NEWS of the WEEK
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MOTOR TRADE RECRUITS FOR TERRITORIAL TECHNICAL UNITS.
THE War Office has now notified the National Service Committee of the Retail Motor Industry that a number of army field workshops, ordnance field parks and other important technical units is to be formed at once in many parts of the country, under the establishment of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Territorial Array, and that it is hoped to recruit, through the motor trade, the necessary officers and men far these units.
The County Territorial Association will be responsible for raising the units, and Lord Austin has sent to each of the many garages in the areas concerned a personal letter, urging support for this important effort.
Employees in the motor trade, requiring further information, should apply to the nearest Territorial Army Association, to their employers, or direct to the secretary of the above Committee, Lombard House, Great Charles Street, Birmingham.
New Registrations Still Tumbling.
IN April last, the total number of motor vehicles registered for the first time was 38,897, compared with 39,357 in the corresponding month of 1938. The total included 4,517 goods vehicles and 796 hackney vehicles— returns that contrast with 5,268 and 953 respectively for the corresponding month of last year. In our issue for next week we shall publish our customary analysis of the statistics,
Guilty of 17 Offences—Fined £2.
DEING the holder of a limited 13 Ulicence, subject to the condition that the lorry would be used for the purpose of carrying excavated material, Mr. Robert Bell, a Dysart contractor, was charged with using the vehicle for the carriage of materials outside the prescribed radius, whereby he was guilty of 17 offences, and was fined £2 at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, last week. An agent, who pleaded guilty on accused's behalf, said an application had been made for an extension of the radius and would come before the Authority on July 29.
Carrier Who Was "Fed Up."
GWING evidence before the Northern Scotland Licensing Authority, at Aberdeen, last week, an Elkin carrier said he was giving up his business because he was " fed up" with it. He was Mr. James Simpson, and had carried on the business for the past 34 years. Application was made for a licence by the purchaser of the business, Mr. James Johnston, Ellon.
Asked if he kept hooks, Mr. Simpson said he usually put the money in his pocket. He kept a note of credit customers. The amount he put in his pocket was about £10 or £,12 a week. The new licence was granted.
Company Reports.
AS we have been forced, through pressure on space, to withhold our regular feature " Financial News of the Industry," the following details of annual reports are, this week, included
in our news feature:—
Crossley Motors, Ltd.—The directors have recommended the payment of a dividend of 15 per cent. in respect of the year ended March 31, 1939. The net profit in that period amounted to 4103,127 as compared with 461487 in the previous year. Spurling Motor Oodles, Ltd,---In the year ended February 28, 1939, trading profit amounted to 419,143, compared with 427,883 in the previous year. During the past year the company acquired Marble Arch Motor Supplies, Ltd., the purchase of which rendered necessary, inier alia, an increase of capital. Alter bringing in the dividend, etc., now receivable front this company, the net profit comes ont at 426,292. compared with 423,350. Provision for taxation takes £4,629. The directors recommend dividends of 10 per cent. on 750,000 shares and 3.4 per cent. on 292,500 shares ranking se from November 1, 1938. General reserve receives an aliocation of 44,500. and 43,131 is carried forward, contrasted with 43,618 brought in, Southdown Motor Services. Ltd.—Net profit in the year ended March 31, 1939, was 499,863. contrasted with 485,543 in the previous year. A dividend of 10 per cent, is to be paid limiteding the interim distribution of 5 per cent.), and reserve receives 420,000, leaving 423,890 to be carried forward, compared with £19,087 brought in
CORPORATIONS SHOULD GIVE ELECTRICS A SQUARE DEAL.
CORPORATIONS, which stood to gain from the growth in use of the electric vehicle, should give a lead and use electrics themselves, contended Mr. D. Peddie (United Co-operative Dairies, Ltd.) at a luncheon in Bolton, on Tuesday. He said they should also be able to level out the matter of charges; his fleet operated in four authorities' areas and there were four different rates. Suggestions had been made that electrics could not tackle hills, but a third of his fleet worked satisfactorily in the hilliest districts in the vicinity.
Every undertaking was out to increase the demand for current, said Councillor T. P. Longworth, and he would like to see town transport going over to electrics, so that the load that had previously been utilized by the tramcar could be taken up.
Mr. H. E. Annett (chairman of the Electric Vehicle Association, NorthWestern Area) referred to the various advantages of the battery electric.
From what he had learnt of the use of electrics by the Bolton Co-operative Society, Ltd.. said the Mayor of Bolton (Alderman James Entwistle, be was satisfied that they offered a saving over horses. He intended to place the advantages before the municipal cleansing department and would suggest a 12 months' test.
An exhibition of electric vehicles was held at the Bolton Electricity Works on Tuesday and Wednesday. Most of the machines were on loan from actual users in the district, the PartridgeWilson exhibit including a 1-ton dairy outfit of the Bolton Co-operative Society, Ltd. This display also took in Wilson vehicles used by the Bolton Electricity Department.
Metrovick machines included 10-14cwt. and 18-22-cwt. chassis, also the 18-22-cwt. type ventilated motor, whilst there was a 10-14-cwt. dairy vehicle. Associated Electric Vehicle Manufacturers, Ltd., showed a 1-ton machine, as well as two Morrison vans. Westinghouse charging apparatus, Exide, D.P. Kathanode, Tudor, and Young batteries were demonstrated. HAULAGE TRANSFERS IN YORKS.
f I is learnt that Messrs. W. H. Bailey kind Son, Warrington, have applied for an A licence for six vehicles and six trailers (gross tonnage 271 and 10i, respectively.), in the North-Western Area. The licence was previously held by Wliliams and Co., Warrington,
Also in the Yorkshire Area, Viaduct Haulage, Ltd., Leeds, has applied for an A licence for six vehicles (16 tons 8 cwt.) and one trailer (1 ton 1 cwt.).
