News of the Week Liverpool Bid to Speed Up Docks Traffic
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ENDEAVOURS are being made at Liverpool to speed up the transit of inward and outward goods from the dock quays. Last week a meeting convened by the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce was attended by representatives of the Road Transport Section, the Transport Committee, Ministry officers and other interested parties.
A memorandum was submitted analysing the causes of the delays in the clearing of traffic, under the headings of (a) labour, (b) railways, (c) customs, (d) steamship companies, and (e) Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.
Suggestions made included, payment of dock labourers at tonnage rates, instead of on a daywork basis; quicker turn round of full and empty vehicles; permit system, whereby steamship companies can control the quantity of goods arriving at the docks for shipment on any given 'day, such permits to be applied for by the consignors of goods; . gangs of men should be. provided to assist drivers of road-transport vehicles to off-load on to the dock quay, instead of the driver being left to unload the vehicle himself; more cranes, trucks and appliances to expedite the handling of cargoes: the provision of clearing stations or marshalling yards well away from the dock area, where road vehicles could run in and lighten their loads immediately.
Concerning the last-named suggestion, it is pointed out that its adoption would leave the cartage from the clear
ing station to the docks to be performed by those whose specialized job it is 'to cater for dockside traffic. Hauliers would gladly pay the cost involved, as it would mean that vehicles would be emptied in a reasonable time to enable them to load up again in the afternoon and get away quickly on the outward journeys.
The statement was made that traffic congestion in the area mentioned is costing the road-haulage industry at least £5,000 per week.
The meeting approved three proposals:—(l) That clearing stations should be established to ease the traffic congestion at the docks; (2) inauguration of a system of transit permits by• the steamship companies; (3) appointment of a responsible transport officer, with full authority to order the movement of goods, according to the circumstances that prevail.
The Commercial Motor understands that other Lancashire trade and transport interests have been invited to back up the Liverpool 'suggestions, which are to he put before the Minister of Transport
R.T.C. HELPS TO SELL USED VEHICLES
I)EALERS who were asked some time ago, on behalf of the North-Western Regional Transport Commissioner,Manchester, to compile a list of tithed commercial vehicles in stock, with •a view to his getting them sold to operators, are now invited to supply an upto-date schedule on similar lines, and send it to the compiler, Li: Davies, Divisional ,Secretary of the Motor Agents' Association. 139, Deansgate,Manchester. He will pass the data to the R.T.C., who will then be able to refer inquiring buyers to sources of supply.
Thornycroft Dividend Payments
IN respect of the year ended July 31, 11940, the directors of John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., are recommending the payment of the following dividends:--3 per cent, on the cumulative preference shares, making 6 per gent. for the year; 31. per cent, on the participating preferred ordinary shares, making 7i per cent, for the year; and 10 per cent. on the ordinary shares. A sum of £67,451 is being allocated to the general reserve, and the amount carried forward is increased to £67,653.
September's Dull Registrations
DURING September, only 255 new petrol and oil-engined goods vehicles were registered, the largest number (95) comprising 2-4-tonners. In addition, 32 electric goods vehicles were licensed, 20 of them coming in the division for vehicles between 12 cwt. and 1 ton. In the case of hackney vehicles, 75 registrations took place.
In the same month, 357 exempt vehicles were registered, 135 of them being Government owned. In the case of tractors, there were 33 registrations, 17 of them being for farming duties. The number of agricultural engines (5s. class) licensed was 1,505.
A.R.O. and Military to Confer on Rates
TO discuss the rates that are being. paid by the authorities for vehicles compulsorily acquired by the military,
North Western Area A.R.O. is endeavouring to arrange a meeting with the military authorities. The A.R.O. is dissatisfied with the amounts that are being paid. Messrs. T. Lawrenson, j James and John HopkinS (area secretary) will represent the A.R.O.at the meeting, which will probably be held at Leeds.
