Central Board Proposals Impossible?
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"GIVE operators all the facts " sums up the policy which the employers' panel of the Yorkshire Area Board has adopted, with reference to the position concerning the wages and working conditions of A and B-licence holders' employees. Under the pane.; auspices, haulier members of employers' organizations in Yorkshire are being furnished with specially printed copies of the draft proposals from the Central Board, the proposals put forward by the Central Board Employers' Panel, and the voluminous memorandum which was submitted in support of the latter proposal.
The operators concerned are also being asked to supply information as to the financial effect which the draft proposals would have on their business. In the meantime, the Yorkshire Employers' Panel—in common with employers panels in all, or nearly all, other areas—has forwarded to the Central Board its reasons for opposing the draft proposals and for supporting the proposals of the Central Board Employers' Panel.
A statement on the attitude of the Yorkshire Employers' Panel was made, last week, by Councillor Charles Holdsworth, of Halifax, chairman of the panel and of the Yorkshire Area Board, in an interview with one of our correspondents. "The Yorkshire Employers' Panel," he said, "feels that the draft proposals' from the Central Board are exorbitant, when regard is had both to the proposed wages and the proposed conditions. It is -only by considering these two factors together, that a proper picture can be drawn as to the wages which would actually have to be paid under the draft proposals."
The Federation of Yorkshire Road Transport Employers has forwarded to the Central Wages Board many letters from operators. Among the main factors which are cited as definite reasons for opposition is the freight-rates problem.
'We shall never be able to get the rates up to cover the extra cost," states one operator on this point. " Before customers will pay such high rates, they will buy wagons of their own and put drivers on at 40s. and 60s. a week, under a C licence."
Striking comments on the coal-haulage rates position in Yorkshire, are made in another letter, from a firm mainly engaged in this branch of haulage.
After referring to " the disgustingly low schedule of coal-haulage rates fixed by the West Yorkshire Coal Sales Association" an . organization which collieries have set up under the Coal Mines Act—and stating that road transport operators are compelled to adhere to them, the letter proceeds: " We were promised that this schedule of low rates was to be revised over 12 months ago but nothing has yet been done. . . At the same time as our revenue is being depleted by legislation and interference from outside bodies, our costs are being forced up and up by the same legislation that cuts our revenue down. Surely an impossible position."
One operator complains that in his district C-licensed farmers, after having finished their ordinary work at 5 p.m., undertake haulage work for hire or reward until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. " I have known many instances," he writes, " where they charge only Ss. for the use of the lorry and their labour after 5 p.m. . . . They, like the ownerdrivers, will still be able to cut rates and do just as they like; they appear to be excluded from visits from the vehicle examiners." PERSONAL PARS.
MR. P. J. HAYS, to whom we referred last week as having undergone an operation on Wednesday, is making favourable progress.
Ma. A. T. JEFFERY, late field representative of the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., and Singer Motors, Ltd., has been engaged by. Solex, Ltd., to represent the company in India. He has acquired extensive experience at the Solex worka and sails for Bombay next month. From there he will travel in India, Burma, Ceylon, Malaya and the Dutch East Indies.
MR. DONALD K. LEED has been appointed resident factory representative in New Zealand for Morris Industries Exports, Ltd., the appointment having been considered advisable owing to the increasing tendency towards local assembly and the import regulations recently announced by the New Zealand Government. Prior to his five years experience at home with Morris Industries Exports, Ltd., Mr. heed was factory representative in Australia and New Zealand for Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd., and, later, acted in the same capacity for the former company.
Commercial Vehicles Go Gay at Ramsgate.
AT the Ramsgate Concours d'Elegance, which was held at Ramsgate on Saturday last, there were 26 commercial vehicles lined up for judging. Among the entries were some designs which proved beyond doubt that a commercial vehicle can be made to look really attractive and of very definite ad% eqising value.
ford L.:o.lctt L;nd;l; 2to 1.501edowrti: 11.,titoodn
(.1 If. Mano); 1/ cwt. to 50 cwt.: 1, Commer 'Corers (London), Ltd.); 2, Cemmer 1Ark Food Products. Ltd.); 11 cwt. to 50 cwt. (Thanet
Fordson (Vye and Son); over 50 cwt.: lEamend T (T. W. Phickrosel; coaches: Leyland iGeorge Ewe! and Co., Ltd.); the lastnamed vehicle is illustrated elsewhere in tins issoe.
A New Spurling Convertible Farm Vehicle. REFERENCE was made, in our issue dated June 30, to a convertible cattle truck and horsebox, of which a Bedford chassis formed the basis, having a body built by Spurling Motor Boiliee, Ltd., Edgware Road, London, iv.w 9. In this connection, the Spurling "New Era" cattle truck and farm wagon, is well worthy of note. 'this vehicle, also standardized with a Bedford chassis, can be converted, in a metier of a few minutes from a platform lorry to a drop-sided lorry or a cattle carrier. In the last-named form the vehicle weighs under 50 cwt., whilst the body, according to equipment and capacity, costs from £51 (for the 30cwt. model) upwards. An outstanding feature is the ease with which the upper racks can be detached. Instead of having to be lifted out of position, they are hooked on, the operation being within the power of one man. There is a high headlmard, permanently fixed; the high rear pillars, gates and ramp are
easily removable, and a tailboard is supplied for use when the vehicle is employed as a drop-sided lorry.
In the case of the 2-ton long-wheelbase machine, the inside dimensions of the body are: length, 11 ft. 6 ins., width 6 ft. 5 ins., and height 4 ft. 6 ins.
N.M.U. New London H.Q.
Tile London headquarters of 1 Northern Motor Utilities, Ltd., of York, have been transferred to more commodious premises in Walmgate Road, oil Aintree Road, Perivale, Middlesex.
Wellworthy Piston Prices.
Q\VING to increased costs of prodtiction, following upon recent wage advances, Wellworthy Piston Rings, Ltd., Lyrnington, Hants, announces that prices of its pistons have all been increased by 5 per cent. as from July 3.
Death of London Transport Official.
regret to announce the death of VV Mr. G. E. M. Macnaghten, public information officer of London Transport. Ile joined the Metropolitan Railway in 1927 and was transferred to London Transport in 1933, becoming puillie information Officer some two years later.
GERMAN SALES DECLINE.
IT is stated that the demand for commercial vehicles is at present quiet in Germany. The latest returns are those for April, during which month 3,205 new vans and lorries were disposed of, as compared with 3,917 in April, 1938. For the first four months of the current year, the total sales are returned at 13,756 units as against 13,950 in the corresponding period of last year. The April total was made up of 576 vehicles for loads up to 1 ton, 910 between 1 and 2 tons, 710 between 2 and 3 tons, 438W between 3 and 31 tons, 217 between 31 and 4 tons, 190 between 4 and 5 tons, 154 between 5 and 71 tons, and 10 over 71 tons. In order of importance, the most popular makes were Opel, Ford, Daimler-Benz, Magirus, Bussing-N.A.G. and Hansa.
A.E.C.'s Holiday Service Plans.
CROM August 5-14, the summer
holiday period of the company, only a skeleton staff will be retained at the A.E.C. service depot at 20, Windmill Lane, Southall, for the purpose of attending to breakdowns and repairs of an emergency nature: The Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., solicits the co-operation of operators in delaying maintenance work that is not urgent until the depot is again functioning at full strength.