Transport Managers Discuss Losses of Goods
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AN important subject of discussion when the Road Transport. (Goods) Managers Association met at the Royal Hotel, Leicester, on January 8 was " Pilferages, Losses in Transit, and their Prevention." At a December meeting on the same subject it was realized that the serious proportions of these troubles which appeared to be developing, called for a much closer liaison with the police forces, and members at the later meeting were, therefore, pleased to welcome representatives of Leicgster County and City Police. Many suggestions were discussed Some pointed to the help consignors could give by making certain that packages were sound, coriectly labelled (any old labels being removed), and clearly consigned. On the consignees' part, the checking of inland goods at the time of delivery, and early natification of any complaint, were essential, COritinued eareful Checking must also be practised by the haulier and his staff. His vehicles must be safely parked when this is needed, and drivers who atop for food and accommodation 'must use such places of repute as are available in these difficult times.
Criticism was made as to the lack of safe parking facilities. The number ot cases occurring when the vehicle and its load have been stolen, gave rise' to serious concern.
It Was mentioned that the railway companies provide their own police force. for internal matters, and as the present conditions of affairs was a matter of national importance, it was to he hoped that the new National Road Transport Federation would consider the organization of a similar force suited to its particular needs.
Transport managers could improve matters if they practised complete frankness when giving references to other hauliers in connection with the services of past employees. (This miglit prove difficult, owing to --the danger of libel, and care would have to be exercised.—ED.3 When loss .or pilferage was suspected, slin early intimation should be given to the police of
every district concerned. • • -.The benefits that members have had from these meetings have proved outstanding, and show the need for closer collaboration of transport managers in other districts, to discuss their own particular problems. HALIFAX ASSOCIATION PLANS LINK WITH R.H.A.
DEVELOPMENT of the 1Vest Riding (Leeds) Area of the Road Haulage Association was advanced by decisions at last week's special general meeting of members of Halifax. Transport Owners' Association, when Mr. J. Wild, chairman of the Halifax organization, presided over a large attendance.
First, the meeting unanimously confirmed the executive committee's decision that application be made for Halifax to become a sub-area of the R.H.A., oil the understanding that adequate financial support will be forthcoming.
Secondly, a resolution, which was unanimously adopted, authorized the executive committee to wind up the affairs of the Halifax Association, if deemed expedient, and to decide as to the disposal of the balance of funds.
Councillor Holdsworth. *11 o addressed the meeting as chairman of the West Riding (Leeds) Area of the R.H.A., said that the Halifax Transport Owners' Association—of which he was a founder-member—was one of the oldest operators' associations in the , country, having been formed 35 years ago. Always active, it had served a useful purpose, but having regard to changed conditions he suggested that the time had arrived when, in the interests of service, progress and security, it should be wound.up for the purpose of forming a Halifax Sub-area of the R.H.A.
Mr. Harry Clark, the R.H.A.'s area secretary, remarked that here was an opportunity for the members of the Halifax Association "to do the big thing," which would be in the interests both of themselves and hauliers nationally. He promised all possible assistance from the R.H.A. area organiration in efforts to increase membership in the Halifax district.
LEEDS MUNICIPAL TRANSPORT FACING DEFICIT
A DEFICIT of £45,000 on Leeds Cor
poration passenger-transport operations during the financial year ending March 31 next, notwithstanding a substantial increase in revenue, is foreshadowed in revised estimates which the passenger transport committee approved last week. This estimated deficiency i_s mainly accounted for by increases in the cost of labour, materials and electrical energy. It is computed that traffic revenue will total £1,528,000, as against £1,470,720 in the previous year.
If the M.O.W.T. gives a favourable decision on the corporation's recent application for authority to increase fares because of higher costs, no financial benefit will be felt by the undertaking during the current year.
The estimated cost of repairs and maintenance work deferred because of war-time conditions is now in the region of £500,000. A reserve fund earmarked for renewals amounts to £107.000, but it is expected that this year's deficit will have to be met out of -this reserve, as was the 227,000 deficit in the previous financial year.
Personal Pars
M. FRANK H. Dlyrsos, 01 Frank 11. Dutscm, Ltd., the ' Leeds concern of commercial-vehicle specialists, has been elected chairman of the Leeds Section of the Motor Agents' Association.
MR. ROBERT A. ASTLEY. of Burnley, awarded_ his B.Sc. (Tech.) in mechanical engineering at Manchester University, has been appointed assistant mechanical engineer to the Lobitos Oil
Co. in Peru. •
MR. HAROLD ELJ-I
has relinquished his appointment as Director of Transport (Middle East Supply Centre), Cairo, and, has been released by the Ministry of War Transport to resume duty with Pickfords,. Ltd.
MR. E. E. BEN WELL has been appointed manager of the replacement division of Specialloid, Ltd., and takes up his duties as a headquarters' executive at Friern Barnet, London, N.12, on February 1. He is at present the company's Midland area manager and engineer.
MAJOR H. If. CRAWFURti, A.F.C., vice-president of the National Road Transport Federation, and former M.P. for West Walthamstow, is in a nursing
home, following an operation. His many friends in the road-transport industry and elsewhere will be pleased to know that he is making satisfactory progress.
