WHEELS of INDUSTRY
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"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport, at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
DRIVING HOURS ON C-LICENCE VEHICLES.
At a meeting of the Parliamentary Road Group, which was attended by the British Road Federation, Mr. F. G. Bristow, C.B.E., general secretary of the Commercial Motor Users Association, explained the need for an Order varying, in the case of drivers of vehicles operating under C licences, the hours permitted under Section 19 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930.
The Minister of Transport has already seen fit to make a Variation Order applicable to the drivers of A and B vehicles, but refused one for the C class, although the application was supported by a large number of traders' organizations.
The respective positions, from the point of view of public safety, are identical, and the nature of the work of the average C driver is not more onerous,. and could often he claimed less so, than that of A and B drivers.
The pressure of work with the former also varies from day to day, with the result that busy days are followed by slack periods, and the variation is required to meet times of exceptional pressure, and would usually enable a driver to get home the same night.
Summons Served on Pigs Board.
Following upon the announcement, in last week's issue, that the co-operative movement was bringing a_ legal action against the Pigs Marketing Board in connection with the railway fiat-rate scheme, our Manchester representative reports that a summons has been served on the Board, but that the case it not likely to be heard for some time. The Co-operative Union of that city has taken this step on behalf of the Burslem and District Co-operative Society, Ltd.
It is contended that the Pigs Marketing Board has applied regulations to an unregulated product (pork pigs), instead of only to regulated products (bacon pigs). It is understood that the 'railway companies are not pressing the issue, but are awaiting the decision of the court.
Interim Conciliation Agreement Extended.
Owing to the difficulties experienced in many of the traffic areas, in reaching a final agreement on the wages and conditions of goods-transport employees, the National Joint Conciliation Board has extended until December 31 next the period of operation of the interim agreement, which should have expired on June 30.
It is understood, however, that if the Area Boards cannot complete the grading arrangements by September or October next, the appeals committee of B18 the National Board will take the matter in hand.
Wages Dispute in North West.
Following upon the fixing of Grade 2 wages for the interim period in the North-Western Area, several districts were placed in Grade 3, but appeals have now been lodged by the employees' side against the application of these rates of pay in certain towns. It is understood that the Appeals Committee met yesterday (Thursday).
Definite decisions will, it is hoped, be reached at the next meeting of the full Area Board, in September, so that final grading arrangements can be decided by October S.
In the Northern area, which, under the interim agreement, is placed in Grade 2, the workers are pressing for Grade 1 wages in the urban .districts of Newcastle, Sunderland, Hartlepools, Middlesbrough and Workington.
Heavy Fine for Underpaying Drivers.
Four summonses for failing to pay the minimum rate of wages to four of their employees were heard at Port Talbot Police Court, against the managing partners of Messrs. Richards Bros., haulage contractors, Port Talbot. The Ministry of Labour prosecuted, the cases being the first of the kind in the area.
A fine of £20, with an additional fine of 7e2 for failing to keep a proper record of wages paid, was imposed, and the firm were ordered to pay the £38 15s. arrears due to the employees. REGISTRATION OF ASSOCIATED ROAD OPERATORS.
It was exclusively announced in our issue for last week that the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association and the Road Haulage Association had concluded arrangements for the amalgamation of the two bodies, and that the new Association was to be known
as Associated Road Operators, This organization was officially registered on July 12 as a company limited by guarantee without share capital, with an unlimited number of members, each liable for 5s. in the event of winding up. The subscribers are Messrs. J. S. Nichoil, F. A. Flin, A. L. Guilmant, L. W. Gupwell, J. F. E. Pye, F. F. Fowler and R. W. Birch.
The Association is to be organized in sections representing (1) ancillary users, (2) hauliers (including clearing houses), (3) passenger-vehicle operators, and (4) such other interests as may he prescribed from time to time by the National Council, in which the management is vested.
The new Association has already commenced a membership campaign and it is understood that numerous nationally known ancillary users have applied for membership forms. ShellAlex and E.P., Ltd., and the AngloAmerican Oil Co., Ltd., have now enrolled.
Goods Vehicles Increase, but Hackneys Fall.
A Ministry of Transport ref-Lim shows that, on May .31 last, the total number of goods vehicles was 409,935 and hackneys 79,884, the comparable returns for 1984 being 392,020 and 81,012 respectively. It is interesting to note that, in the year, the number of horse-drawn vehicles has fallen by 3,844 to 17,153.
MERSEY TUNNEL TRAFFIC DOUBLES ESTIMATE.
