OPINIONS and QUERIES
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ADVANTAGES OF GROUPING LONG-DISTANCE HAULIERS
DEFERRING to the article by Mr. E. B. Howes, IX" What Local Grouping Implies," -which was published in your journal dated May 4, 1 am indeed pleased to observe, in your following issue, that Mr. Harris accepted the challenge handed out' to both of us, and replied suitably in his article " Co-operation in tongdistance Haulage."
Until recently, there has been no equivalent alternative to local grouping to which hauliers cculd resort in the interests of their future welfare. Their reaction to this movement took place at a time when. the future of the industry in general was in a• complete state of obscurity—indeed, it has really' not got much beyond this pointat present. The local group leaders, realizing the state of affairs, found the time ripe for advising 'hauliers to become members.
It is agreed that in the absence of opposition many rallied around these groups, clutching at what they may have imagined to be the last straw. Far be it from me, however, to suggest that in doing so they made a false move. On the contrary, they acted as one might have expected them to do, fully understanding that representations made by a large body would have far greater effect than if made by individuals. Now, however, an alternative of equal importance has presented itself in long-distance grouping, which must surely be of particular interest to those operators largely confined to that sphere of the industry. :It should benefit especially the haulier of small or moderate size, who, individually, would not be in a position to counteract any unhealthy element in competition which he might encounter. In addition, by joining a long-distance group, he will enjoy many facilities, such as specialized rates, equality of traffic distribution, better garaging, accommodation at foreign bases, improved welfare for his .driver and so on.
He should thus be in a position to offer his clients unequalled service, which should be of the utmost importance to the trader.
I do not foresee, arising from this, a class war within the industry, and I think that Mr. Howes is not 'examining the scheme in its true perspective.
If I imagined that -Mr. Howes's book, "A Commonsense Plan for Road Transport," would afford me increased knowledge of the industry, I would have no hesitation in accepting his kind offer, but, taking his recent contributions into consideration, I doubt if the book would prove sufficiently interesting for me to finish it G. L. BOTTOM...EY, M.I.T.A. Blackburn.
GOOD WISHES TO THE I.R.T.E. FROM THE B.L.A.
MUILL you be so good as to forward to me a form of II' application for membership of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers, also full details of the qualifications required. I wish you great success. with this new body. I have been receiving " The Commercial Motor " fairly regularly out here for almost a year, and would like to take this opportunity of thanking you for the excellent articles published in it, which have kept me and others so closely in touch with road-transport
matters at home. B. WALLER (F./Lt., R.A.F.). B.L.A. BUENOS AIRES CONCERN REPLIES TO A “C.M." APPEAL
REFERRING to your' appeal for "Copies from %Readers for the Forces" on page 4 of your issue dated February 2, we wish to inform you that we would gladly send you our copies for the purpose mentioned by you, but we have made k a practice, since the war started, of handing over all such publications, once -we are through with them, 'to the shipping people here, for distribution to temporary members of their crews, such as gunners,, who no doubt have an interest in technical articles and who may be connected with motor road transport in their ordinary life.
A. G. PRUDEN AND CO., S.R.L. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
[We certainly do not wish to deprive any readers in the Merchant Navy from benefiting by the receipt of any journals, including " The Commercial Motor." Our exchange scheme is really intended more for operation by readers at home. At the same time, we greatly appreciate
• this note from this British concern in the Argentine, especially as it indicates the attention which is given abroad to matter which appears in this journal and the notice which is paid td such requests. We would, however, point out that we do not want copies sent to us. Our arrangement is for readers' to post them direct to the Service men concerned, for which purpose we supply the necessary naines and addresses. The scheme is growing in popularity and has resulted in the founding of many friendehips between senders and receivers; in fact, some of the latter have visited their benefactors during leaves. Other journals have followed the example set by us.—En.]
-A CHAMPION OF LONG-D1STANCE GROUPING
-rHE article by Mr. E. B. Howes in "The Commercial A Motor," dated May 4, certainly calls for a reply.
Surely he has not deluded himself into believing that because many operators did not rush into print they necessarily agreed with him?
I would have expected that his experience in the industry would have conveyed to him that there are many opinions, many -views, and that specialist though he may' be in certain matters, he has quite a way to go yet before he gets beyond criticism.
