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Newt of the Week

16th May 1947, Page 28
16th May 1947
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• MORE CONCESSIONS TO HAULAGE WORKERS

rURTHER concessions to road

haulage workers are contained in an announcement made on Monday by the National Joint Industrial Council for the Road Haulage Industry.

The Council has agreed that the duties of a -five-day worker should consist of five consecutive days, excluding Saturday and Sunday, and that the duties of a five-night worker should similarly consist of five consecutive spells of duty. Where one of the spells begins on Friday night and finishes on Saturday morning, this is to be regarded as a Friday duty.

According to the Council's decision, every employer must, in respect of fiveday workers, specify the day which is to he 'the eight-hour day. This shall not be varied 'unless at least a week's notice is given to each employee concerned, although the notice may 'be reduced where the employer and worker mutually agree.

As from June 1, 4d. shall be paid for each hour or part of an hour worked between 9 p.m. and .6 a.m.

TYRE DISTRIBUTORS HOLD FIRST CONVENTION

TH" week the National 'Tyre Distributors' Association held its first annual convention at Peebles. Talks were iwen by Mr. C. Lein and Mr. A S. Bishop. both of the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., Col. A. Jerrett, chairman of the Traders' Road Transport Association. and Mr. H. W. Eley. of the Dunlop Rubber Ca. Ltd.

The convention aliened on Tuesday and closes to-day.

MARCH PRODUCTION EXCEEDS 11,090

BRITISH commercial-vehicle manufacturers produced in March 11,339 vehicles, of -.which 11,280 were for

• civilian use. Of these, 7,854 went to the home market and 3,426 were for export. The month's production included 4,186 vehicles under 15 cwt. unladen, 5,998 between 15 cwt. and 6 tons, 265 of 6 tons and over, and 831 motorbuses and trolleybuses. In the first three months of the year, 30,290 commercial vehicles were produced, all except 174 for civilian service. The home market received 21,112 vehicles and 9,004 were for export.

Civilian production by classes from January to March was as follows:— Under 15 cwt., 10,968; 15 cwt.-6 tons, 16,114; 6 tons and over, 736; motorbuses and trolleybuses, 2,298.

SEPARATE TRANSPORT BOARD URGED FOR SCOTLAND

CONVINCED that the Transport Bill would be against Scotland's interests, the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) has prepared a scheme, one-of the proposals being the formation of a separate transport board for Scotland. A memorandum on the subject was forwarded last week to the Minister of Transport. At a recent conference in Edinburgh, Sir Steven Bilsland, chairman of the executive committee, gave details of the plan.

PACKHAM COMPANY IN APPEAL NEXT WEEK /HAT promises to be an interesting IVY case will be heard by the Appeal Tribunal at Halifax House, London, W.C.2., during a session from May 21-23, The Bristol Haulage Co., Ltd., and four others will appeal against a decision of the Western Licensing Authority. A. Packham and Co., Ltd., will be the respondent.

Another appeal to be heard by the Tribunal will be that of Mr. J. J. Cattano against a decision of the Metropolitan Deputy Licensing Authority. There will be four respondents. REMOVERS DISSATISFIED WITH DECISIONS

ARESOLUTION by Mr. C. H. Batty that the representatives of the .National Association of Furniture Warehousemen and Removers should withdraw from the Joint Industrial Council for the Removal Industry, was on the agenda for consideration yesterday at the annual conference of the Association.

Mr. Batty's resolution alleged that the Council failed to give independent consideration to the conditions of employment in the industry, whilst wage rates and conditions of employment were agreed by negotiating authorities on which the industry had no effective representation.

An extraordinary general meeting was held yesterday afternoon to consider alterations to the articles of association in connection with the reconstitution of the executive committee, the regrouping of centres into areas coinciding as far as possible with the Regional Traffic Areas, and to deal with other matters.

This morning, Mr. Arthur G. Coombe will introduce a discussion on the Transport Bill. Mr. E. J. White will open a discussion on licensing under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, dealing particularly with "the trade's brief to solicitors for objectors." The Association considers that it should have information as to how the roadrail panels are operating in different parts of the country.

