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Pressure from Behind

21st March 1958, Page 57
21st March 1958
Page 57
Page 57, 21st March 1958 — Pressure from Behind
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

I UNDERSTAND that the Minister of Transport has decided I to hold the census of road transport in the week beginning April 21, largely because of heavy pressure from back-bencher to allow C-licensees mere freedom. They had argued that the restriction of ancillary users to the carriage of their own goods had led to a gross wastage of the nation's transport capacity. "Very well," said the Minister, let's see just how much wastage there is."

If the census vindicates the views of the back-benchers, the Government might take action to grant greater freedom to C-licensees, although not immediately. Such a move might, our political correspondent thinks, be one of the planks in an election programme. On the other hand, when, during the Suez crisis, C-licensees were allowed to carry other traders' goods, comparatively tittle use was made of the concession.

Selling Too Hard

HIGH-PRESSURE salesmanship may yield results in some fields, but not where vehicle operators are concerned. Every day, hauliers and C-licensees telephone The Commercial Motor for information about vehicles they are thinking of buying—problems which dealers and agents would be pleased to clear up.

If this is suggested, the• answer is always the same: " We'd like you to tell us, otherwise we'll have salesmen breathing down our necks, trying to push us into giving them an order."

If our telephone calls arc any yardstick, this fear of salesmen must have increased recently. I wonder how many dealers have lost orders through being over-eager.

Statutory Brick

prOLITICIANS who are quick to complain of alleged inaccu

racies by newspapers should have their noses rubbed in. the Road Traffic Act, 1956. Although the Bill was prepared and vetted at leisure by lawyers and was debated inside out in the Houses of Commons and Lords, it contains a startling anomaly which was discovered only last week.

The Act has removed from the courts the power to disqualify a driver who does not stop after an accident. This contemptible offence is now punishable by a maximum fine oE£20. and the driver cannot even have his licence endorsed.

Punch Drunk

Q.EVENTY years ago the Mansion House Association on

Transport—the oldest transport association—was formed to fight the railways. The relationship' between them is now easier, but from remarks last Friday by Mr. J. W. Bannard, the M.H.A.'s new chairman, I divined that the Association are still disappointed in the railways.. They seem to detect a reluctance in the Kremlin (otherwise known as the Ivory Tower) to take positive action and to make proper use of the new charges scheme. Whereas the Association's original role was to beat down the railways, it is now to wake them up. Perhaps they overdid it.

Savoury

ON the same toast list as Mr. 13annard at the M.H.A. annual luncheon was Maj.-Gen. G. N. Russell, chairman of British Road Services. As the fourth speaker 'at an overlong session, he brought the proceedings to a smart close with astringent wit bordering on bitterness,

Having a gentle slap at his senior partners, he indicated that if traders found difficulty, under a discriminatory policy, of sending their "bits and pieces" by rail, B.R.S. would carry them.

Horse Dealing

BETTER known as the patentee of the Wokingham Pantechnicon, Mr. Alan Perkins is also a vehicle dealer in the Berkshire town after which his body designs are named, and he tells the story of an unsuccessful attempt to sell a small van to a local tradesman who owned a horse and cart.

" When you can sell me a van that will come from one end of a street when I whistle to it and save me walking all the way back, I'll buy it," this stalwart used to say.

After he died, his son carried on the business, but, being less wedded to horses than his father, bought a motor vehicle. Never having thought of the answer with which to clinch a deal with the father, Mr. Perkins is somtimes tempted to try to sell the son a horse and cart.

More Americans

A MERICAN travel experts believe that about 5 per cent. more Americans will tour Britain this year than last year. Some 262,000 Americans came to Britain in 1957..

Mr. Victor Bridgen, managing director of Victor Britain, Ltd., who gave this news last Friday when he returned from a fourweek visit to the United States, wisely pointed out that travel. facilities were not everything. Visitors wanted. good hotel accommodation readily available. That guarantee is 'given by operators of extended coach tours.

Lower Pit. rchase Tax?

IN Parliamentary circles, I gather, there is greater hope than 1 there has been for several yeah of a reduction in the purchase tax on goods-vehicle chassis. A vigorous new campaign to end it has been initiated by Conservative back-benchers and strong recommendations have been made to the Treasury.


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