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News of the Week

TO BE OR NOT TO BE CONTROLLED

A STATEMENT by the S.J.C. points -.1-11 out that the ,Committee has all along made it clear that whilst the tinanCiai arrangements with controlled undertakings are clearly inequitable and will undermine _financial stability in many eases, they nriay be satisfactory in Others. It is regretted that efforts to secure financial terms and arrangements whjch would ensure the continued efficiency of, all undertakings invited to become controlled have not met with more 8:recess. The Committee had, therefore, decided that the decision as to whether or not an inVitadon to become controlled . should be accepted must be made by the hull'viclual operator, The Finance Panel of the Committee met Ministry officials on March 2 and obtained the basic information essential to analyse the Ministry schedules of proposed rates for the hiring of vehicles. Further. meetings are being held, and the Panel has put forward constructive criticism in the' form of counter propOsals,

MASS DRIVER-TRAINING SCHEME FOR SERVICES TURNED DOWN

A SUGGESTION, made in the House /-1. of Commons last week, by Mr. Bull, that all personnel about to join 'the Forces shciuld firSt be given a year's tuiticia in driving ,and maintabaiag motor -vehicles, was rejected as impracticable.

AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON . RUBBER

ASTRONG advisory committee to assist the Rubber Controller on all matters falling within the scope pLthe Control has been appointed by the Minister of Supply. It includes representatives of tyre . makers, general rubber manftfac hirers,reclaime6, retreaders, authorized tyre distributors, dealers, brokers, the Transport and General Workers' Union, the National Union of General and nanicipal Workers, and the Amalganna.ted Society of India Rubber, Cable and AsbestOs Workers.

FINED I0s. PER MILE FOR NOT USING SHORTEST ROUTE'

AS a consequence of deviating 15 utiles from his shortest route while driving a lorry on, behalf of Ryburn United Transport, Ltd., a Bradford

man was fined 10s., with 10s. costs, at the city's police court, last week, for not effecting all reasonable economy in the use of petrol. On a journey from Sheffield to Blackburn, defendant went by way of Bradford instead of taking the direct route viaManchester. The prosecution suggested that he did this' in order to save 'as. subiistence allowance which he had received for overnight expenses. Defendant, who pleaded guilty, said be took the Brad-_ ford route because he considered the Manchester route too dangerous owing to fog. The stipendiary magistrate, Dr. F. . J. 0., Coddington, said that defendant could easily have put uLr at an inn on the direct route, if he found the fog made, travelling too dangerous. He would have to pay a fine of 10s for each mile of the diversion, at the rate of El a week. In default, be would go to prison for two months.. • •

OPERATING PLANS FOR CONTROLLED UNDERTAKINGS D ERM ISSI ON has been given for the

publication of the control, operating and financial arrangements for undertakings controlled under the. Government Long Distance Haulage Scheme.. Unfortunately, cgoiderations of spnee prevent us fromnnserting themthis week. We hope to include a summary in our next issues PASSENGER ROAD TRANSPORT REPRESENTATION

CONTA1NED in the Report of the

Road Transport Organization Joint Conference was a reference to a proposal to create a new passenger vehicle operators' association, comprising p.s.v. operators and those providing private-car hire services, .

• The Municipal Passenger Transport, the Omnibus Owners' and the Public Service Transport Associations point out.that they had no part in the formulation of this report, and were unaware of its contents 'until they were Made public.

These threebodies represent some 5,P0 per pent. of the total bus, coach, tram and trolley-vehicle fleets of the whole country. A merger has been proposed between. two of theabove bodies under the title Of 'Public Transport Association Incorporated," but there is no connection between this and the suggestion made in the Conference Report. LAW 'CONCERNING RAW MATERIALS

AUSEFUL Raw Materials Guide has been issued through the Stationery -Office by the Ministry of Supply. This should help business men, traders and., others to ascertain the law relating to particular raw materials, regarding which there are many rules and orders. It is proposed to issue monthly addenda of changes in controls or in procedure, to keep the Guide up to date. Already, it deals with nearly 1,000 differept materials, and can be obtained through any bookseller at is. net.

