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Barr Group Not Rushing Back to

11th July 1952, Page 31
11th July 1952
Page 31
Page 31, 11th July 1952 — Barr Group Not Rushing Back to
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Haulage Business

COMPENSATION paid to the Barr

organization for the nationalization of its haulage undertaking has been employed in expanding the group's passenger-transport facilities by purchasing additional subsidiaries and new rolling stock. The company is not rushing headlong back to road haulage.

Mr. Robert Barr, chairman of Barr and Wallace Arnold Trust, Ltd., in his annual report, says: "Conditions in the [haulage] industry have changed considerably, new machines of more up-todate design and efficiency have been produced, therefore, your directors will have to know a good deal more before they can safely commit themselves to a new policy in the event of denationalization.

Better Relations

"One thing I can say," he adds, "and that is that the relationship between employees and employers is likely to be much better under private ownership than Government ownership with all the political cross-currents of the latter and the cramping effects of State interference."

Mr. Barr says that the company has had to face continual price:cutting in the private-hire market, but that department has increased its turnover. Excursion revenue has been maintained and express services remained fairly constant. Tours have grown in popularity.

Last year, £70,000 was spent on new vehicles. During the winter, older vehicles were completely overhauled and modernized. Another £20,000 was spent on a new repair shop and £11,000 on improving and enlarging hotels. The total capital outlay in 1951 was £101,000.

Last year, orders were placed for delivery this year of new vehicles which, with the acquisition of another business, called for the expenditure of some £110,000.

The company regularly uses about

350 of the best hotels in Britain on its extended tours, and during the past tourist season arranged over lm. meals. A sum of £300,000 was paid for food and accommodation. On the average over the season, Wallace Arnold Tours employed more than 225 coaches every day.

As a result of a policy, introduced two years ago, of planning for greater American custom, the business received from the U.S.A. and Canada has more than compensated for the loss caused by the £25 limit imposed on Continental travel.

Mr. Barr complains of the heavy fuel tax and says that unless it is reduced, vehicles may have to be run for longer periods than at present. Manufacturers would then be affected. Fuel alone costs 5d. a mile, he says.

Next year's Geneva Show will be held from March 5-15.

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Organisations: Barr
People: Robert Barr

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