S.T.R. "Goes Over Big" in Lancashire
Page 16
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THE third visit to Lancashire, this winter, by S.T.R.,•The•COMmercial Motor costs expert, opened with a hotpot dinner at St. Helens, on December 7. The organization of this event, due in the main to Mr. J, Austin Baker, transport manager of Pilkington Bros., Ltd., and C.11,15.A. chairman in the area, was the Outcome of an article by S.T.R. which appeared in The Commercial Motor dated October 22.
In that article, he pleaded for in-formal gatherings, preferably including a " snack," if not a meal, and provision for an occasional drink and similar encouragement to good fellowship. This meeting was direct proof of the wisdom of that recommendation.
Not only were nearly 70 people present, but the keen discussion continued until 11.15 p.m. and, even then, was followed by a number of informal talks, so that S.T.R. was not out of the room until midnight. Besides Mr. Baker, the following were present :—
Mr. A. A. Jackson, M.Inst.T.. general manager, St. Helens Corporation Transport; Mr. C. J. de Burgh, hreer.E., of Warrington, chairman of the Divisional Licensing Committee and Divisional reek.esentat th
ive on e Licensing Bureau. Lendon; Mr, N. Smith. from the C.M.D.A. head office, Liverpool District and North Wales Division; Mr. E. L. Fester, transport manager, Greenall Whitley and Co., Ltd., hon. sec. St. Helens C.M.T.T.A., and Mr. Win. Heaton, bon. sec., A.B.O. St. Helens.
There is a large brickworks in the St. Helens distn'ct and considerable differences of opinion as to rates which ought to be charged, were evidenced. S.T.R. 'a figures were taken as a basis for calculating Minimum rates for certain selected hauls and it was found that the charges thus calculated were exactly those being received.
At Warrington, a smaller, but not Tess keen, audience. insisted on discussing the procedure that should he followed in endeavouring to comply with recommendations attire T.A.C. Report. Mr. W. D. Broadbent was in the chair, supported by Mr. G. B. Lissenden, traffic controller, Lever Bros., Ltd., Port Sunlight, Mr. J. Austin Baker, Mr. C. J. De Burgh, Mr. N. Sthith and Mr. Edgar, local hon. secretary.' S.T.R., asked to state what in his opinion was the best course to adopt,
stressed, -first, urgency, pointing out the risk that the Government. would step -in and fix rates on the basis of
those now ruling, if the industry itself did not do something fairly quickly. That, he declared, would be almost a tragedy.
He insisted that rates should be assessed on an economic basis, paying strict regard to operating conditions. Consultation with the other haulage interests might well follow, but should not precede, the construction of the road rates schedule.
At Wigan, petrol consumption and the considerable difference& in operating costs that result from seemingly small variations in figures for ru.p.g., were the prevalent topics. Mr. G. N. Flogg presided, supported by Mr. N. Smith, Mr. Renshaw, of St. Helens, and Mr. O'Donnell.
The merits of the oil engine also came up for discussion, andit became evident that in Wigan, too, there still prevails that difference of Opinion as to maintenance .cost, which We have enemintered elsewhere.
A snowstorm, the culmination of a day of mixed, but consistently bad, weather, seriously affected the attendance at Market Drayton, where Mr. S. B. Morrey occupied the chair, in company with Mr. Artinir Newbrooks, the Ideal hon. secretary.
5.T.R., varied his procedure by giving what was more or less a precis of his usual address. In doing so, he achieved his object of impressing those present with the utility of the work that he is doing and confirming them in their view that they should invite him on sonicsubsequent occasion to address a larger audience, S.T.R. had that day visited the Allacott sugat-beet factory and took the opportunity of discussing beet hay age with those present,. all of them actually being concerned therein. The outcome of this discussion will be reported in a later issue of this: journal.