PRODUCER-GAS BUSES NOW OPERATING IN CENTRAL LONDON

F"some months, London Transport has been operating about 20 producer-gas buses in the Grays (Essex) area and, as a result of the experience thus gained, it placed in ordinary service last week three more

buses using this fuel on route 36, between Hither .Green, SE., and West Kilburn, N.W. They are supplementary to the normal service.

The object is to test gas buses in Central London. Specially trained drivers handle the 'vehicles and special attention is being paid to maintenance. All are equipped wish G.E.P. trailer outfits, modified, in certain respects by the Board's own engineers.

ENVELOPES OFTEN UNNECES SARY

MANY people are guilty of using envelopes in business and private correspondence when these are unnecessary. When letters take up only one side di the paper, the sheet can be folded. The Post Office rule is that such' correspondence should be no smaller than 4 ins. by 21 ins., and no larger than 6 ins, by al ins., but at least l ins, must be left for date stamping above the address. Flimsy

or dark paper must not be used in this way, and folded letters must not be secured with 'clips or staples. Ay correspondence seht 'at the printed paper rate must not be stuck down. Diagrams of various methods of folding can be obtained from the Waste Paper Recovery Association, Ltd., 154, Fleet Street, London, E.C.4.

USEFUL COMPACT GUIDE TO WROUGHT ALUMINIUM ALLOYS

THE Wrought Light Alloys Develop' ment Association, Union-Chambers,

• 63,Temple Row, Birmingham, 2, recently issued its Information Bulletin No. 2, entitled " Guide to the Properties of .Wrought Aluminium Alloy."

The information given in. this is additional to, and supplementing the details 'given in the various specifications, to which praotiCally the whole output of the light alloy industry is now supplied for war purposes. It is hoped that it will permit making the most effective use of the strong alloys, by enabling waltage to be reduced and avoiding incorrect employment of specific materials.

SEVEN BIG MUNICIPAL TRANSPORT JOBS AT GLASGOW

GLASGOW Corporation has approved staff reorganization in the transport department. The changes are suggested. by Mr. E. N. Fitzpayne, the new general manager, and they include the creation of the new post of personal superintendent, which will comprise the supervision of welfare work among the employees, the selection and training of personnel, etc. The corporation agreed to the seven appointments proposed, subject to the salary scales (0750 rising to £1,000 a year each) being referred to the special committee • on conditions. of service. The appointment of'a deputy manager was deferred.

USE THE BEST LIGHTING PERMITTED

STEPS are being • taken by the NI.O.W.T. to ensure that owners of

lorries and other vehicles will take full advantage of the lighting permitted by the existing regulations. There is to be no change in these, but many operators do not realize the legal position. The steps will include 'leaflets issued with petrol coupons, posters, and direct approach to Government Departments which use transport, also to the bigger operators.

The four main points are: (1) The use. of two head lamps; (2) maintenance of lamps and masks in condition to give Maximum permissible light; (3) to see that head lamps did masks are properly adjusted; (4) to use the maximum permitted standard for rear lights. The objects are greater safety and ease of driving—not the encouragement of higher speeds. Incidentally, rubber may be saved by-avoiding heavy braking and acceleration.

ALLEGED WASTE OF VAN TRANSPORT FOR BREAD ,

COMPLAINT wa.9. made at a Liver...pool bakers' and confectioners' meeting last week of the manner in which van transport is being wasted in the bread trade. It was alleged that vans aie bringing bread for sale in Liverpool for distances up to 10 miles, whilst Liverpool vans are taking outward loads.

" As retailers have been asked to cut their deliveries, the present situatiod is farcical," said one member.

MAINTENANCE TRAINING FOR CIVIL DEFENCE PERSONNEL •

J)RIVERS of civil defence vehicles in the North-western Region are being trained to carry out day-to-daymaintenance and to perform simple running repairs if-a vehicle breaks down" on the road. Courses of training in servicing and maintenance have -now been organized by the regional headquarters. Each course covers 14 days and a centre' has been established Ms Liverpool.

