More Goods Vehicles: Hackneys Drop
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THE number of ' goods vehicles registered in the quarter ended September 30, 1958, at 1,268,498 contrasts with 1,215,480 for the same period a year earlier. These figures are contained in "Road Motor Vehicles, 1958," published on Tuesday by the Stationery Office at 5s.
Hackney vehicles declined from 98,818 to 97,005 in the 12 months ended Sep7 tember 30 last year, at which date 1,325 trams remained in use. Pedestrian. controlled vehicles also seemed to be in decline: there were 9,455 licensed last year as against 9,781 in 1957.
Of the 1958 total of . goods. vehicles,' 1,216,820 were in general, as distinct from farmers', use, and of these 1,042,459 were under 3 tons unladen weight. A total of 936,974 of the under-3-ton vehicles were petror models, 81,819 oilers and 23,666 battery-electrics, whilst of the 174,361. heavier vehicles in general use -.121;7.95 were oilers, 52,219 petrol models and 347 battery-electrics.
Excise licences in the year ended November 30, 1958, yielded . the Exchequer £97,375,000 of which 131,708,000 was paid in respect of, goods vehicle's and £5,719,000 of hackneys.
NO SUPPORT FOR NEW 50-MILE B LICENCE
ASKING for a new B licence to carry building Materials within 50 Miles, Mr. A. Robinson; Bradshaw, Halifax, claimed at Leeds, last week, that he was at a disadvantage in his application because he could • not afford a 'lawyer to fight the British Transport Commission's
objection.
He explained that when lie left the Services he had £15 capital with Which' he bought a horse'and cart. In 1948 he was granted a limited B licence, but soon afterwards he decided to use his lorry on contract work for a building merchant. Now the contract had been cancelled through lack of work. but the merchant had sent a letter stating that extra vehicles were needed at short notice.
Refusing the application, Mr. J. H. A. Randolph, Yorkshire Deputy Licensing Authority, said the case had already been adjourned for the merchant to send a witness, but he had declined. if Mr. Robinson's services were really required there would have been support.
BUS STRIKERS MAY BE SUED
BUSMEN employed by Caerphilly Transport Department were warned this week that if they carried out their threatened one-day strike next Monday they might be sued for damages by the corporation. Strike notice had been given because the council refused to grant a day's paid holiday for May Day.
Mr. J. L. Price, clerk to the council, said damages might, be claimed for financial loss due to the crews' breach of contract. In any case, when the busmen returned to work On Tuesday they would be treated as recruits, which would affect their holiday and sick-pay entitlements.
Ft4
1958 Petroleum FiguresUp A LTHOUGH comparison is vitiated rl because of the effects' of . the Suez crisis early in 1957, the consumption of various petroleum products in 1958 was much higher than in the preceding year.
Deliveries of motor spirit, at 6,623,508 tons, were 15.3 per ,cent. more than in 1957, but only 4.7 per cent,'above the 1956 level. Commercial users last year consumed 360,008 tons of premium grades and 1,183,620 tons of standard grades. ConsuinPtion of oil fuel rose by 14.2 per cent. to 2,049,465 tons in 1958.
The Petroleum Information Bureau estimated that goods vehicles last year burned 2,100,000 tons of petrol and 1,173,000 tons of derv, and public service vehicles 95,000 tons of petrol and 825,000 tons of derv. These are all greater than the 1957 figures, except that for petrol consumption by public service vehicles.
B.T.C. OBJECT TO A LICENCE A N objection was lodged on Tuesday tn. by the British Transport Commission in the case of Bulwark Transport, Ltd., Chippenham, who want to put 17 shortterm B-licence vehicles on to A licence. Mr. S. W. Nelson, Western Licensing Authority, said a fortnight ago that he would grant the application if there were no opposition (The Commercial Motor, April 17).
EXPRESS BUSES FAIL
IT is unlikely that Birmingham's experi
ment with limited stop buses will be carried any further. The express service to Glebe Farm, introduced in February, has not been a success, according to Aid.
L, Chaffey, chairman of the transport. committee.
He said revenue on limited stop journeys was 10d. Per mile less than on a normal service, yet only six minutes was saved on the run to Glebe Farm.
Driving Contest Ends Thames Show
AMAMEUVRABILITY contest based on three of the tests used for the final of last year's Lorry Driver of the Year Competition was the highlight and the concluding event, last Saturday, of a week's exhibitiOn of Thames vehieles staged by. Hubert Dees, Ltd., 15-19 'Brighton Road;•Croydon.
Vehicles on display included a .7-ton Thames Trader with a trailing-axle six wheeled conversion and a number of special-bodied Traders and 15-cwt. vans.
There were 45 entries for the driving tests, of whom 34 competed for prizes of £24, £15, £10 and £5. All drivers used the same vehicle—a 5-ton Thames Trader with 11-ft. 6-in, wheelbase and the 4D oil engine. The three tests used consisted 'of kerbside parking, parking within narrow limits against two opposite kerbs and reversing into two angled bays.
Heavy rain complicated the drivers' tasks but appeared to do little to diminish enthusiasm. The results were; 1, G. Richardson (M, A. Ray, Ltd.), 189 marks lost; 2, G. W. Thorpe (Marco, Ltd.), 199; 3, A. H. Newbold (R. Mansell, Ltd.), 217; 4, M. Goodyear (Clarks of Croydon. Ltd.), 223.
REFRIGERATOR SERVICE FOR THE NORTH
A REFRIGERATED container service, 1-1. claimed to be one of the first to be introduced by a haulier in the north, has been established by the Fairfield Haulage Co., Ltd., Liverpool. The service has been inaugurated with one refrigerated container, which is transferable to any of the company's open vehicles. Consideration is to be given to expanding the service.
Manufactured by Mann Egerton, the refrigerated container has a capacity of
800 cu. ft. It thermostatically controlled and is powered independently by a Lister oil engine, which is easily accessible at the front -of the container. ,A new Bedford 7-ton vehicle is being used chiefly to carry the container. The cab of this vehicle is . fitted with a gauge showing the refrigerator temperature.