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News of the Week

MORE ON A.R.O. EXTRAORDINARY MEETING A.LETTER from a' London member of A.R.O., which arrived too late for inclusion amongst our " Opinions," refers to the Extraordinary Meeting of

A.R.O. , The writer says that the beading, " Much Ado About What? " was apparently our own. This is correct. He also says that the report of the meeting appear* to have been supplied hy a member of the staff of A.R.O. It actually came in an official communication from that body.

He suggests that we obtain a further report, ' and that we should do • the industry a great service in publishing what actually occurred at the meeting, plus the opinion ofthe majority .of those present, who, he Says, appeared to be incensed at the way the meeting was conducted. A challenge of a vote of no confidence in the chairman was ignored, and the abrupt dosing of the meeting stopped an avalanche of questions.

In his opinion. .the exclusion of counsel showed a lack of sporting instinct and eyed fair play, as the Council had its own legal adviser. The latter's domination of the proceedings, not the least of the chair, made this correspondent think that the Council's position was desperate, and that there was something to hide. The final disclosure of a secret minute book was also disquieting, and having regard to the circumstances, if Mr. Kirby is collecting any more signatures for another such meeting.he wilt obtain this member's support and, perhaps, that of many hundreds of others. He adds,

. incidentally, that full details of honorariums paid to people by A.R.O. during the past two years should form the first subject on the agenda.

PROMOTING UNITY IN THE INDUSTRY As -chairman of the Metropolitan Area, Mr. J. F. E. Pye, J.P., A.M.Inst.T., F.LA.C., who presided at a joint meeting of the Metropolitan and South-Eastern Areas . of Associated Road Operators. held at the Central Hall, Westminster, on March' '18, was supported by Mr. Richardson, chairman ofthe. South-Eastern. Area, Mr, ,Janes, vice-chairman; Metrdpolitan Area and chairman of that Area's ancillary section, Mr. Eric Taylor, chairman, Metropolitan Hauliers' Sectional Board, and Mr, R. W. Sewill, M.A., director and secretary of the Association.

In his capacity as chairman of the Finance Panel of the S.J.C., entrusted with the whole of the financial arrangements an behalf of the industry for the Government 'Scheme for controlling long-diStance road transport, Mr. Pye gave a brief survey of the position up to date, and then welcomed Messrs. . Richardson and Janes, who were members of the Road Transport Organiza

tion Joint Conferenre. stated :that the. purpose Of this meeting was, to explain the general organization and to obtain from the two areas their reactions to the Scheme. '

Mr, 'Richardson, .in a forceful and excellent speech, clearly outlined the sttnation in great detail, and both he and Mr. Sewill answered many questions, all of which, as the chairman remarked at the conclusion of the meeting. had been most constructive.

Mr. Janes made a short speech on the need for unity and pledged his• section of the industry whole-heartedly in support of the document, he looked forward to many years of harmony in the new Federation.

From the body of the titan, the following resolution was passed unanimously and with acclamation:— , " The proposed organization of the road transport industry was long over1 due, but was one of the greatest steps forward we had yet produced, and it was hoped that it would be put into operation very stiortry."

CHIEF ENGINEER APPOINTED.

Ma. R., E. DUNHILL was recently appointed chief engineer to the Lincolnshire Road Car Co„. Ltd. Previous to this, he was for three and a half years kt Bedford with the Eastern National Company, in the position of area engineer.

INST. OF T. SEEKS PUBLICATIONS ON TRANSPORT

THE library of the Institute of Transport is short of many volumes of transport periodicals, particularly those: issued previous to 1927, and it is suggested that before such publications are sent away for salvage„ details should be communicated to the Institute, 15. Savoy Street, London, W.C.2, in case they May be required.

IDENTIFICATION MARKS ON PRODUCER-GAS BUSES

IT is provided by the Road Vehicles (Regiatration and Licensing) (Amendment) Provisional Regulations, 1943, that, for the duration of the war, no identification' 'mark need he exhibited on the back 'of a gas-producer trailerdrawn by a public-service vehicle, if the mark on -the beck of the drawing vehicle is so fixed that its lower edge, when the vehicle is unladen, is` not Tess than 6 ft. 3 ins, from ground 'level. .

ENGINEERS' WAGES INCREASED THE. engineering unions have had some success in their wage claim before. the National Arbitration Tribunal. The award is a consolidation of £1 of the bonus in the basis rates of plain-time and piece-rate workers; fis, a week addition to the bonus of plain-time workers (thus raising it to 21s. 6d. per week). "The bones of pieee'rateworkers will be 13s. 6d.

