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ully Observing the Act?

are not fully satisfied that the British

.WV Transport Commission is conscientiously applying the tests required of it by the Transport Act, relating to co-ordination and efficiency," Major G. W. Hayter, 0.B.E., general manager andchief engineer of the Northern. General Transport Co.,

• Ltd., told Press representatives,at a conference last week.

"We fear that. the Commission is. out primarily to extend its empire at any coif and is merely going through the motions of complying with the Act: My companies are opposing the scheme Itemise nationalization is regarded as being detrimental to the .interest of both public and ourselves."

He also revealed for the first time what took. place between his company and the working party of the Road Transport. Executive when they met recently, and described the replies by the chairman of the party to certain questions as "woolly."

"Unless the B.T.C. can convince us that nationalization is in the interest of the public," said Major Hayter, "we shall continue to fight, whatever bait may be offered.

44,000 Vehicles Still Free "Much publicity has been given to the voluntary sale of their interest to the Commission by the Tilling and S.M.T. groups. In order that people may see the position in its true perspective; I would Mention that the number of vehicles owned by companies Already controlled by. or negotiating' with the Commission Is about 15,000 out of a total of 59,000 vehicles operating in the provinces.

"There does not have to be any scheme under the Transport Act That part which deals with road passenger transport is permissive and the tests to be applied must be those of co-ordination and efficiency, each area being reviewed on its merits. On these points we claim that the B.T.C. has no case.

Meeting with WoriOng Party

"Last month, representatives of my company met the working party, a body consisting of three' meinbers appointed by the R.T.F,. to set in motion the procedure to inaugurate a scheme under, the Act, and we had a four-hour discussion. Throughout,' the chairman was repeatedly pressed to say how the public might be expected to benefitby a nationalization scheme, but all the replies summed up 'Merely. to 'a woolly reference to *artificial boundaries, lack of eh-ordination, -and protective .fares,' without any specific instances adversely affecting I the public _ having been quoted. "The working . party was, asked whether it was pot a factthat most protective fares were .designed. for -the protection of the public, and in par,ticular the long-distance traveller, and whether the working party -did not think they ..would be, necessary under any

form of ownership. • "We pointed out Oat in London, where transport has been virtually nationalized for many -years,there are still protective fares in the shape of the Is.. minimum on the Green Line coaches. These points were not seriously disputed.

"Pressed to say why there should be a full-blooded pationalization scheme, there was no reply from the party. The Northern General representatives repeatedly questioned the party regarding what the term integration and co-ordination of road and rail' really • meant, and as to whether it was a cloak

• for a plan to level up bus fares with those of the rail. Alternatively, the party was asked what its fares policy really was.

The reply," continued Major Hayter, " might be considered rather startling. The party did not consider it necessary to have a settled fares policy at this juncture."

It was difficult, he emphasized, to understand how the working party or anyone else, could be prepanng a scheme " devised for the purpose of promoting . . co-ordination" when admittedly it had not applied its mind to the problem. ` Extra = Consultative Committees Great play had been made on the question of consultative committees which were to give members of the public more opportunity Of Making their views felt than at present existed. Major Hayter understood that the consultative committees proposed were to be additional to the statutory consultative committees laid down by the Act, • .and it appeared that the proposal was that there should be no fewer than three consultative committees.

These would be the Central Transport Users' Consultative Committee, an Area Transport Users' Consultative Committee and, finally, the extra-statutory consultative committees which were to be provided in the scheme. No doubt they would all be able to consult with one another!

At the moment, a passenger wanting to make a complaint or suggestion wrote to the traffic manager or general manager and, if he were not satisfied,

he could invoke the aid of the Licensing' Authority. Major Hayter commented: "I fancy I know which system is likely to lead 10 the best results. On satisfied passengers depends our livelihood."

In the absence of clear indication that the public would be better served by the proposed plan, it was not surprising that feeling was hardening against nation* ization. A firm front might induce the Government to Warn the:, B.T.C. that proper regard mustbe paid to local wishes, 'as provided in the'Act.

THE CAT AMONG THE PIGEONS

AJOINT meeting of the transport and parliamentary committees of Newcastle upon Tyne City Council was recently held as a result of the council's decision, by one vote, to oppose the nationalization of road passenger trans .'port in the north east. According to Alcl. J. A. Clydesdale, chairman of the parliamentary committee, no agreement was reached at the meeting and another joint meeting is to be held.

ROLLS-ROYCE OIL ENGINES IT is understood that the Rolls-Royce company is developing a series of oil engines which employs a number of parts common to the present range of commercial petrol engines. The potential output of the compression-ignition unit is 25 b.h.p. per cylinder. "'The Commercial Motor" was informed on Monday that net further details were available.

