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Questions Answered by Road Transport Executive

13th August 1948, Page 24
13th August 1948
Page 24
Page 25
Page 24, 13th August 1948 — Questions Answered by Road Transport Executive
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

.B.T.C. TAKES OVER 23 HAULAGE COMPANIES

AS announced in "The Commercial Motor" last week, the Holdsworth and Hanson group of road-haulage companies has sold out to the British Transport Commission. The 23 constituent concerns are as follow:—

Bouts Tillotson Transport, Ltd.; Bradford Leicester Transport, Ltd., Wm. Burrill, Ltd.; City Express Motors, Ltd.; F. H. Croft (Yeadon), Ltd.; W. V. Greenwood, Ltd.; Joseph Hanson and Sons, Ltd.; Hanson and Holdsworth (Birmingham), Ltd.:.. Holdsworth and Hanson (Chelmsford), Ltd.; I. W. Holdsworth, Ltd.; Holdsworth and Hanson (Glasgow), Ltd.; Holdsworth and Hanson (Leeds), Ltd.; Holdsworth and Hanson (London). Ltd.; Holdsworth and Hanson (Hull), Ltd.; Holdsworth and Burrill, Ltd.; J. S. Hutchinson, Ltd.; Ladylands Transport, Ltd.; MacCarriers, Ltd.; R. V. Morris, Ltd.; J. Poulter and Sons, Ltd.; Queen Carriage Co., Ltd.; Ryburn United Transport, Ltd.; and S. L. VI/hiteley's Transport, Ltd.

The companies concerned, which will • be reconstituted into two holding companies,.oWn about 800 vehicles, with a carrying capacity of 5,600 tons. The purchase price of the shares in the group is understood to be nearly E3,000,000. Aid. Charles Holdsworth. head of the group, will be on the boards of the new companies. The majority of the directors will be nominated by the Road Transport Executive.

The road passenger transport interests retained by the group include: Hansons Buses. Ltd.; W. Robinson and Sons (Great Harwood). Ltd.; 0. and C. Holdsworth. Ltd.: Burrows Taxis, Ltd.; Walton and Helliwell, Ltd. _ TWO I.R.T.E. OCCASIONS

THE Institute of Road Transport Engineers announces that its second annual dinner-dance will be held at the Palmerston Restaurant, Bishopsgate, London, E.C.2, on November 2 at 5.30 p.m. The third annual general meeting will take place at the Royal Society of Arts on November 4 at 6.30 p.m.

a22

THE chairman of the Road Transport Executive, Major-General G. N. Russell, C.B., C.B.E., recently asked certain organ's of the Trade and Technical Press to put forward questions regarding the policy and activities of the Executive. We deal first with those propounded by "The Commercial Motor," with the answers from the Executive.

Q.—Having regard to the admission by the Minister of Transport, in the House of Commons on July 26, that the nationalization of road passenger transport is likely, to be more difficult than was expected, is the Executive determined to take over road palsenger transport? If so, when?

A.—Road haulage must obviously come first. The position is covered by Sir Cyril Hurcomb's statement of March last.

Q.—Where a haulage business has been purchased or is to be acquired, how will the staff fare, particularly in connection with the smaller undertakings? If all the officials be absorbed, will there not, sooner or later, be redundancy?

A.—The best possible will be done for the staff to see that they do not fare worse in the future than in the past. It is impossible to envisage redundancy at this stage, as we shall not know which operators want to come into the scheme.

Q.—Is long-distance haulage by road to be continued and encouraged, or is more to be put on rail?

A.—Will be continued and encouraged within economic limits, and where alternative transport exists the trader will have his choice. The object is to serve both trade and industry to the best advantage.

Q.—What is to be the relationship between the Executive and the short-distance hauliers? Will they work together?

A.—We hope so. There will be a need for working co-operation between the Executive and short distance hauliers. It is certainly not the intention to drive them off the road.

Q.—Will the Executive compete in the short-distance field, and what will be the position of railway motor vehicles?

A.—The Executive will automatically come into the short-distance field, where they have acquired such businesses. With co-operation there will be room for all The function of railway motor vehicles remains unchanged. Any alteration would be a matter of high policy which would be dictated by the Commission.

Q.—How far will the Executive go in building chassis and bodies?

A.—Not yet considered, but the powers of the Commission are limited by the Act (Section 2, sub-sections 2, 3 and 4).

Q.—Will it be the policy of the Executive to raise road goods rates and road passenger fares to the level of those for the railways? 111 not, how will road and rail competition be tackled? A.—A matter of policy for the Commission.

Q.—What are the limits of liaison between the Road and Rail Executives, and what will happen if, say, the railways make a loss?

A.—The Road Executive will be in the closest touch with the Railway Executive; both are charged with the duty of running their business on a commercial basis within the framework of the Commission's policy.

Q.—Will there be depots for the exchange of traffic, to be used by the Executive and independents?

A.—This question is premature. Q.—Does the Executive contemplate laying down some standards in design for vehicles in the longdistance and short-distance fields? A.—Premature, but the motor industry would be consulted before taking action.

Questions Asked by Another Journal Q.—What will be the immediate duties of the divisional managers—it is . presumed that they are starting work straight away?

A.—A divisional manager will be charged with the efficient management of the districts within his division. He will be responsible, inter alia, for:— (a) The operation of roadhaulage services, dealing with major commercial questions within such limits as the Executive may define; (h) Co-ordinating vehicle operations and balancing vehicle movements within his division, and, where necessary, co-operating with other divisions; (c) Co-operating with the appropriate railway officers for the purpose of securing the greatest measurement of co-ordination of road and rail services; in this he will work within the framework of the policy laid down by the Executive and it will be his responsibility to ensure that the principles of the policy of co-ordination are carried out at all levels within his division; (d) Securing compliance with such instructions on technical matters as may be issued from Executive headquarters to secure uniform practice and standardization; (e) Preparing summaries of returns (other than trading results and financial statements) received from district managers and submitting them to Executive headquarters, together with any other required information relating to his division; (f) The control of the staff of his division; (g) The general administration of his division.

They will start work immediately.

Q.—Who come under the divisional managers? District superintendents and/or area managers? Have any such appointments been made?

A.—District managers and probably group managers, the limits of whose areas have not yet been fixed, and no appointments have been made. The divisional managers will consider their organization immediately.

Q.—What steps are being taken to retain the goodwill of concerns taken over, as by the retention of their names?

A.—Individual names to be retained for the present, but future poky is under consideration.

Q.—Are there any co ordination measures with the railway regions?

A.—Under active discussion, and a co-ordination officer for services (Mr. J. S. Chambers) has been appointed at headquarters.

Q.—ls it contemplated that the majority of established "free" operators will continue to operate outside the 25 milli under permit system for many years?

A.—Not for "many years."


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