Proceedings at the conference Swill be reported in the next issue.

PREMIER TO OPEN PUBLIC WORKS EXHIBITION

HE Prime Minister, Mr. C. R.

i Attlee, is to open the 11th Public Works, Roads and Transport Congress and Exhibition at Olympia, London, on July 21. The Minister of Health, Mr. Anemia Bevan, as president of the Congress and Exhibition, will take the chair.

Well over 1,000 delegates have already been appointed by local authorities to attend the Congress and TRIBUNAL'S DECISION CLOSES WALKER'S HAULAGE BUSINESS

AS a result of the Appeal Tribunal's recent decision, Messrs. H. L. Walker, hauliers and bus proprietors, of Thomaby-on-Tees, have had to close down their haulage section, and 70 employees have been dispensed with.

The local area committee of the Road Haulage Association has decided to support Messrs. Walker by refusing to carry out haulage work previously done by the firm. This includes the transport of food and building materials and work for various Ministries, as well as Tees-side industrial concerns. The question of having the matter raised in the House of Lords is being discussed. Messrs. Walker still have 30 employees running a bus service.

ROAD GRANTS CUT : APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT

THE Standing Joint Committee of the Royal Automobile Club, Automobile' Association and Royal Scottish Automobile Club is to take action to ' induce he Government to reconsider its present policy cf reducing grants to local authorities for road costs.

Improved methods to facilitate snow clearance are also to be advocated.

Forty-seven local authorities asked the Minister of Transport for £11,869,271 for .work on Class 1 and 2 roads, and for £7,959,258 for Class 3 roads. It is reported that they are to receive £8,668,772 in the former case and £3,434,712 in the latter

EMPLOYEES SEE RESULTS OF THEIR WORK. NAOQUETTE fabrics used for the alupholstery of passenger vehicles were on view at a comprehensive exhibition of the varied textile products of Lister and Co., Ltd., which this Yorkshire concern staged recently at Manningham Mills, Bradford.

The exhibition was intended to encourage the interest of employees by showing them the results of their work and to improve recruitment of new employees. The event had a much wider appeal than this, however, and some transport visitors were among an attendance of about 10,000 people.

BETTER OIL

E. VOLUTION of new oil additives was announced by Mr. Edward A. O'Neal, managing director of Monsante Chemicals, Ltd., on May 9. One, he said, was a detergent, another wal intended to prevent the oil itself from breaking down at high temperatures and a third was to keep oil fluid. He emphasized that these additives were foi use by oil blenders or manufacturers and not by consumers.

LMECH.E. PLANS CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

A'part of the centenary celebrations to be held by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers from June 8-13, Messrs. Maurice Platt, D.M.Sinclair and V.W. Pinkington _will present a paper on Road Motor Vehicles." It will be read on June 12 at 10.30 a.m.

Technical sessions will be held simultaneously on each of the mornings from June 10-13, at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Storey's Gate, St. James's Park, London, S.W.1, the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

During the celebrations, visits are proposed to a large number of factories, including those of the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., Briggs Motor Bodies, Ltd., Kelsey-Hayes Wheel Co., Ltd., Coopers Mechanical Joints, Ltd., G. D. Peters and Co., Ltd. C.A.V., London Transport, 'Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., Skefko Ball Bearing Co., Ltd., Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., and Leyland Motors, Ltd.

R.H.A. SHOWS THE RED LIGHT

THE Road Haulage Association has made a new film to demonstrate how the cumbersome machinery which is to be set up under the Transport Bill must slow down the flow of traffic.

"When the Wheels Slow Down' runs for eight minutes and will be shown during the summer in various public places by 16 mobile film vans Humorously exaggerated sequences bring home the message of the film, which shows how Civil Servants, no matter how well meaning, could 1101 control an industry such as road transport and would cause many family larders to be empty.

