OFFICIAL ORDERS IN JANUARY.
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January proved a relatively quiet month as regards the orders for motor vehicles given out by Government Departments. The Admiralty gave one for lorries to Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd. The War Office ordered motor workshop bodies from the Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co., Ltd., and Lee Motor Works (Bournemouth), Ltd., chassis from Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd., and derrick bodies from the Eagle Coachworks, Ltd.
The Air Ministry's orders included metal bodies and cabs from Carbodies, Ltd., platform bodywork for trailer chassis from E. G. Brown and Co„ Ltd., and lorries from the Ford Motor Co., Ltd. The G.P.O. ordered chassis from Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd.
The orders given out by the Crown Agents for the Colonies included one for lorries from Rootes, Ltd., and Morris Industries Exports, Ltd., and another for road rollers from AvelingBarford, Ltd.
Furniture—Railways "Useless " and "Impossible."
A letter from a Birmingham firm of coffin manufacturers, referring to their need for haulage facilities, " particularly in view of increasing business," was among the evidence in support of an application for an additional 3-ton vehicle granted to II. J. Detig, a Birmingham haulier, by the West Midland Deputy Licensing Authority, on Monday. Several firms for whom the applicant carried furniture wrote in support of the application, one referring to the railway facilities as " useless " and another describing the rail container service as " impossible" on work of the type. S.C.H.C.A. Tackles Lanarkshire.
A committee of the Scottish Carriers and Haulage Contractors Association met this week to consider the organization of Northern Lanarkshire. It was reported that excellent progress had so far been made in Lanark and district, including putting into force rates for the carriage of lime.
Committee meetings are to be held in the Lesser Old Town Hall, Hamilton, every fortnight, from March 14.
Railway Objection " ScandalcKis."
" The railway objection in this case is scandalous," said Mr. H. Backhouse, solicitor to the Manchester section of the C.M.U.A., at Manchester last week, when J. Ashton and Co., of Manchester Road, Hyde, Cheshire, was applying for the addition of a 2-tonner to a fleet of five vehicles, used chiefly for carrying cotton yarns and machinery, welding plant and tools.
Here was a man giving a service, Mr. Backhouse said, which no one else was offering, whose customers complained of delays and inconveniences caused by lack of lorries, and whose hiring had gone up from £17 to £110 for three months. Yet the railway companies, which had not the service to offer and had not produced any evidence that others could offer it, could stand up and say, "This man must not have another vehicle."
" We have come to a terrible state of things," lie added. " In my submission you have all the evidence necessary, and cross-examination has not 'broken down a single statement." 'Decision was deferred.
" Red Vans " fpr Scottish Isles.
It s expected that the Post Office will, in the near future, operate its own mail vans in Harris, the Uists and Barra. Hitherto mails have been carried by private contract,
B.B.C. Mobile Unit at Olympia.
From April 14 to 21 the B.B.C. mobile transmission unit will be located at Olympia for the Daily Mail Ideal Home Exhibition. From a studio at Olympia it will radiate television programmes to Alexandra Park, whence they will be returned to Olympia for normal reception.