News of the Week
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BIG LONDON MEETING ON GOVERNMENT HAULAGE SCHEME
KINGSWAY HALL, London, W.C.2, has been taken for an important open meeting of goods-vehicle operators on Thursday. December 18, at 2 p.m. It has been convened by A.R.O., the C.M.U.A. and the London and Home Counties Haulage Contractors Association, and its purpose is to explain the Government haulage scheme. The chair will be taken by Mr. Gleeson E. Robinson, the Metropolitan Regional Trans' port Commissioner, who will be supported by the chairman and members of the Road Haulage (Operations) Advisory Committee.
ROADSIDE CAFES RESTRICTED TO CIVILIAN DRIVERS LAST week we referred to the improved catering arrangements being made for road-transport men. In addition to what we said then, sugar has been increased by 100 per cent, per main meal and hot beverage served. Also the British Road Federation announces, in the interests of civilian drivers, the purchase of meals at wayside cafés by military personnel travelling by road is prohibited by Army Council Instruction, Service men being adequately catered for otherwise. They may, however, be served with hot or cold soft drinks.
WORK OF U.-LICENSED TRACTORS, LIMITED
THE attention of farmers is drawn by the National Farmers' Union to a misconception concerning the effect of the new concession regarding the tax on the fuel used by agricultural tractors. The position is that all a tractor in the 5s. class is permitted to do at present is to haul agricultural produce and requisites on a public road from one part of a farm to another part, or to and from the farm and a railway station. There is no limit to its haulage of farming implements or supplies of fuel or water required for agricultural purposes. Confusion seems to have arisen because recently the Minister of Agriculture stated that such a tractor could haul building material, required for agricultural workers' cottages owned by the operator of the vehicle, in the same way as it could haul agricultural requisites.
NORAL TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE BECAUSE of the war-time expansion of industries concerned with the working and treatment of aluminium alloys: there has been an increased demand for accurate and up-to-date information on aluminium technology. To meet it, particularly in view of the fact that improvements in technique are constantly being made, the Research and Development Department of the Northern Aluminium Co.. Ltd., has compiled a number of publications dealing with various branches of the subject. These are subjected to periodic revision and their number will, in
the near future, be augmented in response to requests from industrial sources.
Those available at the present time are as follow:—" Gravity Die-castings in Aluminium Alloys "; "Cold Forming of High-strength Aluminium-alloy Sheet "; "Machining of Aluminium Alloys "; " The Heat Treatment of Aluminium and Its Alloys "; " Protection of Alttminiurn Alloys During Storage "; "Specifications for Aluminium and Aluminium-alloy Products." Copies of all these hay be obtained upon application to the Technical Publications Department of the company at Banbury.
MAJOR ERIC LONG BEREAVED WiE learn with deep regret that Lieut. VI' W. R. B. Long, R.A., the eldest son of Major the Hon. Eric Long, has been missing since April 28, and is now presumed drowned on that date. Major Long, it will be remembered, was, until the war, a prominent member of the headquarters staff of A .R.O.
CONTROLLING FUEL AND POWER SUPPLIES rr.V0 recent appointments in connec tion with the control of fuel are those of Major E. Cadbux-y, who has become Regional Fuel and Power Controller for the South-western Region, and Mr. H. Carleton Walker, who is now Deputy Regional Fuel and Power Controller for Wales.
EFFECT OF HAULAGE SCHEME ON TRANSPORT POOLS
LOCAL transport pools will certainly be affected by the Government's haulage scheme. The committee of the Manchester Imports Control Transport has already reviewed the position and thinks that when Part II of the scheme comes into operation, the need for the M.I.C.T. will be gradually reduced, although it will continue to function normally until that time comes.
MORE UNIFIED BUS WORKING IN LANCASHIRE?
BLACKBURN'S town clerk has been asked to arrange an early meeting of representatives of Blackburn, Darwen and Accrington Corporations to consider the question of implementing a special report prepared by Messrs. Fearnley and Collins (transport consultants) concerning the advisability of establishing a unified transport undertaking for the threeflaoroughs. Copies of the report are to be supplied to Haslingden and Raw tenstall Corporations, which link up with Accrington/
THORNYCROFT PROFIT EXCEEDS £120,000 IN the year ended July 31, 1941, John 1 I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., made
a profit of £124,151. Interim dividends already paid, including a 5 per cent, payment on the ordinary shares, have absorbed £30,375, so that the balance available, after adding £67,653, brought in, is £161,429. Reserve account receives an allocation of £50,000 and a final dividend of 8 per cent, on the ordinary shares takes £24,000. After tt a payment of final dividends on the cumulative preference and participating preferred ordinary shares, a sum of £68,304 remains to be carried forward.
