News of the Week
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
GOVERNMENT DROPS ITS PRODUCER-GAS SCHEME MEVER quite so successful as the M.O.W.T, anticipated, the Government's prodncer.gas scheme was officially terminated last week, The M.O.W.T., having reviewed the position in the light of the improved war situation, has decided that the scheme can now be closed down.
The Minister takes the opportunity of Thanking those p.s.v. undertakings and goods-vehicle operators who have co-operated with him in this experiment, Fortunately, says the notice, a large-scale conversion to producer gas has proved unnecessary, but, had the need arisen, the experience gained would have been invaluable for the continuance of the national war effort, FODENS NET PROFIT SLIGHTLY HIGHER
nURING the year ended May 31 list,
Fodens. Ltd., made a trading profit of 2139,944, and after providing for income tax and E.P.T. and crediting interest on investments, etc., the net profit comes out at 234,362, which contrasts with 232,116 in the previous year, A dividend of 8 per cent., less tax, absorbs 212,296, and 215,000 is being transferred to the reserve account, bringing it up to 4135,000 and leaving 224,409. After deducting directors' fees from this amount, the carry forward is 222,184, as against 218,848 brought into the accounts.
DIRECTORY OF CATERING ESTABLISHMENTS FOR DRIVERS I N all, 15,000 copies of the directory of establishments providing food and accommodation on the road have been distributed. The time has now come for an up-to-date edition to be prepared. The proprietors of establishments appearing in the directory will, in due course, be asked to bring their particulars up to date, hut those whose names do not appear should apply for forms of registration to the Road Transport Catering and Accommodation Joint Committee, Coastal Chambers, (Room 350), 15, Elizabeth Street, London, S.W.1.
It is hoped that the revised edition will be available for circulation early in 1945.
"BACK AT WORK" EXHIBITION IN BIRMINGHAM
roR the " pack at Work " Exhibi.I.firm of the Ministries of Information and Labour, which opened in Lewis's Store, Bull Street, Birmingham, on Uptember 15, and continues there until the end of the month, the Austin Motor Co., Ltd., has transferred to the exhibition a large part of its rehabilitation shop, to form the main Industrial section. Austin employees undergoing .rehabilitation training, following hand, foot and other injuries, man this industrial section, which reveals for the first time
to the general public the methods being developed within industry for this growingly important work, The operations eghihited include drilling, milling, screwing, turning, soldering, welding and general bench work. NEW DOUBLE-DECKERS SHORTLY AVAILABLE
I T is announced that the M.O.W.T.
is prepared to receive applications, through Regional Transport Commissioners, for licences to acquire new Guy high-bridge double-deck buses equipped with Gardner five-cylindered oil engines, for delivery in November and December. HONOURING MEMORY OF THE INDUSTRY'S FIRST V.C.
1AEM13ERS of the transport industry IVIare invited to do honour to the memory of a soldier, believed to be the industry's first V.C., by contributing to a fund which has been opened .for the benefit of his •mother, widow and live-year-old daughter The soldier was Sergeant Hanson Victor Turner, of the West Yorkshire Regiment, who, before -the joined the Army, was a bus conductor in the employ of Halifax Corporation. The Victoria Cross was awarded to him posthumously for valour whereby he saved his unit at the cost of his life, during fighting on the Burma front, in June last. Aged 33 years, he had been in the service of the Halifax municipal passenger transport undertaking since boyhood.
Contributions to the fund should be addressed to the Mayor of 1-Talifax.
Councillor T, Greenwood, J.P., Town Hall, Halifax,
Among the contributions so far receirect ere £100 from Halifax Passenger Transport Department (first contribution); 4400 from Councillor Charles Holdsvorth (chairman. of the passenger transport committee) and Mrs. Holdsworth; £100 from Alderman A. IL Gledhill (a former chairman of that committee) and MI5. Gledhill; £50 from the North-eastern Division of the C.M.U.A.; and 410 10s. from Mr. Robert Barr, chairman of Barr and Wallace Arnold Trust, Ltd.
GLASGOW VOTES IN FAVOUR OF INCREASED FARES
THE hope that, the increaseibas and tram fares, which were approved on September 14. by Glasgow Corporation, would be only a temporary measure to meet the present situation, was expressed by Mr. E. Greenhill, convener of the transport committee, when replying to criticism of " mismanagement of the transport department." A request for sanction to impose the increased fares, which-have been introduced to offset a deficit of 4100,000 on last year's working, and an estimated deficit this year of 4500,000, will now be madeto the M.O.W.T.
