SIX MONTHS' EXPORTS TOP 28,000 MARK
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EXPORTS of new commercial vehicles, industrial trucks, general haulage tractors and trailers in the six months ended June last reached the creditable figure of 28,380 units. They were valued at £11,882,542. June's contribution was 4,565 units, valued at £2,142,428.
The six leading foreign export markets for British commercial vehicles were, says the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the Argentine, the Netherlands, Denmark, Portugal, Spain and Belgium.
Exports by classes in the first six months of the year were as follow:— Delivery vans and utilities, 6,683 (£1,622,909); trolleybuses, motorbuses and coaches (complete and in chassis form), 1,712 (£2,093,932); industrial trucks, 579 (£176,265); other descriptions (complete and in chassis form, assembled and unassembled), 14,171 (£6,428,637); general haulage tractors, 848 (£675,071); trailers, 4,387 (£885,728).
Figures for June were as follow:— Delivery vans and utilities, 1,280 (£311,842); trolleybuses, motorbuses and coaches (complete and in chassis form), 364 (£498,914); industrial trucks, 79 (£20,310); other descriptions (complete and in chassis form assembled and unassembled), 2,387 (£1,167,617); general haulage tractors, 55 (£49,173); trailers, 400 (£94,572).
In addition, agricultural tractors and parts to a value of £292,395 were exported in June, bringing the figure for the first six months of the year to £1,789,713.
FUEL CUT THREATENS ESSENTIAL SERVICES
A SERIOUS attitude is taken by the
National Road Transport Federation towards the Government's decision to reduce by 10 per cent, supplies of fuel for commercial vehicles. The Federation emphasizes the fact that any cut in allocations must necessarily impede the maintenance of essential services.
" The position is all the more serious in view of the transport difficulties which are to be expected in the coming winter," says the Federation. The need for economy is appreciated, but the risk of the road-transport industry's becoming unable to discharge its obligations, because of lack of petrol, is stressed.
Operators of hire-cars and taxicabs will be affected by the reduction of 10 per cent. in the supplementary allowances of petrol.
Oil fuel is also subject to a cut of 10 per cent., as it comes within the classification of motor fuel. Public service vehicles," says the Ministry of Transport, are exempt from cuts.
TYRE PRICES NOT LIKELY TO DROP
A LTHOUGH the cost of rubber has rt fallen, tyre prices are not likely to be affected, according to the Tyre Manufacturers' Conference.
In the case of a typical truck tyre, the cost of labour is 135 per cent. above the pre-war level. The wages of cotton operatives have also been doubled, and cotton is three times the price.
Rayon, whizii is taking the place of cotton in the larger tyres, costs 185 per cent, more than the cotton previously used, The price of imported cotton lyre cord is 272 per cent, higher than before the war, whilst the cost of carbon black is up by 154 per cent., steel wire 40 per cent., and chemicals 200-500 per cent.
SEVERN BRIDGE SCHEME SHELVED AGAIN
THE Prime Minister's announcement that the Severn Bridge project is to be temporarily shelved has been greeted with dismay by the British Road Federation. Although realizing that, in present circumstances, this action may be in the national interest, the Federation urges the Government to proceed with the work, to facilitate the free flow of transport, the importance of which was stressed by the Prime Minister_
The Federation adds that the policy of highway development announced by the Minister of Transport last year is of paramount importance to the Nation.
TYRE CONCESSrON FOR LAND TRACTORS
LAND tractors registered on or before June 1, 1947, will be exempt until June 1, 1948, from the requirement that the tyre of every steering wheel shall be " smooth-soled' and shall not be less than 21 ins, wide at the point where it touches the road surface.
This dispensation from the requirement of Regulation 31 of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1947, is made :ea the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations dated July 23. JUNE PRODUCTION JUMPS AHEAD
J UN E'S figure of 14,826 for the pro
duction ot commercial vehicles well exceeded this year's monthly average of 11,956. During the month, 14,760 commercial vehicles were produced for civilian use, of which 4,557 were exported and 10,203 were for home service.
Vehicles under 15 cwt. numbered 5,272; 15 cwt. to 6 tons, 7,540; 6 tons and over, 389; and motorbuses and trolleybuses, 1,559. The figure for passenger vehicles was a great improvement on those of recent months.
In the first six months of the year, 71,737 commercial vehicles were manufactured, of which 71,400 were for civilian use. Of these. 21,655 were exported and 49,745 went on to the home market, Production by classes was as follows:---Under 15 cwt., 26,772; 15 cwt. to 6 tons, 37,186; 6 tons and over. 1.724; motorbuses and trolleybuses, 5.718.
These figures, which nave been issued by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and 'traders, do not include battery-electries, of which 1,484 were produced in the first half of the year.
MOBILE OFFICES TO SPEED UP HOUSE BUILDING NAOBILE offices, consisting of alearavans drawn by lorries, are to be used by John Laing and Son, Ltd., to speed up the housing programme. The company has over 6,000 Easiform poured-concrete permanent houses scheduled for erection throughout the country.
To avoid the delays associated with the erection of temporary huts and the installation of equipment of new sites, the company has designed a fleet of mobile offices, which will be set down on the site and staffed by an agent, surveyor, cashier and typist. A telephone is part of the office fittings and can be plugged in to the nearest circuit.
The first caravan is to be used on a site at Crewe, where 200 houses are being erected.
FROST SALES THROUGH TRADE
THE distribution programme of William Frost Products, Ltd., is being rearranged, so that, in future, the company's products will pass through recognized garage and motor-trade channels. A new range of vulcanizers will be introduced in a few weeks.