• The company has acquired the business of Messrs. A. E. Keeling and Sons.
Johannesburg's Call for Trolleybuses.
THE municipal authorities at Johan
nesburg are calling for tenders for the supply of 55 trolleybus chassis, 25 of them 60-seater four-wheelers and the remainder six-wheelers for 68-72-seater bodies. Quotations are also required foubodies for mounting on the chassis. Tenders have to be delivered to the town clerk, Municipal Offices, Johannesburg, by noon on July 1. Fuller details may be obtained from the department of Overseas Trade, 35, Old Queen Street, London, S.W.1, reference T.23506/1939 being quoted.
Scammell Distributor Appointment.
IT is announced that Solent Motors, 1Ltd., London Road, Hilsea, Portsmouth, has been appointed distributor for Scammell vehicles for Hampshire. The company is to stock a comprehensive range of spare parts and will operate a 24-hour repairs service. The organization will be under the personal supervision of Mr. E. A. _Ambrose,
a director of the company.
Tecalemit. Garage-equipment Display.,
FROM June 19 to July 15, an exhibi-Lien of Tecalemit valeting equipment is being held at the premises of the Leyton Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd.. 817-823, Lea Bridge Road, London, E.17. There will be an impressive array of modern lubrication and auxiliary equipment, specially designed to meet the requirements of up-to-date garage light-maintenance service.
Turn Off the Heat, Says Mr. Ferndale.
jT is no use getting heated about
1 this matter," said Mr. Joseph Farralale, North-Western Deputy Licensing Authority, at Manchester, last week, to Mr, Wilfred Barton, managing director of Hyde Motor Co.,• Ltd., who was over-vigorous in his protest against the railway companies' po:icy of obstruction." The point at issue is a sore one in this area, and is one being fought before the Appeal Tribunal. It is that of authority to increase a fleet, not substantially on the !armind of increased turnover, or tonnage carried, but mainly because unszalile markets and fluctuating prices ere compelling traders to buy in smaller quantities more frequently.
In this case, the evidence was that deliveries had jumped by 200 and collections by 100 in the year, and a specific instance was that of a customer wanting 10 cwt. four times a month, instead of one load in six
weeks, The increase was such that the company's fleet of six vehicles and a trailer could not keep up with the demands of customers. Mr. Farndale reserved his decision.
Commercial Motors at Ramsgate's Concours d'Elegance.
CLASSES tor motor coaches and for anther commercial vehicles, ranging from 5 cwt. to 50 cwt. carrying capacity, will be included in the ninth annual Contours d'Elegance at Ramsgate, on July 8. Entrants must be operators and not motor traders, and applications should be made to the honorary secretary of . the Concours, Chamber of Commerce Offices, Harbour Parade, Ranisgate.
Many well-known people in the industry, including Capt. G. E. T. Eyston and Sir Malcolm Campbell will be present. A recording unit will he sent by the B.B.C., and Lord Doverdale will act as a judge.
New Dennis As An Oiler.
1‘ if ANY of our readers will be alinterested to learn that the new Dennis 30 m.p.h. 5-ton chassis, of which details were given in our issue for last week, is available as an oilengined model, equipped with the Perkins Pe power unit. The extra price of the oil engine is £185.
PERSONAL PARS.
In the list of Birthday Honours conferred by H.M. The King, last week, appear the following four names of interest to our readers:— Ma. ALLAN GORDON SMITH, DL., managing director of the accessory concern of S. Smith and Sons (M.A.), Ltd., receives a knighthood for political and public services.
MR. H. S. CLUTTERBUCK, manager of the technical department of the S.M.M. and T., is honoured with the M.B.E.
Ms. ALBERT WINTER GRAY, secretary of the Institute of Transport, is the recipient of the O.B.E.
MR. HERBERT GERAINT WILLIAMS, M.P., a member of the Roads Group. receives a knighthood. The speeches which Mr. Williams has made at A.R.O. functions shows him to be keenly interested in the welfare of road transport. A telegram of congratulation was sent to him from the Blackpool Congress by the Public Service Transport Association.
MR. E. H. W. COOKE, managing director of the Daimler Co., Ltd., a portrait of whom appears on this page, att&ided the Blackpool Congress and we had the pleasure of a long chat with him: We think that he was somewhat surprised to learn that in 1912 we were (hi another capacity) working on the chassis-aSsembly drawing of a Daimler bus. Until he joined his present concern, Mr. Cooke was mainly interested in electrical affairs, holding an important position with a big Concern engaged in this field. With him at TflaCk-pbor was MR. F. G. COUCH, of Transport Vehicles (Daimler.), Ltd., who, on this .occasion, was minus his famous hat.
Praise for Progressive Haulier.
I N granting a licence at Aberdeen, last
week, Mr. Henry Riches, Northern Scotland Licensing Authority, said:" I congratulate you. It shows the great need there is in. Aberdeen for such a service when you have been able to do that in so short a time."
Mr. James William Masson, in making application for the licence, stated that every week he carried and delivered some 600 parcels in the city. He had been in business for only three months.