A good workmah should be able to earn 274 per cent, over the basis' rateS in -the award, excluding, the national bonus...At the same time, Merit rates aivarded to time workersof special worth are, to beentaintained. "Where workers are already' more highly paid; the award must not reduce the rates.

HAULAGE UNITS IN THE GOVERNMENT SCHEME

ABURTHER list -of road haulage units which commenced operations during March, A943, hasbeen issued.4 'The particulars" given are: Area, uuit number,, unit controller -(in most cases) and address Breektneouaen 9Q5, cfo Hanson and floldsworth (Birmingham), Ltd„ Pitney Street, Vauxhall, Birmingham. HUDDERSFIELD: 2T3, G. Silleurn, clea France and -Brook, Grimble, Slaithwaite, Nr. Huddersfield. • Htere.: .2R3; cfci Holdeworth and Hanson (Hull), Ltd., Transport House, Clarence Street, Hull. Liticor;N: 3T4, l. H. Davies, cio B. and G. Transport, Wood Street„ Peterborough. Oxeoeue: 6R1, A. G. Ludlow, e/o Charles Scatts Road Service, Ltd., Lincoln House, Turi Street, Oxford, SALISBURY: 7S2, J. Lampard, clo J. Lampard, West Harnham, Salisbury. SwaersEa: 852, c/o S. J. Jeffery. Ltd., Glentworth, Upper Killay, Nr. Swansea.

There have also been certain amendtnents to the list given in our issue' • dated March 12:—EDINBURGH, 11R1, substitute R. Lawson for j. Duncan. HuDDERsrrELD, 211, insert Unit Controller., E. J. Moorhouse; 2T2, insco t Unit-Controller; D. Holdsworth. Le;Eres, 2Q8, substitute J. Ormondroyd for W.'Burrill.• NEWCASTLE, IQ, correct address should be Transport Depot„ Derte Buildings, Wallsend-on-Tyrie. SEEFFIELD, 252, substitute J. F. Coulson for H, Grocock; 253, substitute . H. Cliff for W. Younger, WARRINGTON -10S4, read Feamhead for Tearnhead.

PLAN HOUSING IN RELATION TO TRANSPORT

AN interesting statement on 'housing and planning has been issued by the Town and Country Planning Associaeion., 13, Suffolk Street, Pall Mall,

London, Wt. The object is to emphasize the urgent need for an announcement on the policy regarding the planning of boo sing before the arrival of the enormous demand which is bound to occur immediately the war ends, and Which must not find us unprepared.

It is pointed out that unless a clear lead on this /patter be given now, there is grave danger that the widespread hopes • aroused by the opportunities afforded by the blitz conditions will he .disappointed, aird that the 1919.19 etturse of development is ''likely to he resumed.

,The Minister of Health has requested ,loc'al Authorities to .acqaire sites at once and .to go ahead with programmes for their first year's building, . but it is claimed that they have been 'given no guidance, and this means that, in practice. the largest cities will prepare the biggest housing schemes;2_,other.s. for public works and ancillary services will folloW, and the whole disastrour process of increasing the concentration of businesses and people. in these citit;.3 will tie recommenced and will 'reit easilyhe 1-versc.d.

We are in full accord with " 015 demand for a proper `and early policy. because road transport mist receive consideration to the 'greatest possible extent.

MUNICIPAL BUS DEPARTMENT TO SET UP NURSERIES GLASGOW S municipal transport depariment is to provide war-time nurseries, near two of its depots, for the adcommodatibn of the young children of conductresses and other women employees. In a report to the transport committee, Mr f. R. L. Fitzpayne, general manager of the department, stated that it would he in the _interests of' the department, from the point of view of recruiting and retaining female labour, to have nurseries made available in close proximity to the depots. The nurseries will be situated near the Govan and Langside depots, and arrangements are being made to proceed with the'

beheine.

HAULIER FINED FOR WAGES UNDERPAYMENTS

" THE Ministry regards this as a bad case of its kind," commented Mr.

A. 13. Roebuck, prosecuting for the Ministry of 'Labour, at Blackburn, when Mr. John Parleington, 26, Hardman Street, Blackburn, a haulier, was fined £10 in each of three cases for not paying the statutory rate of wages to ' three of his employees. He was also fined 40s. . for failing to keep the required records of wages paid, and a further 40s, fornot exhibiting the requisite posters as required by the Act_ He was also ordered to pay the men :£42, .£62, and 237 respectively, arrears due to them.

Mr. George Partrington, a partner .in the firm of Messrs. J. and G. Parkington, was ordered to pay the costsin similar cases against him.

