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Matters for Consideration

6th January 1940, Page 19
6th January 1940
Page 19
Page 20
Page 19, 6th January 1940 — Matters for Consideration
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

THIS being the first issue of The Commercial Motor for 1940, it may be of interest briefly to summarize those matters which are of particular importance to the immediate commercial road transport.

First of all, there is the question of the supply of vehicles. However optimistic we may be concerning the possibilities of production for the home market, we cannot hope that this will, at the best and for some time to come, even cover what would, at ordinary times, be considered as essential replacements. There is more prospect in the direction of supplies to meet the export trade, because it is of vital importance that our finances abroad should be maintained in as healthy a condition as possible, in order to permit the purchase of food, aircraft and other munitions, in which term we include that product so essential to our industry—oil.

In the sphere of alternative fuels, we may expect considerable development to occur, and the quicker this takes place the better; in fact, those operators who can equip their vehicles with satisfactory ineans for utilizing indigenous fuels may find themselves in a relatively happy position. It is doubtful whether the Mines Department can give an adequate answer to questions as to whether or not such drastic fuel restrictions as we are now experiencing are essential.

Why Fuel Must Be Conserved It may be that the war in the air has not yet commenced in the true sense of the word and that immense quantities of fuel will eventually be required for the fighting and protective air arm ; also, the needs of the Army, in so far as its mechanical transport and tanks are concerned, at present represents but a small proportion of what may be needed later. Possibly, the country is steadily increasing its storage capacity, which certainly appears necessary if the many reports as to the difficulty of unloading fuel barges and tankers be anywhere near the mark.

Warnings that have been given as regards further possible restrictions, even if they do not eventuate, will serve as a strong incentive towards the employment of gas, producer gas, and other classes of fuel which are capable of ready production in this country.

In the matter of rates of payment for vehicles employed by the military and civil-defence authorities, efforts are being made to place these on a sound basis—and not before time. Even now, there is considerable variation throughout the country, and it is essential that rates should be placed on a firmer basis. Already much dissatisfaction has been expressed, and we are continually receiving inquiries as to what the payments are actually to be.

Bring Idle Vehicles Back to Service It is doubtful also whether it is really necessary for so many thousands of vehicles to be retained for services in which they hardly turn a wheel, and thus represent enormous wastage of what would otherwise be valuable transport media. Surely some of these can be released so long as they can be rendered available for service at call. Incidentally, hundreds of drivers who could be more usefully employed are also kept idle for emergencies.

The situation, so far as the lighting of vehicles, particularly of the passenger type, is concerned, is likely to improve after the successful experiments which have been conducted. Much of the difficulty has been due to great variation in the manner in which this problem has been handled in different areas, sometimes by operators themselves, at other times at the request of the police. There is also likely to be a slight arnolint of illumination of streets, at least in the busy centres, where not too close to the coast. The present type of headlamp mask can be regarded as fairly successful, especially as fog lamps, where fitted, may be employed when considered essential, again,. subject to polite control.

Tyres, in particular, should be treated most carefully so as to preserve their life, as there is likely to be a demand which it will be somewhat difficult to meet. At present, practically the whole output of our big tyre factories is being absorbed in meeting Army needs, arid demands from abroad which the Government is loath to neglect. As we recently pointed out, large tyres are even being imported, but it is necessary that such imports should be kept to the minimum. A matter that requires clearing up is that of the supply of fuel for gas producers. As pointed out by a correspondent, prices, in some cases, already tend to be excessive, and if a very large number of vehicles be converted, the quantities of fuel at present available will have to be largely augmented. Their price should not be based upon any artificial inflation of the price of petrol, but purely upon economic considerations.

Keep the Peace With Licensed Tonnage THE Government, as represented by the Minister of Transport, has stated that a person who, at the outbreak of war, held a carrier's licence in respect of a certain tonnage, will stand in better favour if, when peace comes, he makes an application to a Licensing Authority for the inclusion in his licence of a similar tonnage. This is not being regarded as sufficiently binding or explicit, and the Standing Joint Committee is sending a deputation to the Minister to explain the viewpoint of the haulage industry. It is our opinion, also, that a far more definite understanding should be obtained. Many haulage concerns, both small and big, have had to sacrifice a proportion, and in some cases the whole, of their tonnage, and they should be given a definite guarantee that a corresponding amount shall be regranted automatically on request. If the Government places any further objections in the way of such a procedure, it will be yet another indication that its policy is to use the war as an excuse for transferring to rival interests work hitherto performed by road operators. Of compensation for loss of business there can be but little hope, but, at least, members of the industry are entitled to demand that their businesses shall be reconstituted at their original strength, in so far as essential equipment is concerned.

Convoys to Meet Winter Transport Difficulties THE difficulties encountered by road transport, at about this time last year, when the roads were largely snowbound, will not quickly be forgotten. Heavy snowfalls this winter may produce far more trying conditions. Driving in the blackout is troublesome enough, even when the kerbs and the white line can be distinguished; if they should become completely blanketed, then the driver's task will be unenviable. Whilst night transport would Continue, no doubt, under such conditions, they would certainly lead to great losses of time, which can ill be afforded. Many vehicles might be stuck or ditched, and whilst such accidents are seldom dangerous they often prove extremely costly, As we have a reasonable expectation of more snow at this season, it would be no more than prudent to consider ways and means for overcoming its handicap. The employment of the convoy system appears to be the most promising. When the roads become snow-covered, vehicles wishing to follow a certain route could be marshalled into columns of convenient size, and proceed behind a pilot. In that way each convoy should be able to maintain a better average than would be wise with an individual vehicle, and its members would be practically secure against the risk of running off the road. The convoy system is also a useful one for conditions of heavy fog, and might even be considered for normal black-out driving. There have always been certain parallels between the work of the road transport industry and that of the mercantile marine. The employinent of convoys in war time may prove to be another of them.

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