NEWS of the WEEK
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CONFERENCE ON GAS PRODUCERS PROPOSED
IT is suggested by the Government Producer Gas Plant Licensees Association to hold a full day's conference, in London, on September 26, on the technical aspect of gas producers in the light of experience gained in the industry. It will have the assistance of the technical officers of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and each session will be opened by a member of the industry who has had practical experience of the subject.
The suggested itinerary includes drivers' education and encouragement ; the advantages and disadvantages of different types of filter in relation to cylinder wear, and experience of this wear ; the use of producers with oil engines; methods used and results obtained by raising compression ; and the employment of producers on various classes of vehicle.
Members of the motor and transport industries should apply for invitations to the Secretary of the Association, 13, Victoria Street, London, S. W.1.
Scatter Your Vehicles for Safety
THE secretary, Metropolitan Area, A.R.O., Mr, S. H. Jardine, advises all operators of large fleets that they would be wise to endeavour to garage some of their vehicles so that the whole fleet is not housed in the same premises. They should not be left in the open, if that be avoidable. This as a precaution against the possible heavyscale bombardment of London and, the idea is to minimize the possibility of the destruction of a large number of vehicles.
Calendar to Aid Drivers INCLUDED on our second editorial
page is a on designed by that well-known haulier, Mr. T. A. 1VcDowall, of P.D.Q. Transport, to help drivers during the black-out. It gives in a simple way the amount of moonlight which can be expected during the black-out period. It may also assist transport concerns to arrange their night work accordingly.
It is suggested that where copies of the journal are not retained for reference or binding, the calendar can be cut out and kept handy.
Road Transport Consultative Committee WE understand that the chairman VI' of the new and important Road Transport Consultative Committee, formed at the request of the Minister of Transport, to advise on A and B licence problems, will be Mr. C. A. Birtchnell, of the Ministry of Transport, with Mr. P. J. E. Dalmahoy as secretary. The following members have been suggested by their various associations :—A.R.O., Messrs. R. W. Sewill, G. Smart and A. Todd ; C.M.U.A., Captain C. Barrington and Messrs. F. F. Fowler and J. S. Nicholl ; W.M.T.A., Mr. P. J. R. Tapp ; Express Carriers, Mr. J. Paterson ;
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N.A.F.W.R., Major W. Taylor ; N.R.T.E.F., Messrs. W. Edwards, W. J. Elliott and B. G. Turner ; S.J.C., Mr. J. H. Turner ; S.C.H.C.A., Mr. J. Strang; S.C.M.U.A., Mr. T. Worsley.
The first meeting of the R.T.C.C. was to have been held yesterday.
Transfer of Maintenance Men
STEPS are being taken by the Ministry of Labour to control the transfer of skilled maintenance men from road transport to other industries. Instructions have been sent to Labour Exchanges that persons employed, or last employed, by a road-transport undertaking, or in garages or workshops serving such an undertaking, shall not be transferred to other work by the Exchanges except by agreement of the employer, or, failing that, after consideration of the case by the Regional Transport Commissioner.
Trunk Lorries on Local. Work I N recent weeks, owing to so many operators transferring lorries from long-distance trunk services to semilocal journeys within the 30-50-mile range, there has been a tendency for some routes to become overcrowded. This is the result of petrol rationing.
What established operators fear is that an excess of services might result in needless competition, with correspondingly unfortunate effects upon the general level of rates. Whilst long-distance rates are firm, local haulage rates are barely steady, despite the pooling of traffic in certain centres.
If this concentration of lorries on local journeys continues to be maintained, sooner or later steps will have to he taken to secure the most economic distribution of vehicles. One thing is certain—that in peace times the volume of traffic would not be anything like sufficient to keep in full employment the number of vehicles on offer for local work. INCOME TAX AND VEHICLE IMPRESSMENT THERE is no provision in the 1 ordinary income-tax regulations for allowance for depreciation and obsolescence of vehicles which are commandeered. If a haulier incurs capital loss due to impressment, it is likely that he will have trouble in obtaining appropriate allowances. That this problem is likely to arise was realized some time ago by A.R.O., and members were warned accordingly.