TRANSPORT IN HISTORY OF WAR-TIME ADMINISTRATION WITH the object of compiling -a 17 record hi the development of wartime administration Of Government Departments,_ a number of appointments' has bee made of historians under arrangetnents concerted generally_ by the Historical Section of the War Cabinet Office, formerly of the Committee of Imperial Defence. The Ministry of War Transport is among 15 Government Departments covered by • these arrangements. This information was given by Mr. Churchill in the House last week to Mr. De Here.

A.R.O. SUB AREA DISCUSSES NEW HAULAGE SCHEME' AST week, the annual general meeting of the Warwick and Learnington Sub Area of A.R.O. was held, when the main items under discussion werethe Government Haulage Scheme and the organization of the industry.

Officials for the year 1943-44 were elected as follow:—Chairman, Mr. R. G, Pritchard, Welleshourne; vicechairman, Mr. C. Blake, Loxley; delegates, to . the West Midland Area, Messrs., E. W. Watts, Sutton Coldfield, and -W. Bishop, Long Itchington; ' deputy delegates, Messrs. T Wise, Warwick, and P. T. Brooks, Leamington Spa.

GUIDE TO EXPORT TRADE ' PROBLEMS

THE export traLle presents many problems, There is, of course, little to be done in this direction to-day, but to those who may. later, be participating, we recommend a useful little book entitled " Guide to the Mechanics of Export Trade," published at .5s. (postage 3d.) by the Institnte of Export, Royal Empire Society Building, Northumberland Avenue, London, 1,V.C.2. In addition to the information it contains, each chapter is followed by test questions, which should render the book useful to instructors and ex a miners.

TOO MUCH BRITISH PETROL GOING TO SPAIN?

AN allegation made by Mr.' S. 0. Davies in Parliament, last week, that abnormal quantities of petrol were Tieing imported from this country into Spain was repudiated by Mr. Dingle Foot, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Economic Warfare.

Imports of all kinds of oil, including 'petrol, he said, were carefully regulated by a system of quotas designed to ensure that, whilst Spain could obtain sufficient oil for her essential needs., 110

surplus could be accumulated. This system had' been in operation for the past two and a half years, and there had been no increase in the permitted late of imports.

During the first six months of 1942, however, shipments of the quota amounts were delayed, pending a fresh

• investigation into the level of Spanish oil stocks and allegations of leakage to the enemy. Following this investigation, the results of which were satis-. factory, it was agreed between H.M. Government and the U.S Government that shipments should be resumed at approximately the same rate as pre-vious *quotas. The Ministry was satisfied that no proportion of. these imports was delivered to the Axis Powers. ,

GREASY PAPER RECLAIMABLE

MANY people appear to believe that _greasy paper is. useless for salvage. TIlis is not the case. This kind of pap jr can be reclaiired. What.is not req1Eired is the material referred to as greaseproof paper. So do not put the. former into the dustbin or the fire.

WEST RIDING BUS SERVICE TAKE OVER

TO the bus services Operated in the West Riding of Yeirkshire by .Mr. Samuel Ledgard, of Armley, Leeds, have been added those of the late Mr.

G. F. Tate, oi Leeds. These services, which have been .taken over from Mr. Tate's executors, chiefly operate on the Leeds4-Torsforth-Rawdon and LeedsOtley-Ilktey routes.

A.R.O. BIRMINGHAM SUB AREA APPOINTS OFFICIALS • WHEN the Birmingham Sub Area of VI' A.R.O. held its annual general meeting, recently, the following officials were appointed:-Chairman, Mr. H. J. Bedworth, Messrs. 'J. G. Bedworth; vice-chairman, Mr. C. Warwick, Broadway and Clarkes Transport (B'harn), Ltd.; hon. secretary, Mr, K. G. Bouckley, Transport Economy, Ltd.; delegates to the West Midland Area Committee, Messrs.

H. J. Bedworth, H. B. Clarke, A. Rutty, C. Warwick; deputy delegates to the West Midland Area Committee, Messrs. IL E. Merritt, A. G. Harris, H. Herringshaw, A. S. Ward

HEA'VY FINES FOR DEFECTIVE STEERING GEAR nURING Leeds police court proceed

ings on March 16, cdricerning the condition of a lorry whila mounted the fribtpatli and strucit'a soldier who had to have a leg amputated,police evidence was that the steering aparaus was out of order.

The defence stressed the war-time difficulty of getting spare parts, and ' pleaded that, in this‘ease, the problem

was greater becauge the vehicle was of . American make.

