Passing Comments
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Service to Overseas Bodybuilders
AMONGST the concerns which are helping to develop the use of light alloys by bodybuilders overseas are Thomas Harrington, Ltd., .Hove, Sussex, and the British Aluminium Co., Ltd, This bodybuilder was approached by the latter company with the suggestion that it should co-operate with the technical department of British Aluminium to produce light-alloy body designs based on those which had proved most practicable over the years.
• British Aluminium has now made these available to various interests overseas, which, as a result 'of marketing conditions, had difficulty in ordering complete bodies from Britain, but who wished to improve their own forms of construction. These special. arrangements apply to both small and large organizations abroad, including some in India and Pakistan.
S. and A. Morris House Reopened
STABLISHED in 1911, Stewart and Ardern, Ltd , has grown from strength to strength. The large Acton depot was built in 1926, and was followed by many others In 1934 Morris House rose on the site of the famous Lansdowne House in Berkeley Square, thus becoming the first headquarters of a
great motor concern Lobe housed in one of London's most fashionable squares.
• Used for other 'purposes during the war and badly • damaged by bombing, the premises have now been restored and returned to their owner, the reopening being marked by a social gathering on October 10. Many types of Morris-Commercial vehicle will he exhibited in (he showroorns on the ground floor.
A One-legged Race
• EVER since its formation, the Road Haulage Execu tive has been fighting a losing battle with the Disabled Persons Employment Act. As most• of the undertakings acquired had fewer than 20 workers, they did not incur liability under that Act to employ at least 3 per cent. of registered disabled persons. The result was that the Executive was well below the statutory minimum, and it has had to make a determined effort to legalize its position.
Registered disabled persons have had to be recruited, and certain posts have had to be designated to be filled only by them. The Executive has just
• topped the 3 per cent, for men, but for some reason best known to themselves, women are reluctant to register as disabled, and only 0.95 per cent. of the R.H.E. female staff qualifies under the Act.. Thus, the staff average is still under 3 per cent.
The Industry's Great Effort
OVER 1,000 members and guests attended the 38th annual dinner of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, on October 16, with the President, Mr. G. E. Beharrell, in the chair. Welcoming the guests, he said that the present aspirations of the motor industry could be summarized as, first, to make a full contribution to rearmament; secondly. Jo contribute the utmost to exports; aniii thirdly, to strive to meet the demand for the home market. He added a personal fourth, of an omnibus kind—that all they desired to accomplish should be under conditions allowing a good and improving standard of living for those in the industry, a fair return for shareholders, excellent value for customers, and a modicum of gentleness from the Exchequer in direct and indirect taxation.
As to exports,.70 per cent, of the total output of commercial vehicles, cars and tractors had gone to markets abroad, earning about £266m., and representing over 12 per cent. of the Nation's total visible export revenue from all export sources. Mr. Beharrell decried the limiting of dividends as creating hardship for many thousands of small shareholders. 1 ne response was by Viscount Jowitt who, however, answered none of the pertinent questions put by the president. Thanks to the chairman were proposed in an excellent speech by Mr. R. F. Hanks
Chloride Recharges Press Batteries
ONE of the enjoyable functions of each Motor Show period is the luncheon to the Press and special guests. given by Chloride Batteries, Ltd. In the chair was Mr. H. V. Schofield, M.C.,
director (sales) of the company After saying how fortunate Britain was in having a free Press, he referred to the particular value of the trade and technical journals, and added some details concerning his company and its prodncts. Constant improvements in design and materials were, he said, being made, and there was much research into the economical use of materials in short supply. A new micro-porous plastic separator would soon make better use of the lead available.. The response for the Press was made by Sir Francis Low, London editor of " The Times of India," and for the other guests by Mr. C. Kenneth Horne, a sales director of the Triplex concern.