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NEWS of the WEEK

16th March 1940, Page 28
16th March 1940
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Page 28, 16th March 1940 — NEWS of the WEEK
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MISTAKE IN DRAFTING OF R.H.2 REGULATIONS

INparagraph 5 (b) of R.H.2, in which are set out the basic rates of wages to be paid under the Road Haulage Wages Act, and the conditions governing the operation of that Act, reference is made to one of the conditions under which the guaranteed week may

be suspended. The clause reads as follows :—

" A worker whose hours of work have been )3S3 than 48 in any week shall not be paid wages for tint in excess of the number of hours sctually worked by him (including hours deemed to have been worked or to ho waiting tune) if he failure to work 48 hours has been due to any of the following circumstances . IN where the employer is unable to carry on hie business by reason of a strike or lockout, provided that not less than 4 days' notice of such Inability Is given to the worker."

The wording of that clause has, quite justifiably, given rise to the belief that, if the employees of a haulier go on strike, he is bound to give them four days' notice before he can suspend the guaranteed week, so that, in effect, be would have to pay his men for four days' work which they themselves have refused to do. That is not the meaning of the clause.

The strike or lock-out to which the clause refers is one which takes place in any business, other than that of the haulier. It is meant to be a protection of the haulier against loss in the event of a strike in a business from which he draws the bulk of his traffic, in which case, of course, be would be unable to find work for his own men to So. As in nearly all such cases, except in the event of a lightning strike, due notice is given, the haulier would find no material inconvenience in giving the four days' notice of suspension of the guaranteed week which is provided for in this clause.

Fines Follow Faulty Brakes Charge •

AT the Airdrie (Lanarkshire) Sheriff Court on Monday last, Mr. John Baxter, haulage contractor and coal merchant, 50, Budhill Avenue, Shettleaton Glasgow was charged with having caused and permitted to be used on the road at Coatbridge a lorry on which the brakes were not maintained in good and efficient working order and the driver was charged with using the vehicle while the brakes were inefficient. Accused pleaded not guilty.

Two police constables gave evidence that the hand brake of the lorry was in good order, but that the foot brake required adjustment. At a speed of 20 m.p.h. the foot brake brought the vehicle to stop in 69 ft. A similar test was carried out, travelling in the opposite direction, and the lorry took 99 ft. to stop.

Mr. J. Logan Bell, for the defence, suggested, in cross-examination, that the driver was unwilling to apply the brake fiercely because one of the officers was standing on the running board. The explanation was given that there was no room for three persons in the driving cab and that the officers a26 wished to give the driver ample space in which to control the vehicle.

Sheriff A. D. H. Gullies found the charges proved, and imposed a fine of 20s., with the option of 10 days' imprisonment, on Mr. John Baxter, and a fine of £2, or 20 days' imprisonment, on the driver.

More Pay in Retail Distribution ROAD TRANSPORr work er s engaged in retail distribution are to receive higher rates of pay, according to an announcement made in the past few days. Adult workers in London and Grade I areas in the provinces are to receive 5s. per week more, and those in Grade II areas in the provinces 4s. This measure has been decided by -Ale joint council of the retail side of the road-transport industry, representing the London Employers' Association, the Retail Distributors' Association and the Transport and General Workers' Union.

Publicizing Light Metals Vdraw attention to the issue of -lie Times for Tuesday, March 12, page 4 of which is occupied by publicity notices ot the aluminium-producing companies, and where also will be found publicity regarding the fabrication and anodizing of aluminium.

Editorial matter by A. A. Appleby, B.Sc. , M.Inst.Met. , technical consultant to Light Metals, briefly summarizes the historical development of the metal to its present important position, notes its highly valuable mechanical, physical and chemical properties and draws attention to some of its major fields of application. Featured also on this page will be found a notice referring to our contemporary, Light Metals, the premier and representative journal of the light-metal industries. RAIL ATTEMPT TO ENFORCE RATE-CUTTING

ALETTER of complaint from a Yorkshire firm of haulage contractors as to treatment they said they had received from a railway company in connection with the hire of road vehicles, was read at a recent meeting of the Federation of Yorkshire Road Transport Employers, in Leeds. The firm said that they hired to the railway company two 5-6-ton lorries at a rate of 7s. per hour per vehicle, but the railway company later asked them to reduce it to 6s. 6d. per hour, stating that other operators were hiring similar vehicles to them at that rate.

