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OPINIONS and

12th June 1936, Page 47
12th June 1936
Page 47
Page 48
Page 47, 12th June 1936 — OPINIONS and
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

QUERIES

The Editor invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of commercial motors. Letters should be written on only one side of the paper. The right of abbreviation is reserved and no responsibility for views expressed is accepted.

ROAD TRANSPORT MUST FIGHT BACK.

[4813] May I hasten heartily to congratulate S.T.R. and to thank you for publishing his article on the above subject in your issue of May 29? I consider it to.be the finest contribution he has ever made in the interests of road transport, apart from being most opportune. I can endorse every word of it, in fact, he confirms that which I predicted must happen, and emphasizes the existence of a real tragedy.

My only fear is that his call to battle has come too late. The railway war of aggression started at least 15 years ago, and, as I stated at the time, the Salter report spelt the death knell of effective road transport. That was the fatal day when the "young lady of Riga" commenced her ride on the tiger. In spite of all the gracious smiles and promises of the tiger and his friends, the fact is that all the really big units were swallowed forthwith. The tiger then turned itself into a snake, and is devouring its prey piecemeal. The snake promptly enticed many large victims into its grip; they are being fondled at the moment, but, as they are foreign to the snake family, they must be swallowed sooner or later. I refer, of course, to those concerns partly bought over by the railways. These children cannot possibly be allowed to compete indefinitely with the rail parents and/ or each other.

Incidentally, in addition to those who were easily "enticed," there were, and still are, many inside the industry whose sole purpose is to betray victims to the snake for "30 pieces of silver." These, together with the victims mentioned above, made no protest against the recommendations of the Salter committee; on the contrary, they pretended that the very weapons which the railways demanded as necessary for the curtailment of road transport were necessary for the improvement of road transport. A conspiracy in the guise of co-ordination!

Thus we see that the snake has already dealt effectively with three "armies." The remnants were promised a paradise by a system of control, and readily succumbed, but in practice it means (1) no new entrants, (2) no orphans, (3) no increase in present families, (4) where possible, actually " deaths " in the families, (5) " subsidies " for large railway road families, and, last but not least, (6) fewer ancillary users.

As S.T.R. suggests, it is the very existence of road transport which is at stake. That has always been my contention. The whole industry has been betrayed to the railways, and, unless a miracle happens, its cruci fixion is only a matter of time. These are strong words, but, nevertheless, such is my conviction, and it simply amazes me why others cannot see that the railways can have the road traffic only by taking it from those who now have it. There is no alternative; co-ordination means confiscation, division of function means the tiger's share for the railways. The railways agree to nothing unless they win practically everything.

This war is being won by " gases " and gases alone, some tear and some poison; the rail army would never have advanced a mile had it relied upon equality, or if the road army had been allowed to use similar weapons. No rail service, be it with passengers or goods, can equal the road door-to-door service, therefore the road service should automatically win the war, although victory is denied it. Our descendants will be ashamed of us. A rail monopoly is coming fast.

WALTER GAMMONS, Managing Director,

London, E.C.2. For Walter Gammons, Ltd. OPERATING UNDER TRADE PLATES.

148143 We shall be glad if you will advise us whether if. be necessaryfor a driver operating under general

trade plates to fill up a daily log sheet, as prescribed by the Road Traffic Act, or, otherwise, advise us as to our correct position when using such plates upon com mercial. vehicles. LEACH AND SEED.

Salford.

[Records of journeys and loads need be kept only in respect of vehicles which are used under licences granted under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933. Section 1 of the Act provides that no person shall use a goods vehicle (i.e., a motor vehicle constructed or adapted for use for the carriage of goods, or a trailer so constructed or adapted) on a road for the carriage of goods (a) for hire or reward, or (b) for or in connection with any trade or business carried on by him, except under a licence. Sub-section 5 (d) of Section 1 provides that the carriage of goods in a vehicle which is being used under trade plates shall not be deemed to constitute a carrying of goods for hire or reward. From this it follows that you require a licence if you use,a goods vehicle for carrying goods in connection with your business as motor agents and engineers, whether the vehicles be driven under trade plates or not, and in that case it is necessary for the records to be kept.—En.]

ILLUMINATION OF PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS CONSIDERED DESIRABLE.

[48151 We were taught at school that a "beacon" was a thing which could be seen from afar at night, but for some reason that has never been made quite clear, the Minister of Transport has always discouraged illu minated globes on Belisha beacons. Perhaps he feared that the extra cost of lighting might make local authorities reluctant to lay down a sufficient number of crossings. The fact is, however, that the new crossings become dangerously invisible after dark.

This is not so noticeable in London and the larger towns, where street lighting is generally sufficient to give

some indication of the whereabouts of the crossings; but in the smaller country places, where beacons are appearing in increasing numbers, the problem is much more

serious.

Local people know where the crossings are and use them at night, but the visiting motorist, groping through murky and unfamiliar streets, often comes on the studs without warning and may scare a pedestrian whit' is exercising his right of an unworried crossing.

It would help greatly towards safety if in poorly lit districts the orange beacons had an internal light, but a still better plan would be to' place one of the modern electric-discharge lamps at each crossing. This would not only show up the beacons, but, more important still, would enable the motor driver to see in ample time whether any pedestrian was crossing or preparing to cross. H. TAYLOR. London, .N.W.2.

A GARDNER-ENGINED BENTLEY RUNS OVER 70,000 MILES.

[48161 I read in the issue of The Commercial Motor for last week a letter from Alexander Duckharn and Co., Ltd., to the effect that this company is running a Morris car driven by a Perkins oil engine. It was also men

tinned that the car was probably the first so engined and used for private purposes, .

My Speed-six Bentley was fitted with a 4LW Gardner oil engine in 1933 and has covered over 70,000 miles without a second's trouble of any kind. During that period I have decarbonized the engine only twice, and

no attention has been necessary beyond this. The engine is dead smooth and lively, and compares favourably with any similar petrol unit. The consumption is about 33 m.p.g. and the maximum r.p.m. in the neigh. bourhood of 2,800, giving a top speed of about 90 m.p.h.

ISily experience is such that I now look forward to fitting one of the new 4LK Gardner engines into a somewhat lighter chassis than the Bentley.

Swansea. JACK ANDREWS,

Andrews Transport, Ltd.

Tags

Organisations: Salter committee
Locations: Salford, London, Riga

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