The first instance of hardship of this kind has now arisen and has been brought to the notice of the Association. As it is possible that there are other cases not reported, hauliers in such difficulties are asked to supply fullest information either direct to A.R.O. headquarters or to the area secretary. It will then he possible to present a case to the inland revenue authorities for their consideration.
Insurance for Grouped Vehicles Q INCE September, 1939, insurers have agreed to continue and extend for three months at a time, without any general increase in rates, existing policies for grouped motor goods vehicles. This was despite the removal of certain restrictions on A and B licences imposed under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1923. The arrangement has now been extended until November 30.
Hospitality for Journalists in the Services
JOURNALISTS with the Colours, whether they be members of the Institute or Union, or neither, are invited to send their names, units and addresses to the Honorary Secretary. Journalists' Services Committee, 2 and 4, Tudor Street, London, E.C.4, so that their own profession can Offer them hospitality_
CAMOUFLAGING RESTRICTION POSTPONED
Arhave already announced that rehicles must not be painted in such a manner as to resemble camouflaged Service types. This was to have been prohibited from August 26, but to allow further time for compliance in the case of vehicles which have already been so painted, the effect of the Order has been postponed until September 23,
Owners should not paint ' their vehicles with what is generally known as "disruptive " camouflage or with a jazz pattern, as they might be mistaken for Service vehicles, especially in a poor light. Whether one or more colours be used, it is best to keep to dark neutral shades other than the greys and khaki already adopted; the • paint must have a matt surface.
Premises Available for War Work
A GARAGE and works in the PA London, N.W.3, area, with floor space of some 20,000 sq. ft. and well situated for transport, with labour easily available, can be leased, all or
in part, for war work. In normal times, the repair and maintenance of motor vehicles are carried out, in addition to ordinary garage work, and the plant for these purposes is installed.
Letters should be addressed "War Factory," care of the Editor.
Scottish Wages Dispute
THE wages dispute between the Scottish railway contractors and the Scottish Horse and Motormen's Association is to be referred to the National Arbitration Tritunal. The three contracting firms objected to negotiations in London and contended that the Tribunal should meet in Glasgow. This request has been refused. The Association asked for an advance of 4s., but was offered 2s., which it declined. Other contractors, it points out, are paying 6s, a week more than the railway contractors. About 2,500 men are involved.
A.R.O. Help on Requisitioning of Vehicles
RENEWED adtivity on the part of both military and local authorities in requisitioning vehicles is now being experienced. With past experience in mind, Mr. S. H. Jardine, secretary, Metropolitan Area, A.R.O., has been in communication with Mr. H. Norman Letts, the solicitor to the Association, concerning this matter. Members are recommended to communicate with Mr. Letts before agreeing to any offers re the purchase of vehicles by either of these bodies. Arrangements have been made whereby members may obtain, free of cost, the Association solicitor's advice in relation to all matters respecting the requisitioning of vehicles.
Members wishing to avail themselves of this facility should forward to Mr. Letts, 55-61, Moorgate, London, E.C.2, the following information and documents :—
(1) Membership number of A.R,O.; (2) Description of the vehicle showing :—(i) Index Mark and Registration Number. (ii) Make. (iii) Unladen
weight. (iv) Date of first registration; (3) Requisition form; (4) Registration book; (5) Date of acquisition of the vehicle and price paid; (6) Particulars of any Hire Purchase Agreement, and if possible a copy thereof; (7) Details of any work (other than normal maintenance) carried out to the vehicle giving:—(i) The nature of the work.
(ii) The date when it was carried out.
(iii) The cost; (8) Details of the value placed upon the vehicle —(1) By the requisitioning officer. (ii) By the member.
Members will understand that this free service covers advice only.
Mr. W. H. Gaunt Undergoes Operation NUE learn with regret that Mr.
T W. H. Gaunt, 0.13.E., well known as distribution manager of J. Lyons and Co., Ltd., and who was recently appointed Director of Transport and Warehousing; Ministry of Food, has undergone a somewhat serious operation, from which we wish him a speedy recovery. Meanwhile, his work at the Ministry of Food is being carried out by Mr. Marsden, of Cadbury's.
