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News of the Week

LICENCE DUTY ALTERATIONS IN NEW FINANCE BILL

THE Finance Bill ,ri.ow passing through the House of Commons,

• after it has received its third reading. will affect the duty payable for 1946, on certain types of goods vehicle of all classes, and some of the larger hackney carriages.

• For the majority, however, there will be no alteration, and licences may be renewed at Post Offices in the normal way.

If the relevant provisions receive final sanction, the higher rate of duty at present chargeable on vehicles not fitted entirely with pneumatic tyres, will he abolished. Such vehicles will be chargeable for duty at the same rate as vehicles fitted with pneumatic tyres.

For goods vehicles, the new intermediate taxation steps are by-5 cwt., and for hackney carriages, with more than eight passenger seats, by single seats. Thus, if a goods vehicle be within 5 cwt. above an existing step (starting at 1 ton) a new rate will apply, e.g., a goods vehicle weighing 1 ton 2 cwt. will be charged at the new intermediate .rate for 1-ton vehicles, intsead of, as at present, the rate for 1/tons—£17 10s. instead of £20.

Similarly, the duty on a coach or bus, in cases where the maximum number of seats.in one of the existing group-steps is not provided, will be charged according to the actual number of seats.

The new tables are shown on the back of the revised full declaration forms R.F.4 and R.F.8, which operators should Consult if their vehicles will be affected.

N.A.R.T.G. SUPPORTS R.H.A.

AT a general meeting, held a few days ago in Blackpool, of the National Association of Road Transport Groups, Mr. Senior, of Sheffield, moved the

following resolution•—" That this National Association of Road Transport Groups assembled in general meeting, unanimously pledges its support for the R.H.A. in resisting the threat of nationalization of the road haulage industry, and offers to provide for that fight the maximum assistance of which its members are capable."

The motion, seconded by Mr. Wild,. of Halifax, was resolved.

STIMULATING THE USE OF TAR FOR BRITAIN'S ROADS

AN informal luncheon, held a few days ago by the British Road Tar Association, gave the technical Press an opportunity for obtaining information of the latest developments in connection_ with the constrUction and maintenance of roads with tar.

Mr. J. Davidson Pratt, 0.B.E., who occupied the chair, said that it is a great testimony to those who have been responsible for our roads and to the methods and materials of construction used that, in spite of almost negligible maintenance and very heavy military traffic during the past six years, they are still in very good shape. He stated that some remarkable examples had

been given of this where tar had been the binder used.

The Association has co-operated with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, on a 50-50 basis, in researches into the properties of road tar and the best methods of employing it in road construction and maintenance. This is additional to the large amount of research work continually in progress in the laboratories of the main tar distillers of this country. This research Work has contributed to the improved B.S.S. for road tar and for tarmacadam.

In order to give the user a guarantee of quality for the tar, the Association has adopted a certification trade mark which it intends to use at the beginning of next year's road season commencing in March. • NO WHITE PAPER ON NATIONALIZATION MATIONALIZATION of inland transport will no doubt be the subject of debate in the House of Commons when the necessary legislation is introduced, and the Minister of War Transport sees no reason to issue a White Paper on the subject.

ANOTHER GOOD YEAR FOR DENNIS BROTHERS

THE trading profit of Dennis Brothers, Ltd., in the year ended September 30 last, after making provision for E.P.T., was £140,561, compared with £139,516 a year earlier, the net profit coming out at £125,492. A sum of £25,000 is set aside for renewals and re-equipment, and the employees fund receives £3,000. After paying a dividend of Is. 3d. per share, which will take £93,905, there remains £181,134 to be carried forward. against £177,547 brought in.

HAULAGE WAGES PROPOSALS AWAITING OBJECTIONS THE proposals of the Road Haulage Central Wages Board have now been set out in schedule form, and the Board will consider any objections to them lodged within 21 days after December 4. The maximum proposed increase per week of 48 hours „is 6s.

Workers whose home depot is in London Area:—(i) Drivers under 21 of vehicles carrying 1 ton or less:—Under 18 years of age, 3s. 6d.; 18 but under 21, 6s. (ii) All other drivers, 6s. (iii)' Mates, all ages, on steam wagons, 6s.

(iv) Statutory attendants under 18, 6s.

(v) Workers other than those in (i) to (iv) under 18, 3s. 6d. and 18 or over, 6s.

For home depots outside London Area (other than those to whom long distance service rates apply): (i) Drivers, under 21, of vehicles carrying 30 cwt, or less:—Under 18, 3s. 6d.; 18 but not 21, 6s. (ii) All other drivers, 6s.

(iii) Statutoty attendants under 18, 6s.

(iv) Workers other than those specified in (i) to (iii) above:—Under 18, 3s. 6d.; 18 or over, 6s.

Long-distance-service rate s:—(i) Drivers, 6s. (ii) Statutory attendants under 13, 6s. (iii) Norkers other than those specified in (i) and (ii):—Under 18, 3s. 6d.; 18 or over, §s.

SPECIALLOID TRADING RESULTS IN the year ended March 31 last, I Specialioid, Ltd., made a profit, after providing for taxation, of £55,574. After adding £22,655 brought in and deducting the cumulativepreference dividend, as well as a 25 per cent. interim dividend on the ordinety shares, £70,104 remains for appropriation. A final dividend of 75 per cent, is to be paid on the ordinary shares, and £22,378 transferred to the taxation account, as well as £2,500 to the benevolent fund; the amount to be carried forward is £36,826. NEARLY 100,000 SURPLUS VEHICLES IN this country there are now 39 'vehicle depots under the control of the Ministry of Supply and, on October 31, they contained approximately 47,000 vehicles, declared surplus by the Services and the N.F.S. In addition, an approximately, equal number of I/eh:cies had been declared surplus, but had not yet been transferred to the Ministry's depots.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply and Aircraft Production, Mr. Leonard, gave this information recently in a written reply to a question put by Brigadier Medlicott.

TWO POSTS AVAILABLE IN THE MIDLANDS

AMANUFACTURER of i.e. engines in the Midlands requires an assistant to the sales manager, and an experienced man to take charge of the spares division of the sales department. In each case some technical background is essential, and for the first, commercial experience in a similar undertaking; for the second position, previous experience with similar products is necessary. -Full particulars of experience and details as to salary required should be sent addressed, I.C. Engines, care of the Editor of this journal.

LINK BETWEEN EXPORTS AND TRANSPORT

AT an open meeting of the Leicester centre of the Institute. of Traffic Administration, held last week, Mr. H. Capriles gave a talk on "The Aftermath of the War and its Effect on Export." He is the sales controller of J. Goddard and Sons, Ltd., Nelson Street, Leicester, and is one of the few people who have travelled over 1,000,000 miles abroad.

He stressed that export trade had always been the keynote of our prosperity and that export and transport were very closely allied. Before 1914, this country had a very sound export trade, but following the 1914-1918 war our position became less secure, and although every effort was made by us to stabilize the overseas market we were unable to reach our pre-war status.

Mr. Capriles stated that there was a great danger of other nations, who had at present a greater production than we had, capturing the bulk of the overseas trade. Any delay in our export programme would make it extremely difficult for us to regain our place in overseas markets.

A.E.C. OPENS NEW SALES OFFICE • AT MANCHESTER

ON December 3 the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd„ opened a new sales office at Martin's Bank Chambers, Shudehill, Manchester, under the northwest divisional manager, Mr. E. R. Hollands,. who was formerly area manager at Birmingham. The new office, which is, for the present, situated in temporary premises only, will be the headquarters of the A.E.C. sales division in the north-west.

PROPER VEHICLES NEEDED FOR MEAT TRANSPORT •

EAST FIFE farmers are concerned at the class of motor vehicle used for the transport of meat to and from the slaughter-houses. The livestock committee of the National Farmers' Union of Scotland has been told by the farmers that other types of vehicle must be used. It points out that coal lorries and similar machines are being used to transport .meat from the slaughterhouses to butchers, and the use of refrigerator vans for meat is to be pressed vigorously.

THE COUNCIL OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN EXHIBITION •

PiE first exhibition, "Britain Can ls,4ake It," arranged by the Council of Industrial Design, will be held July next. This will be the first time, in the post-war era, that the curtain will be lifted upon a representative selection of the products with which industry hopes to capture the goodwill of the home„and overseas markets.

The regional branches of the, Board of Trade, and chambers of commerce are willing to advise concerns in preparing their goods for submission to the Council's selection committees. "INDUSTRY SHOULD NOT BE PLAYTHING OF THEORISTS"

REFERENCE to the planned nationalization of road transport was made ' by Sir Arthur M. Sutherland, president of the Newcastle-on-Tyne 'and Gateshead Chamber of Commerce, speaking

• at a meeting of the body. He asked what method the State intended using to 'take over the industry. It Seemed as though it was just another one of those theories which were supposed to cure all evils.

Declaring that industry should not be the plaything of experimenting theorists, Sir Arthur said that State ownership of road transport would limit the rights of the trader to carry goods in his own vehicle. The road-transport industry, conscious of its own righteousness, was asking for a public inquiry.

WAR STORY OF VAUXHALL MOTORS, LTD.

" TT was the Churchill, and the

'Churchill alone, which put the infantry on the objective." This tribute was paid to the famous tank of this name by Lieut.-Gen. A. F. Harvey, C.B.E., D.S.O.' M.C., Chief of the General Staff, Allied Armies in Italy. The full story of its development is given in an illustrated folder entitled "The Story of the Churchill Tank," published by Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., Luton, Beds. An account is also given of some of the other war-time activities of this concern, details of which were given in The Commercial Motor" dated July 13.

Copies of the publication can be obtained gratis from the company, at the address given.

STEWART AND ARDERN REOPENS LONDON SHOWROOMS

FOLLOWING the derequisitioning by the Government of a part of its West End premises, Stewart and Ardern, Ltd., the sole London distributor of Morris-Commercial vehicles, has reopened temporary showrooms in Morris House, Berkeley Square, WA. Its head office remains at Morris House, Empress Place, London, S:W.6, until further notice.

A.E.C. CREATES POST OF DIVISIONAL MANAGER

(-NNE of the first actions taken by the ‘../Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., to implement its post-war sales policy has been to divide Britain into seven main areas, each under the control of' a divisional manager with his headquarters established in the area con

cerned.

The names of the divisional managers and the addresses of their offices, which are those of existing A.E.C. sales, service and/or spares depots, are as follow:— , Scotland.—Mr. C. C. Bateson, 343, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.

N.W. Division.--Mr. E. R. Hollancls, Martin's Bank Chambers, Shudedlill, Manchester.

N.E. Division.—Mr. C. F. Calvert, Canal Road. Bradford. • E. Midland Division.—Mr, H. J. Voyce, Brook Street, Nottingham.

S.W. Division —Mr. C. A. Price, 7, The Avenue, Southampton.

North Londonand Eastern Counties Division.—Mr. P. Rackharn, Southall.

South London and South-Eastern Counties Division.—Mr. P. J. Arrow, Southall, MOBILE CANTEEN PRESENTED TO F.A.N.Y.

ONE sign that the needs of men who are still in the Services are not being forgotten, although the war is over, is the gift of a mobile canteen to the Women's Mechanical Transport Service—for the use of the unit working for Army Welfare in the Far East—by Joseph Lucas, Ltd., the well-known concern of electrical-equipment manufacturers.

At an interesting coemony, last week. at the F.A.N.Y. headquarters in Wilton Place, London, S.W., the presentation was made by Mr. J. Albert Thomson, LL.D., J.P., a director of the company, who said that the canteen was given as a tribute to the good work F.A.N.Y. had done during the war. The canteen was accepted on behalf of Army Welfare by General Sir Ronald Adam, Bt., K.C.B., C.B., D.S.O., 0.B.E., Adjutant-General to the Forces.

The canteen, which is the 10th the Lucas organization has presented to the various Services, has been specially designed for tropical conditions.

SCOTS HAULAGE TRANSFERENCE WE learn that Messrs. Alexander A. VV Aitken and Son, Station Road, Laurencekirk, have disposed of *heir haulage, contractor's business to Messrs. Meston Mackie and Sons, haulage contractors, Mill of Barns, Laurencekirk.

BID TO BUILD UP THE INDUSTRY IN SCOTLAND L"OLLOWING a survey, the Scottish Council of the National Union of Vehicle Builders estimates that more than 2,000 additional vehicle builders could be employed in Scotland on the construction of buses, goods vehicles,

cars, and subsidiary supplies. It is stated that the industry has expanded 300 per cent. in England in the past 30 years, whereas it has contracted in Scotland.. In the 10 years before the war unemployment among vehicle builders in Scotland averaged twice that of South of the Border.

The Government now has an opportunity of extending the industry under the Location of Industry Act, which gives it power to insist on railway and bus companies and commercial concerns arranging fog more work to be done in Scotland.

Many bus companies and local authorities in Scotland obtain the bodies for buses and goods vehicles from England, and the Union claims that these ought to encourage local employment by having work carried out in Scottish factories. It is contended that the muni cipal-transport departments of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow should have the same powers as companies to build new bodies for buses and other vehicles.

RUMANIAN TRANSPORT CRISIS

EQUISIT1ONING of lorries by the ‘Germans and, later, by the Russians is one of the reasons for the breakdown of transport in Rumania, according to Reuter. Due to the cheapness of petrol, Rumanian road transport was highly developed before the war.

C LICENSEES OPPOSE NATIONALIZATION

THE" National Council of T.R.T.A., which is pledged to maintain the right of trade and industry to freedom of choice in transport and the unfettered right of traders to operate their own vehicles, has passed a resolution reaffirming that the Association is absolutely opposed to the nationalization of road transport in any shape or form as being inimical to the national interest. fhe Council is firmly resolved to employ all constitutional means for convincing Parliament and the country that nationalization in this sphere would be disastrous to the economic life of Great Britain.

It is important to remember that traders in this country operate some 360,000 vehicles under C licences.

JOSEPH LUCAS TRADING

PE report of Joseph Lucas. Ltd., for .he year ended. August 7 last shows a net profit on trading account of £370,270, compared with £340,426 in the previous year. After deducting provision. for obsolescence (£50,000) and directors' fees, there remains £319,270, which, with £76,916 brought in, gives a

total of £396,186. Interim dividends absorbed £29,650, and the payment of a final dividend of 12i per cent., less tax, on the ordinary shares, making 15 per cent. for the year, will take £130,938. A 'sum of £100,000 is transferred to reserve, bringing it up to £1,400,000, and £15,000 is transferred to funds for the benefit of employees, leaving £117,136 to be carried forward.

A LODGE SUGGESTION TO FATHER CHRISTMAS

AN answer to some people who find difficulty in selecting Christmas presents comes from Lodge Plugs, Ltd., which suggests that a motoring friend or relative would welcome a set of

sparking plugs. Four of such plugs would cost £1 and six £1 10s. in addition, the present would, no doubt, improve engine efficiency. It is important, however, for the buyer to see that the proper grade for the particular type and make of engine is obtained. BATTERY-ELECTRICS ON A BIG SCALE THE large-scale manufacture of battery-electric vehicles is to be started early in 1946_ at Sunderland by Steels Engineering Products, Ltd., Crown Works, Sunderland. The vehicles will include several types of 20-cwt. pay-load capacity and two models of 2i-ton payload rating.

We understand that the vehicles built will be solely for the Q Vehicle Co., Ltd., which will be responsible for the selling, distribution, and servicing of the vehicles under the Q short-haulage plan, which includes the provision of servicing stations in selected centres.

It is understood that the venture has a large financial backing and that a large-scale output is the objective.

ROAD-ACCIDENT STATISTICS FOR OCTOBER

HIRE people were killed or injured n the roads during October than in any previous month this year. The total was 13,997, which included 534 killed and 3,240 seriously injured. Fatal accidents to child pedestrians numbered 117, the highest total for October ever recorded; two-thirds of the victims were under eight years of age. The ending Of summer-time was followed by a sharp rise in fatal accidents to children during the hours of darkness; 19 child pedestrians were killed during these hours, compared with seven in October of last yeah

The following table is an analysis of the number of deaths according to the type of vehicle primarily involved, in October:—

OPPOSITION TO INCREASED BUS SERVICES THE passenger transport committee of Plymouth Corporation has approved a decision by Plymouth Joint Committee to oppose an application by the Heybrook Bay Motor Co. to the Regional Transport Commissioner for permission to _operate additional services between Plymouth and Heybrook. It is contended that if the application be granted it would cause increased competition with the co-ordinated services of Plymouth Corporation and the Western National Omnibus Co.

SERVICE MEN RETURN TO THE LEYLAND CONCERN

THE, following have returned to Leyland Motors, Ltd., from the Services to take up appointments with the company:

Wing-Commander W. L. Drummond, who joined the R.A.F. during the prewar formation of the Auxiliary Corps, has served in North Africa and Italy and has since spent some 15 months in Kenya as commander of a•station near. Nairobi. Formerly in the South Wales

area, he has now taken up an appointment at headquarters sales office. Captain J. R. M. Williams, R.A., of B.A.O.R., and Captain R. Askwith, Div., C,M.F., bottf-of whom have spent some years abroad, are returning to their previous appointments at the Man chester office.

Captain L. N. Cooke, late of the War Office, will resume his appointment in the Midland area.

Major L. N. Eden-Smith, who served abroad in East Africa and has had a long period in the Burma theatre ot operations, is to take up his former appointment in the North-Western sale area.

Captain C. W. Spence, R.A., of B.A.O.R., whh was previously a member of the headquarters sales staff, will shortly take up a new appointment at the Glasgow office.

Mt. J. M. Akroyd has already resumed his previous position in the

north-eastern area, after his demobilization from instructional duties with the R.A.F.

Flight-Lieutenant J. Touhnin has returned from the R.A.F. and will take over his old territory in the southern sates area.

. Captain R. A. Jones. R.A.O.C., who was at the Sheffield office before the war, has taken up a new appointment as sales manager for the north-eastern area.

OBITUARY We regret to learn of the death of MR. F. D. COW1ESON, who died in a Glasgow nursing home last week. He was the founder of the well-known Scottish concern of bodybuilders, F. D. Cowieson and Co. He was in his 69th year.

The death is announced of LT.-Cot. FRANK RAYNER, C.B.E., D.S.O., TB., who, for many years, was engineer and manager to the Trent Navigation Co. He was 79 years old and. was .a member and vice-president of the Institute of Transport. WHEN NEW FURNITURE IS TO BE TRANSPORTED

TN a letter sent recently to the National I Association of Furniture Warehousemen and Removers, it is pointed out by the M.O.W.T. that certain concerns coming to London, either on a specially authorized journey or in connection with household-furniture removals:are collecting new furniture direct from London makers and returning with this as back loads. This is a contravention of the Road Transport of Goods Order. The arrangements made when the restrictions on removals of household furniture were withdrawn were that concerns undertaking journeys of over 60 miles in connection with them were required to report to Unit Controllers of the R H 0. if they wished to take loads of new furniture. This procedure must be followed.

The Ministry has also written to the British Purniture Manufacturers' Confederation, asking it to ensure that its members offer any loads of furniture for removal over 60 miles to the Unit Controller concerned.

POSTPONEMENT OF PROVISIONAL REGULATIONS

THEMinister of War Transport has made the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) Provisional Regulations, and the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Track-laying .Vehicles) (Amendment) Provisional Regulations, dated December 6.

, They have the effect of postponing the coming into force of certain of the provisions of the principal Regulations, in so far as they relate to vehicles registered for the first time prior to certain specified dates. The postponements for a further year are necessitated by shortage of labour and of those -.Materials which are required for making the alterations.

Copies of both regulations will eventually be obtainable from H.M. Stationery Office. HAULAGE RATES FIXED WITH BIRMINGHAM CORPORATION WE learn that the Birmingham Horse VY and Motor Vehicle Owners Association has successfully negotiated new haulage rates and conditions with Birmingham Corporation. The new rates operate from October 29 last and are as follow:— "EAST KENT" OPERATING RESULTS

I N the year ended September 30 last, the operations of the East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., shoWed a credit balance of £34,455, the amount available being £61,940 after adding £27,485 brought in. General reserve receives £10,000, and after deducting the preference dividend of 6f per cent., less lax (£6,500), £45,440 remains, of which £18,000 will be absorbed by the payment of a dividend of 8 per cent, on the ordinary shares, less tax, leaving £27,440 to he carried forward.

LONDON HAULIER ACQUIRES SOMERSET CONCERNS

WIE are advised that A. Packharn and YV Co., Ltd., 100a, Bails Pond Road, London, N.1, has recently acquired the licences and assets of T. C. Binding and Sons, Ltd., and the Yatton Haulage Co., Ltd., both of Clevedon, Somerset. The former specializes in the business of country carriers, and the latter in the carriage of cattle as well as general haulage.

"ALDERSHOT AND DISTRICT" DIVIDEND

ON account-of the year ending May 31, 1946, the Aldershot and District Traction Co., Ltd., has declared an interim dividend of 4 per cent., less tax, on the ordinary shares.