquarters' transport officer of the National Farmers' Union.

The chairman was Mr. H. W, Butcher, M.P. He stressed the fact that the meeting had been organized locally to protest against the proposals put forward by the Government for the nationalization of road transport. It was not a political meeting, but one of people who wished to put before the public their reasons why this procedure would not he in the best interests of the public. He hoped it was not going to be said anywhere that the present Government, or any other Government, had received a mandate at the General Election to nationalize road transport. During the Election campaign, he had received no questions at all on that point. He was glad that the meeting was not only one of protest by road hauliers but also by users of road transport. He believed that such meetings, which were being held throughout the country, would show that the people of this Nation desired, and preferred, that the road-transport industry hould remain in the hands of the local man.

Delay in Government Departments As to experience with Government Departments, only that morning he had received from the Board of Trade a reply to a letter sent to it by him 23 days before, and to a question that any private concern or business would have answered by telephone or by letter next day. Any industry so flexihle as road haulage would find that its service to the public would be considerably diminished if it passed into the hands of a Government Department. (Applause.) Road transport required knowledge of the local need, and must be ready at once to carry loads expeditiously from one part of the country to another.

As regards the possibility of nationalizing the railways, it was a poor argument that if one thing was to be nationalized, the Government should seek to kill or strangle all potential competitors by the same process. • Mr. Arthur J. Tribe, chairman, Wisbech Sub-area, R.H.A., said that during and since the war road haulage had been largely controlled by people who might, or might not, know something about transport. Hauliers had been told that anything over 60 miles was long-distance; they might yet be told that it was anything over 20 miles.

Nationalization would mean documentation—forms and still more forms, you cannot get away from them. Such a policy cannot be applied successfully to so flexible an industry as road transport.

The Editor of "The Commercial Motor," Mr. G. Mackenzie Junner, said he was heartily in sympathy with this anti-nationalization protest. He had, for years, been warning operators against what was coming. He stressed the need for speedy transport, particularly for perishable goods. Users should consider how they would get their goods to market in time if they had to put their orders for vehicles through some complex Civil Service system.

He asked whether they were satisfied to be slaves tied to the wheels of Government chariots to form a kind of Labour triumph. Transport was one of the most important features in the whole build-up of the country and business. It was a whip which, in the hands of the Government, could be used to bring other industries into submission. The Government, which had professed itself to be against cartels. intended to form one of the greatest cartels that had ever existed. There would be no freedom left for hauliers, and none for the user. It is a British instinct to be free. After Dunkirk, it was largely the small man who would not give up, and so it should be now in the fight for freedom in this industry. The man who has been in business all his life is to be told what to do by the amateur.

More Difficulty for Agriculture Mr. A. Battley said that those present recognized what was at stake, and that nationalization of transport was of no advantage to them. The industry would not accept it without a fight, but there must be support from others affected, including garage owners and repairers. Under nationalization there would be no room for private enterprise. Agriculture, the backbone of the Nation, would have increased difficulties, which would spell loss of trade. Many transport workers may have voted for the Labour Government, but not for the national control of their industry.

In reply to a question from the speaker—" Do you want nationalization of transport?" there was a general shout of "No." "EAST KENT" TRAFFIC RECEIPTS BIG ADVANCE

I N the year ended September 30 last, traffic receipts, etc., from the operations of the East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., amounted to £992,883, compared with £779,803 in the previous year. Operating expenses totalled £488,448, whilst taxation amounted to £313,035, and depreciation and renewals to £70,000, the profit being £34,455, against £36,304 a year earlier. General reserve receives £10,000, and after the preference dividend and 8 per cent, on the ordinary shares have been paid, £27,440 remains to be carried forward.

LARGE EXPORT DEMAND FOR . GUY VEHICLES

ADDRESSING the 30th annual meeting of Guy Motors, Ltd., Mr. Sydney S. Guy, chairman, said that whilst the company was developing and producing military vehicles in 1936-39, it had to sacrifice a good deal of its civilian business. He believed that, as a recognition of those pre-war efforts, the Government, at the end of 1944, gave the company an opportunity either of carrying on with the manufacture of military vehicles in 1946, or, alternatively, of gradually slowing down and completing the contracts. The latter course was chosen and it has worked out well for the company, because within a week of the cessation of hostilities in Europe, the company had produced, according to plan, its last military vehicle, and was thereby able quickly to get into production with various civilian types, including the Wolf 2-3tonner, the Vixen 4-tonner, and singledeck and double-deck oil-engined buses.