A NOVEL NUMBER-PLATE SERVICE

MVMBER plates can be made in a

matter of minutes by a method introduced by Hills (Patents), Ltd., Chenies Mews, Pancras Street, London, W.C.1. Traders are supplied with loose aluminium digits, together with background plates in aluminium or steel. The digits have rivets fused to them and, by the use of a Hilpress rivet clincher, can be fixed to a plate. The clincher performs both the 'actions of punching and riveting. The digits themselves are pressed and have semi-sheared edges. BILL IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS

THE Road Haulage Association is continuing its battle against the Transport Bill in the House of Lords, and proposes to press for the same amendments as were tabled for debate in the House of Commons, including those which came under the operation of the guillotine on the Standing Committee and Report Stages.

The Second Reading of the Bill will take place in the House of Lords next Tuesday (May 20).

BIG INCOME FROM SMALL OUTLAY

AFORM of road transport enterprise, stated to be capable of yielding a weekly revenue of £14 for an expenditure of 10s., was mentioned in one of the numerous questions raised at a "brains trust" session held recently by the Leeds Centre of the Institute of the Motor Industry.

The question, was as to whether it was legally in order for a car, subject to a hire-purchase agreement, to be loaned out by the hirer on a "drive yourself" basis. In a case cited, it was said that £2 a day was received from "drive yourself" hire on a car for which the hire-purchase payment was 10s. a week.

The answer was that as a car on hirepurchase could be used by the hirer either for personal pleasure or for business, no legal objection to its being loaned out on a "drive yourself" basis could arise so long as the insurance covered "drive yourself" hire.

A warning against acting on telephoned repair instructions, without' confirmation in writing, was given by the legal member of the "brains trust," Mr. E. J. Morrish, a Leeds solicitor. In a case quoted, it was stated that the customer instructed the repair firm by telephone "to do everything necessary," but afterwards he repudiated much of the liability for the cost of the job.

Suggesting that the wisest course was to accept telephoned instructions only on condition that written confirmation immediately followed, Mr. Morrish said it was not only extremely difficult to prove what was said on the telephone, but the necessity of proof of identity might arise.

In a Line or Two

Pirelli, Ltd., has opened new premises at Spa Road, Southampton.

Eighty employees of Henley's Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., have qualified for long-service certificates for 20 years' service.

The copper and asbestos gaskets and washers department of Hall and Hall, Ltd., has been temporarily placed out of production by fire.

A booklet on expanded-metal resistances has been issued by the Expanded Metal Co., Ltd., Burwood House, Caxton Street, London, S.W.1.

The head executive office and London sales office of the Northern Aluminium Co., Ltd., have been transferred to Wellington House, Lancaster Place, London, W.C.2.

A useful road-mileage chart is available, free of charge, from Auto Vaporisers, Ltd„ New Road, Lymm, near Warrington, maker of. the Scalaleak metallic seal for radiators, etc. A DISTURBING REGULATION

ONE of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, No. 59, is causing considerable perturbation amongst operators, particularly those who have many vehicles affected.

It concerns the plating of the wheels of every heavy motorcar registered on hr after October 1,1938. Each plate must indicate the maximum normal section of Lyre for which the wheel is designed, unless this information be marked directly and indelibly on the wheel,

Many new vehicles are being supplied without such markings, and we learn of one transport concern which, to conform with the law, would have to plate about 11,000 wheels. Before plating every wheel would have to be meticulously examined to see that the tyre used is suitable for the rim: Difficulty in obtaining tyres has, in many cases, resulted in a lack, of balancing in this respect.

BOOK ON HENLEY'S WAR EFFORT ILLUSTRATED by many impressive photographs, a recently published: brochure sets forth the war story of .the Henley Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., Milton Court, Westcott, Dorking, and its associated concern, W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co., Ltd.

The part played by the companies In Pluto, the defeat of the magnetic mine, equipping of ships with cables, and synthetic-tyre production is briefly recounted. An interesting fact revealed is that Henley tyre production in 1941 was three times the average annual prewar output.

FORDS BOOST LIGHT VANS WE welcome, as an example of IT common sense, the sa-called concession of the Government -in removing Class-C licence vehicles from the ambit of transport nationalization." Lord Perry, chairman of the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., made this statement at the company's annual general meeting. He reported that an expansion had taken, place in the company's business in light vans. He also stated that in 1939 the number of farm tractors in Britain was 55,000, of which about 60 per cent. were Fordsons. By last year the number had risen to 225,000, of which approximately 80 per cent. were Fordsons.

