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NEWS of the WEEK

16th December 1939
Page 24
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Page 24, 16th December 1939 — NEWS of the WEEK
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GAS WEIGHT CONCESSION UNCHALLENGED IN PARLIAMENT

ON Tuesday night Mr. Bernays, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, moved a resolution to bring into force a promised gas concession, which will take effect from January 1. 1940. It varies the excise -duty under paragraph 5 of the Second Schedule to the Finance Act, 1920.

The gist of the amendment is that, for the purpose of computing the rate of duty in respect of a goods vehicle carrying a gas container or gas generating plant for its propulsion, the unladen weight shall be reduced according to the following scale:— Vehicles weighing 12 cwt.-3 tons, by 10 cwt.; weighing 3 tons-6 tons, by 15 cwt.; weighing over 6 tons by 1 ton.

Further, no duty will be charged on a trailer, carrying a gas container or generator, drawn by a goods vehicle. In sub-paragraph (c) (ii) of paragraph the term "coal gas " shall mean " gas." This relates to rates of duty, ivhich will now become £10 on vehicles weighing under 12 cwt.; £15, weighing 12 cwt.-1 ton; £20, weighing 1 ton-1i ton. Gas is defined as any fuel which is wholly gaseous at 60 degrees F., and 30 ins, barometric pressure.

Mr. Bernays explained that the resolution would place gas vehicles on the same basis (of taxation) as petrol vehicles. Mr. Ellis-Smith expressed the hope that operators would take full advantage of it and use gas vehicles to fill the gaps in the present attenuated ranks of petrol vehicles.

Mr. Kirkwood contended that a man should be placed on every trailer, as in Germany, France, Belgium and other Continental countries.

The resolution was passed without challenge.

New Morris Light Vans on the Stocks TN the latest, edition of the news Ibulletin of Morris Industries Exports, Ltd., intimation is given of the early release of details of new Morris 5-cwt. and 10-cwt. vans; the vehicles will be known as the Series II and III, respectively.

So far as the lighter model is concerned, the vehicle has been entirely redesigned and many of the attractive A22 features of the Series E Eight incorporated. With the exception of the centre part of the roof, steel panelling is introduced throughout and the body capacity has been very considerably increased.

In the case of the 10-cwt. van, the chief features which have contributed to the success of this vehicle have been retained, but many detail improvements have been embodied, following a careful analysis of suggestions received from dealers and fleet owners. ' The power unit remains substantially unchanged, but a single dry-plate clutch and redesigned gearbox are amongst the chassis improvements. The van body is of similar dimensions but of reduced weight, thus offering the chance of greater pay-load.

Minister Rejects Increased Drivers'. hours Applications

AS already intimated in our columns, a number of organizations representative of certain classes of C-licence operator applied to the Minister of Transport for a variation of the drivers'-hours regulations during the Christmas and New Year periods. The Minister referred them to the Industrial Court, which has now advised against it, in view of the increased strain of driving and the degree of fatigue suffered by drivers at night, owing to black-out conditions. The Minister has accepted this advice and, accordingly, the applications have been rejected.

Anglo-American Prospecting Concession Renewed

THE Secretary for Mines announces the renewal, for a further year, of a prospecting licence granted under the Petroleum (Production) Act, 1934, and the Petroleum (Production) Regulations, 1935, to the Anglo-American Oil Co., Ltd. The licensed area concerned consists of about 12 sq. miles in Midlothian; near the town of Dalkeith. A map of the area can be inspected on application to the Petroleum Department, Dean Stanley Street, Millbank, London, S.W.1.

NEW WAGES PROPOSALS NOW IN MINISTER'S HANDS

LAST week, the Road Haulage Central Wages Board met to consider the objections lodged to its proposals for the remuneration of road-haulage workers, and the reports of the Area Boards. It decided, with certain minor modifications, to submit the proposals to the Minister of Labour and National Service, with a view to a Road Haulage Wages Order being made which will give statutory effect to these proposals.

Due notice will be given of the issue of the Order and of the date on which it takes effect, and from then it will be legally incumbent on operators to pay Aand B-licence employees the fixed wages.

Progress of Leading West of England Haulage Concern

RECORD achievement was put up by Bristol Industries, Ltd., in its trading for the year ended October 31, 1939. The profit was £47,110, made up of £35,191 on trading and £11,919 on interest from investments in subsidiary companies. Adding transfer from income-tax account and last year's balance brought forward, the total available was £57,913. After providing for interim and final dividends on preference shares

(£11,200), depreciation (£8,501), transfer to reserve (£5,000) and two smaller items, credit balance is £31,251.

During the period covered by the report, there has been a further extension of the company's interests in road transport. Nine more firms in the West of England have been acquired.

C.M.U.A. and Gas-producer Trailers REPRESENTATIONS have been made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer by the Commercial Motor Users Association, recommending that steps be taken to relieve owners of goods vehicles of the liability to additional licence duty for a trailer carrying only a gas-producer plant. [This concession has been granted—ED.]

RAIL RATES TO BE INCREASED

AT a meeting of the Road-Rail Central Conference, had on Tuesday, Mr. A. E. Sewell, chairman of the Railway Panel, said that it would be recollected that during the 1914-I8 war no increases were made in railway rates. They were raised only after the war, to enable the companies to make reasonable profits when they again became commercial undertakings.

