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News of the Week

13th December 1946
Page 28
Page 28, 13th December 1946 — News of the Week
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NEW TAXATION RATES FOR GOODS VEHICLES

FROM January 1, 1947, goods vehicles exceeding 12 cwt, unladen, but not over 16 cwt., will be taxed at £12 10s.; those from 16 cwt. to 1 ton at £15; from 1 ton to 3 tons at £15, plus £2 10s. for each quarter-ton or part of this weight in excess of 1 ton. Between 3 tons and 4 tons, £3 15s. will be added to the basic figure of £35 for • each quarter of a ton, whilst over 4 tons the basic rate of £50 is to be raised by £5 per quarter-ton.

For electric vehicles up to I ton the taxation is the same, but from 1 to 2 tons only £1 5s. is added to each quarter-ton; front 2 tons to 3 tons the basic rate is £20, with £2 10s. per quarter-ton; from 3 tons to 6 tons £30, with £1 5s. per quarter-ton, and from 6 tons, £45 plus £2 10s. for each additional quarter-ton.

Reduced rates are payable for some vehicles which arc employed in the agricultural industry.

CONCESSION TO CERTAIN AGRICULTURAL TRAILERS

BY the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4). Regulations, 1946 certain agricultural trailers which do not comply with the requirements of the Construction and Use Regulation. No. 50, as to fitting of brakes will be given a period of five years grace, until January 1, 1952, before they must conform. For new trailers, grace will be given until July 1. 1947, to allow time for alterations in designs. The exemption from the requirements will therefore apply to any agricultural trailer constructed before July 1, 1947, and drawn by a motor tractor if (a) its laden weight does not exceed 4 tons, (b) it is the only trailer so drawn, and (c) it is not drawn at more than 10 m.p.h.

ENCOURAGING PRODUCTION ENGINEERING RESEARCH

LAST week a meeting was held in London to encourage the establishment of a research organization to promote this and other scientific work in connection with engineering and other trades and industries allied to it, with particular reference to the manufacture and application of production engineering and machine and engineers' tools and gauges. It is known as the Production Engineering Research Association of Great Britain— in short, PERA.

It was in 1939 that, with the assistance of Lord Nuffield and the Governors of Loughborough College. the Institution of Production Engineers. established a research department under the directorship of Dr. Schlesinger. He was joined later by Dr. D. F. Ga II o w a y, Wh.Sc.. A.M.I.Mech.E., A.M.I.E.E., B.Sc.Hons. The department gradually built up its equipment, and did much useful work,

• conducting over 60 major investigations for member concerns or Government Service Departments, the income being brought to about £7,000 per annum.

Early in 1945. discussions between the I.P.E. and a number of engirieering trade associations led to the formation. on June 13, 1946, of PERA. which has now been recognized by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research as one of the National Research Associations.

This new body look over the equipment, staff. etc., and has acquired Staveley Lodge, a big mansion in Melton Mowbray standing in eight acres. The house is becoming the administrative headquarters, whilst outbuildings are being converted into workshops covering 10.000 sq. ft., under the director. Dr. Galloway and some 30 assistants.

Industry is now being asked to raise £15,000, and the D.S.I.R. will provide another £15,000. Above this figure. the latter will give £ for £ up to a maximum contribution of £35,000a year.

The object is to improve the technical efficiency of the whole engineering industry of the country. SIR WILLIAM ROOTES ON AMERICAN COMPETITION

AFT ER an extensive tour of America and Canada, Sir William and Sir Reginald Rootes, chairman and vicechairman, respectively, of the Rootes Group, returned to England on December 4. In six weeks they -covered over 15.000 miles.

Sir William says that America is definitely preparing to enter the export market on a large scale, and soon will be aggres-sive in world trade.

American manufacturers may be friendly and helpful competitors, but they are keen, and they appear to be keeping their eye on events more than we are. .

Many in our Government circles think a pre-war terms, when the motor industry produced 500.000 vehicles a year, and there is a tendency to overstress our success in the export trade. We ought to be able to plan not for this number of vehicles, but for 1,500,000 a year. Then our lowered production costs per unit would make us highly competitive. British costs must come down quickly. for American costs have risen far less than ours, and will fall far more rapidly.


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