"Minister Hides Behind R.H.A.": Attempt to Annul Permit Order
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A SUGGESTION that the Minister rA of Transport was hiding behind the skirts of the Road Haulage Association was made in the House of Commons, last week, by Mr. David Renton, during a prayer for the annulment of the Goods Vehicles (Permits) Regulations, 1949. The motion, which was defeated, was _.in the name of
Mr. Peter Thorneycroft. .
Replying to the Minister's. statements that all affected hauliers must be aware of the need for applying for original permits by August 2, and that in framing the regulations the R.H.A.. had been consulted at every stage, Mr. Renton said that the Minister had overlooked two factors.
The first was that not all small operators were members of the R.H.A., and the second was that many small men had not the time to read all the instructions put out. He thought that the delay in putting the Transport Act into operation had lulled a number of small men into a false sense of security. The 25-mile radius would be of little use to many operators in rural areas.
In opening the debate, Mr. Thorneycroft complained about the 'loss of rights to original permits by operators in whose businesses some change of management had taken place. He thought that the period during which applications had to be made was far too short, particularly as July was a holiday month. Many members of ,hauliers' staffs would be away from duty and Those remaining would probably be working at double pressure.
Another point made by Mr. Thorneycroft was, that, in applying for original permits, applicants had to specify their operating centres, whereas hundreds of applications to Licensing Authorities for operating centres to be' specified had still to be dealt with. It was unfair to ask operators to make their applications within a month when the Minister's machinery was not yet working properly.
Mr. Ernest Davies, who has always been one of the strongest supporters of nationalization of road transport, criticized the Order because of its tardy appearance. It should, he said, have 'been made many months ago.
"During these months of delay," he continued, "there has been a deterioration in the road transport industry as far as acquisition by the nationalized industry is concerned."
Many of the difficulties now being experienced in connection with the railways and road transport were not the fault of the Minister, but were caused by failure to speed up the process of acquiring haulage undertakings.
TESTING WHEEL LIFE
A MACHINE designed for testing 1--1 new types of road wheel for fatigue, has recently been installed by Leyland Motors, Ltd., Leyland, Lancs.
When under test the wheel, complete with tyre, is run in contact with a standard wheel and tyre at a speed equal to 30 m.p.h.
The stress on the two wheels can be adjusted by adding oat taking away weights which, through a system of leverage, vary the load on the wheels. An electric motor supplies the power, and an electrically driven blower keeps the wheel and tyres cool while under test,
So far, the machine has not succeeded in destroying a wheel, but one tyre has been shattered.
ALL ABOUT THE HELECS
GENERAL details, specifications and prices of the range of Helecs battery-clectric vehicles manufactured by.,Hindle Smart and Co., Ltd., Merefield Works, Ardwick, Manchester, 12, are given in an illustrated brochure just issued by the company. In addition, particulars of the company's battery hire service, whereby the cost of a battery may be spread over 36 months, are supplied. Information relating to a suitable battery, charger is also included in the pamphlet.
.SpurlIng Buys Two More Businesses
LAST week Mr. W. F. Spurting, managing director of Spurting Motor Bodies, Ltd., announced . that the company had acquired the business of Grosvenor Motors, Ltd., and Cowdray Motors, Ltd., both of Colchester. The former is an old-established concern which for many years has held the franchise for the sale of Bedford vehicles, with a useful local bodybuilding activity. Cowdray Motors, Ltd., holds the franchise for the LandRover.
Mr. Spurting pointed out that both these acquisitions were in an agricultural locality and the company would have an opportunity of selling agricultural equipment.
The annual report and accounts, issued in a new style, disclose that the company is maintaining its dividend for the year,ended February 28 at 371 per cent.
I.R.T.E. AT EXIDE
NAEMBERS of the Institute of Road IVI.Transport Engineers (North Western Centre) visited the works of the Chloride Electrical Storage Co., Ltd., at Clifton Junction last week, when they made a complete tour of all departments, seeing the manufacture of Exide batteries from start to finish. The visit was preceded by a luncheon at the Queen's Hotel, Manchester, at which members were able to meet executives of the company. The visit was arranged in conjunction with John Roberts (Manchester), Ltd.
WHEEL TOE-IN DISCARDED I N future, all wheels on Leyland goods and passenger vehicles will be set parallel, instead of being given the customary t-in. toe-in. The company states that not only has the parallel setting no adverse effect on the Leyland design 'of steering, but that the life of the tyres has been increased.