COLOURED PETROL FOR LORRIES AND TRACTORS?
T0 prevent the use in private cars of petrol granted for consumption in lorries, tractors or other purposes distinct from the first-named, a suggestion was made in the House, last week. by Dr. Peters, that fuel for such essential employment should be coloured to enable the police to make investigations and prosecute offenders.
Mr. Lloyd replied that, in conjunction with the Ministry of War Transport, all practicable steps were being taken to check abuses of this kind.
SHORTAGE OF CONDUCTRESSES HOLDS UP WAR WORKERS
A LTHOUGH many women have 1-"I become bus conductresses in Yorkshire, it is reported that there is a considerable shortage which is causing operational difficulties. Fears are expressed that the position will become more acute, and the possible effect on the transport of war-workers is stressed, It is suggested that women registered under the National Service regulations should be directed to take. up work as conductresses, just as they arc directed to take up other national jobs.
TEST YOUR BATTERY WITH A SYPHON HYDROMETER
EFFORTS to encourage the regular use of the syphon hydrometer as a measure against madden battery failure are being made by the Edison Swan Electric Co., Ltd., 155, Charing Cross Road: London, W.C.2. It is maintained that, if vehicle operators would make a regular practice of taking the sp. gr. readings of the electrolyte, they would become aware, well in advance, of signs of impending battery exhaustion, Such tests should be made at intervals of not longer than three or four weeks.
The syphon hydrometer is the easiest means for making a test, and a simple and effective type is sold by the company at 10s, 6d. net. It consists of a glass tube which bulges out at its upper end and is provided with a rubber bulb and a pierced rubber cork at the base, in which is inserted a small rubber tube to enter the cell. Inside the glass tube is a small glass float, upon which is marked figures giving the sp. gr. If the electrolyte gives a reading 30 points below that specified by the manufacturers of the battery or below that at which the battery is known to be fully charged, an independent charge must be given.
LONDON'S FIRST STANDARD BUS ONDOWS first 'standard " bus
went into service. on December 1, and 10 more similar vehicles will probably follow early in the New Year. Progress in bus design has, of necessity, -been restricted by the war, but some new buses were required by London Transport, and it was decided that replacements should be to a standard specification. so as to reduce to a minimum the aqaount of labour and materials involved, The new bus seats 56 people, 20 of them in the upper saloon. It is a four-wheeler, powered by a six-cylindered oil engine, and fuller details of its specification were embodied in an article included in our issue dated October 31.
POOL PLAN FOR SPARES FOR BUSES
WriEN it recently met in Glasgow, the Scottish Municipal Transport Association considered a plan for Scottish municipal bus undertakings to pool their spare parts. Private undertakings are also being asked to co-operate in the scheme, which, it is hoped, will help to remove service difficulties, which are becoming progressively more acute.
FARMERS, SEND YOUR FUEL FORM EARLY
rARMERS have complained at the
delay in the issue of fuel coupons, but the Petroleum Department has pointed out to the National Farmers' Union that much of this is caused by farmers not being prompt enough in submitting their applications on Form R (M.S.) 6. The period for submitting their applications was purposely staggered between those for car owners and industrial consumers.
FINED FOR UNDERPAYING HAULAGE WORKERS
AT the Sheriff Court, Perth, Mrs. Jessie Craik and David Craik, trading as Messrs. J. and D. Craik, haulage contractors, of Scone, Perth, were charged with the under-payment of six male workers and with failure to post the appropriate notice. Defendants pleaded guilty, and on two charges Mrs. Craik was fined Ea, whilst Mr. Craik, as agent of the firm, was fined
A.R.O. PROGRESS AROUND NOTTINGHAM
AN important decision has been reached by the Nottingham Sub Area of A.R.O. The district will be split into two sub-areas, one for Nottingham City, and one for those other parts in the Co-linty previously included in the Nottingham Sub-Area. The reason given is the enormous growth in membership which has taken place during the past 18 months.