An analysis of the first year's working of Mersey Timnel reveals the fact that the actual figures will be more than double the Original estimate. When the tunnel was opened by His Majesty, on July 18, 1934, it was estimated that 1,350,000 toll-paying vehicles Would pass through in the first 12 months, yielding a revenue of £1345,000. The figures are, however, expected to be 2,997,807 toll-paying vehicles, 3,641,920 passengers and £248,958 revenue.
A Dennis for Demonstrations.
We publish on this page a picture of a Dennis van lately commissioned by the English and Scottish Joint Cooperative Wholesale Society, 'Ltd. The .45-cwt. long-wheelbasehforwatd-control
chassis carries a commodious . Lutontype body of unusual contours, which is a product of the motor body and wheelwrights' department of the Cooperative Wholesale Society, Ltd., Salford.
The near side of the vehicle has two attractive window cases suitable for the display of teas and similar goods. The space between them, closed by a roller shutter, provides facilities for the serving of cups of tea; the machine is equipped with an urn. The off side of the body has three window cases which are also used for display purposes.
The equipment also includes a modern public-address apparatus with loud-speakers at the front and the rear, which are stated to give a working range of one mile. Moreover, a portable 17.5 mm. talkie film projector is carried, enabling cinema shows to be given in local societies' halls.
Frivolous Railway Objections..
" If the railways were really serious in their objections they would send people who could give expert evidence, especially when,as in this case, they accuse the road operators of ratecutting." This admonition, which will receive the support of operators who are continually called upon to,rneet the unreasonable opposition of the railways, was adminiStered by Mr. J. H.
Stirk, East Midland Licensing Authority, at Northampton, on July 12.
The point arose when the representative of the opposing railway company was unable to answer questions put to .him by the solicitor acting for a roadtransport concern..
A High-angle Big-capacity Tipper.
The high-angle tipping vehicle which is illustrated on this page, comprises a Scammell tractor-trailer chassis carrying a large-capacity body with Bromilow and Edwards twin tripletelescopic end-tipping rams which are capable of raising it to an angle of 45 degrees. Flexible connections are fitted between the tractor and the trailer to allow for disconnecting or turning, and the drive is from a power take-off on the gearbox of the prime-mover to a large-capacity high-speed quadruplesolid-ram pump box.
The body is 25 ft. 6 ins. long, 7 ft. wide and 4 It. 3 ins, high, and it has a curved front to allow for turning. The tail door, which is divided vertically in the centre, is made to fold back against the sides of the body, so that no obstacle is offered to the free discharge of the load, The body weighs just under three tons and accommodates approximately 12-14 tons of coke. It can be tipped to its maximum angle in 1 min. 50 secs.
Road-transport Section for Leeds Chamber of Commerce.
A meeting to appoint the committee of the road-transport section which is being established in connection with the Leeds Chamber of Commerce, will Shortly be held. The Leeds Sub-area of the Road Haulage Association took the initiative in forming the section, hut membership will, of course, be open to all Leeds operators and users. FIRST SOUTH WALES LICENCE REVOCATION.
Last week Mr. A. T. James,
the South Wales Licensing Authority..,b, revoked, for the first time, a carrier's licence for breach of conditions. Althongh the operator, Mr. A. H. Barrett, of Newport, did not request the Authority to hold a public inquiry into the matter, Mr. James asked him to attend, in order, that he might explain his conduct. Mr. Barrett did not do so.
The carrier held a contract A licence but, stated Mr. James, was, on several occasions, found to be operating in London and at High Wycombe, outside the terms of his licence, R.H.A. Reorganizing in Yorkshire.
A considerable measure of reorganization is baing carried out in the
Yorkshire Area of the Road Haulage Association, owing to the increase in membership and general activity, and with a view to extending the R.H.A.'s work in the county.
Bigger offices are to house the area headquarters in Leeds, the staff is to be increased, and the officials and committees of sub-areas will have more responsibility. A measure of decentralization will, it is felt, enhance the efficiency of the machinery in the area, for which, of course, the Yorkshire Regional Area Committee and officials will be the central connecting link.
Aldershot and District Profit Higher.
A profit of £33,077 was made by the Aldershot and District Traction Co., Ltd., in the year ended May 31, the figure for the previous year being £20,624. A dividend of 8 per cent, is to be paid and £17,000 is to be transferred to the general reserve, which will leave £16,632 to be carried forward, as against £16,554 brought in. PERSONAL PARS.
