Austin Makes Great Strides Everywhere
Page 40
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ORDERS in hand for Loadstar 2-tonners and 5-tonners, 15,000 of which have already been exported, cover the entire production of these vehicles by the Austin Motor Co., Ltd., for the rest of the current financial year.
Mr. L. P. Lord, chairman, gave this information in the company's annual report. The company had maintained its position as the premier exporter, he said. Last year's output of 157,628 vehicles was a 24-per-cent. increase over the previous year's total. Production in the first 15 weeks of the current financial year had also risen by II per cent., and had been running at the rate of 165,000 vehicles a year, plus 300 tons of spares a week.
Several thousand four-wheel-drive vehicles were to be built for the Army, and although the original contract was for the vehicles without engines, orders had since been received for their fourcylindered power units, also for a large number of eight-cylindered engines.
These vehicles and engines, the production of which will not interfere with normal output, will be made in the Cofton Hackett aeroplane factory adjoining the Longbridge works, where 600,000 sq. ft. of space is available.
Total Austin sales in world markets outside North America, last year exceeded £33m., including £3m. for spares and components. The figure for the previous year was £19.7m., and was 68 per cent, lower than last year.
Australia held first place in export shipments and absorbed over 42,000 vehicles. The Australian and New Zealand markets have become so important that Mr. Lord hopes to visit them early in 1951 to decide how far the Melbourne factory should be expanded.
SMALLS RATES FOR SMALL LOTS
EXPLANAT1ONS of alleged excessive charges were given by the Liverpool district manager of the Road Haulage Executive in a letter., to the canned goods section of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.
If smalls traffic were passed to R.H.E. depots specializing in this work, rates ranging from a minimum of Is. 6d. would be applicable, he said. On the other hand, the point was soon reached where the tonnage rates quoted by the general-haulage groups were more advantageous to the consignor.
An instruction had been issued to general-haulage groups to seek to apply smalls rates for small lots.
HYGIENIC MEAT VANS: NO CONCESSIONS
THE Minister of Transport is unwil1 ling to make concessions in regard to tax or speed limit on container vehicles built specially. for the hygienic transport of meat.
He stated in the House of Commons. last week, that if these vehicles weighed more than 3 tons unladen with containers, he was not prepared to amend the law to exclude the container from the rating for taxation and speed-limit purposes.