FOR BINDING, MARKING AND INSULATING CABLE ENDS LATEX sleeves for fitting to the ends of electric cables as ferrules or bindings are products of E. Siegrist, Ltd., 39, Berner § Street, London, W.I. As compared with similar devices made of extruded rubber, latex sleeves .according to a'neW leaflet issued by the maker, have a number of advantages: It is stated that only two size's instead of six are required for all cables up to i-in..•diameter. They can be stretched for application without fear of tear and without their lasting properties being impaired. A latex sleeve with a bore of 3 mm. can be applied to a I-in. cable and thus seals both casing and core. Wall thickness is uniform to within..,,Uer cent. Latex sleeves can be offeraln 10 bright colours.

Three basic sizes are marketed for cables from 2 mm. to 25 mm. overall diameter. Each is available in a choice of wall thicknesses from mm, and in any length from in. to 2 ins. A.R.O. MEETINGS IN EASTERN AREA

THE folketting meetings have been arranged in the Eaetern Area of A .R.O.:—March 13, 2.30 p.m., Norwich Sub-Area, annual general meeting, Lamb Hotel, Norwich; March 15, 7.30 p.m., Chelmsford Sub-Area, annual general meeting, Golden Fleece –Hotel; Duke Street, Chelmsford; March 19, 7 p.m.; King's Lynn SubArea, annual general meeting, Grosve-. nor Hotel, King's Lynn; March 20, 3 p.m., Colchester Sub-Area, annual general meeting, Castle Hotel, Colchester; March 23e 2.30 p.m., Cambridge Sub-Area, annual general meeting, Dorothy Café, Cambridge; March 25, 11.30 a.m., Eastern Area committee meeting, Dorothy Café, Cambridge.

PERSONAL PARS Ma. S. B. DEI3NAM, wlio has been divisional petroleum inspector for the north-east of Scotland, has now been appointed vehicles operational officer for the north-east and east of Scotland under the Ministry of Food.

MR. GREVILLE S. MAGINNESS has been _appointed to succeed Mr. G. Bailey as Presiant of the Engineering and Allied Employers' National Federation. Mr. Maginness has had a wide experience in industry and commerce, and has been for some years President of the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce. Ffe is a native of Plymouth and comes of navalstock. Amoagst his other activities, he is President of the Machine Tool Trades Association, chairman of the Churchill Machine Tool Co., Ltd., of Romeo, Ltd., and Associated British Machine Tool Makers, Ltd.

. A

" MR. A. E. MELLERIJP, director of R. A. Lister and Co., Ltd„ of Dursley, Glos., "and Blackstone and Co., Ltd., of Stamford, was presented with souvenirs of his 49th year of serVice with Lister's, 22 of them as a director, by the directors, staff and workers of .both concerns on the occasion of his 70th, birthday. The presentations were made by the chairman, Mr. Percy Lister, who paid high tribute to Mr. Mellerup for his longservice, in the course of which he toed Worked with ,three generations of -11fie Lister family, and sat on the Board under the chairmanship of representatives of three generations. He,,is a reccignized expert on machine tools and modern massproduction methods.

.-NEW " C.M." INDEX READY THE index for Volume 76 of " The 1 Commercial Motor " is now available at 7d. post included

MINISTRY SATISFIED WITH FLOWER-TRANSPORT ORDER'

IN asking what forms, of transport

were still being used to bring spring flowers from grower to market, Mr. F, Walleden, in the House of Commons last week, contended that the defects in the recent Orders of the Ministry of War Transport had provided facilities for an extensive system of black-market trading.

Captain McEwen, 'replying for the Patliamentary Sehretary to the Ministry of War Transport, remarked that, eo far as railways were concerned, the , Order made recently was considered adeqbate to prevent the carriage of flowers by rail, and stated that flowers were moved by road for only short distances to local markets, except in a few cases‘ where they might move over longer distances as incidental or return Toads on vehicles having space net required for more essential traffic.

Flowers might also be carried by coasting vessels where space was available, but the quantity carried was small.

iReettictions had been tightened up,, be continued, and Mr. Noel-Baker thought the present ari-angement deserved a fair trial.

H.M.F. TO MEET AT NORWICH AMEETING of Hauliers' Mutual Federation has been 'arranged to take place in Norwich on Tuesday, March 16, at 2.30 p.m., at the Bell Hotel.

