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27th April 1940, Page 32
27th April 1940
Page 32
Page 33
Page 32, 27th April 1940 — Mr.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Sewill on Rates, Amalgamation and the "Memorandum"

IGNORED RED TAPE—FINED

A T Cardiff Police Court, last week, rIthe Eastern General Transport Co., Ltd., appeared on a charge of carrying a load on a lorry exceeding 9 ft. in width, without having three people on the vehicle. There were three other summonses—one for a similar offence, and two for not giving two days' notice of the use of such a lorry to the chief of the police. On the first charge the company was fined 40s. with costs ; it was cautioned on the other three.

Solicitor for the defendant said that the company pleaded ghilty on all charges. However, it was engaged on contracts of urgent national importance, and it had been told by the Air Ministry that no such notice .need be given when executing Crown Orders. It was impossible to wait two days. On the other charge he said that one of the men had fallen ill on the journey. When the decision of the Court was announced, the solicitor said that the case would be taken further, because the company would be placed in a similar position every time an urgent order was carried out.

Champion Plugs for A.R.P. Fire-fighters

WITH characteristic thoroughness, VV. the Champion Sparking Plug Co., Ltd., Feltham, Middlesex, has published a list of plug recommendations for fire-pump plants. No fewer than 18 makes of such apparatus are mentioned, and nearly as many plug types figure among those selected as suitable. The publication also includes approved types of Champion plugs for practically all current makes of commercial vehicle and car.

Barnsley Hot-pot Supper

A HOT-POT supper is to be held by ti the Barnsley Sub-Area of A.R.O., on May 2, at the Royal Hotel, Barnsley. Guests invited include the Mayor of Barnsley (Councillor G. Mason); the Transport Commissioner for the Northeastern Region (Mr. F. S. Eastwood), Mr. J. G. Kevan, Transport Officer for the Sheffield District; Mr. W. J. Taylor, president of the Barnsley Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. N. H. Dean, general manager of the Yorkshire Traction Co., Ltd.

Tribute to Drivers of " Heavies " PAYING a striking tribute to the skill and care shown by drivers of heavy motor vehicles, the Mayor of Preston (Alderman W. E. Morris) recently presented "Safety First" diplomas to 25 drivers of H. Viney and Co., haulage contractors, and Lancashire Petrol Deliveries, Ltd. Mr. C. le M. Gosselin, managing director of the Viney concern, presided, and was supported by Mr. S. A. Wilkinson (of the Ministry of Transport) , Mr. H. Bourne (Preston manager) and Mr. T. J. Jackson (Manchester manager).

The chairman said that the concern started four years ago with 12 drivers in the competition. Now there were over 30, and in the forthcoming year there would be over 50.

. Describing road transport as a vital artery in a civilized community, the mayor said that we should perish without it,

AT the annual general meeting of the Western Sub-Area of the Metropolitan Area of Associated Road Operators, held last Monday, Mr. Roger W. Sewill. national director of the Association, was the principal speaker, and made some most iniportant references to present and future activities.

Mr. Sewill said. he felt sure that the recent 10 per cent. increase in rail rates would be generally welcomed by the road-haulage industry. In his view it was satisfactory from two aspects. In the first place it shows quite clearly that rail rates will not be maintained at an artificial level, as they were in the 1914-18 war, the deficiency being subsequently made up by the taxpayer. Such a procedure, in this war, would have put the road operator in competition with what would have been virtually a subsidized industry and would have prevented him from raising his charges to meet increasing costs.

At the same time, it must not be overlooked that many road rates are still considerably lower than rail rates for the same traffic and, in some instances, are quite uneconomic, having regard to recent wage and other increases due to the war. It is sheer folly for operators to continue with uneconomic rates and, in his view, the time was never more opportune for getting rid of them.

Referring to the subject of amalgamation, he said that much is now again being heard of the need for amalgamation of the existing organizations. The A.R.O. is entirely in sympathy with the need for strengthening the representation of the industry, but the recollection of the two previous unsuccessful attempts is still too fresh in the memory of members to allow them to be rushed or stampeded into any hasty action.

