News of the Week
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LORD LEATHERS MEETS N.R.T.F.
AT a meeting between Lord Leathers, .Minister of War Transport, and the Council of the N.R.T.F., under the chairmanship of Mr. H. T. Dutfield, Lord Perry, the president of the Federation, introduced the council and stated that the Federation whed to know the views of the Minister as to the future of the transport industry and road transport in particular. Lord -Leathers replied that before. formulating any definite plans for postwar transport, he would like to have first the considered views of the Federation and the railways. He wished to see road transport enjoy the maximum freedom compatible with the public interest; but a full use of road transport would necessitate co-ordination with other forms of inland transport.
No plan could be accepted which failed to put the country's interest first. An efficient railway system was vital to it. but a plan which merely endeavoured to solve the road and rail problem by bringing the rates for the former to the level of those for the railways could riot be accepted.
The Minister expressed the view that further meetings . were desirable, and that all attention must be focused on • the desired objective.
DECONTROL OF ROAD TRANSPORT
THE Road Transport Section of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce , has given attention, to the questionoi decontrol of road transport, following the termination of hostilities in Europe. It was the general opinion that a plan should be formulated for submission to the M.O.W.T. at the opportune rime.
• In this connection, the chairman. submitted his personal views on how the industry should operate during the interim period between war and peace. After a full debate, it was agreed that a sub-committee comprising the chairman and vice-chairman, together with Messrs, R.. B. Stockdale, G. J. Mullany, and R. McK. Walker, be set up 'to consider the subject in detail.
PROGRESS OF EXPORT TRADE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION r't A FEW weeks ago the Formation Committee of the British Export Trade Research Organization announced its objective, which was the creation, by 'British industry, of a market and consumer research and trade intelligence service in all overseas markets.
• The Organization is growing well, and founder members now total 70, representing manyof the most important concerns in the British cornrnercial world. Whilst there is no limit to the number of such members, there must be a limit to the time within which the first governing. council is etected. This will, therefore,be done by those who have enrolled by June 1, although, of course, further founder
members will be welcome after that date.
Amongst the additional concerns enrolled since the first announcement are many in the motor and allied industries, including the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., British Aluminium Co.; Ltd., British Timken, Ltd., Guest, Keen and Nettlefolds, Ltd., Rootes Securities, Ltd., and Westinghouse Brake and Signal Co., Ltd..
MORE S.M.M.T. HONORARY OFFICIALS
IN addition to the appointment of Mr. . R. C. Rootes as president of the S.M.M.T., the following honorary officers have been elected :—Deputy president, Mr. C. B. Nixon (Leyland Motors, Ltd.); vice-presidents, Messrs. H. L. '
Kenward (Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd.) and W. R. Black (Park Royal Coachworks, Ltd.); treasurer, Mr. F. I. Connolly, who continues in this office.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE I.R.T.E.
APPLICATION forms for 'membership of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers are now being sent out to all who have already applied. Others who wish to join should communicate with the Secretary, 174, Palace Chambers, Bridge Street, Westminster, London, SAVA..
M.P.s URGE RESTORATION OF TRADERS' TRANSPORT RIGHTS
LAST week, the Birminghill* group of M.P.s considered the question of freedom of choice in transport. They were discussing a • report from the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, in which the right of the trader to use his own vehicles in connection with his own business is given prominence. It was decided to give support to the report, and to urge that the pre-war rights of traders in this matter should be• restored,
NUFFIELD PLANS IN AUSTRALIA L'OLLOWING Lord Nuffield's recent
visit to Australia, it is announced that the Nuffield Organization haS formed an Australian company, with a capital of £1,000,000, -for the maimfacture of motor vehicles in the Dominion. The chairman and vicechairman are • Lord Nuffield and Sir Miles Thomas, respectively. Mr. G. A.. Lloyd, who has been the l'Suffeld technical representative in Australia for many years, is managing director. At the start, it is intended to manufacture only bodies, but, later, the company will extend its activities td other phases of production.
ROAD-ACCIDENT FIGURES FOP MARCH SHOW IMPROVEMENT
DURING March, 396 people died and 8,722 were injured as the result of
road accidents. The figures show a reduction, compared with the previous March, 01 126 in the number of deaths and of 1,065 in the number injured.
The high accident rate among children continued, and the total of 115 fatal accidents to child cyclists and child pedestrians was the same as in March, 1944, and in March,1943.