Mr: L. S. Blanche said that the _spread-over ' agreement, which was introduced because'. Of staffing difficul ties, cost the department 4160,000 a year, and the back-out agreement, affecting running times, cost a further 425,000, and did not include the loss in revenue involved. Glasgow paid -higher rates to their employees than any similar undertaking throughout the, country. That fact, in itself, cost 470,000 a year, and the latest wages award of 5s. a week cost a further 4.117,000. War-time expenses and allowances to men in the Services cost 4165,000.
if the war in Europe ended within the next two or .three months, they would no longer require certain of these agreements, absenteeism would decline, and the matter of uncollected fares would right itself. He doubted very much if the Ministry would sanction the increaser in view of these considerations, and the fact that the department had a,-sets of 410,000.000 debit-free, and a
depreciation reserve of 41,400,000. He moved that no change be made in the fares.
Mr. Greenhill said that the revised fares were not pat forward in any haphazard manner.
The committee's new scheme of 'fares was approved by 55 votes to 33.
OBITUARY
We regret to record the death; at the age of 56 years. of Mn. ALEC JAMES BURROWS, a principal of Messrs. T. Burrows and Sons, coach and bus proprietors, of Wombwell, near Barnsley., He was one of the firm's first drivers 30 years ago.
' REMARKABLE RECORD" OF LEADING CARTAGE CONCERN WHAT counsel described as a W remarkable record was revealed at Bolton, last week, where an official of Carter. Paterson, Ltd., Ormskirk, was summoned for permitting the use of a defective tyre. He said that this was the first time the company had been prosecuted, although it had 2,000 vehicles on the road. Supt. Thompson agreed that no conviction had been recorded against the company, which was a long-established one. It was pointed out that the company hail employed a man especially as a tyre inspector, but he had been called up, and now it depended on the drivers to report faults. The company was fined 45 and the driver 105.
PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS TO INSTITUTE OF TRANSPORT
T" presidential address of Mr. R. Kelso to the Institute of Transport will be delivered in the Lecture Theatre of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, Savoy Place, London, W.C.2, on Monday, November 13, at 5.39 p.m , instead of on Tuesday, October 3, as previously announced.
EXPORT SALES MANAGER AVAILABLE
AviE know of an export sales and 1Y service manager who is now at liberty. He has had 18 years' experience of sales and service, as well as transport management, concerning commercial vehicles, oil engines fox road transport and cars. He is a good linguist, particularly as regards French, German and Flemish, and has a good knowledge of most other European languages. Letters marked " Export Sales Manager," addressed care of the Editor, will be forwarded.
A NEW. UPPER-CYLINDER LUBRICANT
THOSE: operators who are meeting 1 certain mechanical troubles through the use of leaded petrol may be interested in a liquid upper-cylinder lubricant produced by the maker of the well-known Owlet graphitecl tablets, A. E. Bennett and Co., of Liverpool. Viscol Dopoil contains an additive but no graphite, whereas Viscol Dopoil Phis also contains colloidal graphite. The latter is recommended by its maker for addition to fuel and lubricating oil in petrol engines or compression-ignition units, except where the fuel contains much sulphur or creosote; in such cases the ungraphited Dopoil is advised.
I.T.P. REQUEST FOR COPIES OF COMMUNICATIONS
IVE are asked by Industrial TransVV port Publications, Ltd., and its printer, Freame, Manning, and Co., Ltd., to inform those of our readers concerned that they can help them in their work of reconstruction by sending copies of any communicationr addressed to them at 250, Halfway Street, Sidcup, and 12a, Lee High Road, . London, S.E.18, between July 28 and August 28.
HAULAGE SCHEME LINKS UP INDUSTRY'S MEMBERS THAT the Government road haulage .I. scheme had been responsible for bringing members of the industry into closer contact was a view expressed by Mr. H. J. Woodgates. of Thomas Tilling. Ltd., at a recent social gathering of Metropolitan Unit Controllers. I4e said that it would result in closer understanding and better and more efficient operation when control had
gone. •
Mr. W. W. Foster, the chairman, in replying, said that he hoped the good work which had been started would continue through the early days of peace, during which period he felt a great onus would he, laid on those responsible for transport, if a successful and happy relationship was to he established between the road haulage industry and industry' at large.
TRANSPORT CLASSES AT EALING TECHNICAL COLLEGE"
ACOURSE of lectures . for the graduateship examination of the Institute of Transport has been arranged by the Ealing Technical College for the next session, the classes being held on Mondays and Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Courses for the associate membership examination would be arranged if students be forthcoming. The college is situated in Warwick Road, London, W.14, and a canteen is available -from 6.30 p.m.