The firm added that when they refused to lower the rate and suggested that, in view of increasing costs, it should be raised instead of lowered, they were informed that their two vehicles would not be required any further by the railway company. This attitude, it was complained, amounted to an attempt to enforce rate-cutting.

Cases were also reported in which transport users were said to have told road hauliers they would not give them traffic except under railway rates.

Farmers' Tractor Concession

IN future, farmers will be allowed to 1 use tractors licensed at 5s. for hauling loads to and from the nearest railway stations.

Protest From Employers on C.W.B.

STRONG exception is taken by the members of the Employers' Panel on the Emergency Conditions Committee of the Road Haulage Central Wages Board to the statement published by the Federation of Yorkshire Road Transport Employers, as it appeared on page 94 of our issue for last week. It is there stated that the employers' representatives on the above committee deserve censure for " not insisting upon the application (for the wages increase) being submitted to the ten Area Employers' Panels, and not consulting their respective associations before giving their decision."

It is pointed out that the employers' representatives of the principal organizations were called together to hear the report of the Emergency Conditions Committee. The action taken was agreed by those representatives and each organization, in effect, came to its own decision in the matter, which decision followed that of the committee.

The employers cannot be blamed for short-circuiting the Act, because it was the threat of strike action by the T.G.W.U. if steps were not taken immediately to implement the wageincrease proposals, so soon as they had passed the Central Wages Board, and without waiting for the statutory procedure of putting those proposals before the Area Boards had been followed, which made that short-circuiting almost inevitable.

COMFORTS FUNDS FOR THE R.A.S.C. AND R.A.O.C.

ONE of the last acts performed ey Mr. Oliver Boden, the night before he died, was to send, on behalf of the Morris Group of Companies, a .cheque for £500 to the Comforts Funds of the R.A.S.C. and R.A.O.C. This was in response to the strong appeal launched a few weeks ago by Mr. W. E. Rootes, President of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. During the week ended March 9, £.632 was added to the Funds, bringing the total to £2,787.

Gifts in cash and kind are still urgently required, and will be gratefully received by the Honorary Treasurer, Lieut.-Colonel D. C. McLagan, D.S.O. Cash donations should be sent to him at Hobart House, Wilton Street, London, S.W.1, and parcels addressed to him, care of Comforts Funds, Kensington Palaze Barracks, London, W.8.

The following is a further list of subscribers:—

Morris Group—all Companies and

Branches 4500 Ilifte and Sons, Ltd. 421 Temple Press Ltd. ... 421 410 10s.—Mr. Ir. I. Connolly; Mr. J. E. Connolly; Mr. G. R. Harmer; Lagonda Motors, Ltd.. and Wyndham Hewitt, Ltd.

410—Barkers (Contractors), Ltd.

£5 5s.—T. M. Birkett and Sons. Ltd.; Sheepbridge Stokes Centrifugal Castings Co„ Ltd.. 43 3s.—Mr. A. T. Froggatt; 'Motor Packing CO., Ltd. £2 2s.—Mr. Claude E. Wallis; Mr. Roland F.. Dangertield; Mr. J. E. Scott; Mr. Bernard H. Wyatt; British Railway Traffic and Electric Co.. Ltd.; British Wagon Co, Ltd.; Coopers Mechanical Joints, La; J. Payen, Ltd.; H. Prosser and Sons, Ltd.

41 la.—Mr. H. C. Johnson.

15s. 4d.—Delco-Remy and Hyatt. Ltd.; Ms., Enterptlee Garage.

C.M.U.A. Urges Revision of Rationing

THE C.M.U.A. has been particularly activ:s of late in making representations to the Minister of Transport. In respect of the system of rationing fuel supplies, the Association has pointed out that the road-transport industry is desirous of co-operating loyally in' the fuel-rationing scheme, but is deterred from full participation by the feeling of uncertainty and fear of extinction. Emphasis was drawn to the lack of incentive given to the saving for fuel which could be effected by means of grouping, co-ordination or pooling of resources, owing to the absence of any assurance that economies thereby effected would not merely have the effect of providing excuse for further restrictions,

An Appreciation of Mr. 0. Boden by Lord Nuffield

FFOLLOWING the sudden and much regretted death of Mr. Oliver H. Boden at the early age of 53, Lord Nuffield has sent a letter to the Press. In this, he points out that those who were in close and frequent contact with Mr. Boden had no reason to suspect that his health gave cause for anxiety. His death could not have occurred at a more inopportune time, as the successful work in which the whole of his business life had been spent at high pressure, was proving of immense value to the nation in its hour of need.

