Opinions and Queries
Page 22
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DIFFICULTIES IN OBTAINING PERMITS• FOR NEW VEHICLES
WE would like to bring to your notice the considerable VT difficulty we are experiencing in obtaining a permit to purchase three 5-ton oil-engined lorries which have been on order since November 13 last. On August 15 we completed the necessary form V.C.1.(G), which was • duly sent, with a covering letter: to the Regional Transport Commissioner. On August 28 the Commissioner telephoned to us personally for certain other particulars. This was 'the last communication we received.
• We are quite aware that things are very difficult at present and that lorries are no doubt wanted for the Services, but at the same tithe we do feel that the distribution of perishable foodstuffs is essential to the life of the country. The argument used by the Commissioner, that goods should be sent by rail, unfortunately comes at a very awkward, time, Last week we had goods baled ready to be despatched to the country lying in bur warehouse from Monday until Thursday, when we had to load a lorry with 8 tons of perishable stuff and ,send it by road to Reading, for the goods to be put on rail. We are continually having to do this sort of thing in order to get our goods away, so therefore the argument that we must use the railways more seems absurd, inasmuch as they cannot cope —probably through no fault of their own—with the traffic they already have.
If we are to maintain our service to the retail trade for redistribution to the consumer, it does seem to us necessary that we have an alternative means for transport. We think you will agree with us that we are at least entitled to an answer—either " Yes " or " No." After all, we are a large organization, distributing goods all over the country and for these officials merely to ask one to fill up forms and then ignore them completely seems to us all wrong.
• One of the reasons why we are anxious to obtain these three vehicles is to cover ourselves against any possible loss by enemy action, We have already had one or two very unpleasant incidents which might have put a considerable part. of our transport out of action, and although we are spreading it over different parts Of London, it cannot always be guaranteed that we are going to be as fortunate as we have been up to the . present, and as we have to take on a considerable amount of additional business in the event of a state of emergency being declared, we think that we are quite justified in asking. for this permit. , London, E.C.1. T. R. MoriacaoFT, Departmental Manager, for I. Beer and Sons, Ltd.
BUREAU OF INFORMATION ESTABLISHED BY SCOTTISH D.T.O.
THIS Association has naturally much interest in the I Bureau of Information established at Glasgow and referred to in your issue for September 13.
There is, contrary to your suggestion, no interference by the Ministry. This is a voluntary scheme designed and worked by transport operators. There is an operator in attendance during the whole period covered by the hours specified. . This duty is gratuitously undertaken in relays, but there is always one representative operator in attendance. The Ministry officials are not concerned with the actual working or. accounting. The scheme does not supersede any established custom of hiring within the industry; it is, as you state, a matter which concerns only the operators, and will remain so.
The justification for its establishment is the extreme demand which emergency conditions have created in this city and port. It is a sincere attempt to co-ordinate the varied transport facilities in the district and seeks to provide the means by which owners 'of transport, not normally concerned with the class of work now demanding urgent attention, may, and do, quite willingly devote their efforts to work of primary .national importance..* • The whole design, of the Organization of Road Transport for a Defence Emergency is to co-ordinate facilities in the most economical manner and in the best national interests, and in its essence it invites the co-operation of all, vehicle owners. It is felt that, in responding to the appeal for his support and by making his District Transport Office available as a place for centralizing the effort, the Regional Transport Commissioner has amply fulfilled the intentions of the Transport Emergency Scheme. The Ministry officials should be congratulated for their action which, in this case, is just another demonstration of the helpful attitude of this particular District Office.
T. WORSLEY, National Organizer, The Scottish Commercial Glasgow, C.2. Motor Users Association.
EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATION FOR THE ANCILLARY USER?
A S the author of a short article recently published by f-Iyou on the " Representation of the Ancillary User," am naturally delighted to read in your leader of September 6 that " it is our definite opinion that it .would be to the undoubted advantage of the ancillary users to possess their own representative body entirely devoted to their own particular interests."
Has no one the courage and the' piiblic spirit to come forward now, even in these difficult days, and take the initial steps to establish such an organization? The essential thing is that there should be in active existence an ancillary users' 'association to be their champion.
London, N.14. MAXWELL FRANCIS.
INSURANCE COVER FOR PASSENGERS IN LORRIES :
IN your issue of September 6 you report a meeting of Wandsworth Borough Council, rregarding the carrying of employees of the council on hired lorries.
• As we are the insurance brokers mentioned,we trust that we Tay have" an opportunity of giving further details, especially as the matter affects most commercialvehicle owners.
Whilst most insurance policies are not nullified by the• carrying of passengers, the passengers are notcovered by the policy unless an additional Premium' be paid to include the legal liability of the owners of the vehicles.
It was for this risk that an additional premium was charged.
We would suggest that your readers should take measures to make certain that passenger risk is included, especially as many drivers now give a lift to pedestrians.
London, E.C.4. • S. J. Bunn, London Office, For Ernest A. Notcutt and Co., Ltd: