Hands Off!
Page 73
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IGHTLY more aggressive note is now being struck in advertisements being published by the Road Haulage don on behalf of free-enterprise hauliers. Their campaign is being stepped up in intensity. as well as in anticipation of a General Election in October. The :me is " They Like Us the Way We Are." That is y as fair a summary as any of trade and industry's on the subject of hauliers.
o the Bone
commercial-vehicle manufacturers followed the Cohen nittee's advice and cut their prices, they would put ,es out of business. During the past ye trr one or two have quoted prices on big contracts that would hardly
n the cost of production. They have been marking I waiting for the turn of the tide, which, happily, is now g. But they have a good deal of leeway to make up her reductions in prices are out of the question.
Vlany Technicians?
rade unions are continuing to press for a bigger share he management of the nationalized industries. Repres of the T.U.C. recently told Mr. Macmillan, the Prime , that the Government had in recent years placed too aphasis on technical experience in making appointments Is of nationalized undertakings. Consequently, there
n too few introductions from outside the industries of • experience in the organization of workers, The ,nd Mr. Macmillan are to discuss the matter further.
wy's End
Wednesday the B.B.C. Home Service will inaugurate ries of six weekly programmes exploring the atmosphere ractcrs of well-known places in London where people. Id animals reach the end of their journeys. One of will be Victoria Coach Station. Another, 'which should proprietors of the coach station particular satisfaction, graveyard for disused cars. ,
f Step
perators will find small comfort in the news that, ary to the usual seasonal trend, hire-purchase business s continuing at a peak level. Indeed, there seems to
be a growing feeling among them that anything—including a reduction in fuel taxthat aids the motorist is to be discouraged. Dissenters from the general call for a cut in tax believe that no Government could afford to alienate the sympathies of millions of car-owning voters by giving a discriminatory concession to bus operators, and that merely to ask for one is inviting further losses of traffic. It remains to be seen whether the minority will become sufficiently vocal to influence association policy on the fuel tax.
"After You" . . .
P-1 A CONSIDERATE idea that might well be copied in Britain has been incorporated in a new Swiss highway code drawn tip by the leading transport and motoring organizations. Drivers of heavy lorries are expected to halt at least 110 yd. before a railway level crossing to allow fast vehicles to Line up in front of them and pull away smartly when the barrier is raised. A white star on a red background on a commercial vehicle indicates that the driver has undertaken to comply with the voluntary code.
Name Wanted
WHO can suggest another name for a semi-trailer? VY Mr. W. F. Hall, who is in charge of Scammell's heavyvehicle sales, believes that through loose expression the semi-trailer is often confused with the drawbar trailer, especially in accident statistics, and that it suffers accordingly. Scammell have always referred to the tractor (a term which Mr. Hall deprecates) as the " motive unit," and to the semi
trailer as the carrier." Carrier" is, however, hardly descriptive of the subject. and could equally well be applied to a rigid vehicle, as it often is. Who has a better idea?
Crisis As Usual
rEYLONS Transport Board faces one of its usual crises. The post of chief engineer has been vacant for nearly a year. The works manager is going to Canada, and nobody seems anxious to become development, plant or production manager. All five positions are still open. Many of the provincial depots are being run by foremen because there are no qualified engineers to take charge of them.
Nationalize in haste and repent at leisure.