A HISTORY OF MOTOR VEHICLES rONTANING a great deal of facts in a small space is a recently published book, "A Short History of Mechanical Traction and Travel, Volume I—Road," by R. W. Kidner. The author .begins his story with an account of steam locomotion in 1769 and ranges over the years to the present day. The development of commercial vehicles is not forgotten, and the student of transport and automobile engineering will find much of interest in this work. The illustrations, although copious, are below the standard of the text. Priced at 14s., this publication is issued by the Oakwood Press, 30,White Horse Hill, Chislehurst, Kent.

MARCH NEW VEHICLE EXPORTS WORTH OVER E1,500,000

I N March, British manufacturers exported 3,076 new commercial vehicles valued at £1,460,487, apart from 60 new general-haulage tractors (£38,111) and 494 trailers (£99,067).

Delivery vans and dual-purpose vehicles numbered 879 (£216,113), trolleybuses and motorbuses 30 (£79,263), industrial trucks 103 (£36,510), and other descriptions 521 (£342,006). In addition, 196 motorbus and trolleybus chassis (E220,940) and 1,347 chassis of other descriptions (£565,655) were exported. Agricultural tractors and parts to the value of £349,475 also went oyerseas.

In the first three months of the year, exports of new commercial vehicles numbered 11,892 (£5,002,854). These were made up as follows:—Delivery vans and dual-purpose vehicles 3,046 (£741,373), trolleybuses arid motorbuses 65 (£129,236), industrial trucks 347 (E103,339), other descriptions 1,950 (£1,134,476), motorbus and trolleybuS chassis 678 (£625,950, and chassis of other descriptions 5,806 (£2,268,479).

In. addition, in the three months to March, 308 new general-haulage tractors •(€215,331), 1,975 trailers (372.423), and agricultural tractors and parts to the value of £830,778 were sent overseas.

Figures issued by the S.M.M.T. also deal with exports of used vehicles and accessories and components.

CAR MART OPENS AUSTIN SERVICE DEPOT

THAT he was neutral in politics, and

did not mind who turned out the present Government, was one of many "straight-from-the-shoulder" remarks made by Mr. L. P. Lord, chairman of the Austin Motor Co., Ltd., on the occasion of the recent reopening of the Welsh Harp Austin Service depot of Car Mart Ltd.

The particularly large gathering was given the opportunity of examining the two new Austin passenger models, the three-way van, and the Austin ambulance, the chassis of which is almost identical with that of the van.

Mr. Lord presented Mr. A. J. Rayment, managing director of Car Mart Ltd., with a plaque to mark the 28 years' association of that company with the Austin Motor Co , Ltd.

ACCURACY OF POLICE BRAKE TEST QUESTIONED

A CCU RACY of an instrument used 1-1.by the police to test braking efficiency was questioned at Biggleswade .Magistrates' Court recently, in a case in which a lorry driver was summoned for not having the braking system maintained in good working order. Another man was summoned for permitting the offence.

Three police constables gave evidence in connection with the testing instru

Defending, Mt. W. H. Rester submitted that his clients had no case to answer after hearing the evidence given in reply to his questions on what he described as the "ingenious instru

ment." The Bench considered that there was a case to be answered.

After evidence for the defence had been given to the effect that the lorry had travelled through floods, which were bound to have a slight effect on the braking system, the Bench dismissed the case on the ground that it was riot convinced that the braking system was not in good working order.

78 SUPPORTERS: NO LICENCE WHEN Mr. Joseph Davidson, of W Wigton (Cumberland), applied to the Northern Licensing Authority for a haulage licence, he submitted in support of his application a petition signed by 78 farmers. The Authority, however, said that he would reluctantly have to refuse the application, as the applicant had made only a general statement regarding the need for increased facilities for livestock haulage.

Mr. Davidson stated that there were no haulage contractors in Wigton itself. and that 11 hauliers who had operated before the war had ceased.

