News of the Week
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ANOTHER IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS UNITY
AS we close for press, we learn of an important advance in the efforts which are being made to unify the representation of road-transport operators of all classes, except those in the municipal sphere and certain p.s.v. interests, which have their own repreeeritative bodies.
The members of the National Council
of A.R.O. have finally reached agreement and have voted practically unanimously for the completion of the Perry plan.
The A.R.O. solicitor, Mr. Norman Letts, with Mr. Quick Smith, are busy knocking into shape the final drafts of the various memoranda and articles of association before their submission to the Board of Trade'.
Many people in the industry had almost reached the point of believing that the merger arrangements would never fructify, and even some of the officials concerned had expressed their doubts as to the ultimate success of the many negotiations.
These points are summed up in our leading article in this issue, which we are not changing as it may still give strength to the elbows of those who are striving to achieve this measure of unity.
TAXATION A BARRIER TO EXPANDING EXPORT TRADE
" THERE is no valid reason why the 1 motor is should not be one of Britain's greatest exporting industries after the war," said Lt. Col. D. C. McLagan, D.S.O., secretary of the S.M.M.T., in an address to the Rotary Club of London, last Wednesday.
He emphasized that the present method of motor-vehicle taxation will have to be revised so that greater freedom of expression is given to designers who are capable of providing the ideas for the production of motor vehicles which would have a ready acceptance in markets overseas. These vehicles, however, must be sold in volume over here before a price level is established that will attract buyers abroad. Taxation is the main obstacle to progress. LIVERPOOL CHAMBER'S VIEWS
ON MOTORWAYS PROPOSALS rONS1DERATION has been given by the Road Transport Section of the
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce to the motorways proposals of the British Road Federation, and it has approved of them.
It has been decided to send a resolution to the B.R.F. stating:— " In addition to these proposed new highways which are outlined in the scheme, a further motorway should be constructed to commence at a point near Wisbech, croising the NewcastleLondon motorway and the DoncasterJAristol motorway at a point adjacent to Leicester and joining up with the north-south motorway at a point near Stoke-on-Trent. " The Section, in the belief that present-day roads, with few exwptions, are a deterrent to the transort of heavy loads, also urges the Federation to press for road surfaces that are capable of taking the maximum stress permitted under the . Motor Vehicles (Authorization of Special Types) Order 1941.
" The Section further believes that it is essential for all bridges crossing the motorways to have a maximum height of 20 ft., and that all road bridges should be free from toll."
SHORTAGE OF SKILLED LABOUR FOR MAINTENANCE
IT was stated at a recent meeting of the Road TransportSection of the Liverpool Chamber oi Commerce that increasing difficulty was being experienced in obtaining skilled labour for the maintenance of lorries. It was said that the Ministry of Labour appeared to be concentrating on the call-up of young men who had not completed their apprenticeship, but who bad reached the stage when they were becoming useful. That the man-power position in the transport industry was becoming serious was admitted, but the meeting considered the question of deferment was a matter for the Regional Maintenance Officer, Manchester.
NEW SIGNPOSTING SYSTEM FOR LIVERPOOL DOCKS
LIVERPOOL Port Emergency Committee, in conjunction with the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board and Liverpool and Bootle Corporations, is about to put into operation a simplified scheme of direction notices pointing to the location of the various docks at Liverpool.
Road-transport drivers from outlying districts will shortly observe specially coloured, numbered signposts erected at road junctions on the outskirts of the city, hearing the word " Docks." The South Docks, for instance, have been numbered I to 23 on a green direction post; the Central Docks have been allocated numbers 24 to 53 painted on red signposts, and the North Docks 59 to 98 on signposts coloured yellow.
Drivers passing through Liverpool to the Cheshire side of the Mersey. via the Mersey Tunnel, should use the New Quay (or Dock Road) entrance and will be guided there by following the red signposts covering Dock No. 24.
Shipowners and traders generally have been asked to indicate on the export permit, or any other document to be used by a driver, the appropriate dock number and the driver has only to follow the green, red, or yellow arrow to ensure arriving at the proper destination. A driver having reached the dock entrance will be directed by the police constable on duty to the actual berth. There will be 'a further announcement when the posts have been completely erected. END OF WAR-TIME CONTROL: LORD NUFFIELD SEEKS DECISION
QPEAKING at the annual general
meeting of Morris Motors, Ltd., on Tuesday last, Viscount Nuffield said that: " No one in industry can usefully make any comment on the trading conditions which may prevail at the end of this conflict until a muchneeded pronouncement is made by the Government on such matters as the continuance of war-time controls; E.P.T., purchase tax and labour restrictions.
" Industry as a whole," he said, . " and the motor industry in particular. can well be proud of the part played in this highly mechanized warfare. I would commend to the attention of all in high places a close appreciation of the fact that the welfare of the peoples in the whole world to-day is inextricably interwoven with engineering development.
" The sweeping pace at which the whole balance of military power has moved in Northern France in the past few weeks brings a surge of proud rejoicing, yet withal a lesson in the need for the maintenance of constant superiority of mechanized equipment. Our defence and prosperity in this country—in war. and in peace—are dependent upon our keeping ahead in the technique of engineering."
WOMEN'S TRAFFIC CLUB PLANS FOR SERVICES WOMEN
IkAEMBERS of The Women's Traffic al Club of Great Britain, although somewhat hampered by war-time travelIMg conditions, still continue, to meet at intervals and are now formulating post-war plans. One particularly good move will be to interest women who have been drivers or mechanics in the Services, and any of, those who have been engaged in the administrative or executive branches of traffic.
