"UTILITY BUSES . . . A SOURCE OF CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE"
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AREPORT has been issued on the working of the transport department of Stockton-on-Tees Corporation. Drawn up by the borough, treasurer in conjunction with Mr. W. M. Campbell, transport manager, it recommends the minor overhauling of new buses after they have covered 25,000 miles, and et major overhaul after they have completed 80,000 to 100,000 miles. At present the buses are being greased, oiled and checked up every 10 days.
The report suggests that standardization should be aimed at. A. mixture of types of engine and body results in a multiplicity of stores and adds to the difficulty of securing spare parts. Utility buses are not of the calibre they might be and would soon be a source of considerable expense_ The report states that eight buses had been laid up for three months owing to the shortage of spare parts. whilst, on the other :land, the corporation had had to borrow 'buses from other areas. The present fleet of 76 vehicles includes 32 for regular services, 36 for workmen's and special services, and eight idle buses. The workmen's and special service buses were used only for a short time each day. The report recommends that workmen's and ordinary services should be fused so far as possible. The question of a costing system is to be considered by a special committee POOLING PLAN FOR RECEIPTS ON JOINT BUS ROUTES
AS a result of negotiations between the Mossley, Stalybridge. Dukinfield and Hyde Joint Transport Board and Ashton-under-Lyne's transport manager, an agreement has been reached on the question of pooling receipts on all routes jointly operated. Mileage, irrespective of type, will be off-set against a standard mileage, and any excess paid for at a flat rate, These arrangements will reduce the number of tickets to be handled and considerably reduce the statistical work.
POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION PLANS FOR LIVERPOOL
SUGGESTIONS have been put forward, by both the C.M.U.A. and the Liverpool Cart and Motor Owners' Association, to Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, in connection with possible reconstruction and development plans for the post-war period.
It is submitted by the C.M.U.A. that, having regard to the fact that vir. tually all trades are dependent, wholly or in part, upon commercial road transport, considerable benefit would accrue if the offices of road-transport operators could be housed in a central area, and planned to provide special facilities for commercial vehicles.
The area between South Castle Street • and South John Street, it is submitted, could be re-developed with this end in view.
Another proposal is that, to ease the north-and-south road traffic at Liverpool, a light high-level road, available only to vehicles up to 5 tons unladen weight, might be built above the present dock road.
Asa body representing the operators Of 1,250 horses and 1,300 motor vehicles, the L.C.M.O.A. is primarily interested in the providing of easy access, by road, of traffic passing to and from the Dock Estate and the warehouse, and the commercial and manufacturing areas of the port and city.
The Association stresses the need for the widening of the " back " streets of the city area which give access to private and public warehouses, etc.
R.H.O. TO PAY "DIRTY MONEY"
WHAT is known as" dirty money" to the extent of Sc. per week will be paid to drivers in the M.0-W.T. Road Haulage Organization who have to deal with gas producers. ' This follows the custom amongst operators whose men have to drive vehicles equipped to run on this form of fuel.
DARLINGTON'S TROLLEyBus ORDER EXTENDED
RECENTLY, the IVI.O.W.T. made an Order extending. for three years, the powers of Darlington Corporation to introduce trolleybuses on another three routes in the town.
LATEST NEWS ON TEES-SIDE BUS CO-ORDINATION
UPON hearing a report of the tor elerk on discussions wi4i Middlesbrough Corporation and the Tees-side Railless Traction Board on the co-ordination of Tees-side's transport services, Stockton-on-Tees Corporation has agreed to continue negotiations with this object in view.
PERSONAL PARS LIEUT.-COLONEL R. W. BUTLER, M.INsr.C.E., has been released from military service and has returned to his former post of Divisional Road, Engineer for the Eastern Division, M.O.W.T. At the outbreak of hostilities, he was loaned to the War Office, and appointed 'Assistant Director oin the staff of the Engineer-in-Charge. It was at the request of the MO.W.T. that he was released on June 30.
MR. CLIFFORD CARR has been appointed assistant mechanical engineer to the Sedan Plantations Syndicate, Ltd., and will be sailing shortly to take up his new duties at Barakat, He has been acting as a technical assistant with the Ministry of Supply C.I.E.M.E. Branch (Vehicle Inspectorate). Born in Halifax, and educated at Heath Grammar School and the Halifax Municipal Technical College, le received his practical training with the Halifax Corporation Tramways and Motor Omnibus Department. He followed this by a short period on the engineering staff of J. W. HoIdsworth, Ltd. In his Ministry work he served first in the Nottingham area and was then transferred to Birmingham, where he was concerned chiefly with engine experiments and tests. In 1941 he was inspecting imported American and Canadian vehicles, later being transferred to Chislehurst. He is extremely keen on the formation of the I.R.T.E., and has suggested acting as its local representative in the Sudan.
GOVERNMENT CONVERSATIONS CONCERNING RUBBER A N official announcement ha -s been made that the Governments of the United Kingdom, the U.S.A., and the Netherlands had accepted an invitation to take part in exploratory conversations on. post-war rubber problems. The drafting of a tentative programme ' of studies was to be considered, also the desirability of establishing a committee to keep the rubber situation under review.
Officials of the three Governments, assisted by members of the industry, have concluded these conversations, which were held in London between August 1 and 9. A comprehensive survey was made of the rubber pesition, covering both the natural and synthetic varieties, also the problems which are likely to arise in the future. A large measure of agre,ement was reached on the broad outlines of the rubber position, and it was recognized that the , problems are matters of common concern to the three Governments. .
Consideration was also given to the best way, having regard to existing circumstances, of securing continuing examination and further discussion" of the problems likely to arise in respect of rubber and rubber substitutes, and it was agreed that the conversations should be resumed in the near future.
LIVERPOOL DOCKS COLOUR SCHEME TO AID DRIVERS
DRIVERS of motor vehicles en route for Liverpool docks will soon find it much easier than it is at present to find their destinations. It has been decided by the Merseyside Dock Access Committee to proceed with a scheme for numbering the docks and for dividing the Dock Estate into three zones, each with a distinctive colour. Docks from Gladstone to North No. 1 Huskisson will be coloured yellow; from South No. 1 Huskisson to Prince's, red; south of Pier Head, green. Directional signs, correspondingly coloured and numbered, are to be erected at the entrances to the Estate and on the main thoroughfares leading thereto.
The purpose of the scheme is to assist drivers to find their proper clestiBations and to relieve congestion -If the main thorotighfares by diverting dock traffic along specified routes.
DOVER'S TOWN PLANNING INCLUDES BUS STATION
AREPORT submitted to Dover Town Council by an advisory reconstruction committee, on which the East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., is directly represented, has proposed the setting up of a bus station at Chapel Place, with direct access to the Market Square, and with an entry from a suggested ring road. The report has been referred to the borough engine,er, who is preparing a reconstruction plan in conjunction with a town-planning expert.
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