Appeat to the iatateto
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IN your report of the recent I.Mech.E. Conference, at Cranfield, reference is made tc remarks made by me about prices of public service vehicles. Unfortunately, in the condensation, inevitable in such a report, the object of m), remarks has been lost.
My contention was not a straight attack on price policiei of manufacturers, but rather a criticism of development policy. In recent years, one ha seen a change from policies based on evolution of long running models and concepts, to policies involving development of new models, often embracing simultaneous introduction of far reaching changes — some involving new technology to the experience of the particular manufacturer.
This change of model policy could be, in part, related to Price Control Legislation. It is, in part, influenced by demands on vehicle manufacturers from new legislation. All this development work is certainly not aimed primarily at improving reliability. Usually, the new models are less reliable until the settling-in period is completed.
In some respects, sympathy is due to the chassis manufacturers; they have to meet the dictates of the legislation as best they can.
So, perhaps my remarks should not be described as an attack on manufacturers' price policies, but rather an appeal to them to tell the legislators to ease off a little, allowing them a breathing space for reliable engineering to catch up, and for chassis price increases to ease off.
K. F. MIDDLETON
Chief Engineer, Ulsterbus