WHY NOT TELL THE INDUSTRY?
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The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1692] Sir,—My attention has been drawn to Major F. H. Bale's letter published in. your columns, in which it was suggested that immense advantage would accrue to the British industry if the authorities could be persuaded to place at its disposal records of the valuable experience-gained in the maintenance of mechanical transport during the war. Major Bale suggests that British manufacturers should make a combined representation to the War Office with a view to securing data collected in various spheres of operations.
It will interest him and others of your readers to . know that this step was taken early thig year, but the representations of the industry were not favourably received. in February last this association requested permission for q deputation to visit Overseas theatres of war for du, • rpose of gathering such:data. The Array Citiuna replied that it failed to see what useful purpose could be served thereby. This association then wrote again expressing its disappointment and urging that a, fund of valuable experience was available at the chief overseas depots at which vehicles had been repaired. It was pointed out that, if British manufacturers were given access to records, it would be most helpful as indicating weaknesses of design and construction and the means of remedying these weaknesses. In the same letter the hope was ex1t50 pressed that the War Office. would issue to the industry' a general report on the lines indicated above, as it was felt that this report would be a valuable supplement to any information gained by manufacturers as to the behaviour of their own machines. The War Office replied that, in view of the fact ',fiat individual manufacturers had been given the fullest opportunity of seeing their vehicles at work and had been informed as to their performances and difficulties, it was not,, in the Army Council's opinion, necessary to issue a, report on the lines suggested.
From this brief summary of what took place, it will
be apparent that the Army Council strongly maintains the attitude that, if a manufacturer has received information in respect to his own vehicles, it cannot be to his advantage to have information also as to the performances and causes of failure of vehicles of other makes.
I agree with Major Bale that certain data could be made available, but I fear that our experiences are not in accord with his view that an appeal for such information for the use of manufacturers would receive a sympathetic hearing from the War Office.— Yours faithfully,
THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH. MOTOR AND ALLIED MANUFACTITRERS. HORACE WYATT, General Secretary.