News of the Week
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R.H.A. APPOINTS PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICERS
AMEETING of the R.H.A. Public Relations Committee was held under its chairman, Mr. H. T. Duffield, on November 8. Steps had already been taken to set up Public Relations Committees in each area, and at this meeting it was decided to divide the country into two sections, each composed of eight areas, and to appoint an officer for these sections. Their duties will be to assist and advise all the area public relations committees in the section, to stimulate activity and arrange meetings of members and outside iiterested bodies such as chambers of commerce and rotary clubs, also to arrange for speakers to address these.
The eight Southern Areas will be under the control of Mr. Horace Wyatt. also Controller of Publications, assisted by Mr. J. Hibbert. The Northern Areas will be under Mr. F. G. Bibbings, until recently a prisoner of war in Germany.
The Committee will retain the collaboration and advice of Major H. E. Crawfurd, who will speak at important meetings, and the whole organization will be under the supervision of the director, Mr. R. W. Sewill, M.A., who will be responsible for carrying out the decisions of the Committee.
MORE EX-SERVICE VEHICLES RELEASED
EVERYTHING is being done to urge forward the release of ex-Service vehicles, and the nuniper is being rapidly increased. Mr. Q. Hogg was. given this reply, last week, in the House of Commons, by Mr. J. Wilmot, Minister of Supply and Aircraft Production.
Over a period of four years, 51,600 vehicles have been passed to industry for disposal to the public, but Mr. Wilmot was unable to give the numbers actually in the hands of members of the public.
CAR HIRE GROUP FOK YORKSHIRE
U'UNDER the auspices of the Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association, a meeting will shortly be held in Leeds for the purpose of forming .a Yorkshire Car Hire Functional Group as part of the P.V.O.A.'s national movement for the organization of hire-car operators.
DIFFICULTIES IN SUPPLYING THIS JOURNAL
aISLEADING reports have appeared 1111 regarding a substantial increase in paper supplies which will enable publishers to meet the demand for their periodicals. As a matter of fact, the recent increase brings the publishers' supplies to only 28i per cent. of the pre-war level. That is why so many readers cannot obtain regular supplies of this and other journals.
The vast amount of paper used by the Government and its establishments for official purposes still absorbs a large proportion of the available supplies, and restricts the release of an adequate ration to the publishing trade. Actu
ally, the demand for journals is well above the pre-war figure.
Would-be readers are urged to retain firm orders with their newsagents, even if the latter cannot, at present, guarantee regular delivery. Only by close contact with our old-established readership -in this way can we effect any redistribution of supplies on an equitable basis
GUY MOTORS NEW ISSUE
AS we close for press, we learn from Guy Motors, LA, Fallings Park. Wolverhampton, that its new issue has been substantially oversubscribed, and, in consequence, stockholders should not expect allotment letters for about 14 days.
POSITION REQUIRED
AMAJOR in the Royal Tank Regiment, who had been 15 years in the repair works of the bus department of an impOrtant municipal corporation: and who holds excellent references, requires a suitable position. During the war he has maintained and added to his technical knowledge, being largely concerned with experiments and reports on heavy and light vehicles. Letters should be addressed " R.T.R.," care of the Editor.
. REPRESENTATION IN ROAD HAULAGE DISCUSSIONS
REPRESENTATIONS have been made that the Hauliers' Mutual Federation and the National Conference of Road Transport Associations should be represented at the discussion on haulage now proceeding with the M.O.W.T. These bodies have been informed by the Minister that their request is receiving consideration,
• A LONDON CONFERENCE ON FREEDOM
A CAMPAIGN against various proposals which threaten our industry, livelihood, and the welfare of the Nation, is to be opened by the Hauliers' Mutual Federation in association with the National ' Conference of Road Transport Associations, at Caxton Hall, Westminster, London, S.W.I, or November 20 at 10.30 a.m.
It will be divided into two sessions. The first will finish at 12.30 p.m., and the second will be from 2.15 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. The conference will draw attention to, and probably take action on, the following matters:—Defence Regulation 73.(b), the working of the R.H.O., and nationalization proposals. Amongst the principal speakers will be Capt. L. D. Gammans, M.P., and Major Sir Malcolm Campbell, M.B.E. A delegation from the Council of Retail Distributors will represent C-licence holders. The meeting is open to all and
without tickets. .
WHEN WILL THE NEXT SCOTTISH SHOW BE HELD?