The owner of the lorry and the driver were each fined £20 in respect of the dangerous condition of the vehicle, • PUBLICATIONS TO PROMOTE FUEL ECONOMY •

THE Ministry of Fuel and Power (Coal Division), Dean Stanley Street, London, S.W.1; is issuing a new production entitled " Fuel. Efficiency News," which will be published monthly. Other recent bulletins issued by the Ministry are No. 11-Thermostatic Control, No. 13-Fuel Economy by Saving Electricity, and No, 14Operation and Maintenance of Gas Bn roers.

VEHICLE IMMOBILIZATION MUST GO ON, SAYS MORMON • ONCE again a suggestion has been • made in the House of Commons that the Regulations relating to immobilizing motor vehicles should he

relaxed at least during daylight, it came last week from Mr. Ross Taylor.

Mr. Herbert Morrison regretted that he did not feel justified in adopting this suggestion now, but the matter would he reviewed from time tio time in the light of current circumstances a :

DRIVER FINED FOR DAMAGING TYRES

FOR damaging tyres on a lorry' of which he was the driver, an employee of Manor Croft Dairies, Bank Top, Dewsbury, was fined £6 and ordered to pay costs, at Wakefield, last week. For the prosecution, it was stated that when defendant took the lorry to deliver milk at Huddersfield and Barnsley he had three punctures. Two of them were attended to by mechanics from Dewsbury, but after he had notified his third puncture, at Barnsley, the mechanic who was sent could not find him.

Tired of waiting at Barnsley, defendant attempted to get the lorry to Dewsbury, but could not get farther than Wakefield. There, the mechanics found that two tyres had been practically cut to ribbons. One inner tube was in seven pr eight bits; the other inner 'tube could not be found, and it was assumed that it must have been ground to powder.

The' presiding magistrate, .Mrs. E. Thorpe, Said defendant appeared to have lost his temper because the mechanic did opt arrive _at the time expected. She emphasized to the driver the tyre-supply difficulties caused by rubber scarcity, SUPPLIER'S PART IN BUILDING UP LANCS OPERATOR'S FLEET IN connection with the article pub1 lished in our issue dated March 12 dealing with the road-transport activities of F. Southworth, Ltd., of Adlington, Lancashire, we are asked to mention that 31 (29 Bedfords and two E.R.F.$) of the fleet of vehiclei operated were supplied through Barton Motors (Preston) Ltd., Corporation Street, Preston. This concern supplied the operator with his first vehicle, and the fact that many repeat orders have been placed speaks well for the aftersales service arrangements of the supplier.

ROAD HAULAGE SCHEME: NUMBERS OF SIGNATORIES 1/s1 the House of Commons, last week, 1 Captain Strickland asked how many of the concerns that had been. invited to become controlled undertakings under the new road-haulage scheme had signed the agreement unconditionally, and how may had reserved for future negotiation the matter of a reasonable settlement of the financial conditions?

Mr. Noel-Baker answered that, so far, 91 concerns bad signed an agreement with the Ministry of War Transport, and had thus become controlled undertakings, whilst 78 'others had made known, witheht reservation, their

intention to do so. With some of these, however, certain details still remained to be settled.

There were 50 other Concerns which had made . known their intentions to sign‘agreements subject to a satisfaciory.settlement of the financial arrangements. This condition had been made by a number of concerns which subsequently became controlled undertakings. In general, it had not proved an obstacle to eventual agreement. Up to the present time none had definitely

refused an invitation to become a controlled undertaking on the ground that the financial arrangements were unsatisfactory, hut there were a few difficult cases still under discussion.

Mr. Watkins, who is president of the Railway. Clerks' Association, asked the Minister to include in the Official Report a list of those concerns, but Mr. Noel-Baker thought it would be more satisfactory to do that when the whole scheme was complete. Nevertheless, he would certainly consider the suggestion.

DARLINGTON PLANS TROLLEYBUS EXTENSIONS

POST-WAR plans for extending Darlingtdn Corporation trolleybus services have been prepared by the transport manager, Mr. \7. J, H. Penman.„ Subject to the necessary powers being obtained, it is suggested that the Eastbourne-Harrowgate Hill service should be deviated via Crown Street and extensions made from West Auckland Road, .along Bates Avenue, to the junction of Bates Avenue and Nickstream Lane.

FINED FOR TAKING HYDRANT WATER FOR STEAM WAGON

L-OR helping himself to water from.a street hydrant, a steam-wagon dri-ver employedby Transport Services, Ltd., Ainsdale, involved his employer in fines totalling 410 and 43 11s. costs 'at the Wirral Justices* Court, 13romborough, last week...