NO CERTIFICATE NEEDED FOR SPARE PARTS
ACERTAIN amount of difficulty has been caused by concerns which hold stocks of spare parts for sale refusing to supply these without the presentation of a certificate.
We would emphasize that this demand cannot be legally enforced. Certificates apply only to the supply of materials for manufacturing. We understand that there has been some internal arrangement in the industry, but this is strongly disapproved by the Ministry of Transport, which is taking up the matter with the body concerned.
Position in Transport Management Required
THE production manager to various film-producing companies, who has also had the responsibility of the transport arrangements involving the use of many classes of vehicle, and has had experience with transport management in British West Africa (controlling a fleet of over 200 lorries with native drivers and mechanics) requires a position in transport management where he can apply his considerable knowledge in this field. Letters should be addressed "Transport," care of the Editor.
Encouraging Charcoal Gas in Japan
FOR some years past the Japanese Government, with the object of encouraging the use of fuels alternative to petrol, has been granting subsidies to users of approved types of charcoalgas producers. The Fuel Society of Japan in the latest issue of its " Journal " to reach this country announces that eight additional types of Japanese-made producer have lately been tested by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and certified as meeting the subsidy requirements.
C.M.U.A. Division Establishes Contingency Fund
AMOST encouraging send-off has been given to a contingency fund opened by the North-Eastern Divisional Committee of the C.M.U.A. for the purpose of giving immediate financial. aid should any member in the Division require it by reason of the fact that his premises suffer serious damage through enemy action, such as an air raid. The decision to open the fund was taken at a meeting in Leeds last week, and by August 24 500 guineas had been subscribed by members of the Divisional Committee or their firms,
The scheme, believed to be the first of its kind launched by a trade association, provides for the administration of the fund by trustees appointed by the C.M.U.A. These trustees will be empowered, after examining any case which arises, to give immediate financial aid to the operator concerned so as to minimize dislocation to his business.
The fund will tide over the period between damage by enemy action and the payment of compensation by the Government. and when compensation is eventually received the fund will be reimbursed.
LIVERPOOL TRANSPORT POOL
MORE details are now available of the new private company, the Port
of Liverpool Road Transport Control, Ltd., which has been formed to take over the assets, liabilities, and business responsibilities of Emergency Transport Control (Road Transport),.
On behalf of the company, an assurance has been given that the Control will not enter into competition with existing transport facilities, but will function solely, as . hitherto, in the handling of traffic arising from emergency conditions. The tasks that lie before it include making the 'fullest use of local resources and of vehicles•transferred to the port from other areas, and assisting the Port Emergency •Cornmittee in keeping the quays of the port clear of goods.
The board of directors is fully representative of the road-transport interests of the port, and although the directorships they hold are personal, the contact which the direetors have with the three associations (Liverpool Cart and Motor Owners Association, C.M.U.A., and A.R.0.), which originally nominated them, assures the control of the support of all reputable road-transport contractors in the district. The directors are Messrs. W. J. Harper (chairman), IL Allan, T. F. Hargreaves, C. Hines, F. W. Irving, G. J. Mullany, P. Stevenson, J. F. Supplies, and J. Walker. The operating manager, is Mr. James Britt and the secretary Mr, Allen Walter. The registered office of the Control is at 20, Chapel Street, Liverpool.
Group Organizers Association
GROUP organizers • in the 133 group (general haulage), Liverpool, propose to form themselves into an association to be caned the B3 Group Organizers Association. Preliminaries for the inaugural meeting have been already arranged. Objects which the Association is intended to secure arc:— (1) uniformity of working in group matters; (2) means for the exchange of opinions and ideas; (3) opportunities for the Sub-district Manager to meet organizers and to pass 9n to them collectively, details of instructions issued by the Ministry, instead of individually as at present; (4) settlement of queries and difficulties raised by operators,
One issue which is troubling organizers in this group is the instruction that vehicles of 2-3 tons unladen weight will have their supplementary fuel ration reduced unless their work is confined to local and semi-local journeys. There is no mileage limit.