No cognomen could be more appro. priate than to describe him as His Lordship's right-band man. He first became associated with Lord Nuffield in 1927, when the latter acquired the Wolseley Company, and the services he rendered constantly increased in worth and importance, until three years ago when he became Lord Nuffield's business deputy.

Mr. Boden had a distaste for any form of self-publicity, but those who were near to him could not but become aware of his engineering and commercial genius, complemented by such generous instincts as to gain him affection as well as admiration. NATIONAL SAFETY CONGRESS A ONE-DAY EVENT

STILL another Congress is to be held in London. This will be the National Safety Congress of the National "Safety First" Association. It will be a one-day affair on May 17 at the Connaught Rooms, with Lord McGowan presiding. There will be an opening address by the Minister of Transport. At the luncheon the Home Secretary will give a further address. Both industrial and road-safety wartime problems will be discussed simultaneously.

Personal Pars

MR. A. P. H. PEHRSON has been appointed special manufacturers' representative in the Midlands for Simmonds Aerocessories, Ltd., Great West Road. Brentford. He took over his new duties at the beginning of this month.

MaJoa H. E. Hiciastorr, managing director of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., is, we are pleased to learn, making satisfactory progress from an injury which he recently received in a riding accident.

MR. G. S. DRAFFEN, who has been acting, in an honorary.ca.pacity, since the outbreak of war as commandant of Dundee's auxiliary fire service, has been appointed assistant regional inspector for fire brigades for Scotland.

MR. W. MILLER has been appointed accountant of British Timken, Ltd., in succession to Mr. A. A. Hill, who recently died. For some years he has been with the British Timken organization.

MR. A. T. FROGGATT, Director and General Manager of Weymann's Motor Bodies (1925), Ltd., has been unanimously elected a Fellow of the Institute of British Carriage and Automobile Manufacturers. This honour has been conferred on Mr. Froggatt in recognition of the valuable services which he has performed in many directions during the past few years, more particularly as judge of the annual competition arranged by the Institute.

MR. NV. M. NV. THOMAS has been appointed vice-chairman of Morris Motors, Ltd., with control of the Morris, Wolseley, Morris Commercial, M.G., Riley, M.I.E., S.U. concerns and Mechanisation and Aero, Ltd. MR. H. C. R. MULLENS has become Managing Director, and MR. E. G. MORLEY, General Manager, of the Wolseley Co. MESSRS. H. A. RYDER and H. SEAWARD, Joint Managing Directors of Morris Motors (Cowley), have become, also, Deputy Directors General of Maintenance at the Air Ministry, of which Lord Nuffield remains the Director General. Reverting to Mr. Thomas, after service with an armoured-car unit and, later, with the R.F.C., during which time he was awarded the D.F.C., he became Technical Editor of The Motor, and then Editor of The Light Car and Cycle Car. It was in 1924 that he joined the Morris organization as Editor of The Morris Owner. In 1927 he was appointed a Director and Sales Manager of Morris Motors, Ltd., and, in 1930, Director and General Manager of Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd. In the following year he took a similar position with Wolseley Motors, becoming Managing Director in 1937.

EMPLOYERS' PANEL SHUNS WAGES BOARD MEETING IN view of the demand of road-trans port workers, under a threat of strike action, for an immediate increase in wages beyond the figures payable under the Road Haulage Wages Act, the Employers' Panel of the Eastern Area Wages Board sent a letter to the secretary of the Board intimating that its members did not propose to attend the meeting arranged for Wednesday last.

The Employers' Panel strongly resents the fact that the statutory wage-negotiating machinery has been completely ignored, and that the employers are being coerced into bringing the increases into force immediately, thus anticipating the reports from the Area Boards and any Order that may be made by the Minister. They feel that a most dangerous pre. cedent has been created and one which may, in future, lead to serious abuses.