There were four summonses against the corripaoy: (a) Unlawfully opening a fire hydrant.; (b) unlawfully using a fire hydrant ; fc) fixing a stand-pipe to a pipe belonging to the West Cheshire Water Board ; and (d) taking a supply of water from the hydrant. All the cases arose from the one action.

Mr. Arthur Gettings, managing director of Oldhall.Garage. New Chester Rod& said that he saw the defendant company's steam wagon stop at a hydrant opposite his premises. The driver opened the hydrant with a keyand filled the tank of his wagon with water. The occurrence was reported to the Water Board.

On behalf of the company it was stated that the driver was dangerously out of water and had to use the hydrant. The concern offered to pay -for the water.

The magistrates imposed. a £5 fine for opening the hydrant and £5 for taking water from it.

CALCULATOR FOR WAGES AND OVERTIME

ABOOK which will certainly prove useful to those who have to calculate wages° and overtime, is issued by Frederick Warne and Co., Ltd.', Chandos House, Bedford Court, Bedford Street, London, W.C.2, at 6s. net. It shows wages rates from 1-40th to 100 hours at 3d. to 3s. per hour, including sixteenths to Is. 3d., eighths to 2s, 6d., and farthings to 3s., with an overtime calculator showing hourly values of overtime rates from time and onetenth to double time, and percentage increases from ICI to 100 per cent.

GOOD SURPLUS ON NEWPORT'S MUNICIPAL TRANSPORT

BY the end of 1943, Newport (Mon,) Electricity and Transport Committee will have completed provision for the liquidation of all Ioao . debt on .the transport undertaking. This is one of many satisfactory' features revealed in the annual statement of the Newport transport undertaking.

Estimated surplus for the year 1942-3, after making various appropriations, including £9,000 for transfer to the general rate fund, is approximately 429,000.

It has been agreed that an additional £10,000 also be. transferred to the general rate fund from the anticipated surplus of 1943-44.

A high state of efficiency has been maintained by the engineering department of the undertaking, despite war difficulties, and the transport committee has decided to place on record its appreciation 61 the splendid work of Mr. T. II. Wood, chief technical assistant, and Mr, A. H. Thickens.

ehgineering soperintendent. SMALLER PERCENTAGE OF USED TYRES SCRAPPED IN U.S.A. '

THE Minister of Supply was asked 1 by Mr. Stokes in the House last week whether he was aware that in the U.S.A. only 20 per cent, of the giant tyres-surrendered for repair proved to be scrap, against 72 per cent. in this country during the period.November 1, 1942, to January 31, 1943. It was also suggested that he should adopt the American system of handing back to owners their own tyres after .retreading.

Sir Andrew Duncan replied that he was unable to identify the figure of 20 per cent. His information was that American figures, for the proportion of giant tyres removed for replacement, which proved to be retreadable, were not available. He was satisfied that the adoption of the American system of handing back to owners their own tyres after retreading would, on balance, be wasteful of rubber,

Mr. Stokes offered the Minister the source of his information in order to have the circumstances re-examined, and added that he thought the best way to encourage people to take their tyres off before they were Worn out,waa to assure them that they should have them back when they were retreaded.

We are most anxious," replied Sir Andrew Duncan, " that tyres should be taken off in time .to be retreaded, and I agree that the subject needs careful and firm handling."

PRIORITY BUS TRAVEL FOR NIGHT WORKERS QALFCtIlD City Council, when . it meets on April 7 is to consider a scheme to provide -war workers on night . Shifts with priority bus-trav,I passes. The scheme, which will be put before the council by the transport committee, provides for all-night buses to be reserved at the termini for holders of. the passes until five minutes before the scheduled time of depart.ure, after 'which members of the public will be allowed to board the vehicles.

The passes will bear the holders' signature 1 and will be issued to employers for distribution, on loan, to workers who require special travelling facilities on condition that they are returned when the need ends.

P.M. SATISFIED WITH M.O.W,T. REPRESENTATION

THE Prime Minister was asked by Mi. De la Bere last week whether he would consider giving additional representation to the Ministry of War Trausport in the House of Commons. At present this Ministry is repreSented in. the House of Lorde by 'Lord . Leathers and in the House of Commons bytwo Parliamentary Secretaries, Mr. Noel-Baker and Sir Arthur Salter, but -the latter is mostly in Washington.

• "I cannot feel that the appoint-. merit of an additional Under-Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport would be justified," replied Mr. Churchill; and added that he understood that Mr. Noel-Baker had been absent from the House for a short time through illness, but that he was now fully restored.. Every effort, he explained, should be made to keep Ministerial offices at a minimum.

Lt.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore commented that the present representatives of the War Transport Department in both Houses Carried out their jobs " veryefficiently and with great courtesy.''