Bird's Eye View
Page 59
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Nostalgia
By The Hawk
THE rally of old commercial vehtcles at Beaulieu (The Commercial Motor, July 19), at which the star performer was a model T Ford, brought back nostalgic memories to Mr. R. F. Waite, transport manager of R. Gunner, Ltd. He has sent me a picture taken about 25 years ago of a model 1' van which, he says, gave heroic service for a long time on meat deliveries in London and district.
Since those days, Gunner's have been faithful Ford users. Mr. Waite believes that a fleet of model T vans could give as good service in delivering meat and provisions to Gunner's 158 branches in Greater London as is provided by the modern Thames vans.
Perhaps this is a back-handed compliment to the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., but sentiment, which the model T always provokes, knows no bounds.
-Nothing New.
I AM indebted to The Stock Exchange Journal for the knowledge (on which I shall dine out for the next few weeks) that London had a road fund as long ago as 1280. A tax was levied on many types of goods entering the city and the proceeds were applied to the repair of the roads. Nearly 700 years later the tax, in indirect form, persists, but it is applied to anything but the repair of the roads.
Traffic congestion was also causing concern in London 500 years ago. By 1618 people were becoming hot under the collar about it and an Italian diplomat had cause to comment on the carving up by carts. The drivers were the forerunners of today's cabmen.
19 Hours Hard CHECKTNG the cost of a repair job on which 19 hours' labour was booked, Mr. H. T. Gill, of the B.M.C. depot at Holland Park, London, came to the final item, "Check earth.A bright boy had written on the job card: " Blimey, round the world in 80 days—we do it in 19 hours. Sweeney Todd."
Clothes Maketh the Man
I N the House of Commons last week a Scottish sheriff was taken to task by a Member of Parliament for warning a man who appeared in court in dungarees that he was improperly dressed, and that if he dared again to attend in such clothing he would be sent home to dress properly. Mr. J. S. Maclay. Secretary of State for Scotland, replied: " What constitutes proper dress will depend on the circumstances of the person." Obviously, a director of a haulage company summoned for aiding and abetting should wear a top hat and morning dress. A bowler and a discreet dark suit would be appropriate to a transport manager. A driver would probably get away with a cap, provided that he wore a clean collar.
Patriots
PASSENGERS in a Continental coach witnessed an example oiBritish patriotism during a recent tour of this country. In a busy suburban shopping centre their coach rammed the rear of a car that stopped abruptly at a zebra crossing. The guide and interpreter, an American, rushed 'aggressively up to the car driver, insisting that he had stopped too suddenly. Before the car driver could reply, a group of local boys bore down on the coach driver with cries of" Book 'm," "Road 'og " and the like, whilst another sped off to fetch a policeman.
Negotiations for international peace and co-operation may continue at government level, but on the streets it is obviously still very much a question of "When in Rome . ." —or else!
The Other Side
LOCAL authorities have said some unpleasant things about East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd., during the hearing of applications for higher fares, but the company have a supporter in Mr. J. S. Brown, clerk to Pockfington Rural District Council. He recently pointed out that, as a result of joint consultations between the company and local representatives on May 31, E.Y.M.S. had made numerous amendments to their services to meet the wishes of local people. The company had been most helpful.
I hope Mr. Brown will be equally gracious when E.Y.M.S. next have to seek higher fares. That will be the test.
Brighter Cricket
THOSE who complain about the dullness of cricket should i have attended the recent celebrity match at Goodyear Park, at which 400 runs were scored in 4 hours 10 minutes A. S. Bishop's XI, representing the Goodyear .Tyre and Rubber Co. (Great Britain), Ltd., took on Wolverhampton Wanderers' XI, and the ball was sent flying in all directions. D. Kenyon (Worcester and England), captain of Bishop's XI, scored 102 before being stumped by R. Broadbent, his county colleague, and carried on the Goodyear tradition of doing things in a big way.