The following table is an analysis of the number of deaths according to the types of vehicle primarily involved:— FORTHCOMING INSTITUTION PAPERS
S0141E particularly interesting papers are . to be read shortly before various bodies. They are as follow:— I.A.E.: May 15, 6.90 p.m., George Hotel, Luton"The Art of Engineering Design," by Dr. H. E. Merritt, June 5, 5.30 p.m., Institution .of Mechanical Engineers, "Car Radio," by Mr.A. W. Martin, chief engineer to E. K. Cole, Ltd. This paper should also prove of considerable interest to coach operators. June 27, 2 p.m., Institution of Civil Engineers, joint meeting with the Institutions of Civil and Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of Transport. Three short papers: Post-war Traffic from the Aspect of (1) "
Rods," by Mr. H. E. Aldingtori, M.Inst.C.E.; (2) " Motor Vehicles," by Major E. G. Beaumont, 0.13.E.; (3) " Traffic," by Mr. J. S. .Nicholl, M.Inst T PRIVATE, CO-OPERATIVE OR MULTIPLE 'TRADING
THE London Area Council of • the Council of Retail Distributors " is Organizing an important discussion debate to be held at the Kingsway HalK Kingsway, London, W.C.2, at 7 p.m.
• on June 1. The subject will he ." Whether Private Trading, Co-operative Trading, or Multiple Trading is in the Best Interests of the Community.!' The following M.P.s will take part. in the •diwussion:Sir Herbert Williams (Conservative), Messrs, E. Shinwell (Labour), and T. Wintringhaim (Common Wealth). .
Admission will be free, and a roving' • microphone will encourage others to
join in the talk. Tickets must "1.=e obtained from Mr. C. FL Lane, 1-3, Holborn 'Circus, London, E.C.1.
NEWCASTLE'S TROLLEYBUS BILL: WALLSEND'S REACTIONS
CONSIDERATION of the Bill promotpd by Newcastle-on-Tyne City Council to run trolleybuses on further routes, including routes at present not 'specified in the Wallsend area, has been given by Wallsend Corporation It has decided to press for amendments to the Bill so that the consent of the Wallsend authority will be necessary before trolleybuses are run on other mutesin the town. At present only one route in Wallsend. is covered by trolley vehieles.
COMMERCIAL CONDITIONS IN , 'BRITISH 'EAST AFRICA,
ASERIES of reviews of commercial conditions covering 26 countrieshas been prepared by the Departnaent of Overseas Trade and is being published
H. M. Stationery Office. The vainplete series can be obtained for £1, including delivery; others are priced at 6d, and ls., according to length. They' have been prepared in collaboration with the Department's overseas officers and deal with pro-war conditions, with particular reference to trade with the United Kingdom, alsb war-time changes in their economy and external trade, and . the opportunities they offer to our goods. , The latest concerns British East Africa. This, together with four others dealing with Argentina, Uruguay, SWeden and Portugal, as well As those previously isSued for U.S.A., Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Peru, are now OFFICERS OF INSTITUTE OF TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATION Q0141E days ago the National Council
of the Institute of Traffic Administration met in London, under the, presidency of Sir Herbert Matthews. Members attended from all parts of England, eight of the 10 centres now in operation being represented. Mr. Henry Jordon, a, director of S.P.b., Ltd„ was unanimously elected chairman of of the National Council, whilst Messrs. E. P. Puttick (North Staffs Centre, chairman and transport manager, Michelin -Tyre Co., Ltd., Stokeon-Trent), Ben C. Walls (West Riding Centre chairmanand a director of Canal Transit, Ltd., Bradford), and
James A: Dunnage (late assistant provincial agent, Port of London Authority, and now a director of Industrial Transport Publications, Ltd.), were elected vice-chairmen.
Encouraging reports on progress since the elections committee began to function early in 1945 were presented. Fuller details of the Institute's activities may be obtained from the lion. seeretaiy, 2, Caxton Street, Westminster, London, S.W.1.
TRANSPORT DIRECTOR ENTER-TAINS DRIVERS ON his retirement from the managing directorship of Henry Bayes and Sons, Ltd., the transport-contracting , concern of Curtain Road, London, E.C.2, Mr. . Henry Walter Bayes entertained the drivers of the company at a social gathering:" He has beendirectly associated with the company for 47 years and retains his seat on the Board of directors.