Passing Comments
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State Barriers to the COMMENTS by Mr. R. Progress of Road ‘-"Cropper, of the British Transport . National Road Transport Federation, during a tour of the U.S.A include surprise at the tariff barriers between various States, at each of which transport vehicles have to stop for checking and, in some cases, payment of duty. The Federal Government did a lot of good work during the war in trying to break down these State barriers, but it seems that some still exist and are a source of much worry to operators.
French Minister ol THAT members of a Cabinet Transport is in Two I should not always see eye Minds. . . . . to eye is normal, but that any single Cabinet Minister should become divided against himself appears distinctly Gilbertian. That, nevertheless, is the present position of M. Christian Pineau, French Minister of Transport, the reason being that his Ministry includes that of Touring. Now, foreign touring in France is regarded as a most important form of invisible export and for that reason is strongly encouraged by whatever Government may be in power. As Touring Minister, M. Pineau is well aware that foreign touring can be maintained only by a parallel development Of the French tourist industry itself and that the most important factor in this is the provision of proper road transport facilities, both public and private. As
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Minister of Transport, M. Pineau deplores the fact that the present petrol and tyre shortage in France prevents the re-establishment of pre-war passenger services to the extent that he would wish. He has attempted, therefore, to supply existing public services with as much fuel as possible, thereby restricting the operation of new services developed during the tourist boom of last summer. The Ministry of Transport (and Touring) has now issued a circular to petrol-control officers instructing them to examine the possibilities of reducing supplies to these services where lines are not functioning normally.
Sell British First and THE end of the seller's Individual Makes I market is within sight and Afterwards . . . manufacturers' . sales-promo tion departments are beginning to arm themselves for the fight ahead, particularly overseas. Although the prices of some American vehicles have recently been raised, United States makers still hold an advantage in the matter of cost, and in selling British vehicles the emphasis must be on quality. A high degree of co-operation between manufacturers will be required in combating foreign competition, and personal interests must, in the first instance, be sunk to further the cause of the United Kingdom. Only when it is certain that the market has been captured can individual makers afford to indulge in direct competition. How the Russian THE U.S.S.R. claims that it Five-year Plan Is I is more than fulfilling .its Progressing • • . Five year Plan in almost every industry, and certain figures for the third quarter of this year may be of interest. As compared with the targets set, the gross output of the whole of industry for this quarter was exceeded by 7 per cent. For the first nine months of the year the figure was 6 per cent. The higher percentage meant an increase of 14 per cent. on the output for 1940. Reverting to the third quarter and taking 100 as the target, iron and steel reached 113, the motor and tractor industry the same figure, and heavy engineering 109. The oil industry of the Southern and Western areas showed 106 and of the Eastern areas 112.
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Strong Ca !I to nN the first day of the Americans to Promote `-"Annual Convention of Road Safety . . . . American Trucking Associa tions a Congressman called for the formation of a nation-wide task force to drill highway safety education and discipline into 146,000,000 people, who must be taught, directed, educated, and disabused of the prevalent idea of taking traffic and motor vehicles for granted. Operation Safety" must, he said, continue night and day, generation after generation, because the hazard will always be there. It is high time that the problem be painted in colours so vivid and indelible that even the most callous person will be spurred to action. The Government can do many things, but the real job is one for the people, young and old, rich and poor.