Since the end of the war the company has sent several hundred vehicles overseas, and of the large number of orders on its books, it is interesting to note that some 45 per cent, of the vehicles required are for export.

Since the removal of restrictions on the purchase of vehicles, the company has received a big influx of orders from all parts of the country, and its works will, accordingly, be fully occupied for a Icing time to come.

S. SMITH AND SONS HUGE WAR PRODUCTION IN the course of his speech at the lordinary general meeting of S. Smith and Sons (England), Ltd., held a few days ago, Sir Allan Gordon-Smith, K.B.E., DL., chairman and managing director, gave some interesting facts relating to the part played by the Smith organization in the war effort.

For instance, 1,500,000 speedometers and mileage recorders of various sorts were supplied for use on different kinds of mechanical transport vehicle, and over 5,000,000 other instruments, in eluding oil-pressure gauges, thermometers, mechanical tyre pumps, etc., were supplied.

Smiths Jacking Systems produced hydraulic jacks and kindred apparatus for use on Tanks, lorries and aircraft in quantities running into hundreds of thousands. The sparking-plug division —K.L.G. Sparking Plugs, Ltd.—produced over 12,000,000 sparking plugs for aircraft. Sir Allan laid great stress on the need for exporting to the maximum extent in order that the country may regain complete independence, and outlined the company's plans for future development.

INDIA TYRE DEPOT REOPENED

IT is announced by the India Tyre and 1 Rubber Co., Ltd., that it has reopened its depot at Lincoln, the address being 168, Scorer Street.

OMNIBUS SOCIETY'S A.G.M.

THE annual general meeting of the Omnibus Society will be held on Friday, January 18, at 6 p.m., at the Institute of Marine Engineers, 85-88, Minories, London, E.C.3. After the formal business, the chairman, Mr. Charles E. Lee, will present a paper.

ATTRACTIVE CROSSLEY MOTORS . PUBLICATION

DUR1NG the war, Crossley Motors Ltd., published, as advertisements, a series of pictures of' scenes from the English countryside hoping that they would interest our own people and those of our Allies who were temporarily with us. They attracted much attention and the company received many hundreds of requests for copies of the advertisements. It was not possible at the time to accede to these requests, but a booklet incorporating all of them has now been published under the title "The English Countryside." A copy may be obtained by sending a penny stamp to the publicity department, Cr ossley Motors Ltd., Gorton, Manchester, 18.

LEYLAND EXPORT DRIVE UNDER

SUBSTANTIAL overseas orders for goods vehicles have been received by Leyland Motors, Ltd. The company' export drive appears to be well under way and, so far, orders for nearly 70 six-wheeled goods vehicles have reached the maker. All of them specify Leyland Hippo Mk. II, a six-wheeler, with two driven rear axles and five forward speeds, designed for a 12-ton pay-load. This is a type which is also being produced in quantity for military use, and these Services commitments are likely to extend until next March.

A description and test-run report of the Hippo Mk. II appeared in our issue dated June 1, 1945.

TRADING RESULTS OF SHELVOKE AND DREWRY

THE trading profit of Shelvoke and Drewry, Ltd., to July 31 last, amounted to £114,446, compared with £189,416 in the previous year, the net profit coming out at £100,989, as against £176,894. A dividend of 10 per cent. is being paid on the ordinary shares, and the amount to be carried forward is £11,130.

PAPER BEFORE LONDON TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATORS

THE London Centre of the Institute of Traffic Administration meets on Wednesday, January 16, at 7 p.m., at Alliance Hall, Palmer Street, Westminster, London, S.W., to hear an important address by Mr. Frederick Smith, M.Inst.T., entitled "New Transport Practice in a New Britain."


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