Annual Report of the C.M.U.A.
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Noteworthy Increase of Membership Leads to Incorporation of the Association.
The annual report of the Commercial Motor Users Association (Incorporated) was issued last week. It records the progress during the first twelve months of the Association's working as an independent organisation, and the results fully support our contention at the time of the change—that the policy of the Committee in this respect was sound.
No reference is made to the matter in the report, but supporters of this journal may be reminded that strenuous efforts were made to promote another organization. They resulted in failure.
Free Legal Defence and Advice.
The report gives a list of the principal matters upon which members of the Association have applied for, and received, legal advice or other legal assistance; these are quite apart from the routine undertaking of defences in polite courts, some examples of which class of defence are now undertaken, on behalf of members, every week.
Parliamentary.
The report points out that the Association made a donation of £25 to oppose the passing of the Manchester Corporation General Powers Bill, and that the opposition, conducted in conjunction with the National Traction Engine Owners and Users Association, resulted in the amendment of a clause by which it was sought to confer power to prescribe the routes to be taken by all vehicles, and to prohibit. the passing of all vehicles into or along any street. Proper safeguards were secured, in the interests of owners of commercial motor.
The Association took steps to oppose various railless-traction Bills, and to secure the inclusion in any such Bills of clauses requiring the vehicles to conform to the axle-weight and other requirements of the Heavy Motor Car Order.
Private Bridges Bill.
The report points out the progress that has been made by the Joint Committee of the Association and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, acting in conjunction with the National Traction Engine Owners and Users Association, representatives of the War Office, and other interests, and in conference with the County Councils Association. Thu Bill, as it left the hands of the C.M.U.A. and S.M.M.T Joint Committee, is still under consideration by the County Conucils Association.
Reduction of Traffic Obstruction.
The important matter of steps to reduce obstruction to traffic, and to prevent the continuous driving of slow-moving vehicles on the crown of the road, with which campaign this journal has been prominently identified, receives the following mention in the report.: The Association is endeavouring to improve London traffic by preventing congestion due to the consistent driving of slowmoving vehicles on the crown of the road. A deputation obtained from Sir Edward Henry, in April, a promise that if the Association warned all its drivers to assist in the good work of keeping the traffic as closely as possible to the left side of the road, and would arrange for the erection of notices directing vehicular traffic to drive near to the left kerb, he would instruct the police to give all possible aid. Some thirty enamelled iron notices bearing the words Drive near left herb,' and a hand with outstretched finger pointing to the loft side of tha highway, have now been attached by the Association upon central standards in the main thoroughfare Irons Ha.mmersmith Broadway to Hyde Park Corner. Extra police have been detailed to warn drivers than any offenders, who waste the road, by driving wide out from the kerb, and 60 compelling faster moving traffic to move out still further when overtaking them, will be warned once, and if the offence is repeated, will be summoned and fined for wilful obstruction, under the Highways Act of 1835. It is believed that the obstructions so caused are due to a very limited number of. thoughtless and ignorant men who imagine that driving to the left is an unimportant rule, to a. breach of which no penalty is attached. The Highways Act of 1835 is, however, sufficiently clear on this point. The Association has circularized its London members, drawing their attention to the experiment now in progress, and asking for assistance in
rendering it successful. In addition to the plates, large glazed cardboard notices have been prepared by the Association, warning drivers to drive near the left kerb, and meal hers may obtain one of these notices on payment of 6d to cover cost of postage and packing. The Association has received warm support from the Roads Improvement Aasociation."
Tramways and Traffic Congestion.
It is recorded that the Association supported the RoadsImprovement Associations in its petition to the Board of Trade, with the object of lessening the needless congestion of tramcars in London, and the losses inflicted upon the general commercial community by the unsatisfactory regulation of the L.C.C. tramway service. It appears that the Board of Trade is still awaiting the observations of the London County Council on the memorial, for which the Highways Committee of that body has been officially asked, and that it will later on receive a formal deputation from the Roads Improvement Association.
The Parades of 1911 and 1912.
The report points out that. His Majesty the King became patron of the Coronation Motor Parade, in June last, and that His Majesty has renewed that patronage for the parade which is to take place on Whit Monday next. It gives details of the enormous entry which was secured last year, and points with satisfaction to the entries for this year, in spite of there not being the exceptional attraction of Coronation features. The entries for next May are already well in excess of 300, compared with a total of 399 in 1911. Special mention is made of the fact that the vehicles will this year not be examined on parade, except in a few special classes, and that the inspection of the store-sheds, drivers and vehicles haa been proceeding, at the hands of Mr. G. W. Watson, ALLMech.E., M.I.A.E., since the let January last.
Night Storage.
In reference to this matter, we are glad to find the following paragraph in the report : " The attention of the Association has been drawn to the need which now exists in many parts of the country for suitable shelter and other accommodation at night time for motorvans and motor lorries. The ordinary motorcar garage for passenger vehicles is usually unsuitable, on account of insufficient strength of floor, absence of adequate bead room, and of suitable stores and supplies. There is undoubted evidence of an increasing demand for opportunities to put up commercial motors at night time, coupled with provision for the supply of half-duty rebate petrol, Welsh coal, lubricants, and other consumable-stores, in conjunction with arrangements made by the owners of such depots to provide sleeping quarters on the premises for the drivers and their mates, and a special sub-committee has been appointed to consider the possibility of formulating a scheme."
Badges.
The demand for the special C.M.U.A. badge has exceeded anticipation, and nearly 600 were issued during the year. [The badge, the design of which we occasionally reproduce, is made in gilding metal with blue enamelled border and red and white quartered centre, with fittings for attachment to various parts of commercial-motor vehicles and tractors.—ED.1
The Committee hopes that the badge will be exhibited on the vehicles of every member.
Finance and Other Matters.
The Association, apart from the parade, had a total income of £913 during the year, and the ordinary accounts show a surplice of £51. Owing to the exceptional expenditure on the parade, which absorbed an additional £106 of the ordinary funds, the surplus at the 31st. December last. is only £116, compared with £.171 a year earlier. Having regard to the exceptional amount of work which the Association undertook during the year, we think that all members will agree that their money has been usefully laid out, The income and expenditure account and the balance sheet, duly audited by Messrs Andrew W. Barr and•Co., of 1, Queen Victoria Street, EC., accompany the report. It is gratifying to observe that no fewer than 300 new and important firms and individuals were enrolled during the year under review.
Captain R.. K. Bagnall-Wild, Mr. W. G. Lobjoit, and Mr. E. Shrapnell Smith have been appointed to represent the Association on the General Organizing Council formed to undertake the arrangements for the Third International Road Congress, which congress will take place, in London, in 1913.