New Enness Gas Producer Company Formed

AS a result of the increasing demand for the Enness gas producer, it has been found necessary to reorganize and form a new company, to be known as Enness Gas Producers, Ltd., with offices at 19, Old Queen Street, London, S.W.1, and works at 43, Clapham Common, London, S.W.4.

Mr. C. S. Gardner, A.M.I.Mech.E., is technical director of the company:' Mr. A. G. T_ Cole, the company's production director, is well known in the north, where he was managing director of Northern Pump Service, of Cumberland, whilst Mr. J. W. Noel Jordan, the sales director, was the Midland manager for Specialloid Pistons, Ltd.

Organized Action to Raise Rates

STEPS have been taken to resuscitate the Bradford Horse and Motor Owners Association, which has been

inactive for five years. This move has been made for the purpose of organized action to increase roadhaulage rates.

At a meeting of interested operators in Bradford, last week, it was decided to invite local hauliers to a further meeting for the revival of the Association's activities, and, particularly, for consideration of detailed suggestions as to future road-haulage rates. A favourable factor is that rates for the road haulage of wool on behalf of the Wool Control let up under the Ministry of. Supply have been agreed upon already between the Control and the two road-transport pools which are handling that traffic from the ports of importation and within the West Riding textile area respectively. These agreements have had the effect of establishing a standard of wool-haulage rates which, fixed in the light of wartime conditions, is helping operators to lift rates for wool haulage generally.

The intention in Bradford to raise road-haulage rates for other traffic also was indicated in a statement given to the local Press, this week, by Mr, G. V. Mackrell, secretary of the Bradford Horse and Motor Owners Association.

Pleas for Transport Nationalization

A RESOLUTION urging that the 11. Government should take over all transport services in the interests of the community is to be sqbmitted by the Scottish Horse and Motormen's Association at the annual conference of the Scottish T.U.C., to be held, at Aberdeen, from April 24 to 27. The Railway Clerks' Association is also to put forward a motion proposing State acquisition of existing transport undertakings, under equitable terms of purchase, and the creation of a National Transport Board for the administration of the services.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGE BY MILITARY VEHICLES THAT the soldier-driver of a War Department vehicle which damages public property does not have the cost of the repairs deducted from his wages was recently made clear in a letter from the Scottish Command to Stirling County Public Health Committee. The committee had made a claim in respect of damage caused by a military vehicle to a lamp-post in Bonnybridge, and it was informed elay the soldier's Commanding Officer that the cost of repairs might have to be deducted from the driver's pay.

The letter from the Scottish Command stated that when a military vehicle was involved in an accident the War Department accepted liability. In some cases, where there was negligence or reckless driving, the driver could be brought in front of a military court of inquiry to determine his guilt or otherwise, and his Commanding Officer could then fine him. Only in extreme circumstances could the maximum fine of £4 be imposed.

The Commanding Officer, who had written in the first instance, expressed regret for the misunderstanding which had caused him to say the soldier might suffer a loss of pay. No stoppage had been made in the soldier's money.

A Helpful Welding Publication lknUCH useful information relating to IVISitbronze and the tEchnique of welding with this material is contained in an attractive booklet (List No.

2,290) obtainable from the Suffolk Iron Foundry (1920), Ltd., Sifbronze Works, Stowmarket.

Sifbronze has countless applications in the commercial-vehicle repairing field, and has contributed much to the efficient and economic operation of road transport. It is not only in this industry, however, that it has gained popularity; Sifbronze is widely used in most branches of engineering. One of the illustrations in the booklet, for example, shows the new "Mauretania," which is equipped with hot and cold-water and sanitary systems having Sifbronze-welded copper piping throughout.

A description. of five types of Sifbronze welding rod is given with notes on their respective applications, and the functions of Sifbronze flux.

PLOUGHING IN THE BLACK-OUT

TO meet the demand for tractors 1 which are equipped for night working, the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., is now supplying the Fordson with full elec. tic-lighting equipment, if this be required. The installation comprises two head lamps, a six-volt generator and battery, and a control Switch which is mounted on the dashboard, where an ammeter is also provided.