£154,000 LOSS EXPECTED

A DEPUTATION from Manchester L-1. Transport Committee is to meet Mr. James Callaghan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, to discuss the corporation's application for an increase in fares. Unless the application is granted, he will be told, the department expects to lose £154,237 this year. C-Lieensees. Not a Menace—Mr. Barnes A DDRESSING the recent annual meeting in Glasgow of the Scottish Co-operative Transport Association, Mr. Alfred Barnes, Minister of Transport, said that the Labour Government had been forced to grapple with the problem of ensuring that there was no -ruinous competition between the various transport services—a competition that would have wasted the capital .resources of the community and would have, endangered the livelihood of the vast masses of the people.

The Government had to shape and develop a policy that would enable it to consult and take into consideration local opinion and allow, the people in the different localities to shape their own transport requirements.

Already some of the early results of uniformity could be scen—increasing economy and improved services—and if the people would have just a small measure of patience and understanding, the Government would be able to bring 'together thousands' of different transport units and build up an entirely new transport ofganization. The growth in the number of C licences merely represented the return to normal post-war conditions, with • many people resuming their old businesses. It did not represent a' menace or a deliberate design to frustrate the Government's nationalization plans.

ALBION CHIEF CRITICIZES LONDON BUS QUOTA

A COMPLAINT that London—" that it already grossly overgrown city "was to get the lion's share of bus production in 1949, whilst the "cities in which the work of the nation is carried out" would have to suffer, was made by Mr. H. W. Fulton, managing director of Albion Motors, Ltd., in Glasgow, last week.

He said that London's allocation of new buses could be met only at the expense of the industrial cities. He cited this situation as an example of the controls under which the commercial vehicle industry had to work. • NEW CONDITIONS FOR BULK LIQUIDS QPECIAL terms and conditions of car

riage covering the conveyance of bulk liquids, have been issued by the Road Haulage Association. Among, others, they provide that 'a charge, unless otherwise arranged, should be calculated on the quantity or weight of the goods when received by the carrier. If, however, the quantity or weight actually received be less than that which the carrier was instructed to collect; the charges -will be cakUlated on the quantity or weight for which transport was

originally ordered, . Except in the case of bulk liquid milk, a carrier must provide 40 ft of hose for loading and unloading. If a haulier finds it impracticable to collect or deliver by the usual methods, because there is no serviceable road or adequate approach to the premises, or for other reasons, any additional expenditure incurred in carrying out alternative instructions should be charged for.

Although the carrier must take precautions to ensure that all loads are kept liquid during transit., he should not be held responsible if, through no fault of his own, the toad, or part of it, be solid on arrival.

A carrier is alsoindemnified against the expense of additional cartage, storage or steaming resulting from • his being unable to deliver a load. In • such a case, a haulier is not liable for any loss or damage caused by additional cartage, storage or steaming.

Ten minutes per ton is regarded as reasonable time for loading and unloading, The consignor or consignee is held to be liable for the cost of unreasonable detention of a vehicle,

56-I.R. INCREASE REFUSED A CASE in which Messrs. S. W Z-1 Griffiths and Son applied to the South Wales Deputy Licensing Authority for a 56-1b. increase in the unladen weight of a vehicle, and were refused this concession after a public inquiry had been held, will come before the Appeal Tribunal at Halifax House, Strand, London, W.C.2, on April 7.

The Tribunal, over which Mr. Reginald Clark, KC., will preside for the first time, will also hear an appeal by L. G. Clifton against a decision of the East Midland Deputy Licensing Authority. = There will be nine respondents, but the case is not expected to present unusual features. , LORRIES INSTEAD OF SHIPS

ACCORDING to Major TVIecallum, In. in the House of Commons last week, the future policy of David MacBrayns, Ltd., is to cease a number of its steamship calls at the less important ports in the Western Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and to introduce road services from a more central harbour. He thought that this innovation would speed up deliveries.

• Mr. Malcolm MacMillan suggested that the company wa.s "ripe for nationalization." He urged on the Government the vital importance of better roads in the Highlands and Islands.

Free Hauliers Not to be "Worn Down "

AN assurance that there was no intention of eliminating " free" hauliers by a process of attrition was given by Mr. L. W. Gupwell at the annual luncheon, last week, of the East Midlands Area of the Road Haulage Association.

Referring to the recent statement by Sir Cyril Hurcornb that a permanent liaison would exist between the British Transport Commission and the R.H.A., Mr. Gupwell said that never had there been a greater opportunity for the Association to live up to everything that the term "good will" could mean.