PR 0 SPECTS for a Scottish motor show next year are not regarded as too promising. Kelvin Hall, in Glasgow, which is perhaps the only suitable location for such a largetscale show in Scotland, has been derequisitioned and could, apparently, be got ready in time, but the retarding factor is regarded as the lack of new and suitable products for exhibition. '
One prominent Scottish distributor and agent, Mr. S. J. Hutcheson, past president of the S.M.T.A., thinks that it will require 18 months to organize and plan for a really worth-while Scottish show. It would appear that February or March, 1947, will be the earliest date of such an event in Scotland. AN ENGINEERS' APPOINTMENTS BUREAU
A PPL1CATIONS for registration for 1-1 employment from members who, by reason of their engineering qualifications, belong to the Institutions of Civil Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, and Electrical Engineers, also by persons whose qualifications for election or admission to one of these bodies have been approved by the respective Councils, are invited by the Professional Engineers' Appointments Bureau, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1, The registrar and secretary is Mr. R. W. L Harris, B.Sc.
Employers are also asked to submit concise details of positions vacant, indi
eating special requirements and salary range offered.
We have ascertained that the status of the board is excellent, and includesthe presidents and leading officials of the three Institutions mentioned. It is non-profit making, and we understand that the fee is 2s. 6d. for registration and l_per cent. on the first year's salary.
CLEARING HOUSE CONFERENCE MANCHESTER FUNCTION A N inaugural and Victory dinner and tAdance will be held by the National Conference of Road Transport Clearing Houses (North-Western Area) at the Engineers' Club,18, Albert Square, Manchester, at 6 p.m., on November 24. PLANS FOR A-NEW DESIGN OP TAXICAB CHASSIS IA A N increase in the number of taxi
cabs in London is to be expected, as vehicles, which have been laid up during the war, are brought back into use. Arrangements have been made for the production of new taxicab chassis, but until the design has been submitted to and received the approval of the Commissioner it is not possible to give any definite idea. as to when these new machines will be in operation.
Mr. C. Ede, Home Secretary, recently gave this information in a written' answer to Viscount Hinchingbrooke. EUROPEAN INLAND TRANSPORT COUNCIL
THE first session of the Council of the European Central Inland Transport Organization. set up by agreement on September 27, has been concluded. It elected as chairman, Mr. Erik Colban (Norwegian Ambassador), and as vicechairman, Mr. P. Baracek Jacquier (Czechoslovakian Ministry of Foreign Affairs), The Executive Board of seven members appointed comprises Mr. Jean Levy (France), Mr. C. A. Birtchnell (U.K.), Colonel I. H. Gildea (U.S.A.), Major-General M. V. Obyden (U.S.S.R.), Mr. Paul de Groote (Belgium), Mr. J. Zielinski (Poland), and Dr. B. Sorrna (Czechoslovakia).
OBITUARY
The death has occurred of MR. W. H. E. SPARKS, who was appointed a Traffic Commissioner for the Northern area in 1933 and later became deputy commissioner. He was 52 years old.
We learn of the death of MR.
REGINALD M ELHUISII, M.I.A.E., M.1.A.A., a Bradford Consulting automobile engineer, who was formerly the city's official examiner of motorbuses and motor coaches in the pre-Road Traffic Act daSt. He carried out these duties, along with the examination of taxicabs. from 1923 to 1930, and until his death he continued as the corporation's examiner of cabs, We regret to announce the death, at the age of 55, of Mr. C. J. Poot, senior road representative of the Austin Motor Co., Ltd., who was well known throughout the retail motor trade. He joined the company as an apprentice in 1908, and served as a pilot in No. I
• Squadron of the R.F.C. in the first world war. After a period in India as a factory representative, he returned to Longbridge in 1930. In the recent war his energies were applied to maintaining the supplies of materials and components essential to the company's war output, also in giving great help to the crew of the Longbridge Squadron of the A.T.C.
TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATORS MEETING IN LIVERPOOL
A MEETING of the Merseyside PI Centre of the Institute of Traffic Administration will be held on Monday next, November 19, at 7.30 p.m., at the Stork Hotel, Queens Square, Liverpool, I.
By the revocation of certain Orders; importers need no longer produce certificates of origin and interest in respect of goods imported from Liberia. Liechtenstein, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
PRESENTATION TO LONGSERVICE ZENITH EMPLOYEES .A DINNER. was recently held at the 1-1 Comedy Restaurant, London, to celebrate the completion of a minimum of 21 years!, service by each of 77 employees of the Zenith Carburetter Co., Ltd., Stanmore, Middlesex. A presentation was made to each employee present of an antique silver salver or a double-handled drinking cup.
