OPINIONS and Q UERIES
Page 22
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THE SEPARATE LICENSING OF TRAILERS
wpm' reference to your editorial note to my letter vV published in your issue of July 24, I mast, whilst admitting that my suggestion is by no means a complete solution, strongly disagree with you that._ the scheme would not raaterially help the trailer-licensing situation.
I feel sure that, with the exception of firms operating very small fleets, a general benefit would be derived from this arrangement.
To quote an instance, the concern in which' I am employed runs a' fleet of some 700 vehicles, made up, roughly, as follows:-350 up to 2i tons; 200 up to 4 tons; 150 exceeding 4 tons.
Surely it is quite apparent that to be able to use any one of _these vehicles to draw a trailer licensed in the appropriate weight category without extra tax being required would, indeed, "help materially," whilstthe possibility of a vehicle in the suitable weight class not bein,g available could be overcome by a judicious changeover of alternative lorries by the operator.
London, N.W.0. CYRIL E. BEST.
A CHALLENGE TO S.T.R. FROM BELFAST
EFERRING to the article by your correspondent " S.T.R.," which appeared in your issue of July 31, on the subject of the Chartered Fleet of the Ministry of War Transport, rather than criticize the Ministry's operating department, I would• venture to criticize " S.T.R.'.' for the opening paragraph of his article. The
• fact that—according to his figures—the 'Chartered Fleet is not being operated efficiently does not necessarily seiye as a basis for an absolutely unanswerable argument against nationalization. • Before he makes any comments of this type in future, I would strongly advise this gentleman to make .himseiE acquainted with the Northern Ireland Road Transport Board's operations in Ulstpr.
I go so far as to invite your correspondent to come to Belfast, and I will show him how a Government-owned organization can be successfully operated as a copimercial organization.
If I am prepared to, spend time to disprove his first statement, I shall expect " S.T.R." to take an early opportunity to express his altered views through the medium of your pages. W. E. MxcvE, Operations Manager, Northern Ireland Road
Belfast. Transport Board.
ANOTHER CONNECTION WITH THE ALLCHIN STEAMER ‘ EFERRING to your notice in "The Commercial Motor " for July 31, of the death of Mr. Alfred Allchin, and of his connection with the old engineering firm of Northampton which produced the Allchin-steam wagon, it may be of interest to you to know that my headquarters and garage occupy the site where formerly the Allchin steam wagons were manufactured, and that the same address is still used, i.e., Globe Transport
Vv'orks. A. W. DARBY. Northampton.