BENEVOLENT FUND SETS UP BRISTOL CENTRE

I AST week, a Bristol and District J.—Centre of the Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund was inaugurated by Mr. C. E. Wallis, president of the Fund. Mr. A E. Johnson (managing director of the Bristol Motor Co., Ltd.) was elected chairman, with Mr. H. G. Holmes (Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd.) as deputy-chairman, Mr. R. E. Fletcher (Edmunds, Walker and Co., Ltd.) honorary secretary, and Mr. H. R. Macfarlane (S. J. Fair Motors, Ltd.) honorary treasurer.

The centre includes the county of Somerset, with the southern part of Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire west of Swindon and Devizes.

OBITUARY

THE death recently occurred of MR.

WALTER DE LA ROCHE BOND, who, last year, retired fromthe post of personnel manager of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., Fort Dunlop. He died on his 68th birthday, and had been connected with the rubber industry for 54 years.

10-SPEED FORESTRY VEHICLE FOR BARCELONA

AT the Barcelona Fair, to be held on .June Id, will be shown a Unipower four-wheel-drive forestry machine built by Universal Power Drives Ltd., Aintree Road, Perivale, Middlesex. Its exhibition at the Fair is incidental to its delivery to the operating concern, and this is the second machine of its type which has been acquired by this concern.

It is powered by a Hercules, petrol engine giving 84 b.h.p. and 2,800 r.p.m., its R.A.C. rating being 38.4 h.p. It delivers its maximum torque of 204 lb.-ft. at the bominal speed of 9001,000 r.p.rn.

The vehicle has a five-speed gearbox, from which the drive is taken to a two-speed transfer box. Thus there are 10 forward speeds and two reverse ratios available. The same number of speeds is also made use of on the winch gear, which is arranged at the rear of the chassis.

From 3 m.p.h. to 50 m.p.h. is said to be the road-speed range, so that, whilst the machine possesses the characteristic requirements of a forestry vehicle, it is not hampered in the matter of fast movement from point to point.

It is a splendid example of the British interpretation of a forestry outfit, in which, incidentally, the maker has always specialized. Before leaving for Barcelona it was shown to Board of Trade officials, who exhibited marked interest in its many unusual features.

B.R.F. EXHIBITION AT SOUTHAMPTON NEXT MONTH THE British Road Federation is presenting the first provincial postwar Roads Exhibition at Southampton in conjunction with Southampton Borough Council's Road Safety Week.

This exhibition, which is being opened on June 16, is based on that held at the Tea Centre, London, W.I, last December. It has been brought up to date in the light of recent developments in highway construction and the Government's programme. 150 VEHICLES IN BRISTOL PARADE

A BIG "Hands Off Road Transport" rtparade of 150 vehicles is to be held in Bristol to-morrow (May 17) by the Road Haulage Association. All the vehicles will be supplied by local concerns and driven by their employees, but if the event be against the political beliefs of individual workers, they will not be compelled to drive. It is understood, however, that none has refused to co-operate in this way.

The parade will pass through the principal streets of the city.

COUNTY COUNCIL REJECTS MINISTRY ROAD SCHEME

PROPOSALS put forward by the Ministry of Transport for the construction of a through road and bridges at Durham City, at a cost of £250,000,

have been accepted by Durham City Council, but rejected by Durham County Council.

In 1931 the county council announced plans for a through road. Some years later counter-proposals were also drawn up by Durham City Council. Several months ago, the Ministry of Transport held an inquiry into the plans and issued proposals embodying ideas from both the county council's and city council's schemes. The county council has now asked the Ministry to receive a deputation to discuss the matter further.

PURCHASE TAX ON UTILITIES

VJEHICLES constructed solely or V mainly for thP carriage of passengers, apart from public service vehicles, have always been subject to purchase tax, but buyers of certain types of utility car have escaped paying purchase tax because of the interpretation of the word "mainly," wherthe vehicle was also to be used for carrying goods.

To clarify the position the Treasury is imposing the purchase tax on 'all new utility vehicles where passenger accommodation is provided. This measure is to take effect shortly.

WEEK-END WORK

BECAUSE of the wastage of transport caused by the five-day week in industry, the Board of Trade has requested business undertakings to make available staff to unload goods delivered at the week-end.


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