What the Associations Are Doing
Page 53
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ROADS FOR DEFENCE—ROADS FOR PEACE.
" Road users will shortly be paying approximately £100,000,000 per annum in special motor taxation-40,00O,000 in excess of the sum spent annually on the roads. We realize that the latest addition to motor taxation is for purposes of defence, and we urge now, more than ever, that a proper share of the monies raised by motor taxation should be devoted to the provision of an adequate road system. , . Money spent on a nationally planned road system, in a manner which would add to the national security and give even greater returns if peace prevails, would be money spent usefully, for roads for defence are roads for peace." Such is an extract from a speech given by Mr. Kenneth Read, of the B.R.F., to Hull Publicity Club, last week.
He stressed strongly the need for facilities for speedy evacuation in an emergency.
Milk Haulage Rates in Scotland.
Milk haulage rates were under consideration at a meeting of milk hauliers in Glasgow, last week, proceedings tieing in private. It was afterwards stated that instructions had been given to the standing committee of the Scottish Commercial Motor Users' Associa-Lion for negotiating with the Scottish Milk Marketing Board regarding the rates for the next contracting period.
McNamara Official As C.M.U.A. Deputy Chairman.
Mr. S. J. Nicoll, M.Inst.T. (chief executive officer. McNamara and Co. (1921), Ltd.), has been elected deputy chairman of the Commercial Motor Users' Association. He was elected a member of the National Council of the Association in 1937 and a vice-chairman in 1938.
Cattle-carrying and Yorks A.R.O.
The Yorkshire Area of A.R.O. has formed a cattle removers section, of which the chairman is Mr. Robert Smith, of Hatfield, near Doncaster. A question which the new section is taking up has arisen in connection with the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease among cattle in certain districts in Yorkshire.
The point at issue relates to what is regarded as an anomaly as between road and rail, respecting the transport of cattle. Both the railway companies and road transport operators are, of course, permitted to transport cattle between points which are not in the 15mile radius areas, where movement is restricted as a safeguard against the spread of the disease; but there is an important difference in procedure.
A railway company carrying cattle between two unrestricted points can, if necessary, take them through a 15-mile
radius area. In contrast, a roadtransport operator is not allowed to do so, and therefore he may have to make a considerable detour if the unrestricted
points of dispatch and delivery are, say, on opposite sides of a restricted
2(111Q.
Another question to which the new section is giving its attention is the container issue with regard to taxation.
I .T .A. Moves Headquarters. • As from June 19, the Industrial Transport Association headquarters offices will be trapsferred from Chandos House, Westminster, London, S.W.1, to Rooms 20-22, Elackfria.rs Station Chambers, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.4.
B.R.F. Replies to Non-smokers League.
In answer to a letter from the Ministry of Transport, pointing out that the League of Non-smokers had suggested that smoking should be prohibited on lower decks of double-deck vehicles and in a portion of the seating accommodation of single-deck vehicles, the British Road Federation has replied, making the following six points:— (11 The practice of prohibiting smoking on the lower deck of doubledeck vehicles is general. (2) Smokers are usually asked to sit in the rear of single-deck vehicles. (3) There have been fewer complaints from eonsmokers tlion from smokers, regarding sufficieet accommodation. (4) Separate accommodation for smokers and non-smokers on single-deck vehicles has been tried and has proved imprac ticable. (5) ft is strongly felt that non-smokers have no real grounds for grievance against smokers in public service vehicles. (6) In general, legislation regarding smoking in singledeck public service vehicles would in no way serve public interests.
No Co-ordination in Road Development.
Mr. Gaston Vincent, of the British Road rederation, speaking at a luncheon of the Institute of Incorporated Practitioners in Advertising, last week, said:—
" One of the chief diffithilties in this whole road question has been that the Ministry of Transport is only in direct control of two and a half per cent. of the roads of the country, whilst the remainder are controlled by 1,550 local authorities. In London the same difficulty exists, for there are 132 local authorities. However well each part of the system is developed independently, sorb a division of authority means haphazard development—construction at different times and in different ways, if you were arranging a water circulation for a building by employing . 1,550 different plumbers, each working on his own section with no general plan, and each working in his own time with his own materials, the result would be expensive, and while showing some good examples of plumbing in detail, would not work efficiently as a whole—if at all."
A.R.O. HELPS SPEED-UP OF A.R.P.
Yorkshire Area members of A.R.O. have distributed about 9,000 household air-raid shelters from railway depots, since the coming into operation of the national distribution arrangement made between A.R.O. and the railway companies. The wideness of the area has made the work of organization, which is centred at A.R.O.'s Yorkshire Area headquarters, particularly heavy, On receiving advance notice from the railway authorities that assistance will be required in the distribution of a consignment of shelters to arrive at any particular Yorkshire railway depot, area headquarters obtain details as to what members' lorries in the locality are available and the work is arranged accordingly.
Scots Association's Record Funds.
The quarterly report of the Scottis'h Horse and Motormen's Association reveals total assets of £180,654, the highest in the history of the union. The membership has increased by more than 2,000 in the past two years.
Express Carriers to Lunch and Confer.
On Tuesday, July 4, the National Conference of Express Carriers will hold an informal luncheon at the Cannon Street Hotel, London. The chairman at the luncheon will be Mr. James Paterson, MC., and Mr. C. S. Dunbar will preside at the conference.
Mr. Dunbar will read a paper entitled " Co-operation Between Parcels Carriers." The full programme is as follows:-11 a.m., management committee; 11.30 a.m., executive committee; 12.30 p.m., reception; 12.45 p.m., luncheon; 2.30 p.m., general meeting; 2.45 p.m., discussion. Prospective members of the Conference will be welcomed.
Next Season's I.T.A. Social Functions.
The Industrial Transport Association's London Branch has made timely arrangements for its social functions of next season. The custom of an early autumn soiree has been so much welcomed that another is planned, hut having in mind the forthcoming Commercial Motor Show, it will fall later than hitherto. On Wednesday, November 8, at St. Ermin's Hotel, there is a chance that provincial members, ia London for the Show, may be able to join their London colleagues in a social evening.
The next dinner-dance is already fixed for Friday, March 15, 1940, at the Criterion Restaurant. Equally important is the decision to renew the luncheon parties which were successful in the Association's early years. On Wednesday, October 4, 1939, at the Criterion Restaurant, there is to be another such luncheon.