Transport Freedom in Benelux
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THE 'Ministerial Council of the Benelux group—Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg—has now decided that as from July 1 next, all road transport operations between the three countries will be possible without any special border-crossing permission or licences (see also The Commercial Motor, February 23). This inter-Benelux traffic will be subject to fixed rates but with a margin of 30 per cent, between minimum and maximum permissible prices. Maximum axle i'eights for the traffic concerned are 10 metric tons (9.8 tons) for single axles and 16 metric tons 05.7 tons) for tandem-axle bogies. Maximum lengths are 18 metres (59 ft.) for a tractor-trailer outfit and 14.5 metres (47.5 ft.) for an articulated outfit.
Meet MrfiChan Canasta" Wills
I N Committee on Tuesday the Clause in the Transport Bill transferring railowned holdings in B.E.T. bus companies to the proposed Holding Company was passed, writes our Parliamentary Correspondent. But not before the Minister of Transport, Mr. Ernest Marples, had referred to the chairman of the B.E.T. Group as: "The Chan Canasta of the transport world," and "The mastermind shuffling the cards backstage."
The Minister was referring to letters he had received from bus companies protesting at the change and saying it would mean the end of road-rail coordination. All the letters were couched in precisely the same terms. It seemed "rather curious," he remarked,
Later, Mr. John Spencer Wills, deputy chairman and managing director of the B.E.T. Group, said: "I am the archvillain referred to but I have not been shuffling any cards." The B.E.T. chairman, Mr. Harold Drayton, was in South Africa and was in no way responsible, added Mr. Wills.