NEWS of the WEEK
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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.
UNION ACTION AGAINST HAULAGE CONCERN.
Arising from the allegation of the Transport and General Workers Union that a Monmouthshire firm of haulage contractors had failed to honour the conciliation agreement, the union has instructed its members not to load or unload goods carried in the firm's lorries until a settlement of the dispute has been effected.
The T.G.W.th alleges that the firm in question decline to pay, the correct scale of wages and subsistence allowances. to their long-distance drivers and do not grant holidays with pay.
The questions at issue were debated, last year, by the South Wales Joint Board, and, following a disagreement, were submitted to the National Board. The National Board decided that, as holidays with pay had not been given, a week's wages should be paid in lieu and that subsistence allowance should be paid for long-distance drivers from July 22, 1935.
Conciliation Conference Coming ?
A suggestion has been put forward in influential circles that steps should be taken to call a meeting comprising two representatives from each of the employers' panels of the Area Conciliation Boards. It is understood that the idea is regarded favourably.
If the suggestion fructifies, the subject of wages and conditions will, no doubt, figure largely on the agenda, but it is also likely that there would be consultations on the question of rates stabilization. Following the issue of the conciliation report, similar consultations were begun in the north, and. spread to the Midlands and the south.
B20 IMPORT AND EXPORT RETURNS FOR MARCH.
The Board of Trade returns for March, 1936, show that the value of imports of commertial vehicles, cars, chassis and accessories was £522,275, which is an appreciable advance on the figure of £403,389 for March, 1935, and considerably more than double the total of £242,590 for March, 1934.
During the month, the value of exports of complete commercial vehicles was £61,695, which is also a big advance on the figure of £38,901 for March, 1935, the number of vehicles exported being 226, contrasted with 183. In the three months ended March, 656 complete commercial vehicles were exported, against 539 last year, the values being £183,237 and £128,016.
The number of commercial chassis exported was 884, compared with 957 in March, 1935, and 692 in March. 1934, the total values being £130,753, £149,535 and 298,851 respectively. The number of commercial chassis exported in the three months ended March was 3,158, a slight advance on the previous year's total of 3,054, the value of the former being £473,919 and of the latter £448,364.
A Unique Publicity Vehicle. '
One of the most striking methods of mobile publicity is to utilize a body representing either the main product of the operator or the standard form of container for it. The latter is the means employed by the Vigzol Oil Refining Co. (London), Ltd., BiltoTt House, 113, Park Street, London, WI, for its latest publicity vehicle, the body of which is built to represent two oil drums, the larger forming the cab. The chassis is a Ford with a V-8 engine. The vehicle is illustrated on this page.
INTERNATIONAL " CONTAINER " : CONFERENCE.
An International "Container" Week, organized by the Bureau International des Containers, is being held this Week (April 21-24) at Frankfort-am-Main. Over 200 delegates from 25 countries are taking part in the proceedings. Pre-, vious conferences organized by the Bureau were. held in Venice in 1931, in Rome in 1934 and in Milan Mid Paris last year.
Overladen Vehicles Rare.
" It is only on rare occasions that an overladen vehicle is now found on the streets," states Mr. G. B. Cole, chief inspector of weights and measures. Manchester, in his annual report.' The total number of vehicles weighed last year was 92 and 33 proved to he so seriously overloaded as to Call :For legal proceedings. The number of caies.Calling for prosecutions showed a decrease of 63 on the previous year.
Existing Hauliers to be Protected.
The duty of Licensing Authorities to protect existing licensed hauliers was stressed by Mr. J. H. Stirk, Fast Midland Licensing Authority, at Leicester, last ,Krjda y; when he dismissed an application from a Hinckley haulier for an additional vehicle, on the ground, that it would take business from others.
"I would like to make it quite clear that it is just as much my duty. to protect other licensed hauliers, as it is to look after applicants in the box," he said.
Lancashire Toll Bridge to be Freed.
The Minister of Transport has approved a scheme, submitted jointly by 'Birkenhead and Wallasey Borough Councils, for the reconstruction of the approaches to the bridge over Wallasey Pool, connecting the areas of the two authorities. The bridge is at present subject to a toll, and the joint authorities have entered into an agreement with the Mersey Dock and Harbour Beard to free the bridge when the reconstruction of the approaches is completed. The work is expected to take about nine months.
16 Objections Ruled Out Appeal Likely.
Objections of 16 Scottish hauliers to a licence application were ruled out of order by Mr. Henry Riches, Northern Scotland Licensing Authority, at Perth.
As liquidator for Amalgamated Scottish Utility, Ltd., Mr. Thomas Galbraith, chartered accountant, Glasgow, applied for an A licence for the 18 Vehicles which had previously been operated by the company. During the hearing, Mr. Muir Wilson, for the applicant, reduced the application to one for 14 vehicles and two trailers.
In addition to the L.M.S. and L.N.E. Railway companies, , 16 hauliers in various districts of Scotland had lodged objections, which, however, were overruled by Mr. Riches, because they were not made in the statutory form. Mr. Tom Oruiiston, for the objectors, Indicated his intention to appeal. The applicatibn was granted, as was that of Mr. A. Ferric, liquidator for Majestic Transport Co,, Kirkcaldy.