Group organizers are pressing for a definition of " local and semi-local " journeys. It is also felt that the railway companies should be told what is the radius within which their lorries and vans may opeiate.
Plan Level-crossing Abolition • Now
I N the House of Commons last week, Sir Grenville Gibson expressed a hope that the Minister of Transport would, as part of reconstruction employment, take the initiative in planning the abolition of all railway
level crossings, except those in remote rural districts, so that consideration of a vast scheme might not be embarked upon hurriedly at the last moment.
Sir J. Reith replied to the effect that, in the preparation of a post-war scheme, the Ministry's policy of promoting or encouraging the elimination of level crossings was being considered.
Transport Pageant Postponed
THE transport pageant arranged for Glasgow for August 31 has been postponed owing to the need for all transport vehicles being kept ready for any national emergency. The committee, of which Sir John McDonald is chairman, has decided to ask hauliers to contribute to the Glasgow Central War Relief Fund a sum equal to what they would have expended on the pageant. Local hauliers have already given almost £1,5110 to the fund. .
Herring Transport Inadequate
CONSIDERABLE resentment has Ldbeen expressed by local fishermen on the lack of facilities for transporting herrings by road from Campbeltown to Glasgow. Catches of herrings, it is stated, have not reached Glasgow within 12 hours of being landed at Campbeltown. One Glasgow buyer has given orders to his Campbeltown representative that, in future, he cannot accept herrings on Saturdays, because of the fact that they are so late in reaching the city that a market cannot be found for them.
A leading fisherman stated that unless better facilities are available for transporting the herrings the boats will stop running to Campbeltown with their catches. EXEMPTION FROM LICENSING THERE appears to be sonic doubt 1 as to the classes of service fur which unlicensed vehicles may be employed. These are included in the Emergency Powers (Defence) Road Vehicles and Drivers Order, 1940, dated May 6 (Statutory Rules and Orders, 1940, No. 741).
Apart from those vehicles used on H.M. Service and others specified in the Finance Act, 1920, (a), and the Roads Act, 1920 (b), certain services have been designated by the Minister of Transport as those which appear to him to be essential for the defence of the realm, the efficient prosecution of the war, or the life of the corn. in unity. They are as follow :--The removal, by reason of the possibility of hostile attack, of sick persons undergoing treatment ; transport to first-aid posts or hospital of casualties occurring through hostile attack; transference of members of the civil population from one area to another by reason of the possibility of attack; the carrying or drawing of personnel or equipment for exercises, training or other specific duties in connection with the various branches of Air-Raid Precautions or of the Auxiliary Fire Services.
Each vehicle so employed requires a certificate bearing the stamp of the local authority and of the Ministry of Transport.
Death of Mons, Michelin
AT the age of 84 years, M. Edouard Michelin, the founder of the famous tyre-making concern bearing his name. has died at Clermont-Ferrand.
EMERGENCY ROAD TRANSPORT ORGANIZATION
A PARLIAMENTARY question by
Sir R. Glyn, last week, related to the defence emergency organization of road transport. He asked how many districts and sub-districts the country had been divided into; what was the total number of people employed and what was their relationship to the military authorities; how far were they in contact with the offices of the Regional Commissioners; and under what authority could they requisition vehicles.
Sir John Reith said there were 12 regions, two sub-regions, 86 districts and 477 sub-districts; 1,929 persons were employed by the Ministry; in addition the Ministry nominated 477 subdistrict managers and about 9,500 group organizers. Among other duties regional transport commissioners requisitioned vehicles for the military and other authorities and assisted them to obtain the transport they needed.
District officers were responsible to the transport commissioners, each of whom had a liaison officer with the regional civil commissioners and there was close contact between the two. Requisitioning of vehicles was carried out by the officers designated in the Emergency Powers (Defence) Road Vehicles and Drivers Order, 1940, under powers conferred by Regulation 53 of the Defence (General) Regulations.
Military Hire and Insurance
ACCORDING to the C.M.U.A., where vehicles are hired by thp military authorities for short periods, with their drivers, the vehicles should be fully insured and licensed unless other instructions be given.
