LEAVES FROM THE INSPECTOR'S NOTEBOOK.
Page 19
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Shortage of Material—More Power to the Road—In the Limelight.
FOR QUITE a long time past now, we have, all of us become quite accustomed to the excuse so glibly offered in explanation of nondelivery of this, that, and the other. To-day, we no less frequently hear the same reason advanced, and so we should to-morrow, were it likely that demand would continue so astonishingly to exceed supply. During thewar, as the drain on man power became more acute, production of raw or finished
material, very naturally, became more difficult and on an increasing scale as demands became more insistent and as orders were increasingly poured out by the Government. With the cessation of warlike demands, we were confronted not only with a worldshortage of everything but war-time stores and paper money, but with an ominously' growing tendency for labour to slacken its efforts and to ask more for the privilege of employing it.
Now we have quite' definitely arrived at a new stage in world economies. The riot of demand for immediate delivery—and "never mind the cost," has come to an end, in t,he home country at any rate. And, for no reason of increased production, but for the equally effective cause of reduced demand, we are quite soon likely to witness the final abandonment of the excuse that has been offered so long, that of shortage of materials. Cancellation .of material orders is alreadytaking place flrom the more nervous quarters that are none too stable financially. The Government's squandermania has byno means yet reached its climax. The buyer already is shyer of more speculative deals, although, where he is quite assured of his requirements and that they can be adequately met, he is long-sighted 'enough to see that the present, at long last, is his opportunity. Raw and partly finished material is going to be a lot easier in a month or two, and those firma, be they manufacturers or users, whose business prospects are stable, are likely to find themselves in a position that will be considerably easier so far as the material side of production is concerned. The whole thing, once again, will be cumulative. Cancellation of speculative and superambitious orders will , enable the more stable customers to cover their' requirements more readily. Every order for a casting turned down by those who fear being frozen out will benefit those who have no
such qualms.* * *
We ought, in a short while, more nearly to approach the condition of normal supply and demand, and the condition of tradei as a whole, should, consequently, be a lot more wholesome and capable of estimation. Some of those who have had to plead "shortage of material" until quite recently are likely to have to struggle hard with suppliers to prevent over-delivery in the near future—unless the present writer is very much mistaken.
More Power to the Road.
With a new axe to grind in recent days, the Daily Mail has suddenly ceased its attempts to brand the char-A-bancs an anything between a juggernaut and a monstrosity, on account of its circulation-catching decision to appose the raising of railway fares—or, at any rate, to appear to be opposing them. We are now being treated to much lecturing on the manner in which the road will inevitably oust the rail, if fares are permitted to rise any higher. The Ministry af Transport should beware, we are told, that. the Char-it-banes 'is quite well able to develop to almost
any unexpected extent and to carry passengers over reasonable distances at rather less than the new third-class railway fares in first-class comfort.
There is not the slightest doubt that the rail fare increases will boost the alternative road means of travel. But, there is likely to be an early termination of further express development of de luxe road transport. We shall probaby see an early demand for a type of vehicle, corresponding perhaps to the diligence of Continental conditions and, perhaps, to the old-time capacious carrier's cart. That line of development is, in all the new circumstances, inevitable. The single-decke'S for rural transport will come into its own and there will be a further large increase in the employment of the urban 28-seated covered body, of the type which is already so engaging the earnest attention of municipal and other authorities all over the country and abroad, as an alternative to further perpetuation of the out-of-date tramcar.
In the Limelight.
For one reason or another the char-h-bancs is the type of industrial vehicle which is " stealing all the thunder" at the present time, we hear far more of it—and indeed see far more of it—than of other types in these summery trip-taking days. Opinion appears to be a little divided as to what the immediate future has in store for the "people's touring ear." Some think we have seen the most of this particular boom, and they quote the intentions of well-known owners to sell off some of their stock at the end of the present season. Others look hopefully to the reaction they anticipate as the results of Geddes's rising railway fares. Yet others think gloomily that the wageearner has seen the end of his excess profits, and will be increasingly cautious are to his outlay the next summer. And,. lastly, some of those who profess to know lots about these things are being swept away in the wave of anticipatory enthusiasm for the char-à-bancs with the air-filled tyres.
I am one of those who, while firmly holding to the belief that we are in the early stages of much greater use for the roads, do not expect the char-a-basics owners' remarkable trading results ef this and last season to be maintained. The suggestion that owners contemplate 'disposing of their fleets to a. large extent is made, I think, without knowledge of the habit of the principal proprietors who always endeavour to pass on last year's machines—at no loss be it remarked—to some one else, lent to replace them by the newest and smartest thing from the makers for the new season.
As to pneumatics, I have an open mind. I am not so much interested to know how much more comfortable they are, and how they bring down maintenance charges—when tyres are new—I want to know how things go when there is a little doubt as to whether a tyre is good to stand another trip! And almost want to know exactly how easy it is going to be to wipe off the very heavy extra prime cost on these big pneumatics.
Just a word of warning to those who are fostering this prientnatic campaign. It is highly indiscreet at the present juncture to advance free an advantage the possibilities of higher speeds. This, to the writer's knowledge, is being done to some extent by certain salesmen, and it should be dropped like a hot brick. There is no necessity to elaborate the reasons I have in mind. They should be self-evident.