Big Fines for Falsifying Delivery Notes
FOR using incorrect delivery notes at a Warrington factory, four men living in the Warrington district were heavily fined at the Newton Petty
Sessions. All the men were drivers employed by Messrs. Greenwood Bros. Against one man there were 25 summonses. He was fined a total of £29; two other men were fined £10 each, and the fourth defendant was fined £8, It was stated that the lorries were loaded at a quarry and then passed' over a weighbridge when conveyance notes were made out giving the tare weights of the vehicles. Accused put the wrong weights on the notes. They recorded a biner weight than was put on the vehicles and a smaller total for the weight of the lorries. The result was that a sum of £45 had been paid for material which was not delivered, SOUTH AFRICAN CALL FOR INDUSTRIAL TRACTORS THE South African Railways and
HE
Administration is calling for tenders (Contract No. 2968) for industrial type pneumatic tyred tractors with four-cylindered engines. Tenders have to be sent.to the secretary of the Tender Board, Room 31, at the headquarters of the Administration, or to P.O. Box 7784, Johannesburg. The closing date is January 6, 1941.
A copy of the specifications and general conditions of the tender may be borrowed from the Department of Overseas Trade, 99-103, St. Michael's Road, Bournemouth.
Transport .Priority THE Minister of Transport informed Mr. Brooke, in the House of Commons last Week, that the priority categories for production (Ministry of Supply) did not necessarily coincide with the categories to which priority of transit was accorded, as different considerations applied. The goods to be accorded general priority of transit were determined by the Transport Priority Committee of the Production Council, on which were representatives of the Goirernment Departments concerned in the transport of goods.
Association Chairman Dies
WE learn that Mr, Edward Thomas Lear, chairman of the Plymouth C-Licence Holders' Association, which is affiliated to A.R.O., has died at the age of 62 years, He was managing director of Lever 'Bros., Ltd., a concern of manufacturing and wholesale confectioners, of Plymouth and Bristol.
PERSONAL PARS MR. A. FORBES SMITH, assistant goods manager (Southern Area), L.N.E.R., has been appointed by the Ministry of Supply to act as assistant to the Controller-General of Transportation.
MR, D. B. HOSEASON, M.I.E.E., M.I.Mech.E., M.A.I.E.E., has been appointed to the Board of the Brush Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd., of Loughborough.
MR. HAROLD ELLIOTT, commercial assistant to the general manager of Pickfords, Ltd. (who is his father, Mr. W. J. Elliott), has been appointed Controller of Road Transport in the Department of the Controller-General of Transportation of the Ministry of Supply. Mr. Elliott had, naturally, had an extensive experience of road transport, and in this he is following in the footsteps of his father.
MR. ARTHUR BUTLER, traffic superintendent of Ipswich Transport Depwtrnent, has retired after a long transport career. It was 49 years ao that he obtained his first transport experience with 'the Gosforth Tramways Co., and he was later transferred to Newcastleupon-Tyne Corporation when it inau;urated an electric tramways system in 1901. He joined Ipswich Corporation in 1903; and was actively connected with that authority's change-over from trams to trolleybuses, which started in 1923 and was completed three years later.
Greater Care Needed on the Part of Drivers
JT having been stated officially 1,012 persons died in. October through road accidents, Sir A. Maitland, in Parliament last week, pointed to the feeling among the public that there was great negligence on the part of drivers of motor vehicles, and asked if the Minister could make any statement to see that greater care was exercised.
The reply was to the effect that feeling certainly existed, but there was, a lack of evidence to prove it. An undertaking was given that an effort would be made to get separate figures as between civilians and the Army. , Death of Well-known Tyre-trade Personality
ME regret to learn of the death of W Mr. Tom Welburn, who, for many years, was a well-known figure in Midland and Northern motor-trade circles. Born in Manitoba, Canada, Mr. We!burn spent most of his business career on the sales side of the motor trade. . Since 1930 he had been the manufacturers' representative with the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co. (Great Britain), Ltd., this being his second period of service with the company. Previously he worked on the sales side during 1916-24 and left the Goodyear concern, to open up his own garage business in Huddersfield, following which he joined Wolseley Motors, Ltd., as a sales supervisor.
