News of the Week
Page 26
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BIG SWITCH FROM RAIL TO ROAD TRANSFER of goods to road trans'. port in order to relieve the railways is likely to extend beyond coal, said Major F. S. Eastwood, when, in his capacity as North-East Regional Transport Commissioner, , he held a Press • conference in Leeds.
Stating that the East Midland coalfield, centred on Nottingham, would, from October 13, switch 20,000 tons of deep-mined coal a week from rail to road transport, Major Eastwood said it was hoped that eventually a much bigger figure would be reached.
It was expected that about 14,500 tons a week of both mined and open-cast coal would be switched from rail to road in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Major Eastwood remarked that ample tipping lorries were available, but road haulage rates for coal were higher than the rail rates, and this was likely to increase the price to the consumer.
Mr. R. Crowther, of the Road Haulage Association, stated at a meeting in Wakefield last Sunday that, " at the moment, the lorries are not available.'' The Road Haulage Association arranged, at the request of the Ministry of Fuel and Power, to hold a meeting yesterday (Thursday) to discuss rates for the carriage of deep-mined and open-cast coal. It is expected that the work of drawing up schedules will take about a month.
JOWETT EXTENDS PLANT
A FORMER textile factory, Oak M ills, has been taken over by Jowett Cars, Ltd., maker of the Bradford commercial vehicle, to enable production for export to be expanded The existing works at Idle is to be extended.
Components for Bradford vans will be made at Oak Mills and assembled at Idle The new factory was purchased at a cost of £50,000.
PRODUCTION DOWN BY 1,200
SUM MER holidays caused the usual seasonal dr.)n in production in August, when 10,733 commercial vehicles were manufactured, compared with 11,975 in July. The year's monthly average was thereby reduced from 11,959 to 11,805.
Of the 10,717 commercial vehicles manufactured m August for civilian use, 3,354 were for export and 7,363 for the home market. Production by classes was as follows:—Under 15 cwt., 3,869; 15 cwt. and under 6 tons, 5,606; 6 tons and over. 357; motorbuses and trolleybuses, 885 Production in the first eight months of the year totalled 94,445 vehicles, of which 94,061 were for civilian service.• A total of 28,644 was exported, and 65,417 were allocated to the. home market Vehicles under 15 cwt. num a24 bered 35,237; 15 cwt. and under 6 tons, 48,840; 6 tons and over, 2,330; motorbuses and trolleybuses, 7,654.
These figures, to which 663 batteryelectrics have to be added, were issued by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
MORE TYRES ON THE WAY INCREASED production of tyres is I promised by the development at Heathhall, Dumfries, of the new plant of the North British Rubber Co., Ltd. An ultimate labour force of 1,610 is expected, according to Mr. Hugh A. Johnston, manager of the new factory.
TRIBUNAL TO SIT IN YORK
ON October 21, at the Law Courts, York, the Appeal Tribunal will hear the appeals of Mr. W. H. Morfoot against a decision of the Yorkshire Deputy Licensing Authority and of Frank Dodsworth (Haulage), Ltd., against a decision of the Yorkshire Licensing Authority. The appeal of Mr. J. W. Readman, in which the Yorkshire Licensing Authority is again concerned, will be heard the next day.
100 MONARCHS FOR " POOL "
A THIRD contract for 100 A.E.C. r-1 Monarch four-wheeled lorries has been placed by the Petroleum Board. Two orders covering 92 Monarchs have already been announced this year.
T.R.T.A. SEEKS GUARANTEE ON FUEL SUPPLIES I N a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the Traders' Road Transport Association has asked for an adequate guarantee that sufficient fuel will be made available to enable road transport to play its full part in the drive for increased production.
The Association pointed out that the Minister of Transport had extended for a further period of six months the emergency reserve of vehicles operated through the Road Haulage Association, because of the demands likely to be placed on road transport during the winter and the increase in the transport of coal by road. It was also emphasized that Government Departments had been instructed to use road transport to relieve the railways.
The T.R.T.A. submitted that to reduce the fuel allowance for goods transport at a time when drastic steps were being taken to increase production was illogical. Moreover, having regard to the shortage of labour, it was undesirable to reimpose on commercial motor users the multiplicity of forms which had been abandoned some time ago.
Copies of the letter were sent to the Minister of Fuel and Power and the Minister of Transport.
"DR. NUFFIELD " PRESCRIBES
THE correct prescription for the country's ailments is a tonic, not further suppression. The patient needs encouragement to build him up, not consistent doses of austerity ladled out in vicious measure. No one ever promoted long-term co-operation and useful activity, by creating an atmosphere
of depression." • These vigorous remarks were made by Lord Nuffield, on the eve of his 70th birthday, in an address to a party of overseas distributors at Oxford.
On October 21, Leyland Motors, Ltd., will open a service depot at Ninth Avenue, Team Valley Estate, Gateshead.