News of the Week
Page 24
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HAULAGE WAGES INCREASES PROPOSED •
THE Road Haulage Central Wages Bciardwill request the Minister of Labour to make an Order giving effect to its new proposals for the amendment of the existing Road Haulage Wages Order. It is proposed that the statutory remuneration be increased by 4s, per week, except for certain clasJes of worker. under IS; in the case of the latter the suggested amount is 2s. 6d. per week. The increases will not come into force unless and until the Minister confirms them by Order, of which due notice will be given.' '
DUNLOP ACQUIRES M.A.P. FACTORY IN NORTH-WEST .
THE part that' the war factories can play in 'peace-time production is indicated by Sir George Beharrell, chairman of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., which is now completing its negotiations with the -Government for the acquisition; by lease, of the Ministry of Aircraft Production No. I factory at Speke, near Liverpool, at present occu
pied by Rootes Securities; Ltd. .
" The clevelopment,!' he said in an
• interview last week, " is a preparation for the rehabilitation of Many products which have been compulsorily abandoned or severely, restricted by emergency regulations. A considerable demand for the company's varied products, particularly 'those of the heavy industrial type, can be expected during the• post-war years, •and developments in rubber technology since 1939 have to be adapted to peace-time needs. Not only have we to accommodate this new technique, but 'we have also to
• meet an accumulated demand and make a full contribution to the Nation's export trade, both directly and in conjunction with the manufacturers of vehicles of all types.
"These cOnsidera_tions have led the Dunlop Board to acquire 'this Modern factory, admirably suited to the latest production practice, .ratlier than to submit to all the difficulties of extending existing factories while in full operation,"
B.R.F.. PRESIDENT AND GOVERNMENT ROAD POLICY
CPEAKING, at a meeting of the OMotoring at Circle on February' 7, 'Mr. George N. Wilson, chairman of the British Road Federathon, said the Federation is conducting a long-term campaign for the construction of motorways, and it is beginning to see the first fruits of this. Unless, however, the Government implements its pledge to construct single-purpose roads, not only will our home markets be considerably restricted, butour overseas trade will suffer handicaps.
He mentioned that the chief reason for the Government's refusal to increase the 'maximum width of commercial vehicles • to 8 ft. was that existing roads were. inadequate; thus lack of foresight is to be allowed to • place one of the premier industries of this country in the unhappy position ol being unable to meet-..its foreign competitors upon equal terms. Unless we make the roads fit the vehicles we shall be at a grave'disadvantage when competing for foreign markets with countries which have a road system adequate to • meet the demands of an industrial nation in a mechanical age. As a result of inquiries made by the Federation throughout the country concerning steps which were being taken to implement the Government pledge, it had been reluctantly forced to the conclusion that the policy was merely a repetition of the old halfhearted methods employed before the war. This would be fatal to the construction of an adequate road system. . -.Unless the Government soon make a frank statement, it could be assumed that it was reluctant to divulge a policy 'which is manifestly insufficient to meet modern requirements.
RAILWAYS WANT EQUALITY OF TREATMENT,
THE president of the L,M.S„ Sir William V. Wood, said last Monday that the progress of British railway's in their post-war schemes ol'improvernent would depend, to a great extent, on a general understanding of their needs, which particularly included stable con4itions. These can be secured only by equality of treatment of the railways in relation to other forms of transport.
It will be interesting to ktiow the railways' idea of such equality. CIVILIAN-TYPE VEHICLES FROM THE A.E.C. WORKS
THE Ministry of Supply has issued an authority to the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., Southall, Middlesex, covering the manufacture of civilian-type vehicles' in the second half of the current year. The models to be built will 'include the Regent doubledeck bus chassis, the Mammoth. Major. eight-wheeler, the . Matador and the Monarch goods chassis.
All the vehicles mentioned will be equipped with the' well-known A.E.C. 7.7-litre six-eylindered oil engine, and will be available, only against M.O.w.T. licences and for export.
RENEWED EFFORTS TO • LEGALIZE LARGER BUSES .
MAKERS of . buses and operators hav.e by no rmeans become reconciled to the M.O.W.T. refusal -to increase the permitted length of fohr*heeled buses to 30 ft., and the width of laige vehicles to 8 ft, Seeral meet= ings have been held on the' matter, and, recently, a joint deputation was received by Mr. P. J. Noel-Baker.. There are strong hopes that, eventu-.
the concessions will be granted. TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATORS'' NATIONAL COUNCIL HE following have been elected . 1 additional melnhers of the provV sional National Council of the Institute of Traffic Administration:—Messrs. H. _Jordon (S.P.D., Ltd.), E. P. Puttick (Michelin Tyre Co., Ltd.), and Major F. C. Butler (late R.A.S.C.).