Mr. J. W, Fletcher, East Midland Licensing Authority, said that in his area defence permits had nearly all been changed. There had been 1,475 applications for A licences, of which 1,346 were granted, representing 4,600

vehicles. Of 4,500 B-licence applications, 3,546 had been granted, representing 6,112 vehicles. That work had necessitated 250 public inquiries.

CONSULTATIVE IDEA SPREADS

CONSIDERATION has been given by Liverpool Passenger Transport Corn-, mittee to the desirability of appointing a consultative body, consisting of representatives of the neighbouring local authorities for which the committee provides transport services. The town clerk and the transport general manager are to submit a joint report on the subject, including the possibility of consultation with representatives of the British Railways, trosville Motor Services, Ltd., and Ribble Motor Services, Ltd.

60-amp. Battery One-hand Lift

WITHIN the next few months a new VY type of alkali battery will be available in this country. The Plates will be a silver-zinc alloy. Some idea of the weight-saving thus effected may be gauged from the fact that a normal 60-artm.-capacity car battery can be conveniently carried in one hand.

The Commercial Motor" is informed by Venner Time Switches, Ltd., Beverley Way, New Malden, Surrey, the maker, that a silver-zinc battery is one-sixth the weight of any existing alkali battery and one-third that of one of the lead-acid type of comparable capacity.

Full details will appear in "The Commercial Motor" within the next few weeks.

DISPIUTE OVER TILLING DIRECTORS COMPENSATION THERE were three dissenting votes I when a. resolution to compensate the directors of _Thomas Tilling, Ltd., for loss of office was passed at a meeting of stockholders last week. , 'The dissidents held that there was no satisfactory case for making the payments.

Sir Frederick Heaton was to receive £25,000, Lord Brabazon €1,000, Lord Hacking £2,500, Mr. W. Wolsey £3,500, Mr. G. Cardwell £4,500, and Mr. S. Kennedy £1,500.

Mr. Lionel Frazer, deputy-chairman, Who presided in the absence of Sir Frederick Heaton, said that the sums proposed were the minima that should be given.

PERSONAL TOUCH DISAPPEARS " THE personal relationship which

has built up businesses is steadily being replaced by officialdom," declared Mr. James Walkers at the annual general meeting of Liverpool Cart and Motor Owners' Association (Liverpool No. 1 sub-area of the Road Haulage Association).

He said that there had been a loss of membership, because the British Transport Commission had taken over a number of concerns, and many other long-standing associations would be severed in the future.

105 CONCILIATION MEETINGS CCORDING to the annual report of Art Mr. Arthur Akers, secretary of the Western Area of the Road Haulage Association, 105 meetings of the roadrail negotiating committees have been held in the area in the past 12 months; 396 applicants have been interviewed and agreement reached in 132 cases.

Of 1,005,897 animals carried by road for the Ministry of Food in the southwestern area, only 64 were injured.

OBITUARY

WE regret to announce the death IT of MR. H. CHAPMAN, representative for India tyres in West Cheshire and North Wales, and of Ma. S. J. PAVELY, who was engaged on service work during practically the whole of his 28-year career with Henley's Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd.

Double Ration for X Coupon" Holders

OWNERS of vehicles adapted and lieensed for private, and goods purposes---those who draw '--X petrol coupons—are to get the same double Summer ration as private motorists.

A Ministry of Transport announcement says that operators wishing to take advantage or this concession' should include a request for.fuel for 540 miles of private motoring in their first applications. for fuel, which covers any complete period of 12 weeks between May 1 and November 30. The concession. applies to only one suitable vehicle used by each operator. • LONDON TRANSPORT POSTERS IN ART SHOW •

A SELECTION of original paintings PI from the many, hundreds for posters published by London Transport and the Underground group of companies, will be seen at an exhibition, "Art for 'All," to be opened by the Pine Minister at 3 p.m., on April 5, at the Victoria and Albert Musetim, Kensingtm. The public will be admitted from April 6 to June 30.

The paintings cover '40 years; many of –them were commissioned by the late •Frank OA, who advanced the 'thebry. that good ,art is good business. When the exhibition is over the pictures wili be distributed throughout Ltindon Transport's offieeS and canteens, and will be moved 'once every six months.

TEES-SIDE • BOARD v, • U.A.S.

THE Ministry of Transport has held an inquiry at Middlesbrough into plans by Tees-side Raines' Traction Board to extend its trolleybus service. from-Grangetown Market Place to the " Bull Ring," Grangetown • housing estate.. The cost will he L5,550.