MILITARY PERSONNEL CARRIED UPON HIRED VEHICLES
THE A.R.O. issues a warning that normal insurance policies for goods vehicles do not cover liability for the death of, or injury to, military personnel carried upon . civilian vehicles hired with driver. It appears that the military authorities are insisting upon contractors assuming this liability, although in at least one case, they have declined to pay an increased rate of hire to cover the additional premium.
The Association is taking up the matter. with the War Office and, in the meantime, members are advised to terminate the hiraiimmediately, unless the military either accept the liability, or pay the increased rate. It is scarcely necessary to point out the grave risk• that is entailed in Carrying military personnel without adequate cover.
Guy Motors Criticism of Excess-profits . Tax Working
SPEAKING at the annual meeting of Guy Motors, Ltd., held a, few days ago, Mr. Sidney S. Guy, chairman of the company, stressed the fact, that the wisdom of the company in consistently adhering to the policy of building Guy
vehicles for long life and low running costs was being more than ever appreciated by the company's customers • during the present difficult tithes.
The company's directors are concerned about the working of the exceSs profits tax and, whilst they agree that abnormal profits should not be made out of the country's misfortunes, they feel that proper and adequate allowances should be made both for income tax and excess profits tax on certain items. If this be not done, it is emphasized, it is possible that a company which, in 1939, was in a healthy position, might emerge from the war in a much less favourable position, having been denuded of much. working capital through taxation and totally inadequate allowances on its wasting assets.
Leyland Support for Spitfire Fund
1 EYLAND MOTORS, LTD., which Li inaugurated Leyland's Spitfire Fund with a gift of £500, has enabled the R.5,000mark to be passed by a further gift of •,£200. This was handed to the fund chairman, Councillor R. Clayton, on December 5. In addition, directors, staff and employees have contributed £450, making the, company's total .£1.150.
ARMY VIOLATIONS OF LIGHTING REGULATIONS?
A PARLIAMENTARY question from
Mr. Touche, addressed to the Secretary of State for War, related to motor accidents alleged to have been caused by military vehicles having neither rear , nor front lights at night and to cases of excessive lights displayed by military vehicles during periods of alert.
Pella. Law, Financial Secretary to the. War Office. said that except in cases of military necessity Army vehicles must display suitably dimmed, front and rear lights on public roads during the normal lighting-up times, and military commanders were frequently reminded of their responsibility in this matter.
Traffic Offering in Concrete Pipes and Sugar
THERE is a considerable quantity of
sugar available in Ipswich for delivery in Burton-on-Trent and Stratford-on-Avon. Large vehicles are re.quired. Petrol will be made available and the rate is attractive. This traffic could be handled conveniently by any haulier on the road between Ipswich and either destination.
Also available is traffic in respect of 200 tons of concrete pipes, 12 ins, to 18 ins., for transport from West Drayton to Holt, Norfolk. The rate offered for this traffic is 23s. per ton, Full particulars of these traffics may be obtained from the ,office of the Eastern Area, A.R.O., 17, Hills Road, Cam'bridge.
Perfect Workers' Services Impossible I N the House of Commons last week Mr. Ellis Smith asked the Minister of Transport whether he was satisfied With the travelling facilities for workpeople • in industrial areas and, if not, what steps were being taken to improve the services, as many people had to stand from 10 to 30 minutes, often in rain, which did not tend to maintain production or preserve the health of those Concerned. • Col, Moore-Brabazon said he was always prepared to investigate any specific complaint of inadequacy of travelling facilities for workpeople in industrial areas, and if Mr. Smith had in mind any particular service and Would give him particulars, he would make inquiries. It was, however, quite impossible, in present circumstances, to ensure that in no case would passengers have to wait tor transport.