Passing Comments
Page 20
Page 21
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
What i.)o You Really IF his words mean anything, Mean Us to Believe, I which seems doubtful, Mr.
Mr. Barnes ? • . . , Alfred Barnes, Minister of
Transport. has become a trifle confused over his plan for the construction of motor roads. At a luncheon given by the Mansion House Association on Transport in March, 1947, he said that a Bill was being prepared to give the Government power to build roads exclusively for the use of motor traffic. In the House of Commons recently, he declared that he did not know when the Bill would be promoted. At the annual luncheon of the Federation of Coated Macadam Industries, last week, he spoke of the great benefits of single-purpose roads and said that if a Bill to authorize their construction could be passed, work might start "in the very near future." These three different statements seem to indicate that the possibility of the building of motor roads is remote, but that, in the meantiMe, Mr. Barnes is bound to fill the role of a benevolent Minister and engaging after-luncheon speaker.
Al8
Should a Technical A PARAGON amongst Man's Secretary be an secretaries appears to be Engineer ? . . . . employed by Mr. W. E.
Bullock, the production director of Guy Motors, Ltd., for she has no trouble in dealing with the most complicated matters on the construction and maintenance of motor vehicles which are dictated by her chief. A secretary-typist before the war, she joined the A.T.S. and became a driver of a Guy Ant. Finding technical matters interestiog, she passed a fitter's course, and transferring to R.E.M.E. became a lance-corporal vehicle mechanic. When she joined the Guy company nearly two years ago she decided to take a mechanical engineering course, and has passed the first year's examination with distinction in engineering drawing and mathematics. She hopes to obtain her national certificate after the three years' course. If this sort of thing goes on we shall soon have the secretaries designing vehicles, while the production people do the secretarial work. British Rubber ExI N the current issue of
ports and their Food "Outlook," a magazine that Value is published for the benefit of employees of the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co. (Gt. Britain), Ltd., some interesting facts are given concerning the part which the company is taking in the export drive. Other concerns might follow this example in indicating to their workers what they are doing in this respect. In this case, the figures show the relationship between certain exports and the Nation's food supply. For example:—The tyre and tube ior an earth mover can bring 4,771 lb. of meat; a tractor tyre and tube are equivalent to 164 lb. of butter; a 10-ft. length of petrol-pump hose can bring 136 eggs, and 20 ft. of V-belting 65 lb. of cheese. Even a small tyre and tube, such as those used on a light car or van, are worth 261 lb. of bacon, or rations of this commodity for two people for over two years.
Much Use of Hand nUR1NG a recent visit to Trollies in Amsterdam A--ithe gotlowns " at Amster Depots dam of A.T.O.-Van Gend and Loos, Ltd., we found that considerable use was being made of hand trollies. The company has, however, been much impressed by the advantages of battery traction for handling large quantities of goods, and as soon as suitable arrangements can be made, battery-electric trucks of the works or station type will be employed. There should be considerable scope for these, as in this city alone the emnpany has three large depots for incoming and outgoing goods. For dealing with delicate articles, there are pec i al y built trollies with enclosed steel bodies. These are pulled up ramps on to lorries by winch gear.
Foreign Buyers Should THE shortage of spare parts
Receive Priority for I is, unfortunately, not eon Spares fined to operators in England.
Users of some British vehicles in Holland are also experiencing this difficulty. It is particularly important that buyers overseas should not be disappointed in such a matter, for this may quite easily divert subsequent orders to makers in other countries who may he able to promise more rapid supplies.
Makers Appreciate HE recent visit of some 65
viits from Trained members of the Institute of Transport Men . . . Road Transport Engineers to the Acton works of C.A.V_, Ltd.. appears to have been greatly appreciated by both sides. Those who attended found that the company had gone to great trouble to make the visit thoroughly enjoyable and interesting, whilst the general manager, Mr. A. T. Priddle, who acted as host, told the president that the attendance of so many influential and knowledgeable men gave him great satisfaction.