OPINIONS FROM OTHERS.
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The Editor invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of commercial motors. Letters should be on one side of the paper only and typewritten by preference. The ri9lit of abbreviation is reserved, and no responsibility for views ethpreshed is accepted.
The Clearing-house and the Haulier.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1989] Sir,—The thanks of all haalage contractors are due to The Commercial Motor and to the persistency of Mr. Walter Gammons. The writer has received, many such expressions from hauliers who have felt that, they had cause for complaint. One Bradford gentleman 'phoned me to say he wanted £14 from one clearing-house for work done over four months ago. I have been connected with every branch of haulage for over 30 years, and realize it is futile for the railway companies to endeavour to cut out road traffic by reducing rates to such an extent that they lose money---a loss their shareholders will not sanction; rather, improve their service so that goods are delivered the morning after despatch in a radius of 150 miles. The trader is alive to the advantage of " once handling," " delivery to ship's side" or" door of customer" within six hours of goods being handed over. No railway conipany has attempted to do this, and railway companies with a monopoly simply humbug their customers_ I can only endorse Mr. Gammons's statement that the scheme required to put clearing-houses and.'hauliers into a proper line of business could be attempted by the C.M.U.A. making a department to deal with same. Splendid business would result, return loads would be arranged, and the haulier's accounts would be kept at a minimum cost and discharged regularly. It is of such vital importance to the progress of trade in this country that Parliament might, through the Board of Trade, tackle the problem, but with the right man at the head—I would almost suggest Mr. W. Gammons as a man with the experience, energy, and conviction which would ensure the success of the scheme.—Yours faithfully, C. E. HOBSON. Bradford.
A Big Amalgamation, The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1990] Sir,—My attention has been drawn to a paragraph headed "A Big Amalgamation," on page 808 in the August 15th issue of The Commercial Motor.
I shall be glad if you will take immediate steps to inform your readers that the Transport Department of the Nottingham Chamber of Commerce, which is one of the leading clearing-houses in the country, has nd part in, or knowledge of, the proposed amalgamation.
It is no part of the work of a road transport clearing-house to run its own vehicles, and an amalgamation upon the lines suggested in your paragraph would clearly be against the loeist interests of the clearinghouse movement.
It is not the policy of the Nottingham Chamber to give priority to any haulage contractor, neither is it necessary, as, in the present state of trade, there are anv number of vehicles of all types at the command of the clearing-houses.--Yours faithfully,
W. DONALDSON WRIGHT, Transport Manager.
The Editor, TRE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1991] Sir,—Under the above heading, in The Commercial Motor of August 15th, I observe .the following:—
'Important negotiations are proceeding for an amalgamation of interest between the best of the road transport clearing-houses and one of the largest motor haulage concerns in London." I take exception to your remarks, and have no hesitation in saying your information is incorrect. In the first instance, I feel sure that if you will kindly make fuller inquiries you will probably find that the motor haulage concern referred to is. a .long way off being one of the largest, and, secondly, I think your readers would be interested to learn of
your authority for stating the " best clearinghouses. My company yesterday had numerous inquiries as to what " we were up to," evidently inferring that we were one of the best, and in all modesty I claim that distinction for my company. In any case, we have a considerable number of testimonials from customers and hauliers to that effect, and I am quite prepared to abide by that fact. Needless to say, my company is in no way connected with the proposed amalgamation, and I strongly hold to the view that a clearing-house should not hold any direct interest in haulage concerns ; it is contrary to-the very principle of a clearing-house, which, incidentally, is to find business for the haulier, not to compete with him. It follows as a natural corollary that any vehicles in which a clearing-house has direct interest will receive nreferential treat" ment. Obviously, that is the very object of the haul; age concern. .Apart from this, however, I venture to suggest that if you will be good enough to inquire you will discover that a recent attempt made at amalgamation ended very disastrously.--Yours faith fully, WALTER GAMMONS, Managing Director, WALTER GAMMONS, LTD. London.
.[The negotiations for, the amalgamation referred to. by us are still pending, and fuller information may not yet be given. When it may, we think that the importance of the two concerns will be generally a dmitted.—E n. 0.31.]
The Lubrication of Shackle .Bolts.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR, [1992] Sir,—With reference to Mr. Sydney Guy's letter in your issue of August 1st,. I should like to point out that this gentleman is not quite fair in his comparison of grease and oil; he has given the disadvantages of the former and the advantages of the latter.
I think he must agree that grease gives a " cushioning " effect, which oil does not, and this effect is essential where the working parts are subjected to severe shocks. I quite agree that the ordinary greases tend to solidify, and that a lubricant with the " creeping" powers of oil is necessary. The ideal lubricant, therefore, is one which possesses the combined advantages of both oil and grease without any of their disad-' vantages. Ambeoleum, manufactured by my company, possesses the " creeping" powers of oil, and at the same time is cohesive, providing an efficient "shock absorber" between the working surfaces, and has proved to be the correct lubricant for shackle bolts
—Yours faithfully, E. a BIRD, Technical Department, STERNS, LTD.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1993] Sir,—I had two of my lorries fitted up with nipples on the shackle bolts and provided each vehicle with a grease gun, which the driver has to fill every morning, so ensuring constant attention to the joints, for the gun is filled in front of the storekeeper, who would quickly pull up a driver who asked for little or no supply_ The grease gun, in my opinion, makes certain that the lubricant gets where it is wanted and the wastage is small.—Yours faith fully, N. F. JOHNSTON.