When they are hired for indefinite periods, particularly to stand by, operators, after reaching their destinations, should inquire of the authorities whether there he any need for the vehicles still to be licensed and insured. The Commands usually indicate that where the civilian drivers of the owners are employed, normal insurance is necessary, but when, in emergency, army drivers take control, then an indemnity is issued. The terms of this are, briefly, that the War Department undertakes to indemnify the operator to the extent that such action mielit be held to have invalidated any policy of insurance entered into, or to indemnify him against d-mage and third-party liability in respect of any vehicles for which no insurance policy. covering damage and/or third-party liability is current.
Inquiring Into Glasgow Docks Efficiency FOLLOWING consultation with the Minister of Labour, the Minister of Transport has appointed a committee of inquiry, under the chairmanship of Lord Patrick, one of the Senators of His Majesty's College of Justice, to consider the position during the war at Glasgow docks and to make recommendations with a view to their most efficient working.
The object of the inquiry, which opened on Tuesday last, is to ensure that the best possible use is made of the port in the exceptional circumstances brought about as a result of the war.
In view of the comprehensive nature of the inquiry, it is considered desirable that anyone who can make a contribution towards the further adjustment of the arrangements to meet war-time conditions should have an opportunity of giving evidence before the Committee, and they should communicate with the secretary at the Central Hotel, Glasgow.
" Music While You Work " Stimulates Operatives
ALLALL the factories of Automotive Co., Ltd., are being equipped for programmes by gramophone records, general addresses, broadcasts, etc. Times have been worked out after consideration of the experience gained by the B.B.C. and the Industrial Welfare Society, following the institution of daily "Music While You Work" broadcasts. It is proposed to use these broadcasts in conjunction with the company's own gramophone records.
NO ROAD DRIVING FOR BOY TRACTOR DRIVERS THE Minister of Transport was asked in Parliament to approve the granting of restricted licences, for the duration of the war, for youths of 16 to 21 years of age who were driving tractors, to enable them to take their tractors from the farms to the fields in which they were operating.
Sir J. Reith, however, said he did not think it would be in the public interest to allow tractors to be driven on roads by youths under 17, Above that age they could already do so, in the circumstances indicated.
Ridley Report in Minister's Hands WHEN asked in Parliament if he W could make an announcement concerning the Ridley Committee's investigation into the use of alternative fuels for road transport and whether it was proposed to publish any report of the findings of the committee, Mr. Grenfell, Secretary of Mines, said he had just received the report of Lord Ridley's Committee and would study it with great care.
The report was comprehensive and contained numerous recommendations, many of which related to the encouragement of the use of coal gas or producer gas. Until he had had an opportunity of studyingthe report in detail he could not say whether it would be desirable in the national interest to publish it.
Water Leaks Metallically Sealed
APREPARATION called Maxon radiator solder has been introduced by Guyson Industrial Equipment, Ltd., 41, Grace Street, Leeds. It is claimed to make a permanent metallic repair of a leaky radiator bysimply introducing it into the cooling water. According to the maker it takes effect in five minutes, is suitable for use with anti-freeze solutions, and cannot clog even the smallest passages in modern radiators. A carton containing a sufficient quantity for a commercialvehicle cooling system costs 4s. 6d. There is a smaller size offered at 2s. 9d.
New Edition of Garcke's Annual
AGAIN we are pleased to thank Electrical Press, Ltd., GO, Kingsway, London, W.C.2, for a copy of Garcke's Motor Transport Year Book and Directory, edited by our friend of many. years' standing, Mr. F. C. Garrett.
It is Volume 24, and although the general contents are on the same lines as in previous years, it is, despite war conditions, even larger than usual.
Special attention has been paid to the section dealing with road-transport organization, whichincludes an excellent guide to the laws and regulations controlling road transport, many of which have been affected by the Emergency Power Orders, etc., brought into force since the outbreak of war.
The principal contents consist of financial, statistical and descriptive information of nearly 4,000 roadtransport and allied undertakings. Another feature is a statistical survey showing the progress for the year.
Published at 30s., this book constitutes a most comprehensive directory of the industry.