FIRST POLICY BOOKLET BY R.H.A. •
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THE first of the policy booklets issued by the National Council of the R.H,A. coyers the ease for private enterprise in road transport. We are glad to see that a very good case has been advanced, and 'if subsequent booklets follow the same lines they should do a great deal to disabuse the minds of those people who have no clear conception as to what road-haulage stands for and its vast importance to the trade and industry of this country.
• One matter dealt with .ntay involve -some controversy, that is the question Of agreement upon rates of freight and conditions . of carriage, certainly in respect of . those freights which are in competition as between road and rail. Such agreement is put forward as one of the first essential steps towards a plan for, organizing the industry.
ACQUIRING • VEHICLES UNDER
• THE .R.H.O. . . IN the House of Commons, last week, Mr. McKinlay raised the question of new and. used vehicle Supplies made available to both controlled haulage undertakings and hired undertakings during the past two years. Mr. P. J. Noe143aker, Parliamentary Secretary, M.O.W.T.,, said that, . like all other road haulage concerns, controlled undertakings, which form part of the R.H.O., buy their own vehicles.
The records .which are kept, however,do not :distinguish between new vehicles bought by such undertakings
and new vehicles bought by other operators. The purchase of. used vehicles, he said, is not subject to the Control and Acquisition of Motor Vehicles Order.
Mr. McKinlay asked Mr. Noel-Baker whether he was aware that controlled undertakings were able to obtain the necessary sanction from the M.O.W.T. to acquire new vehicles, whereas they.
• were denied to the hired undertakings of smaller .mend " I am assured," said Mr. Noel. Baker, "that that suggestion is without foundation. Indeed, the controlled undertakings complain that they are less well treated than other people, because the Government has a financial interest in the result, and is more careful about the purchase of vehicles.''
BIRMINGHAM R.H.A. FIRST MEETING
ON March 19 Birmingham Sub-area of R.H.A. will hold its inaugural meeting at 7.15 p.m. at the White HOrse Hotel, Con greve Street, Birmingham, 3.
CLEANSING INSTITUTE TO HOLD SPRING MEETING spring meeting of the Institute of Public Cleansing, Westminster City Hall, Charing Cross Road, London, W.C.2, is to be held in Manchester on March 22 and 23. The headquarters will be the Grand Hotel, Aytoun Street, Manchester, 1. The Waste Paper Exhibition, " Paper Packs a Punch," will be on view during the same period at Lewis's Store in that city. R.T.C.s REVIEWING DEFENCE PERMITS
I T is known that the R.T.C.s are carrying out a review of all cases in which tonnage now authorized under defence permits is appreciably greater than that authorized under A and B licences at the outbreak of war.
The Western Area of R,H.A. reports that it is giving assistance to a large number of its members, in submitting their cases to the R.T.C„ in his review of the issue of new short-term permits.
ROAD MOTORS FEED FORWARD AIRSTRIPS .
'WITHIN 36 hours of commencing to W load up vehicles in this country, propellers, engines and aircraft components of all types can now reach any front-line airstrip on the Continent. This Airspeed Route, as it. is called by the men wile operate it, at preisent employs seven 24-ton trucks and three
10-ton trailers. They are loaded at various air depots in this country and cross over on LSTs.
No time is lost in reaching French soil, the journey being continued without break to any airfield needing the vital supplies.
Not only is this service responsible for delivering new components, but it also brings back to this country vital components which need repairing.
Six hours after the vehicles reach their home base, another group is ready to leave. With the addition of further machines and trailers the organization will achieve its goal of maintaining a completely non-stop service.
" BREAKERS " ASSOCIATION MAKING GOOD HEADWAY
AWELL-ATTENDED meeting of members of the Motor Vehicle Dismantlers' Association was held in Leeds last week, under the chairmanship of Mr. C. H. K. Tye, of Messrs. YorkAutOwreckers.
The meeting was addressed by Mr. R. P. Roche, Tyre Control Officer for the North-Eastern Region, who gave an' instructive talk on the work of the Tyre Control, particularly as affecting vehicle dismantlers.
Discussions followed on matters arising from the revision—now in process —of the list of authorized breakers, and on other subjects of importance to all members of the dismantling industry.
Referring to the progress of the Association, the chairman said that since its inception less than two years ago a. large and influential proportion of firms in the industry had become members. He called for efforts to bring into membership all reputable firms still outside the Association, so as to make it fully 'effective in yoking the desires and aspirations Of the industry. .
BODY DESIGNER REQUIRES POSITION
A MAN with considerable experience in the design" and production of passenger and goods-vehicle bodies is available for a position of responsibility with an operator, manufacturer or merchant, on the sale, design or works
side. Leiters should be addressed " Body Designer," care of the Editor. EIRE'S SIX YEARS' TRACTOR IMPORTS
SUSPENDED since August, 1939, owing to the war, the Department of Industry and Commerce of Eire has recently restarted • the issue of the monthly returns of imports and exports relating to Southern Ireland. From the information now available, we have been able to extract the following figures regarding the number and the declared value of the tractors imported into Eire during the six years 19391944 inclusive:-1939-572 (£73,301); 1940 — 769 (4111,814); 1941 — 31 (£6,277);. 1942—G5(13684) ; 1943138 (421,144); 1944-292(f179,029).