On this occasion it is not proposed to wait. Consequently, the rates will be raised, when nedessarY, in ratio to the increasing costs of Working, to balance higher prices for materials and labour, Discussions with the Minister of Transport have already taken place, but the new figures and dates" are uncertain'.

Gas as an Alternative Fuel

LAST Tuesday Dr. J. S. Clarke read his paper, " The Use of Gas as a Fuel for Motor Vehicles," before the Institution of Automobile Engineers. A précis has already appeared in this journal, and next week we will give a summary of the discussion.

We were disappointed with the brief references to producer gas both in the paper and the discussion, and we suggested, during the latter, that it would be advisable to deal more fully with a means for utilizing alternative fuels which could be put into action almost immediately, rather than to devote so much time to a particular fuel, the extensive use of which would take many months, and probably years, to develop.

Keeping Britain's Tractors at Work

Q1NCE the war started additional L..) dealers have been appointed for Fordson tractors. They have efficient facilities available for farmers operating Fordsons.and give a further assurance that owners of such equipment can obtain stocks of parts and competent attention all over the country.

The maintenance and repair shops of Fordson tractor dealers are organized and equipped with the active cooperation of the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., Dagenham. Specialized tools and machinery are installed and the staff is specially trained.

Important Notice to Readers I F your newsagent has not been in the habit of regularly delivering or reserving The Commercial Motor for you, you should, to save possible disappointment, immediately place an order with him instructing him to reserve a copy for you weekly. Newsagents' supplies are restricted owing to war-time conditions, and they cannot be expected to anticipate casual demands. It is wise, therefore, while our present difficulties last, to help the country in its economy campaign, to deal with the same newsagent and not depend upon getting The Commercial Motor from other sources where you may find your copy is reserved for some reader who has taken the precaution to order it. Alternatively, you can have The Commercial Motor posted to you direct from this office at a cost of 4s. '4d. for three months, including postage, longer periods pro rata.

If you have any difficulty in obtaining your copy at any. time we shall be obliged if you will let us know the name and address of your newsagent.

• Coal Utilisation Council in Bristol

AS from December, 18, the Bristol branch of the Coal Utilisation Joint Council will be transferred to 18, Glen Drive, Stoke Bishop. The services of

Mr. G. Barnard, area combustion engineer for the 'branch, will be available, as usual, front'the 'new address Salvage Meeting by Cleansing Institute

AT 2.30 p.m, on December 18, at in.the Westminster City Hall, Charing Cross Road, London, W.C.2, the London Centre of the Institute of Public Cleansing, 160, Buckingham Palace Road, London, S.W.1, will hold a discussion on 'the Ministry of Supply Salvage Circular No.. 1. It Will be opened by Mr. J. C. Dawes, Deputy Controller of Salvage.

Stranglehold on Established Haulage Businesses NIEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE Chamber

'4101 Commerce has compiled a report on the war's effect on the retail motor haulage trade, in which it is stated that a stranglehold has been placed on businesses which have been built up by years of hard work and in which men have invested their life savings. It is suggested that help might be given by a careful review, by the Government, of the restrictions in force and the elimination of those .„pot absolutely necessary.

The trade, it is stated, could assist in training Army driver-mechanics and the repair and service of Army and .A.R.P. vehicles. The report states that there is a tendency to divert traffic from the roads to rail, and hauliers complain that they are expected to hand over their businesses to their competitors without compensation and, in some cases, without adequate reason.

PERSONAL PARS

MR. P. 3. SHiLLADY has been appointed to the position of advertising manager of Dodge Brothers (Britain), Ltd., formerly held by MR. T. N. TREEN.

MR, R. CARTWRIGHT has been • appointed managing director of General Motors, Ltd., of Southampton, succeeding MR. FRANK C. LYNCH, who is returning to America.

MR. BEN ENGLAND, general manager of Nottingham Transport Department, has been elected vice-president of the Nottingham branch of the Machine Gun Corps Old Comrades' Association.

MR. GEOFFREY PAR Es, director of Small and Parkes, Ltd., the manufacturer of Don brake facings, has been appointed by the Director-General of Equipment and Stores to the position of Hon. Technical Adviser to the Web Equipment and Webbing Production Branch, Ministry of Supply. In the circumstances, the members of the Board of Small and Parkes, Ltd., have agreed to release Mr. Geoffrey Parkes for the duration of the war. For some months, he has been engaged on important advisory work in connection with the Ministry.

General Motors Assembly

WAR conditions are, according to a provincial Press report, solely responsible for the decision of General Motors, Ltd., to suspend assembly activities at its Southampton plant, and the headquarters of the company are being transferred to London, As from December 15, we learn that commercial-vehicle and car assembly will cease until the end of the war. The only section of the company's activities to be retained in Southampton will, it is stated, be the spares department.

The decision of the Board of Trade to grant no further licences for the import of materials and parts used in the assembly of the company's vehicles has crippled its assembly work.

Transport on Trial

RECENTLY we attended the first showing of a new film, "Transport on Trial," produced by Point of View, 18, Old Burlington Street, Saville Row, London, W.1.

The main debate was the question "Should transport be nationalized?" From the point of view of the average person after seeing the film, this question would certainly still be left undecided. Although there was a certain amount of criticism of the railways because of the degeneration of the' canals, there was so much railway matter that we, in conjunction with others interested in road transport, inquired whether)the film was a part of railway propaganda, but were told it was entirely unbiased. The photography was excellent, but the roadtransport side very meagre.


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