The application was 'opposed by United Automobile Services, Ltd., on the ground that the transport needs of the area could be easily met by •improving the 'bus Service. For the Board it .was suggested that the present .service to the Grangetown housing estate was 'inadequate.

MEASURING VIBRATIONS •

REFERENCE to the Kelvin Vibro.graph was made by Mr. A. J. Hirst in his article, "is This the Perfect 'Engine Mounting System?" published in "The Commercial Motor" on 'February 4. For operators and

• specialist engineers, who desire to know more about this interesting device for Measuring vibrations, there is available from Kelvin Bottomley and Baird, Ltd., Kelvin Works, Basingstoke, an attractive and well-illustrated, booklet.

NEW HENLEY LONDON DEPOT

A NEW depot to replace one lost rithrough enemy action has been opened by Henley's Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd.,. at Randolph Avenue, Maids Vale, London, N.9. The technical service department, which has been operating from Gravesend and Caledonian Road, will once more be combined at the new London depot.

A32 I.R.T.E. APRIL MEETINGS DLANS of the Institute of Road 1 Transport Engineers for April are as follows:—

London Centre: " Pistons and Rings," by J. L. Hepworth. B.Sc., Royal Society. of Arts, John Adam Street, .W.C.2.,

April 21, 6.10 p.m. • .

Midlands Centre: "Petrol Injection for Road Vehicles," by W. E. Nicholls, Crown Inn, Broad Street, Birmingham, April 22, 7 p.m.

North-western Centre: Annual general meeting, Engineers' Club, Manchester, April 6, 7.30 p.m.

North-eastern Centre: Annual general meeting, Hotel Metropole, Leeds, April /1, 7 p.m.

Scottish Centre: Annual general meeting, Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders, Glasgow, March 28,7.30 p.m.

*• Road-Rail Traffic • Survey in Glasgow.

To relieve traffic • congestion in Glasgow at peak hours, and to secure a more effective co-ordinated use of the railway, system, a fact-finding survey is. tb be made of–the existing transport resources in the city.

The first step to solve Glasgow's transport problems was announced on March 18 'in an official statement issued after the first meeting of the working • party constituted at a recent conference. The working party represents the corporation, British Transport Commission, Railway Executive and the Department of Health for Scotland.

The statement, added that the investigation would form the basis of a possible inquiry of wider scope, which would have as its aiirn the developritent of a co-ordinated transport system making full and efficient use of all the transport resources available in the city. It -wouid enable the parties concerned to consider new services and new facilities planned in direct relationship to development projeos which Glasgow Corporation would be putting in hand in the, next few years.

The situation in outside areas, which were at present served by private bas companies, would be taken into account in devising improvements.

HELP FOR THE OVERSEAS FARMER

THE story of Britain's _achievements in the field of mechanized farming is pow being told in a new export journal, 'British Farm. Mechanization," just published by Temple Press Ltd., pub. fishers of "The Commercial Motor."

Planned to acquaint overseas buyers . with the wide range of 'British farm machinery available, and to provide a means for the exchange of information between one territory and another this new journal has an exclusively overseas circulation. '

' The first issue contains article's on disc ploughs and a. new British built crawler tractor, and a survey of present research and devpliapateat work at the National Institute of Agrijujtural Engineering. A high standard of printing and produetion has-,been attained.

SIMMS ACQUIRES NEW INJECTOR RIGHTS

QN March 11, ." The Commercial Motor" referred to a patent No. 611,243 for an oil-engine injection system, the chief feature being the hydraulic timing and actuation of the injectors. We are informed that Simms Motor Units, Ltd., Oak Lane, East Finchley, London, N.2, has acquired • the rights in this system. • AXE ON BRISTOL LIFTED A THREATENED reduction from 850 to 600 in the annual outputof Bristol chassis at Brislington is not to take place, the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., having won its dispute with the Ministry of Supply, Major F. I. Chapple, general manager, said last week that the works was capable of producing 1,000 chassis a year.

Child Outgrowing.

Parent

• . . .'to theREFERRTNG ethat the cost. of Leyland double-deck buses bought recently tad been given. as' k55',1:11)0,. M.t, H: • E; Kfieale; a Share-. tiOlelersaid at:the:Mini-n.1 meeting of theiSleof..Maa:..Raftway,. Ltd., that the represented.:Iby.'.-Islee'Of • Man Road Services. Ltd., was outgrowing its

parent,. the railway.. '

. .He'suggested. that: the tithe': had.come when the 'subsidiary; company running the buses shouldbe-given a.definite part in the balance sheet of the Isle of Man Railway. He saw no good reason why• they should not both be On the same

footing in the one undertaking.