Bolton Transport Committee has appointed Mr. Clement Omeroid, now chief traffic assistant, as deputy general manager.
Mr. Raghubir Saran, managing director of Pearey Lal and Sons, Ltd., of Delhi, is on a business visit to this country. He is interested in establishing conticts with concerns dealing in commercial vehicles, cars, spares, tools, workshop equipment, etc. He is particularly interested in the low-priced oil-engined vehicle.
At the end of the present year Sir Percival Perry, K.B.E., the retiring president of the Circle of Nineteenth Century Motorists, is being succeeded by Mr. Frederick R. Simms, founder of the Royal Automobile Club. The annual dinner of the Circle will he held on November 11, at the Trocadero Restaurant, London.
Following the recent death of Mr. Reginald Delpech, founder and sales director of the Triplex Safety Glass Co., Ltd., important changes are announced in the board of the company. Major A. E. Phillips; D.S.O., the chairman, has retired, and Mr. Graham Cunningham, managing director, becomes chairman and managing director. Mr. W. R. Lyttleton remains on the board as technical director, and new directors are Miss McDuell, secretary, Capt. Victor Sheperd, general sales manager, and Mr. A. Cochrane, works manager of the King's Norton factory.
On his retirement after 33 years' service in Bradford Corporation's passenger-transport department, Mr. Frank Evans, traffic superintendent, was the recipient of a presentation on Monday. Mr. C. R. Tattam, general manager, formally handed over the gifts. Mr. G. R. Carter, chairman of the transport committee, presided.
Mr. Evans, who is succeeded by Mr. E. R. Baxter, comes of a transport family. His two brothers, Mr. Walter Evans and Mr. Arthur Evans, have both been traffic superintendents. The former retired three years ago at Leicester, and the latter retired 10 years ago at Pretoria, South Africa.
It is satisfactory to sports clubs organized by the emplOyees of works, etc., to receive encouragement from the leading men in the companies concerned. Last Saturday, for instance. when the A.E.C. Cricket Team met the Leyland (Lancashire) Eleven on the former's clubgrotmd, and A.E.C. players met Leyland (Kingston) players at tennis and bowls, the events were attended by Messrs. C. W. Reeve (chairman and managing director), N. A. Hardie (general manager, sales), and G. J Rackham (chief engineer), of the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., and Messrs. H. Spurrier, Senr. (managing director), A. A. Liardet (general manager), A. Spurrier (director) and J. K. Denny (London and Southern Area manager) of Leyland Motors, Ltd.
1120 The Minister of Transport has appointed Alderman G. E. Caine for the remaining period of three years from February 1, 1934, as a member, representative of the interest of local authorities in England and Wales, of the Transport Advisory Council, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Sir Percival Bower. Alderman Caine was elected a member of the Rotherham County Borough Council in 1906 and created an alderman in 1920. He has been a member of the transport committee of the council since 1913, and chairman of that committee since November, 1927.
Electrotraction, Ltd., is the title of a new company that was registered as a public concern a few days ago, with a capital of £100 in £1 shares. It is to carry on business as a manufacturer of and dealer in electrically propelled vehicles of all types. It is anticipated that fuller details of the company's plans will he available in a few weeks' time.
Currie Applications Result.
The Yorkshire Licensing Authority has refused an application by Currie and Co. (Newcastle), Ltd., for A licences for articulated vehicles and four other machines (40 tons in all) to he acquired for operation from a base at Sowerby Bridge, near Halifax. An application for A licences for six vehicles and six trailers (total 48 tons) to be acquired for operation from Doncaster was granted.
The Frank Hough Memorial Fund.
Subscriptions to the Frank Hough Memorial Fund now total 41,613 Ss., and Mr. H. G. Henly, of Henlys, Ltd., 385-387, Euston Road, London, N.W.1, is most anxious that the goal of £2,000 should be reached. The object is the permanent endowment of the Children's Home run in connection with the Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund. Subscriptions should be sent to Mr. Henly. An entirely new motor tyre, to be known as the "Vanguard," will be introduced next Monday by Henley's Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., 20-22, Christopher Street, Finsbury Square, London, E.C.2. The factory at Gravesend has been reorganized and expanded and is Kent's largest tyre works. These developments are to be celebrated at the works on July 22, when Sir Montague Hughin.an, chairman of W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co., Ltd., will be present.