Although, the official head-lamp mask is not required for trfttors, the lignts must be controlled in accordance with the Lighting (Restrictions) Order, 1940. Reflectors must be removed or rendered ineffectiVe, and the lenses of both head lamps and the ,rear lamp must be " blacked out " so that rhe circle through which the light is emitted does" not exceed 3 ins, in dia meter. All lights must be directed downwardi and be screened, so that the ground is not illuminated at a distance greater than 20 yds. in any direction.

More Talks on War-time Transport /TORE talks on road transport in alwar-time have been arranged for a number of rotary clubs by the British Road Federation, these being as follow:—Lewisham, March 18; Shoreditch, March 21; Maidenhead, March 27; Romford, April 8;. St. Pancras, April 9; Brentford and Chiswick. April 16; Bournemouth, April 22; Surbiton, April 23; Beckenham, April 24.

Addresses on the same subject are also being extended to Chambers of Commerce in the London area, and details of these Meetings will be announced shortly.

Tyresoles Development at Nottingh.un

Owingto the development of the Tyresoles business at Nottingham, which is being carried out from the premises of Messrs. Booth and Clipstone, in Alfreton Road, it has been decided by Mr. J. H. Booth to form a separate company to deal exclusively with Tyresoles activities in Nottingham and district. It will trade under the name of J. H. Booth (Tyresoles) , Ltd., from the same address.

Messrs. Booth and Clipstone will continue to operate their garage and service business, as previously.

An Aid to Better Oiling

L1113RICATING-OIL filtration is more important than ever since the substitution of Pool petrol for the wellknown brands. It is definitely a more economic proposition to preserve oil in a clean state, than to discard it as waste, at intervals, and replace it With new lubricant which quickly loses its original purity.

How oil can be maintained in good condition in the engine crankcase is expounded in a small booklet that has been produced by Simmonds Aerocessories, Ltd., Great West Road, London, from which company copies may be obtained.

It deals with the Fram oil cleaner and is attractive and informative. All operators not yet acquainted with the device, might well obtain a copy and avail themselves of the instructive matter it contains.

Death of Early Minister of Transport

F'people in the road-transport industry seem to have realized that Lord Crawford and Balcarres, K.T„ Premier Earl of Scotland, who died last week at the age of 68, was at one time Minister of Transport. He was the third holder of this office, following the then Viscount Peel, who succeeded Sir Eric Geddes. The next in order was Mr. Harry Gosling.

Expiry Date to be Stamped on Petrol Coupons

A SYSTEM of stamping the date of tt expiry on petrol-ration coupons is to be introduced by the Petroleum Board, according to information given to a deputation from the Bradford and District Petrol Retailers' Association. As a means for simplifying the petrolrationing machinery, this step was requested in a resolution sent to the Ministry of Mines from the Association's recent annual meeting. At that meeting complaints were made as to difficulties resulting from uncertainty as to the periods of validity of various types of coupon.

South Shields Grants Still Higher Rates TT has been decided by South Shields 1Town Council to grant a further 2i per cent. increase in haulage rates, making an increase of 12i per cent. granted since the war started. )0WETT VAN PRICE INCREASES

HIGHER costs of material and wages have made it necessary for Jowett Cars, Ltd., Idle, Bradford, to increase by 10 per cent. the prices of its range of commercial motors, The rise takes effect as from March 1.

The two twin-cylindered S h.p. models—an 8-cwt. van and a 10-cwt. lorry—now cost, complete, £15tt 15s. and £157 17s. respectively. Of these, the former has a loading capacity of 88 cubic ft. Both come within the £10 tax class.

Powered by a four-cylindered engine, the 10 h.p. model, available as van or lorry, costs in either case £198. Both these vehicles are rated at the same pay-load figure, 10 cwt., and are taxed at £15. The van has a capacity of 130 cubic ft.

New B.V.P. Distributor WE are advised that the Capitalo W Motor Co., Ltd., Remington Street, London, N.1, has been appointed distributor for B.V.P. producer-gas plant for a considerable part of London, north of the Thames, including the City and West Central area.

Refuse Collectors Needed in Egypt

T" Egyptian Ministry of Public Health is calling for tenders for the supply of three refuse-collection lorries. Tenders have to be sent to the Municipalities Department, Ministry of Public Health, Cairo, the closing date being April 9. Fuller details of this call may be obtained from the Department of Overseas Trade, Great George Street, London, S.W.1, reference T 16981/40 being quoted


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