Opinions and Queries
Page 21
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APPRECIATION OF OUR EFFORTS FOR THE INDUSTRY
pLEASE allow me to congratulate you on the publicity
you are giving to incompetent bureaucratic interference with the road-transport industry. I am, indeed, thankful that the leading journal of our industry realizes how serious the menace is to the national war effort.
Let not your pen weary in this well-doing ! F.B. Norwich.
PAYMENT FOR LORRIES TAKEN BY THE ARMY
IHAPPENED to notice in your journal that you would like details of lorries takkn by the Army and not being paid for at a reasonable rate. We had two taken from us on July 31, both being Commer N5 forward-control vehicles registered in 1936; they were in very good condition.
The purchasing officer said that the price for them was £135 each, but he would give us £165 each, and that we had better accept that amount, as the arbitration officer had powers, if we did not accept £165, to give us only £135, so we agreed to -accept this, but we have not yet received payment.
We have approached several dealers to try and replace them and we have been asked £350 for the same class of vehicle with 1935 registration; so you can see that £165 was not fair payment. W. SHIRLEY, London, S.E.15. For J. Shirley and Sons, Ltd.
WHAT IS SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE . . .
I N a recent issue you remarked that copies of The Commercial Motor appear to be in circulation for a very long time, by reason of the fact that communications reach you regarding matter which had been published some weeks previously. This must often happen because, for the present, very large numbers of people are intensely busy and they have not sufficient time to go through the paper systematically, but have to glance through it when opportunity offers.
There are two matters in your issue of April 27 to which I would like to refer ; the first is the Civil Court's jurisdiction over _Army drivers. In many cases it would appear that magistrates' Courts are somewhat overawed by Military Authority, and it is therefore very refreshing to hear. of .the way in which Sheriff Substitute 'Brown dealt with the case which came before him regarding the lighting of a military vehicle.
Lighting Regulations have been issued by Parliament, presumably in the interests of the safety of all con-, cerned, and the regulations are enforced with all sorts of pains and penalties on the civil population. Special masks are compulsory, and we hear about total emission of 2.5-ft. candles, but in spite of being a considerable road user, even in these days of restricted fuel, I have yet to see my first military vehicle of any sort—car or lorry—with a regulation head-light mask. On the contrary, these vehicles usually display a light that would make a searchlight look to its laurels, and the rays extend far above the horizontal.
In the same way one can refer to other regulations which are ignored by military vehicles and which are enforced on civilian vehicles. As regards speed limits, military vehicles appear to' proceed at 45 m.p.h. in built-up areas and 70 m.p.h. in open country, whatever the type of vehicle. Military vehicles park all over the street, even where unilateral parking is the rule, but the police pay no attention whatever. Once again I say that 'these regulations were instituted for the safety of all road users, and if a large section of the public is to be allowed to ignore them at will, it is time that police and Bench exerted their powers.
Another matter of interest in the same number was that relating to market value versus impressment price, and it is most interesting and refreshing to learn that in spite of an Army assessment based upon the pre-war value of a vehicle and carefully excluding any increases in value due to the War Emergency, it is still possible to get justice from a County Court.
It is no doubt only right and proper that no man should be allowed to make a profit out of the Nation's present difficulties, but where vehicles which are in work are requisitioned the poor unfortunate carrier who thereby loses his bread and butter, must ceplace them, and this, based upon present Army assessments, will leave him out of pocket by some 200-300 pounds pet vehicle impressed.
If it be not right that an individual should make a. profit from the emergency, it is equally not right that he should be involved in such a loss when he is called upon to sacrifice the tools of his trade in the Nation's interest; and in this respect is it not logical to expect that the Requisitioning Authority will first and foremost acquire those vehicles, advertised from week to week in The Commercial Motor and other trade_papers and which are looking for owners, before compulsorily acquiring vehicles which are already in use and which form part of the owner's means for livelihood? Can it be that the Government finds it cheaper to take from a haulier rather than buy from a dealer? G. W. IRwm, Secretary,
Eastern Area Associated Road Operators. Cambridge.
FACILITATE DRIVING 1N:THE BLACK-OUT
THE importance of carrying on the business of the country in spite of the air warfare over Great Britain is generally recognized. That the transport system should function with the least possible interruption is vital.
The " purple " message now issued at night to areas in the course of raiders requires all exposed lighting in docks, factories and transport undertakings to be extinguished. The police may also require all motor-vehicle head lights to be put out. Therefore the Prime Minister's welcome forecast of a brighter system of street lighting will not make things any easier for drivers during raids.
Steps could be taken now—and at no excessive cost —to help drivers in the dark periods. Kerbs should be more generally whitened, intermittent white lines denoting traffic lanes should be greatly extended and reflector studs far more generally used.
To enable the driver to go on, even without his masked head lights, with the highest possible degree of safety for himself and for other road users, is a very important factor in the determination to allow nothing to hold up the war effort. F. G. Bnisrow, Hon. Secretary, British Road Federation. London, S.W.1.