One of the strongest arguments of the opponents of the keeping of records is that they may be used as evidence against an operator. This eventuality has now arisen, for yesterday (Thursday) the Road Haulage Association defended the owner of a vehicle who was prosecuted under Section 19 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, and against whom one of the Metropolitan Area vehicle examiners proposed to use a driver's record as evidence.
It appears that the examiner had discovered that, according to a driver's record, he was exceeding the maximum legal periods of driving, but the R.H.A. strongly resisted the use of the record as evidence. The case was heard in a London court and had been adjourned from last week.
The Commercial Motor Users Association points out that difficulty has arisen in certain cases regarding the correct markings required to identify vehicles authorized under C licences.
The Association has therefore communicated with the authorities in order to clarify the position. The view taken by the Association has now been confirmed, viz., that either the letter C and the identification letter and number of the licence must be exhibited on the left or near side of the vehicle, or the name of the licence holder and the postal address specified on his licence must be displayed on the vehicle. This, according to the C.M.U.A., may be on the near or off side.
These points were settled to the satisfaction of The Commercial Motor when the Regulations were brought into force, and were incorporated in our booklet, " The A B C of Goods Vehicle Licensing," with the additional information that the name and address may be on the back of the vehicle.
The Dennis Moving Floor.
In our issue for last week, in dealing with the exhibits of commercial-vehicle makers at the health congress of the Royal Sanitary Institute, which is being held at Bournemouth during this week, we made an erroneous reference to the make of moving floor with which the Dennis 12-15 cubic yard refuse collector is equipped. Actually, the moving floor on this machine is the product of the Dennis concern at Guildford, and at a later date we hope to be able to publish a full description. According to registration figures compiled by Jordan and Sons, Ltd., Chancery Lane, London, W.C.2, 232 public companies and 6,527 private companies were registered during the first half of 1935, the aggregate capital of the former being £34,869,133 and of the latter £38,315,753. Although in each group the registrations are slightly higher, the capital is below the corresponding figure for 1934.
-Under the heading of " motors," we find that five public companies and 301 private co'mpanies were registered, their; capital being £485,100 and £1,024,708 respectively. The group
for carriers includes three public companies with a total capital of £315,000, and 182 private cOmpanies having an aggregate capital of £543,535.
New Plant for Production of Fuel for Oil Engines.
The first plant of its kind in this country for the production from British coal of oil fuel for high-speed roadtransport engines is about to be erected at the Barugh works of Low Temperature Carbonisation, Ltd., near Barnsley. According to Col. Whiston Bristow, chairman of the company, the new plant is concerned, in the first place, with the extraction from the oil of valuable tar acids, and then with the conversion of the remainder into fuel for high-speed oil engines.
Driving Periods Must Not Be Divided Up.
At Cupar Sheriff Court, last week, Mr. David Mitchell was charged, as secretary-manager of Leven Reform Co-operative Society, with permitting employees to drive for continuous periods amounting in the aggregate to more than 11 hours in the 24. The facts were admitted, but a plea of not guilty was tendered, the defence being that the periods of driving could not be continuous, as there were intervals of half an hour each occurring during the driving time.
Sheriff Dudley Stuart said that to hold that one was within the law by dividing up the time into four or five periods. with intervals of half an hour, would be wholly to defeat the purpose of the statute. In his view, 11 hours was the absolute limit that a driver could legally be employed during the 24 hours. For the defence it was stated that no long distances were driven at a stretch and that there were frequent reSts at farmhouses.
The Sheriff imposed a fine of £3, or 20 days' imprisonment. The Board of Trade returns for June show that the value of commercial vehicles, cars, chassis and accessories imported during the month was £234,576, which falls between the totals for June, 1933 and 1934, which' were£181,744 and £280,208 respectively.
The exports of complete commercial vehicles for June were slightly higher in number, but less in value, than in June, 1934, the 175 vehicles for June last contrasting with 169 vehicles a year ago, the respective values being
£38,004 and £52,977. In the six months ended June 30 last, 1,084 complete commercial vehicles, having a value of £295,612, were exported.
A most satisfactory showing is made by commercial chassis, the exports of which advanced from 639 vehicles in June, 1934, to 935 a year later, their value also being materially higher, last year's total of £1080540 rising to £149,860. In the six months ended June last 5,572 commercial Chassis were exported, of a value of £864,452.
A meeting of the Northamptonshire branch of the Road Haulage Association, at Northampton, last Friday, endorsed a resolution of its committee refusing to pay more than grade 3 wages throughout the county. Through the East Midland Area Joint Conciliation Board, the employees had requested that in important, towns grade 1 should be paid, in industrial centres grade 2, in rural areas grade 3, and in strictly agricultural areas, grade 3, less 10 per cent.