FIXED BUS STOPS IN OUTER AREAS 1–l■ A SETTLED, feature on •bus routes

in Central London, fixed stopping places, is spreading gradually to the outer areas. By June there will be such stops within an area bounded roughly by St. Albans, Leatherhead, Slough and Horochutch, each with its uniform Sign. HIRING OUT CD. AMBULANCE DRIVE RS I IVERPOOL Civil Defence Emer

gency Committee has appioved a scheme for the utilization of the services of full-time ambulance drivers 4hiring their periods of duty • for the purpose of more actively assisting in the war effort. This scheme provides for the hiring of drivers by the hour to appropriate concerns, at trade Union rates.

If the scheme receives Government approval the proceeds will be divided on the lines already laid down for a similar scheme, namely, half for the National Exchequer (which reimburses local authorities for all wages of civildefence personnel) and half for the improvement of amenities for the personnel. at their depots. The guidance of the Ministry of Labour would be sought in deciding which concerns should be assisted under the scheme.

REAR LIGHTS ON W.D. TRAILERS

THE Home Secretary was asked in the House of Commons last week by Mr. Oliver whetht:r efforts were being made to unify the arrangements now in force in the three Service Departments with regard to the provision of front and rear lights on trailers.

As one Service Department; he said, could comply with the lighting provisions required for civilian vehicles, why could not other Services? In view of the many accidents which occurred through unlighted trailers, would the Home. Secretary endeavour to obtain agreement to adopt the lighting applicable to trailers in cilAl use?

The reply, given by Mr, Peake, Parliamentary Secretary to the Home Office, was to the effect that the num ber and, in certain cases, the type of trailer in use by the War Department and the R.A.F. presented special difficulties in adaptation to comply with the civilian lighting regulations. In conjunction with the Minister of War Transport, however, he was raising the matter. with the Departments concerned.

PAPER ON GEARBOX PROGRESS

ON Sunday, March 14, at 3 p.m., before the Graduates Section of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, 12, Hbbart Place, London, S.W.1, Mr. T. II. Millward will read a paper .entitled "The Development of Gearboxes and Gearless Transmissions."

PERKINS SERVICE AGENT FOR YORKSHIRE

WE • learn that Frank H. Dutson, VV Ltd„ 39, Camp Road, Leeds, has been appointed sole stockist and service agent for Yorkshire for the popular .Perkins P.6 oil engine. The company carries a comprehensive stock of spare parts for the P.6 and P.4 engines made by F. Perkins, Ltd., Peterborough. Service engines are also held in stock and a change-over can, we understand, be completed in 24 hours.

S.M.T. LOSES SALES AND SERVICE OFFICIAL •

THE death took place, last week, of Mr. F. W. Brown, J.P., general manager of the sales and service department of the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., Edinburgh, with which company he had been associated for the past 13 years. Born in Northumberland 47 years ago, he was outside sales manager in Great Britain for the Renault Co., Paris, before going to Edinburgh.

. A COMPREHENSIVE TYRE ECONOMY EXHIBITION

ORGANIZED jointly by Tyre Con . trol and the M.O.W.T., a Tyre Economy Exhibition will be staged at Berkeley Court, Baker Street, London, V.1, on March 22. This is believed to be the most complete show of tyre maintenance that has been staged, and it will include rubber tapping, processes of manufacture, methods of remoulding, a film, and lectures by a tyre expert. It is not open to the public, but only to those who drive and maintain vehicles and are interested in the most effective methods of tyre preservation. Large operators will be invited to organize parties; others interested should apply direct to the Public Relations Officers, M.O.W.T., Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, London, W.1.

NEW EDITION OF "THE MOTOR BOAT MANUAL"

A COMPLETELY new edition of

" The Motor Boat and Yachting Manual " (the 13th) is now available, price 7s. 6d., or Ss. post included. It is several years since the 12th edition was written and for this reason an up-to-date book was urgently needed.

The new edition has been entirely rewritten, and in view of the increasing employment of motor craft in the various Services and the growing number of personnel in those Services, it is hoped that it will, serve especially useful purpose at the present time.

" The Motor Boat and Yachting Manual " has been compiled by the staff of "The Motor Boat and Yachting " and is available from the publisher, Temple Press Ltd., Bowling Grten Lane, London, E.C.1, or from all -booksellers.