What the Associations Are Doing
Page 45
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NO CONFERENCE ON TAMAR BRIDGE PLAN.
The Minister of Transport has refused to convene a conference of highways authorities and other interested parties to consider the construction of a bridge across the River Tamar. This announcement was made at a meeting of A.R.O. Devon and Cornwall Area at Plymouth, last week.
Urging the importance of such a bridge. Mr. K. G. Foster, chairman, said that, during 1936, nearly 1,000,000 vehicles had used Torpoint and Saltash ferries. During the past three weeks, he alleged, lorries had been delayed for as long as 14 hours while waiting to cross the river. In August, queues of vehicles a quarter of a mile long were to be seen stretching up to the main streets of Devonport.
At the meeting, consideration was also given to the draft terms of membership to be submitted to the newly formed West of England C Licence Holders Association. Alderman Solomon Stephens, head of a large Plymouth bakery and confectionery concern, and Mr. E. T. Lear, one of the principals of a Plymouth and Bristol concern of manufacturing and wholesale confectioners, are prominently identified with the new body.
Rates Stabilization Activity.
Local meetings have been held by the Western Area of A.R.O., at Cinderford and Melksham, at which the chief topic was rates stabilization. The deputation from the Forest of Dean Area is, this week, meeting members of the selling committee of the Forest of Dean Collieries, in connection with rates for the haulage of coal from the various centres.
. It is understood that agreement was reached at a meeting held this week in connection with the continuation of rates for haulage of basic slag, lime and chalk.
A.R.O. Meets Postal Authorities.
We understand that a meeting is taking place to-day (Friday) at the General Post Office, between the London postal authorities and the national director, and secretaries of the Metropolitan, South-Eastern, Southern and Eastern areas of A.R.O., in connection with the supply of covered vans to the postal authorities during the Christmas period.
Milk Haulage Rates Fixed.
A meeting was held on Friday last, at Camborne, at which representatives of the various milk factories and dairies were present, in company with hauliers. After a general discussion, agreement was reached on the following main issues: — (1) Hauliers should not enter farms for milk, but collections should be made from classified roads : (2) no cans should be returned the same day,
except to fauns on the direct return route; (3) the rate agreed upon was Id. per gallon up to 15 miles and 11d. per gallon over this distance.
It has been mainly through A.R.O. that this early and satisfactory agreement has been reached.
Traffic Board for Whole Country?
As an alternative to nationalization of transport, Mr. Dudley A. Elwes, head of the C.M.U.A. licensing bureau, favours the setting up of a traffic board for the whole country, similar to London Transport. He expressed this view in an address to the Liverpool branch of the Industrial Transport Association, last week.
He was inclined to think that that would be the ultimate solution of the difficulties which had arisen and which had made road and rail enemies, so far as the trader was concerned.
Winter Session Meetings of A.R.O.
In connection with the winter session, A.R.O. has arranged for the following meetings:— At Liverpool on October 4 and Manchester on October 5, when the speakers. in both cages, will be Major A. Crawford and Major the Hon. Brie Mug, J.P. Major Long will also give an address at Coventry on October 12. and Wolverhampton on October 13. On October 14 Mr. R. W. Sewill, national director of A.R.O.. will speak at Birmingham, and on October /9 be will appear at the opening of the winter
session at Plymouth. On October 20 Mr. Swill will speak at Wadebridge.
Change of Date.
The date on which Mr. Gresham Cooke is to speak on national motor roads at Bristol Chamber of Commerce was given as October 15. This has been changed to November 5. BAILLIE RECOMMENDATIONS: SURPRISES COMING.
It is understood that the subcommittee of A.R.O., which was approached with a view to drawing up recommendations based upon the Baillie Report, has now finished its task. The general lines of the memorandum prepared were approved by the executive committee at a meeting held this week.
Later in the month it will be passed on to the Haulage Sectional Board and the National Council; thereafter, it is understood, it will be submitted to the Ministers concerned. , The Association has already announced its acceptance of the report in principle. It is believed, however, that certain somewhat startling proposals are contained in a document with regard to the machinery recommended in the report, but the authors of the memorandum anticipate that it will be warmly received by the trade as a whole.
B.R.F. Activities.
• In connection with its campaign on behalf of better roads, the British Road Federation announces the following further meetings:—
September 20, Redhill Rotary Club; speaker, Mr. Gaston Vincent, on "Road Conditions and Public Safety. September 21. Hastings Round . Table; speaker, Major the Hon. Eric Long, J.P. on "Road C.onditions and Public Safety.' September 21. Wigan Round Table; speaker, Mr. W. A. Gibson Martin, F.R.G.8_,. on speaker. Transport." September 22. Selby Rotary Club: speaker, Mr. R. W. &will, M.A., on "Roads: Past and Present." September 27, Burnley Rotary Club; speaker, Mr. W. A. Gibson Martin, P.R.G.S., on 'Road Transport." September 30, Chatham Rotary Club; speaker. Mr. .1. 1 Kinder, national organizer of C.M.U.A.