Before inviting Mr. Bottomley to take another step in the "ladder of learning " he should be quite certain' that his own learning is beyond reproach. Possibly if he had given his booklet the title "My Idea of a Common-sense Plan for Road Transport," that could have been accepted as a. more appropriate title.
Mr. Howes has, of course, -misconstrued the position. As a man with a life experience in transport, I can tell him definitely that I have no Use for local grouping, but the idea of this new scheme is mutual help for longdistance operators. The number of members-is strictly limited, and although Mr. Harris is chairman, let use at once assure Mr. Howes that Mr. Harris is subservient to a healthy and fully intelligent committee. I can assure him that all ,feel there is a mutual benefit. I, personally, rather like the petition that " H.M.F." is putting forward concerning the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, but I must say that, from my experience in the transport world, thereis very poor hope of this Act being repealed.
Incidentally, I would like Mr. Howes to enumerate any national benefits to the industry for which " H.M.F." can claim credit.
Although I did not agree with all that Mr. Bottornley said in his first article, I was surprised to find Mr. Howes attacking him as he did.
The reference by Mr. Howes as to whether a group is actually legal calls for the query: What does he know that has been done that is Meg-al?
There will be no need for the Ministry of War Transport to give its blessing or otherwise. If Mr. Howes could only give the other fellow credit for even elementary knowledge, this small point that he mentions would not have arisen. H. L. WALKER: Stockton-on-Tees.
OBSERVATIONS FROM A SERVICEMAN IN ITALY
MAY I take this opportunity of thanking you and the sender for the issues of your journal which have been forwarded to me. Perhaps he would like to note my new address, which is 272 Squadron, C.M.F.
• I particularly liked the article, " A Fairy Story for Young and Old," in the issueldated November 17, and others concerning vehicle taxation.
It appears that while we are away the thin edge of the wedge of nationalization is being hammered home, until it looks as if private enterprise may be frozen out. That would, indeed, be a traged3r.
We have learnt a good deal while we have been in Italy. • Here the Fascisti constituted the' monopoly and had all the power. The ordinary Italian had to become a Fascist, otherwise he was not allowed to work and, consequently, could not eat. Those who even then refused were carried off to Germany to forced labour camps. Many are beginning to return from these, and they tell some very sad stories; sometimes it is difficult to believe them until one finds that they are true.
Some of the vehicles we have captured are most interesting and often novel in their design, and we can learn a good deal from them. Take, for example, the oil-engined_Fiat. This has an ingenious starting device in conjunction with the handle. It is something like an inertia type, and geared. By using it, one man alone can start a big oil engine from cold. He pulls out a halfcompression lever, turns the handle with the gear in low, operates another small lever, and thus, engages the starter high gear. This does not require much physical effort. The road wheels also are cleverly made in three pieces, and carry 12.50 by 10 tyres. Changing a tyre on this type of wheel is quite a simple task.
So far as cik-rilian transport is concerned, the tyre situation is desperate. Most of the tyres are "bald," and in the case of a blow-out, a liner is bolted into position after drilling through cover and liner.
C.M.F. L.A.C. J. E. CROMPTON,
FAILURE OF HYDRAULIC.BRAKE WASHERS AM wondering if any of your readers have had trouble with hydraulic brakes on their vehicles through defects developing in the rubber washers of the master cylinder.
If they have the matter should be brought to the notice of the manufacturer's at once, as the peculiarity of the failure seems to be that it gives no warning, the washers suddenly giving way.
It would appear that the trouble is caused by the action of the special fluid on the type of synthetic rubber of which the washers are now made.
Clutton. L. PRITCHARD.
ANOTHER AUSTIN SEVEN TRACTOR CO NVERS1O N
WE were very much interested to read in your issue V, dated April 20, page 219, the article " From Austin
Seven to Farm Tractor," and would like to offer congratulations to Messrs. Pratt and Menzies. Our undertaking converted one of these cars in a similar way some three years ago. It is still working, and is now in the possession of Mr. D. Dickson, surgeon, Upsall Grange, Nunthorpe, Yorks. A. SANO.
(For Commercial Motor Service.) Middlesbrough.