Mr. I. H. Cowin said that the shareholders, of whom he was One. were 'entirely in the dark concerning the Road Services. The railway was bound to dwindle because 18 new buses had recently been bought • to run in opposition to it.

Replying, the chairman, Mr. R. Q. Hampton, said there were difficulties in the way of amalgamating the two cornpanieS. The railway was complete owner of the bus company, in which debentures were held other than by the railway company. In the first instance, the object of the rail holding ii the bus company. was to , remove _oppositiofl.. front other bus operators and to establish the concern as a: co-Ordinating factor in helping the.railway. The introduction of double-deck bases to the island last year had proved a great success and had eased traffic problems. That courageous policy had been fully justified. • Reeently 18 more Leylands had arrived omthe_island and would he put into commission as early as possible.: the railway and the. bus services together provided .a Comprehensiye. transport., system: ..•

'DEAL . . INvERNEss.:.moteit.: agents,. Messrs.

Fraser. -.been Fraser. -.been

acquired e by the; ...Sales • and Sereicceorganization at aefigure.'-'Whi.eh is.eedeseribedeyas ee'eaWay-.' Under the fl,00,000. quoted-by a' Scottish. Morning

• paper.!' They will Continue to hold VauXhall and . Bedford agencies, and other makes represented by S.M.T. in Scotland. ,

'A 'NEW. IN-LINE BORER •A.PROTOTYPE in-line borer by Cuthbert Machine Tools:. Ltd., High Street, -Guildford, Surrey, which was shown at the Commercial Motor Show last year and has since been unproved in a number of featureS, is now in production. Known-. as the Cuthbert Major . line-boring machine, the drive-head is fully 'universal. This avoids the necessity of •accurately positioning the work, which may 113 laid on the bed in any position and the drive-head suitably adjusted.

Hardened steel sleeves support the boring bar, and as these sleeves revolve with the bar, the latter is, in consequence, :protected from wear. All the gears are suipported on ball bearings. • By the use of .a .micrometer . jig, the .. setting of boring tools is simplified, and when once a tool is set, it can he transferred from one title in the bar E.:6 another without need for resetting.

The tool can deal with bores ranging fron-r,24 ins, to a maximum of ‘q• ins. without -need for resetting the .micrometer. The :micrometer jig can he quickly altered to cover larger ckameters,, to which there is no reasonable.,limit.

"NATIONALIZATION WILL INCREASE ORDERS" " IMATIONALIZATION of transport III is likely to increase the number of orders received for Carrirnore vehicles, due to ptirchases by private concerns who will find it more profitable to operate their own transport," says Mr. H. R. Flood harm, chairman and managing directior of Steel • Barrel, Scarnmells and Associated ": engineers. Ltd., in his annual report.

He complains of : the difficulty of finding adequate trading capital caused by "the punitive scale of taxation levied on the company's profits." He also refers to the problem of replacing old 'plant at present high prices. .

The group comprises' C. Scarnmell and Nephew, Ltd.. Carrimore Six Wheelers. Ltd , and the Steel Barrel Co„ Ltd.

M..P.T.A. Conference • • in June

THE next' annual conference of the Municipal Passenger Transport Association is to be held at Portsmouth. The provisional programme is as follows:—June 14: Informal reception by: president. June 15: Business meeiings and evening reception by the lord Mayor. June 16: Business meetings. ' annual: dinner and dance. June 17: Morning excursion.

Althiaugh membership of the Association is .confined to local authorities operating Toad passenger transport and business meetiags -are • restricted to them; facilities to participate in the social side will, as usual, be afforded to representatives of • Manufacturers and suppliers' having business connections with the membership.

A conference fee of f..I Is. is payable for each such representative for complete or partial attendance, but there is no fee in respect of ladies accompanying him. Dinner tickets for representatives will be 1:1 Is. each person.

S.A. RAILWAYS BUILDS COACH

CONSTRUCTED to a specification ‘.....prepared by 'railway "engineers and specially designed to withstand Smith African weather and road conditions, a new 25-seater touring coach has been built by the South African Railways and Harbours Board. The engine has been imported. The coach has a double transparent roof with roller blinds between the two skins. There is lavatory accommodation at the rear. The'. vehicle will be used on tours in forest and mountainois country.

BONUSES FOR SAFE DRIVING

Spery drivers employed by Barclay :Perkins and Co., Ltd., recently received bonuses for safe driving under a scheme proposed by Mr. H. J. Woodgates,• the transport manager. Two men have completed 22 and 23 years, • respectively,, without accident. Major R. E. Barclay, who Made, the presentations, gave similar awards to drivers engaged on .vehicles supplied by Thomas Tilling, Ltd.