Reference to this satisfactory state of affairs was made by Mr. J. T. Pepper,, chairman of the sub-area, at a recent meeting held in Nottingham. At the same meeting Mr. R. W. Keetch gave a comprehensive report of the activities of the area. Other matters discussed included the Government haulage scheme and the Essential Works Order.
Mr. Pepper will now he chairman of
the new Nottinghamshire County SubArea, whilst Mr, Keetch has been elected chairman of the City Sub-Area. These two, together with Mr. S. 0. Hodgkinson from the City Sub-Area and Mr. J. T. Middleton from the County Sub-Area, were elected delegates to the Area Committee.
NATIONALIZATION TO BE FOUGHT " TOOTH AND NAIL"
WHEN concern was expressed regardVV ing. the possibility of nationalization of road transport after the war at a meeting last week, of operators at Newcastle-on-Tyne, to 'consider the Government's plans to mobilize the industry, Major G. A. Renwick, chairman of the Road Haulage (Operations) Advisory Committee, said they would fight tooth and nail against any such proposal. Major Renwick said it was impossible to predict what the post-war conditions would be, or whether there would he nationalization. It depended on the Government in office when the war ended.
About 500 operators attended the meeting, and Major Renwick was supported by Mr. C. Holdswortli, of Halifax, and Mr. Isaac Barrie, of Glasgow, both members of the Advisory Committee. Sir John Maxwell, Regional Transport Commissioner, presided. The meeting unanimously supported the scheme after a number of questions had been asked and answered.
TRIBUTE TO LORD AUSTIN
WHEN the Austin Medical ElepartVV nient was opened a few days ago, Mr. E. L. Payton, chairman of the Austin Motor Co., Ltd., drew attention to the human side of Loet1 Austin's character, and his life-long interest in the hospitals of Birmingham. The new department is a natural development of the accident and welfare work in which the Austin Co. has always taken a special interest, and it has been planned and equipped as a tribute to Lard Austin.
PERSONAL PARS
COUNCILLOR G. W. PracKETT and COUNCILLOR F. MITCHELL have been ye-elected chairman and vice-chairman," respectively, of Nottingham Transport Committee.
MR. W. H. STOREY, of Nelson, has been appointed by the Eastern area committee of North-western Division of the C.M. U . A. as organizer for the territory, which embraces Bolton, Burnley and the south-east Lancashire districts, including, of course, Manchester.
MR. JAMES YATES, assistant secretary, is the new secretary of North of England Transport Workers Union 1Commercial Section).. A native of Tockholes, he has been a member of the Union for 21 years. He is on the workers' panel of the Road Haulage Wages Board for the north-west and of several joint committees in connection with the regulation of wages and conditions.
Mn. BOYD BOWMAN, M.A. (Calmos), -who, in 'July, 1941, became the first secretary of the National Conference of Road Transporr Clearing Houses, was educated at Mill Hill School, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and the Universita de Grenoble. Between 1923 and 1929 he was in Japan, and from then until 1934 in the Colonial Education Service of Malaya. From 1936 he has been particularly interested in road transport and has been giving lectures, making investigations, conducting surveys of road-transport conditions all over the country and writing articles for the British Road Federation. His good work in connection with his new position was exemplified by the excellent organization of the first luncheon, which was given recently by the Conference, and which was attended by a large number of important personalities in the industry and in the Ministry of War Transport.
MOBILE UNIT FOR PRODUCING CHARCOAL
THE complete absence of ,petrol for ordinary t ran sp or t purposes throughout Continental Europe, whether in belligerent, occupied, or even neutral countries, is fostering gasproducer development in a way that nothing else could have done. Producer gas may he inefficient as compared with petrol, but the solid fuels employed in gas producers are often obtainable when all else fails.
Alternative-fuel exhibitions have, of late, been held in many Continental countries and at one, in Lausanne, an exhibit of rather special interest was a mobile unit for the production of charcoal or de-hydrated wood fuel. This is a neat and compact oven arrangement, mounted on a trailer, chassis. The appliance is capable of producing 250 kg. to 300 kg. of charcoal per day, at the rate of 25 kg. charcoal per 100 kg. raw Wood. De-hydrated wood, known on the Continent as bois rouge, is obtainable in six hours of heat treatment.
It is the first mobile unit of the kind yet seen, and should be of considerable service in districts where wood is readily obtainable, but charcoal less so.
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