News of the Week
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THAT 60-MILE LIMIT ERE appears to be little doubt that
the 60-mile limit on the 'road transport of goods will be removed when the Government R.H.O. ceases to function. The Minister has already stated that this will be done if the industry's plan be regarded as satisfactory, but he must be certain that the required reserve fleet is actually available. When the limit is removed, sufficient fuel will be issued to cover the increased mileage where this is for essential purposes. So far no snags have occurred in the change-over arrangements from the R.H.O. to "free" transport.
329 PASSENGER OPERATORS IN SCOTLAND
I N the area which was known as the Northern Traffic Area of Scotland, before the Variation of Traffic Areas (Scotland) Order, 1940. there are 329 operators of road-passenger transport. This information was given last week by the Minister of Transport in a written reply to a question put by Sir B. NevenSpence
YORKSHIRE TIPPER OPERATORS FORM ASSOCIATION COR the formation of a tipping vehicle operators' functional group to cover the whole of the Road Haulage Association's Yorkshire West Riding Area, a meeting attended by nearly 100 operators was held in Leeds on July 25. Mr. R. G. Crowther, of Wakefield. presided. A temporary committee, with Mr. Crowther as chairman, was appointed pending the nomination of two representatives from each West Riding sub-area. Immediate attention is being given to rates for the transport of bricks, coal, sand and gravel.
POST OFFICE DRIVERS HAVE FULL TRAINING WJE are informed by the G.P.O. that TV although driving tests have not yet been. resumed, the Post Office has. throughout the war and, since, maintained its full training and testing of men employed on its vehicles before they are allowed on the road.
ACTIVITIES OF T.R.T.A. CHAIRMAN
ASERIES of visits to the areas of the Traders Road Transport Association is being undertaken by Colonel, Arthur Jerrett, M.Inst.T., chairman of that body, together with Mr. F. D. Fitz-Gerald, the national secretary. The purpose is to discuss and obtain a clear understanding of local problems and the views of the different areas on current affairs in the industry, particularly the threat of nationalization.
In the second week of July they visited the three Yorkshire areas. During the fourth week they visited the Devon and Cornwall area. At Edinburgh, Colonel Jerrett also addressed the Incorporated Sales Managers' Association on the subject of Transport as an Aid to Salesmanship." He referred to the work of the T.R.T.A. on behalfof C-licence holders, especially in relation to nationalization.
The Omnibus Society recently invited Mr. Sidney E. Garcke, C.B.E., to become its president, and he has consented to assume this office.
BURNLEY RATES UP ONE-TENTH
AGENERAL increase of 10 per cent, in all existing road-transport charges for the Burnley district was decided upon at a recent committee meeting of the Road Haulage Association's Burnley area.
SALESMAN WITH INITIATIVE REQUIRED
Pl A N old-established concern handling
an extensively used form of equipment requires a representative to deal with this in Lancashire and Cheshire. A good salesman with plenty of initiative is sought. Letters should be addressed Salesman," care of the Editor.
A CLEAN SWEEP THE road sweeper illustrated on this 1 page has been put into service as .a demonstration vehicle 'by Lewin Roadsweepers, Ltd.. West Bromwich, a subsidiary of the Brockhouse group of companies.
The vehicle has a refuse-carrying capacity of 120 cubic ft., and its water tanks, with pressure-fed sprinklers, hold 170 gallons. Width of sweep is 7 ft.. and sweeping speeds can be varied from 3-10 m.p.h. The machine has a totally enclosed all-steel end-tipping body, and can be operated by one man.
Brushes can, the maker claims, be changed in 10 mins., and a special feature is the split brush shaft, allowing for road camber. Maintenance of the entire sweeping mechanism is simple, as there are only six bearings to lubricate daily.
Demonstrations can be arranged through the sales department of the company at Victoria Works, West Bromwich. "C.M." STAFF CHANGES CERTAIN changes have been made '—in the editorial staff of "The Commercial Motor," dating from August I. Mr. A. E Sherlock-Mesher, who was for some years a Sub-Editor on this journal (joining it in 1920), has returned from service with the Forces and has been appointed Assistant Editor in place of Mr. W. A. E. Vacher, who has resigned. Mr. P. G. Tucker, Technical Sub-Editor, has become Technical Editor.
MINISTER WELCOMED B.R.F. DEPUTATION
Vgreferred last week to the deputaon from the B.R.F. to the Minister of Transport. The chairman of the Federation, Lord Sandhurst, introduced the deputation, which comprised Messrs. 0N. Wilson, B. Monk, Sir Francis Meynell and Major R. A. B. Smith. The secretary, Mr. J. S. Neave, was in attendance.
The offer from the Federation to assist in furthering the road programme was welcomed by the Minister, who invited the B.R.F. to keep in close touch with his Department so that its Members could be kept fully informed of the progress being made.
AGREEMENT BETWEEN EXETER AND DEVON GENERAL
AGREEMENT has been reached on proposals for the joint operation by Exeter City Council and the Devon General Omnibus Co.. Ltd., of existing and future bus services in the city and surrounding districts. The area concerned stretches from Sandford and Silverton in the North to Exmouth and Cockwood Bridge (beyond Starcross) in the South, and from Tedburn St. Mary in the West to Rockbeare in the East.
The proposals are subject to the approval of the R.T.C., and effect will be given to them as soon as possible after this is obtained.