It may be of interest to add that, • whilst the average value of the 1939 machines was about £128, the average for the past year was just over 4201.
"WEST YORKSHIRE'S " NET PROFIT HIGHER
ACCOVNTS of the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., show a net profit' of Z100,919 for the year 1944, an increase of £3,525'over the previous year's figure, after deductions, including £287,606 for income tax and E.P.T., 450,000 for contingencies reserve, and 453,906 for fuel taxation and vehicle licences. A final dividend of 5 per cent, brings the total ordinary dividend to 10 per cent,, -tax free.
FURNACE COMPANY CHANGES ITS TITLE WE are advised that Birmingham W Electric Furnaces, Ltd., of Tyburn Road, Erdington, Birmingham, has changed its name to BirIec, Ltd. The trade mark " Birlec " has been established for many years. The company, a subsidiary of The Mond Nickel Co Ltd., has pioneered all types of industrial electric heat treatment and melting furnaces in this country, and, in • addition, manufactures many specially • designed gas furnaces, induction heating apparatus and drying equipment. We are informed that policy, management and personnel will not be in any way affected by the change. SOME RECENT S.N1.M.T. ACTIVITIES
THE• honorary officers of the
• S.M.M.T. have met the Heavy Vehicle Nffinufacturers (Biitaverna) and have suggested methods by which the Society could meet their requirements. The individual manufacturers concerned have been asked whether. in the circumstances, they were prez pared to continue their request for a separate section. ' Mr. R. F. Fryars has resigned from the Taxation Committee, and. Messrs. H. S. Cooper and W. R. Black, representing the heavy-vehicle and coachbuilding interests, have been appointed to it.
• As regards the Standardization ,Committee, all the invitations to join this have been accepted; and in addition, Captain J. A. Taylor (Carrimore Six Wheelers) and Mr. W. H. Meats (Eagle Engineering) have been nominated to represent the trailer manufacturers. Mr, C. K. Edwards (Shelyoke and Drewry) has also been -invited to join the Committee, subject to endorsement by the chairman..
Mr. F. A. Perkins has been elected chairman of the Engine and Unit Manufacturers' Committee, following .six years' service in this capacity by•
Mr. S. Duckitt. • SHEEP DIP AS LUBRICANT FOR TRACTOR!
THE story of a farmer who declared that he was quite satified with the use of sheep dip as a lubricant in his tractor was a humorous point made at a recent. lecture in the Engineers' Club, Manchester, which was held under the auspices of the East Lancashire and Cheshire Division of the I.M.T. The speaker was Mr. L. Mills, B.Sc., M.Inst.Pet., M.S.A.E., of the
• Vigzol Oil Refining Co. (London), 'Ltd., his subject being `` Engine Lubrication."
There is no doubt, he said, that, in future, " straight " mineral oils will not be used in the lubrication of many
internal-combustion engines. Everyone knows, that castor oil has a lot to MUNICIPAL PURCHASES AND PROPOSALS Cerdilt Corporation is to purchase another Dennis refuse-collection vehicle, Bolton Corporation is to negotiate for the purchase of an additional 50 buses. D enson Corpo,ation is to seek tenders for the supply of eight double-deck buses. Darrow-imlffurness Corporation' is to -purchase a lorry for the Markets department. Hereford Corporation is to purchase an lodes.trial tractor for the cattle market, at a cost of 4485. . • Littlehampton Urban District. Council is making application for a permit to purchase' a Dennis 3-ton lorry Mansfield 'Health Committee is to obtain tenders for the supply of a disinfecting van and
two refuse-collection vehicles. •
E nfield Urban District Council has included 41,500 in estimates for the purchase of a . vehicle for a travelling library. Chester EleCtricity Committee has accepted the tender of Dutton and James, Ltd.; for the supply of two Fordson 10-owl. vans. • Cardiff Corporation he accepted the tendera of Moorwell Stephens, Ltd., ler e' Commer 2-ten chassis, and of 8. Rawlinson, 144„ for a tower body.
Sheffield Transport 'Committee is buying 10 Daimler double-deck. bus chassis, eight of which • will be fitted with Erush bodies and two with Duple bodies.
• Cardiff Corporation recommends the purchase of six refuge-collection vehicles and three 3-ton tipping lorries for the cleansingdepartment, the total cost being estimated at £7,000,' Cardiff Finance Om. unittee has approved the.. proposal ...of the , aransimrt .. committee to the • placing of a provisional •order for a further 20 . six-wheeled trolleybuses,• the total cost beipg. £51,900. be said for it. But +a e do not use it because it is " dirty "—it oxidizes— Vitt it is a better lubricant than mineral oil, because it " attaches" itself better to a metal surface. Mineral oil should be-' improved" so as to have some of the better properties of castor oil. Some lubricants are compounded with a small quantity of fatty oil.