Zenith carburetters were first made in England in 1910, under the direction of Mr. J. Caillat, who, together with five of the original 15 employees, is still with the company. The 77 employees for whom the dinner was held have completed a total of more than 2,074 years' service, representing an average of 27 years each. BRITISH LORRIES IN SPAIN IN A FEW WEEKS
N our issue for last week we referred
to the projected delivery of 1,000 British lorries to Spain to help solve the , transport crisis in that country. It is hoped that a large proportion of them will be exported before the end of the year.
According to Reuter, permission has already been granted for the importation of 50 Thornycroft heavy lorries and 500 Fordson lorries. A permit for 450 Austin vehicles is being comidered, and is expected to be approved shortly.
All the vehicles will be distributed through official channels, and none will he sold privately to dealers.
SALFORD'S PLANS FOR GETTING • RID OF TRAMS
• IQ ALFORD municipal transport 4--) undertaking is to resume its -prewar "scrap the trams" programme, which was abandoned at the outbreak of war, as soon as sufficient additional new vehicles and increases in manpower arc made available. To meet the department'S requirements, which include the extension of certain routes, an additional 65 new buses will be
needed. Permission has already been received to purchase 38 vehicles, • SERVICING LOCKHEED HYDRAULIC BRAKES
ALL that one needs to know about keeping Lockheed hydraulic braking systems in order is explained in a clearly written booklet published by the Lockheed Hydraulic Brake Co., Ltd., Tachbrook Road, Leamington Spa. Free copies of this publication are available from the Lockheed Brake Service Department, Automotive Products Co., Ltd., at the address given above.
DENNIS GOLDEN JUBILEE LUNCHEON VESTERDAY the chairman and I directors of Dennis Bros., Ltd., gave a luncheon to celebrate the golden jubilee—l895-1945—of that well-known company. It also commemorated the completion of the service of Mr. N. P. Andrew as chairman after holding office for 31 years. Actually, Mr. Andrew will not sever his connection with the company, but reverts to the position of a director, at his own wish.
When he was first associated with the company, it had recently abandoned the manufacture of bicycles and was concentrating on power-driven quadricycles and motorcars. Humorously enough, a pony carriage was also in production. The first Dennis commercial motor vehicle appeared in 1904.
and the first fire-engine in 1908. In 1925 the Dennis had the distinction of .being the first pneumatic-tyred bus licensed for London service, and the following year the first similarly approved bus with four-wheel brakes was of this make.
The new chairman, Mr. Sidney E. Garcke, CAE., M.I.Mech.E., presided at the luncheon. He introduced the principal speaker, Mr. John Wilmot, M.P., Minister of Supply.
As we have had to go to press before
the function, we cannot refer to the various speeches, but the arrangements were that Mr. Wilmot would present to Mr. Andrew a beautifully bound copy of a history of the company, of which stock copieswould be given to guests.
AUSTIN VAN PRICES
I NCLODED in last. week's display of
Austin goods chassis at the showrooms of Car Mart, Ltd., Stanhope House, 320-4, Euston Road, -London, N.W.1, were two examples of Austin vans. One, the 8 h.p. model, was shown with a body of 82 cubic ft. capacity, and the other, the 10 h.p. machine, had a 120 cubic-ft, body fitted. The respective prices of the vehicles are £210 and £275.
AN ARC-WELDING COMPETITION
WIE are advised that a competition YV for all those interested in arcwelding is being organized by the Arcweld Research Construction and Supply Co., 68, Bridle Road, Eastcote, Pinner, Middlesex. Full particulars of the competition and the awards may be obtained upon application to the company.
The London office of David Brown and Sons (Huddersfield), Ltd., has been removed to Haymont House, 3, Panton Street, Haymarket, SW]. NATIONALIZATION OF INLAND TRANSPORT NOT DECIDED.
rIN November 6, representatives of 'i the R.H.A. and the Hired Vehicles' Central Panel met the Minister of War Transport. The views of the Association upon the question of the termination of control and the future of the industry were clearly restated.
The Minister. referred to the fact that nationalization of inland transport was part of the Labour Party's programme. but no final decision had yet been taken by the Cabinet. He expected, however, that a decision would be reached in the near future. It is hoped that there will be a further meeting with the Minister on November 26.
HOW A LICENCES MAY BE TERMINATED
UNDER the Road and Rail Traffic Act of 1933, a vehicle which ceases to be used as prescribed under its A licence, may have its licence cancelled, or changed to a B licence. Mr. A. J. Barnes, Minister of War Transport, said this, last week, in the House of Commons, in • answer to Lieut.-Col. Byers, who asked in what circumstances the Minister's representatives have the right to take such action.
Permits in lieu of licences may be terminated similarly.