Speaking quite personally, and without any authority from the Association he represented, Mr. Sewill was not at all sure that one big organization embracing A, B and C licensees and P.S.V. operators is either practicable or desirable. This, however, does not preclude the possibility of strengthening, at any rate, the position of the A and B licence interests.

You will, he continued, no doubt have heard from your representatives, and gathered from what you have read in the technical Press, something about a memorandum which was submitted last January, by the Road-Rail Central Conference to the Minister of Transport. There is nothing sinister in this memorandum, he added, ,which is in any way preventing its publication. We wished to let everyone know of the contents of this document some weeks ago, but its reference by the Minister to the Transport Advisory Council had the effect of making it virtually sub judice. In view, however, of the fact that the memorandum has for some time been before the T.A.C., we are inquiring as to the possibility of releasing it very soon for publication.

A prolonged and keen discussion followed. Mr, J.. Lawrence, of the Caledonian Transport and Motor Co., Ltd., presided, in the absence of Mr. Beckett, the official chairman, who is unfortunately indisposed. Amongst those present were Mr. S. H. Jardine, the area secretary, and Mr. Hughes, the secretary for the sub-area. B.M.B. TRACTORS TO BE MADE IN THIS COUNTRY

PLANS arc already well advanced, we learn, for the manufacture of the B.M.B. range of tractors in this country. These machines, which are handled by the B.M.B. Manufacturing Co., Britannia House, Ampton Street, London, 'W.C.1, have been well received since their introduction last autumn, and have been sold as quickly as they could be imported.

To avoid the likelihood of delays in delivery, the maker has acquired a factory in the London area, and it hopes to be in production there shortly.

Britain's Share of Dutch Tractor Imports THERE was a marked increase, last year, in the importation of foreign tractors into Holland, an official trade return just to hand showing a total of 632 units, valued, at 7.54 guilders to the £, at approximately £138,064, as compared with 453 machines and £107,162 respectively in 1938.

Of the imported machines 379 are credited to the United States, 142 to Great Britain, 109 to Germany and two to other countries. The principal makes in the order of their importance were: Fordson (137), MacCormick (93), Allis-Chalmers (77), Caterpillar (66), Bulldog (59), Massey-Harris (40), Peering (39), Case (29), Deutz (21), Lanz (21) and Cletrac (17). New Battery-electric Distributor ME are advised that Iron Bridge VV Service Depot, Ltd., Uxbridge Road, Southall, has been appointed a distributor for Morrison electric vehicles in the Western Home Counties.

Timken Trade Mark

THE name ." Timken " has recently been registered as the trade mark of British Timken, Ltd., Cheston Road, Aston, Birmingham. The company has used the name as a trade mark for many years and formalities of registration have now been completed.

GLASGOW TO HOLD ELECTRIC. VEHICLE EXHIBITION?

rOLLOWING the successful electric

vehicle exhibitions at Manchester and Cardiff, it is possible that a similar event will be organized in Glasgow by the Electric Vehicle Association of Great Britain Ltd., the likely date being May 13-15. Such a display will interest many potential users in the West of Scotland, where battery-electrics are already in considerable use and finding wider applications.

Important Scottish Bridge Scheme Nearing Completion

THE principal part of a £250,000 road and bridge scheme, Aberdeen's new bridge over the River Dee, at'Allenvale, will probably be opened to the public in the late autumn. Last week it was inspected by members of the town council. The bridge will cost approximately £150,000. It will link up the south road with Holburn Street, leaving the present Bridge of Dee for light traffic only. The road from Hotburn Street to the bridge has been completed. and soon the approach from the south will be taking shape.

As a result of the war it was feared that work on the scheme might be seriously interrupted. It has been possible, however, to reach agreement with the Ministry of Transport whereby only some of the less-important work will be held over until a later date.


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