Oxidation shows itself in two ways— either the oil thickens, or it sludges, But refining or "treating " the oil Will minimize the trouble. Oxidation is probably the cause of ring-sticking.
The chairman wound up the debate which followed by mentioning that he had an agricultural tractor at his garage which was found full of sheep dip, and when this was pointed out to the farmer the latter actually answered that he had found the machine would run quite well on it. BROCKHOUSE STAGES WAR EFFORT EXHIBITION
THE Brockhouse organization is opening an exhibition entitled " Brockhouse at War," at the Building Centre, 9, Conduit Street, London, W:1, from April 10-17, inclusive, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This has been arranged with the co-operation of the M.O.S., and is -primarily for works-relation purposes. The exhibition has been designed mainly to illustrate the fundamental principle of the importance of team work. It comprises photographs showing Brockhouse products in action, and examples of weapons, components and materials produced by the organization. It should be of considerable interest, as " Brockhouse covers 25Works and companies and employs nearly 8,000 people.
COUNTRIES USING 8-FT.-WIDE VEHICLES I N a written answer to Mr. R. Morgan, .Mr. P. J. Noel-Baker, Parliamentary Secretary, M.O.W.T., said that, so far as he could ascertain, vehicles of a maximum • width of 8 ft. or more were permitted to operate and were in constant use in the following countries:— Algeria, Australia (except the States of Western Australia and Queensland), Belgian Congo, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Estonia, Fiji, France, French Guiana, Gambia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Madagascar, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama, Poland, Rumania, Salvador, Siam, South Africa, Spain, Spanish Morocco, Syria, Tunis, America, Uruguay, and Yugoslavia, "LET PRIVATE ENTERPRISE GET ON WITH THE JOB"
THE staff of the Nottingham depot of Bouts-Tillotson Transport, Ltd., recently celebrated its winning of the company's inter-depot efficiency trophy by holding a dinner in the city; those present included Mr. Malcolm Holdsworth, managing director, Mr. E. A, Wilkinson, secretary, and Mr. G. Macaulay, general manager, as well as the managers of the Sheffield, Man
chester and Liverpool depots. Mr.
C. J. Parker, Nottingham manager, 'presided.
Mr. Holdsworth paid tribute to the work of the Nottingham depot. "I view with great misgiving the parrot cry of nationalization," he said. " The State is very good in some respects and, in spite of its shortcomings, it is very good at running a war. But, having run the war successfully, let private enterprise get on with the job.
'This country would certainly not be where it is to-day without private enterprise. You can compare the transport industry to a child, for it is quite a young industry. No young child could survive swaddling in red tape, and that it what would happen if we were nationalized."
MR. NORMAN LETTS HAS A REMOVAL • are informed by Mr. H. Norman Letts that, owing to the expiration of his lease, it has been necessary to remove to 62-64, Moorgate, London, E.C.2. His telephone number will remain unchanged.
NEWCASTLE TO. SE EIC BIG TROLLEYBUS POWERS MEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE City Coun
1 I cil is to bold a special meeting to consider the promotion of a Parliamentary Bill empowering the corporation to run trolleybuses over another 16 routes and to abandon tramways on those routes.
NOTES FROM THE N.A.T.S.
ARECENT bulletin of the National Association of Tyre Specialists points out. that, of the 12,000,000 used tyres which car owners in the U.S.A. surrendered to the Government under the Idle Tyre Purchase Plan, about 6,500,000 were resold, whilst 500,000 were over-worn and had to be scrapped. The present stock is about 100,000, comprising mostly old and odd-sized tyres not in demand.
Incidentally, in January, the purchase and sale of scrap rubber in the States were divorced from Government control and returned to private enter, prise, and Government piles of scrap rubber have been carefully examined to ensure that all usable tyres are returned tb the public. FURTHER R.H.O. FIGURES OF OPERATION
IN a written reply to questions put by Mr. Ellis Smith, relative to various aspects of the R.H.O. operations during 1940-43-44, Mr. P. J. Noel-Baker, Parliamentary Secretary, M.O.W.T., presented. the •following figures relative to fuel consumption of commercial vehicles.
THEFTS FROM STATIONARY LORRIES AT LIVERPOOL QO as to counter the evil of pilferage
of goods from stationary motor vehicles on the Liverpool dock road and adjoining streets, the Road Transport section of the Liverpool chamber of Commerce has requested the chief constables of Liverpool and'Bootle to provide motor patrols on the dock road and adjoining main roads in the early morning and late evening when the trouble is rife.
It was stated at the Section meeting that, at times, when there was relatively little traffic on the roads, " bands of young hooligans" made organized raids for the purpose of pilfering goods from vehicles. Drivers, when in sole charge of a vehicle, had little chance of combating the trouble, which often resulted in small packages of rationed goods being stolen. It was feared that if these depredations were not checked, the position would become more serious.