The operators will preserve their separate identities and assets, and whilst continuing to manage their own establishments will set up a joint committee to deal with the public passenger services in the area, and particularly with the development of additional facilities. TRUNK ROADS INCREASED BY 3,685 MILES I N a written answer to a question put last week by Mr. Challen, the Minister of Transport gave the following figures. relative to the mileage of Class I and 2, trunk, and unclassified roads:— A.E.C. DOING BIG EXPORT TRADE
AN important and growing market before the war, the South American countries of Uruguay and Argentina give every indication of being in future among the largest overseas users of Ado vehicles. Agar Cross and Co., Ltd., A.E.C.'s distributor in the Argentine, has ordered 224 Regal single-deck passenger chassis and 15 Matador goods chassis, and Messrs. H. Torrendell, S.A., A.E.C.'s distributors in Uruguay, have demanded 60 Regals and 15 Matadors. These latest contracts bring the total of Ado chassis ordered since the war, against firm contracts for service in Argentina, up to 282, and up to 165 in Uruguay.
In South Africa, contracts have been secured from Durban Corporation, an existing user of
A.E.C. single deckers and trolleybuses, fur 20 Regent Mark 111 double-deckers, from Pretoria Municipality for eight Monarch goods vehicles, from Ohissons Cape Breweries, Ltd., Cape Town, for six Monarchs, and from Roodeport Municipality for two Matadors. All have been placed through A.E.C.'s South African distributors, Dowson and Dobson, Ltd., Johannesburg.
Direct contracts from A.E.C. distributors cover 15 Regal single-deckers, which will go to CoryWright and Salmon, Ltd.. Wellirigton, New Zealand; six vehicles of the same type, which have been called for by Allen Berry and Co., Ltd., Calcutta, India. and one Monarch for United Africa Co.. Ltd., Turkey.
New A.E.C. users are represented by the British Graphitised Metals Co„ Dd., which has ordered four Monarchs for work in Morocco; Amalgro Trading Co.. whtch has signed up for a Regal to operate in Cuba. Havana; and Messrs. McHenry Bros., Dublin, who have ordered two Monarchs.
TWO CONDUCTORS FOR BUSES?
IT was suggested at Holmforth recently that buses should carry two conductors during peak hours,, one to collect fares and the other to see to the safety of passengers, as one person could not cope with both tasks. This idea was put forward in defence of a
conductress who was fined for failing to take reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of passengers. She did not blame her employer, but maintained that the system of requiring conductors to collect fares and look after public safety was at fault.
CO-ORDINATED TRANSPORT FOR LOWER COSTS
A PROPERLY co-ordinated system 1—X of internal transport operated by voluntary means is more likply to lead to efficiency and lowering of transport costs than any widespread proposal to supplant what have been under private ownership, cheap and economical methods of transport.
This is the opinion of the Transport Users Committee, recently constituted by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, which held its first meeting in Manchester on July 25.
Attention was given to the recent plans of the main-line railway companies and the road-haulage interests to achieve co-ordination independent of Government action.
LONDON TRANSPORT DIVIDEND MAINTAINED AYMENT on accol.nt of interest on
London Transport Stock for the financial year ending n December 31 next will be made ot August 23 to stockholders whose na ses were registered in the books of the Bank of England at the close of business on July 30. The rate will be If pericent. actual (the same rate as in the previous year), less income tax at 9s. in ihe
PROVISIONAL RATES SCHEDULE FOR "SMALLS"?
THE desirability of a rates schedule for small-parcels traffic, pending the issue of a national rates schedule, has been considered by the Express Carriers Functional Group of the NorthWestern (Western) Area of the Road Haulage Association. The matter will be further discussed at the next meeting of the group to be held on September 4 and in the meantime the representatives of some of the principal members will endeavour to prepare a schedule for consideration.
CORPORATION TO PAY ON REVISED SCALE
FOLLOWING representations by the North Western (Western) Area of the Road Haulage Association, St. Helens Corporation cleansing com-‘ mince has ceased to employ C licensees and has agreed to pay for the hire of vehicles on a revised scale, This was reported to a meeting of the tipping vehicle functional group by the area secretary, Mr. E. A. Whitehead. Formerly, the corporation had frequently hired vehicles on a flat rate based on the charge for a 2-tonner, irrespective of whatever the capacity of the vehicle might be.
Another matter considered by the group was the extra costs incurred by hauliers in stacking bricks which they have carried. This work is not covered by the haulage rates, and it is felt that an additional 5s. per 1,000 bricks is a reasonable charge to make when stacking has to be undertaken as well as carriage of the bricks.
Concerned at the low rates at which opencast coal is carried in the St. Helens area, the group is endeavouring to bring the Lancashire rate up to the level of that paid in Yorkshire. It was stated ,that 85 per cent. of the hauliers handling such freight in the St. Helens area were those who were operating as C licensees.
NOTTINGHAM TRANSPORT PROFITS
CAPITAL expenditure on Notting‘....,ham's transport undertaking for the year 'ended March 31 amounted to £1,209,317. Net loan debt was £76,421, and reserves and revenue balances, £162,878. Income, at £906,078, showed a gross profit of £77,399, and a net balance of £58,559.
PANELS OF COMMISSIONERS? I N a written reply last week to a queslion put by Sir B. Neven-Spence, the Minister of Transport, Mr. A. J. Barnes, stated that he was considering the revocation of the Order under which Chairmen of the Traffic Commissioners were empowered to sit along, He had in view the reinstatement of panels of commissioners as laid down in the Road Traffic Act, 1930.