The committee had considered these proposals, said the secretary, Mr. W. G. Eales, tout felt that, in view of the keen competition from C-licence holders, the time Was not ripe for such increases, the county operators, at the moment, Paying only grade 3. As carriers could not, owing to the keen rates offered by the railways, increase their charges, the committee refused to pay more than grade 3 wages.
With a view to securing a closer understanding between contractors and their employees, it was agreed to convene a mass meeting of drivers in September.
Testing-out a Radio Set for Fire. brigade Use.
Short-wave radio telephony was used for the first time on a fire-engine last Wednesday, when 10 municipal fire brigades took part in the Surbiton hospital carnival procession, at Surbiton, Surrey, and competed for the prizes offered for the best-decorated and smartest fire-engine. In case of emergency, Surbiton Fire Station and the fire-engine had been equipped with a Tmnsreceiver short-wave radio apparatus by the Ideal Radio and Gramophone Co., Ltd., Ewell Road, Surbiton. Calls for the fire brigade could thus be forwarded from the fire station to the fire-engine without the slightest delay.
DRIVERS MUST HALT AT MAJOR ROAD CROSSINGS.
The Minister of Transport announces that he is about to authorize a new sign for erection on. minor roads where they join major roads, requiring drivers to halt immediately. before entering the carriageway of a major road unless they have a clear view of the major road in both directions. He states that this new sign, in conjunction with the " major road ahead" sign already authorized, should effectively meet the difficulty of deciding whether a road ahead is a major highway.
Railways Win Liverpool Appeals. Before the Appeal Tribunal, at Liverpool, last week, the London, Midland and Scottish, Great Western, and London' and North Eastern Railway companies appealed against a decision of 1VIr. W. Chamberlain, the Northwestern Licensing Authority, to grant an A licence to Motor Carriers (Liverpool), Ltd.
It was pointed out that Motor Carriers (Liverpool), Ltd., had been granted permission to acquire three new vehicles and one other by virtue of a hiring allowance, which gave the company the right to hire a vehicle without a driver. The respondent company submitted that its existing vehicles were used too intensively, and some margin should be allowed to cover maintenance and repairs.
lo. giving judgment, Mr. Rowand Harker, TLC., chairman, said that if there had been an appeal regarding the hiring margin, the Tribunal would have varied Mr. Chamberlain's decision as to the vehicles to be acquired by authorizing the acquisition of two instead of three, and would have set aside the decision as to the .
hiring margin. As, however, there was no appeal with regard to the hiring margin, the Tribunal would reduce the number of vehicles authorized to be acquired from three to one. He allowed the railway companies appeal, but without any order as to costs.
Mr. 'Henderson's Warning Against Underpayment of Drivers.
Mr. Archibald Henderson, Southern Scotland Licensing Authority, made an important statement, last week, regarding the Scottish conciliation agreement. Mr. Henderson stated that he wished to call the attention of all operators of A and 13-licence vehicles to the fact that failure to adopt the proper scale of wages and working conditions for drivers and statutory attendants might have seriousconsequences.
In such circumstances, the Licensing Authorities had power to prosecute, or suspend or revoke the licence, and, al
though this might seem harsh, an employer who deliberately underpaid his. drivers in order to obtain an unfair advantage over his competitors. would not have much ground in asking for clemency.
Shipping Guide for Haulers.
The following is the number of ships arriving at the London docks, wharves and jetties named, from July 19-27 inclusive i—Docics : King George V. 8; Royal Albert, 8; Royal Victoria, 4; Surrey Commercial, 7; West India, 1; East India, 1; South West India, 2; Tilbury, 4; Tilbury Stage, 4; Millwall, ; London, 2. WHA RVES 1 Hays', 5 ; Middleton's, 1; Mark Brown's, 1; Tilbtiry Jetty, 1.
RECEIPTS FROM VEHICLE TAXATION. '
The gross amount received in paytnent for licences issued during the six months ended May 31, 1935, was £23,633,830, compared with £24,652,759 in the corresponding period of the previous year, but it must be remembered that, as from January last, vehicles taxed on horse-power and motorcycles have been subject to reduced scales of taxation. In the calculation of the gross receipts, no adjustment has been made in respect of rebates, refunds, etc. A sum of £514,431 was refunded in respect of the surrender of 80,419 licences, and the gross receipts are subject to further adjustment as regards other refunds.