AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Passing Comments

18th January 1957
Page 34
Page 35
Page 34, 18th January 1957 — Passing Comments
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Celebrating on Ethylene-Glycol

THE, fatal result of indulging in alcohol in the form I of a de.-icing mixture containing ethylene-glycol, referred to at a recent inquest, draws attention to the danger of this form of indulgence. The particular mixture was said to contain 85 per cent. alcohol and the drinking of only 100 c.c. would be most likely to cause death.

Whether some of the normal anti-freeze mixtures contain anything like this amount of alcohol is doubtful, but certainly most, if not all of them, would be considered poisonous as beverages.

Incidentally, a newspaper report on this matter referred to " glygol," which makes one wonder whether the writer had himself been indulging.

The victim in this particular case had said that he used to drink such fluid when he was in the army. He must have been fortunate to live to try it again.

During the last war, there were fairly numerous cases in which the imbibers became seriously ill or met their deaths from this cause. Many people like their "little drop," but few would be prepared to accept such a risk if they knew more about it.

BEN Night at Cinderella

IN our industry there is no more worthy. cause A affecting the interests of its members, than the Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund, familiarly known as BEN. This institution helps a great many

a26 people who have suffered misfortune, as well as having a beautiful home for the aged and a nursing home for the sick, but it is itself always suffering from a shortake of money.

This would be greatly alleviated if there were more regular subscribers, the present number being regrettably small compared with the number of people employed in all branches of the industry. This restricts the extent of the good work achieved.

What is hoped will be a successful effort to raise essential funds will be a special night at Wembley to see "Cinderella on Ice," on Monday, February 11. Considerable concessions on normal prices are available to members of the trade, their families and friends for individual or party bookings, and two guest tickets will be issued to all parties of 25 or over.

Application should be made to: Parties Box Office, Empire Pool, Wembley, Middlesex. Prices yary from 10s. 6d. to 3s. 6d., with large reductions for children.

Whisky Galore?

THE story is told of a farnily in a car who, running I short of petrol only half a mile from home, used a bottle of whisky and thus finished the journey. It is understood that commercial-vehicle drivers are unlikely. to emulate this idea unless they happen to be carrying for distillers, and then their explanation might not be accepted, unless the fumes from the tanks corroborated their statements.

Deferment from National Service

THE complaints regarding the shortage of skilled

technical men have been steadily rising in volume. A step to meet the demand has been decided upon by the Government. It is to increase the number of scientists and engineers who may be granted indefinite deferment from National Service.

Obviously such deferment must be limited and subject to certain reservations; those affected will, therefore, be university graduates who complete courses of study or training this year and who have first-class honours degrees in one of the main branches of science or engineering. They must also take up employment in this country which demands the appropriate qualification of degree standard.

The decision to make this concession follows representations by the Federation of British Industries and is on the advice of the Technical Personnel Committee. The position will be reviewed at the end of the year.

Lost Property Unclaimed

PEOPLE are constantly leaving a wide variety of articles in public conveyances. This may not be surprising but what is curious is that so many are unclaimed, and quite a good proportion of them is comparatively valuable Umbrellas, gloves in good condition and even false teeth have been left on the shelves of the lost property offices.

Bus conductors and railway personnel are usually most conscientious regarding the handing in of such finds, and it was interesting to learn recently from a conductor that where money is found in a bus, even down to the humble "tanner," it is a rule that this must be returned to the office.

The reference to false teeth brings to mind an incident when a former member of the editorial staff of this journal, proceeding on a night trip by coach, removed his dentures and later almost bit himself by sitting on them, but this was finding in another sense, and incidentally they were made useless.


comments powered by Disqus