MR. G. J. JOINT has resigned his position as chief assistant with Rubber Control, where, for the past three years, he has been in charge of the salvaging of waste rubber and the production of the reclaimed variety. . He has now been appointed to the board of Orchard (Tyres and Accessories), Ltd., a wellknown distributor in Birmingham, also to the board of its subsidiary company, Rubber By-Products (Wanvickshire)', Ltd., at Olton, which has for the past three years operated as a leading wasterubber merchant in the Midlands. 'Since leaving the -R.F.C. in 1919, Mr. joint has been engaged solely -in the tyre trade, first as assistant secretary, sales representative, and advertising manager with the Goodyeai concern, and after 1931 as sales representative and district manager with the Firestone Corn pa ny.
Miss ELIZABETH G. BASSETT, Of East Twickenham, a clerk in London Transport's traffic department at Manor House, has retired after what mist he a unique record among women-48 years 8 months' service. The whole of her business life has been connected with transport. She began in May, 1896, as an L.G.O.Co. ticket-clerk, when London was served by horsedrawn buses.
MR. C. C. BATESON has taken charge of A.E.C. sales activities throughout Scotland, and is working from the company's sales and spares depot at $43, St, Vincent-Street, Glasgow. He joined the company in December, 1927, and worked in the stores audit department lor one year, after which he was appointed spares.stores salesman. uatil he joined the R.A.S.C. in September, 1940. He left the Sevices in December last, with the rank of major.
MR. E. L. PAYTON, chairman of the Xustin MOtor Co., Ltd., has accepted the invitation of the Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund to act as president for a fourth term. Although the Fund progressed reasonably well before his presidency, it is not too much to say that Mr. Payton has infused it with new life. He has increased its membership by 20 per cent., also its financial' resources—in other words, its power to relieve distress in these trades—which have been improved by no less than 30 per cent. The Fund is, therefore, to be congratulated on retaining the services. of such an efficient leader.
MAJOR ROLAND T. SMITH may hardly
be recognized by some people by referring to him in this way. Actually.
I. however, he is the Officer Commanding the 2,051 (London) H.G. M.T. Coy., and last Friday we attended the standdown supper, at Camberwell, of this unit. The Commanding Officer, COLONEL ALAN SIMPSON, and the second in command, MAJOR J. F. E. Pye, J.P., at headquarters, Were also present. Many of the men are in the Pye group of companies and others arc bus and tram drivers belonging to London Transport. Major Smith is, of course, the chief engineer of the Pye group, and, apart from his considerable technital qualifications, he is an inveterate " leg-puller," whilst being clever at sleight of-hand. On this occa; Mon, he added to his reputation by staging an excellent thought-reading entertainment in whkh,he was assisted • 'by. LIEUT: D. FAMES, -who is referred to elsewhere in this issue.
EARNINGS OF UNITED 'SERVICE TRANSPORT CO, SHOW ADVANCE
IN the year ended September 30 last, 1 the gross profit of United Service Transport Co.. Ltd., was £40,646, the comparable figure for the previous year being £38,704. The net profit, before taking into account depreciation and War damage, came out at £24,106, against £21,498. The 8 per cent, preference shares receive an extra 2 per cent, for the year, and the dividend on the ordinary shares totals 13,614 per cent. These payments have been regu: farly maintained for a number of years, except in 1942, when the preference shares received their fixed dividend and a similar amount was paid on the ordinary shares.
SERVIS RECORDERS ON WAR WORK
DURING the past few years Servis Recorders, Ltd., 19, London Road, Gloucester, of which Mr. T. V. Redston is the well-known and respected managing director, has supplied some 2,000 Servis recorders to .various Government Departments for use on vehicles operated by them. It is understood that further orders for large numbers of these instruments are in contemplation.
The company has gained an excellent reputation for the quality of its pro-. ducts which it produces .not only for road-transport vehicles, but for locomotives and aeroplanes, whilst time recoiders can be supplied for many classes of machinery.
'UNIT. CONTROLLERS DINE AND
LAST week we attended a most enjoyable dinner, dance and cabaret arranged by Unit Controllers of 5. Div, M.0 W.T. Road Haulage Organization.
There were many well-known guests representative of the haulage industry. The chairman i-'as Mr. H. T. Dutfield, and after the Wel toast and that of 1-I.M. Forces, the toast of the chairman was proposed by Mr. \V. W. Foster. He referred to his work as a member ot various committees, also to his membership of the Central Wages Board. In this connection, he humorously asked hint to do something for the " poor and .distressed " unit controllers.
Mr. Dutfield, replying, said that they were all servants of the M.O.W.T. This applied both to unit controllers and controlled undertakings. It was a huge scheme, and it was obvious from the start that there would he considerable trouble to overcome. Whether the scheme was good or bad-, this was not the time to criticize. It certainly had one merit—it had brought them all together.
In what we understand was a maiden speech, Mr. D. Faires gave the toast of the ladies. It was an excellent effort, well phrased and delivered, and appeared to be much appreciated by them. He saidwe all owed them a debt of gratitude for their patience and. fortitude in dealing with the many and mysterious forms sent out by the M.O.W.T. The reply was made by Miss Dora Hatfield.