To many of these women the laying down of their tools when the war is over will mean home, but, nevertheless, a great many of them will Undoubtedly be sorry to drop the jab that has interested them for so long, and it is, therefore, hoped that the Club will form a continuing link for those interested.
Mr. Edward Foden, of Fodens, Ltd., has readily granted to the club the use of the company's London office at Windsor House, Victoria Street, for the duration of the war, free of cost.
The hon. secretary of the club is Mrs. Nash, Farm House, Lamorbey, Sidcup.
PEACE-TIME VALUE OF SHADOW FACTORIES
IN a speech delivered at the Wolverhampton Rotary Club, on Tuesday last, Mr. R. C. Rootes said that it was possible that the factories which were set up under the Government's Shadow Scheme might play a part in the future of the motor industry.
They offered modern facilities, he said, of which the industry could take full advantage, and he hoped that the Govern/neat would take a broadminded and 'far-sighted view to encourage industry to re-equip itself in the most efficient manner possible. MINISTRY'S QUICKER SETTLEMENT OF HAULIERS' ACCOUNTS
AN improvement has taken place in the rate at which accounts and demurrage charges against the M.O.W.T. are being settled. At a recent meeting of the Road Transport Section of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce the hope was expressed that the improvement would be maintained. Reference was made to the continued % delay in the issue of confirmation notes. The meeting was informed that the M.O.W.T. is endeavouring to bring the matter up to date. N.F.U. WANTS SCOPE OF 5s. TRACTOR RATE WIDENED AA N amendment to the regulations governing the licensing of tractors is being sought by the National ' Farmers' Union and Chamber of Agrirultnre of Scotland to enable commodities necessary for the carrying on of the farm to be hauled under the 5s. rate of duty. The War Committee of the Union and Chamber has• particularly in mind objections which have been raised, in certain districts, to the haulage of coal for domestic purposes.
THE TECHNIQUE OF GRAVITY DIE-CASTING
PrHE process of gravity die-casting 1 is but one exasnple of a successful technique which has been amply demonstrated in the war-time production drive and which, further, should be utilized by progressive engineering concerns in peace-time production. In the past there has been an unfortunate tendency for engineers to look upon the production of gravity die moulds as a purely engineering job, whilst the best work has been done by those foundries that realized the necessity, in the design stage, for a combination of engineering skill and knowledge of the founder's craft. Too often, this state of affairs led to jealously guarded process secrets in individual design departments and foundries. In " Gravity Die-casting Technique,"" by Geo. W. Lowe (Hutchinson's Scientific and Technical Publications), published at 9s. 6d., the author has performed a service in bringing the fundamentals of die design Pinto the light of day, and producers and users should be grateful to him. Scattered articles, often on specialized aspects of the subject, have appeared, from time to time, in the technical and trade Press, -but here we are presented with a complete account of die production. From the nature of the subject, it cannot be expected that the fast word has been said—last words have a knack of being said over and over again; the gravity die-casting process is a developing art. Users of castings should, therefore, continuously explore the possibilities of gravity die-castings; this study will assist designers, production engineers and buyers to acquire a knowledgeable background. The addition of an index would improve the general usefulness of the book.
PERSONAL PARS
MR. F. A. ORRELL, joint managing director of Northumbrian Transport Services, Ltd., has been elected a member of the Institute of Transport.
MESSRS. L. G. TAYLOR and C. C. S. IR LE CLA have joined 'the board of directors of Tecalemit, Ltd. The was general ral sales manager and be will now sales director, whilst Mr. le Clair. was chief engineer and will, in future, act as technical director.
MR. SIDNEY H. Goucx, whose portrait appears on this page, has been appointed service manager of Guy Motors, Ltd., following the recent retirement from that position of Mr. J. L. Owen. Serving his apprenticeship with the Sunbeam concern, Mr. Gough joined Guy Motors 25 years ago, during which time he has been engaged in the repair and service department and has' had unique experience in the spervicing of petrol, oil and electric goods and passenger vehicles. He has occupied the position of assistant service manager for the past five years.
THE MOTOR INDUSTRY AFTER THE WAR
THETHE task of the motor industry had a difficult one in war because it had to produce certain equipment of which it bad no previous knowledge. So said Sir Miles Thomas, vice-chairman of the Nuffield Organization, in a speech delivered at the Leicester Rotary Club on Monday last. The particular aspect of industrial preparation for the future, which' the whole motor industry regarded as being of first importance, was, said Sir Miles, the training of its future technicians and executives. Later in his speech, he said that he had reason to believe that the Government was looking to the motor industry to absorb a good volume of I abour in the post-war era, " Naturally," he said, "we manufacturers did not hesitate to emphasize in our taxation recommendations, that if the Government was honest in that belief, it should be equally honest in realizing that by far, the best way of fostering and expanding the motor industry • was to free it, as far as possible, from its present user-tax."
OPERATOR AND DRIVER BOTH FINED
THETHE trailer was a borrowed one and lorry drawing it was making a delivery for urgent work, explained the defence in proceedings at Hull East Riding Police Court, last week, when an operator was fined £2 for causing a motor vehicle to be used without a third-party insurance policy, and 10s. for causing a trailer to be used without brakes. The driver was fined 10s. far driving without the requisite ,thirdparty insurance cover, and 10s. for using the trailer without brakes. Defendants pleaded guilty.
FLASH TESTING ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
A USEFUL piece of apparatus for r1 testing motors, dynamos, switchgear and other electrical components has been introduced by Runbaken Electrical Products, Manchester. Known as the Hi-volt Flash Tester, it makes available pressures of 1,000 or 2,000 volts A.C., the current being conducted through heavily insulated test prods. By the use of this apparatus premature and unexpected failures can be prevented. This piece of equipment should prove particularly useful in the repair and servicing of electrical gear.