A.E.C. INTERIM DIVIDEND
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Irespect of the cprreut year, the 1 board of directors of the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd,, has declared an interim dividend at the rate of fid, per
unit of stock, free Of income-tax.
FUEL RESTRICTIONS EASED
1--NN May 10, Mr. Churchill announced k-lin the House, amidst cheers, that the liquid-fuel position would be eased.
Subject to labour being available, busts and vehicles for retail deliveries wottld receive more fuel; allowances for taxicabs, private-hire cars, and cars and motorcycles used for professional or business purposes would he increased. A small basic ration would also be issued •within 30 days to owners of private cars and motorcycles. Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd, Chairman of the Oil Control Board and Petroleum Secretary, gave further details. He stated that allowances for taxicabs and hire 'cars would be raised by some SO per cent., and the distances over . which they could legitimately operate would be doubled. Concessions will also he made in connection with vehicles operating under trade plates, and motor lawn mowers.
The basic ration per month for
privately operated cars would bet—Up to 9 h.p., four gallons, 10-13 h.p., five gallons; 14-19 h.p., six gallons; 20 h.p. and over, seven gallons; motorcycles, two to three gallons per month, according to cylinder capacity, HAULIERS' VEHICLES REPLACE R.A.S.C. LORRIES
TN July, 1944, the Northern Area 1 S.J.C. of the Road Hauliers National Organizations was asked to put into immediate operation a scheme for using civilian vehicles at an ammunition supply depot in lieu of R.A.S.C. lorries, which were being moved overseas. The Committee had already successfully organized emergency harvest and 'opencast-coal transport pools, and the new demand was quickly and efficiently met.
Intensive preparatory work was carried out by Mr, F. Milton, secretary to the Area S.J.C. It was not possible even to give the promised seven days' notice, for 33 vehicles were asked to report, the moment the details of the scheme were approved bythe War Department and the M.O.W.T.
The result was so satisfactory that the War Department has advised the M.O.W.T. of its intention to adopt nationally the principles and Procedure. • ENTHUSIASM OF ROAD-TRANSPORT ENGINEERS
COMPLETED application forms for 9.----.membership of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers are arriving in large numbers, as are requests for the necessary forms. A scrutinizing committee it carefully reviewing all the applications. Others wishing to join should write to the secretary -of the Institute, 174, Palace Chambers, Bridge Street, Westminster, London, SAVA.
RETAIL DELIVERIES TO 13E IMPROVED
SINCE last November, in districtS where the majority of traders agreed to extend deliveries, petrol has been allowed for delivery of groceries weekly and for greengrocery, meat, and fish twice weekly. -It has been decided that this relaxation may be extended to any retail delivery pool or to any individual trader where there is no pool or where such pool is unwilling to improve its service.
It is hoped that traders will make full use of this concession within the resources of labour and vehicles.
POINTERS FROM SPEECH OF BUSCOMPANY'S CHAIRMAN
SPEAKING . at the recent annual general meeting of the South Wales Transport co., Ltd., Mr. J. S. M.Inst.T.,. chairman, said that the undertakings which the company operates or controg have now been serving the population of Swansea and its neighbourhood. for 141 years. Although last year the company was able to operate only two-thirds of the vehicle miles run in the year before the war, the number of passengers carried increased. by 18 per cent,
Mr. Wills related how the Ministry of Labour and National Service called upon the company to mobilize its resources to provide transport for workmen to be employed on what was termed a No. 1 priority job, and which proved to .be the construction at Swansea of prefabricated ports, which were' such an important factor in the initial landings of the Allies on the Normandy coast. Over 1,000 men Were transported day and night between their homes and the site.
In respect of the future control of transport, he said he could not help thinking that many of the advocates of State control are prompted more by political motives than by a desire to secure improved transport facilities for the public. In his view, such improvements as may be possible are more likely to' be achieved by those who, as the result of experience, have a real appreciation of local needs and know the job, than by some pond coins bureaucracy.
In connection with the recent campaign for wider public service vehicles, he said that visitors from abroad, and particularly from the 'United States, would expect to find a greater measure . of comfort in our vehicles than can be provided within the dimensions permitted by existing regulations. A wider vehicle is essential if tourists are to be given the travelling athenities they are entitled to expect.
BUSES TO HELP S.H.A.E.F.
A NUMBER of buses previously con
verted for use as ambulances is being reconstructed, and will be sent to North-West Europe to assist 5.H.A.E.F. They will be employed to deal with the problem of the dispersal of. displaced persons who are returning horn Germany to their home countries.
RECONSTITUTING THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COUNCIL
I N a written reply to Mr. Lipson, Mr. P. J. Noel-Baker, Parliamentary Secretary, M.O.NV.T., said that the time is now coming when the Transport Advisory Council will be able to resume its functions. Preliminary steps, he said, had been taken some time ago towards its reconstitution. In war-time there had been some difficulty in securing a fully representative body, but he hoped to he able to announce the reappointment of the Council in a fewweeks' time.
MINISTER'S TRIBUTE TO ._ TRANSPORT'S WAR EFFORT COLLOWING the achievement of vic tory in the war in Europe, Lord Leathers, Minister of War Transport, issued the, following message to the transport i ustry
" At this time of national rejoicing I send my warme-st congratulations to all engaged in transport on the succesafa accomplishment of the great tasks which the European war has imposed.
" At every stage in the struggle the maintenance of transpOrt services has been an indispensable condition of the defence of our homes and of victory in the field, and realizing this, the enemy has sought to smash the lines. of communication and to destroy the means for conveyance.
" It will .not be forgotten that through the worst air attacks you kept the wheels of transport turning and thus enabled the country to gather its strength for the offensive. You maintained the flow of essential Supplies to our industries and people while carrying the greatest military load in our history, " To all men and women who have worked on the railways and roads, in the docks, and on the inland waterways—I offer my sincere thanks, knowing that I voice the feelings of the whole country.
" You will not wish to rest upon your laurels. You know that there will be heavy calls on transport for military operations in the Far East, as well as for the feeding of Europe's starving peciPles,• and for the rebuilding of our industries and homes," NEW FORDSON TRACTOR MAKES ITS DEBUT
A NEW medium tractor, capable of pulling a three-furrow or fourfurrow plough according to conditions, and incorporating a number of new features, has been announced by the Ford Motor Co., Ltd. Known as the Fordson Major, this new machine is a development of the well-known Fordson tractor, and has been designed to meet the need for a more versatile and adaptable piece of equipment
PERSONAL PARS
MR. A. J. RomER, who has for a long period 'been manager of the motorvehicle-manufacturing side of the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., has become a director of that
concern., .
LIEUT.-COLONEL H. E. MILBURN, A.M.I.Mecii.E., M.I.A.E., has been released froeci military service, and has resumed his practice as a consulting engineer at Windsor House (Room 149), Victoria Street, Westminster, London, S.W.1. He will be specializing on wheeled vehicles, also those with tracks, and the development of small mechanisms for special applications. In his letter to us, he states that he experienced quite a thrill when, on his return to civilian life, he succeeded in buying a copy of " The Commercial Motor."
Ma. A. II. ,PENDREE, Western Divisional Manager of the Goodyear. Tyre and Rubber Co. (Great Britain), Ltd., since 1937, is leaving Bristol to take up the appointment of Northern Divisional Manager in Manchester. Before going to Bristol he was successively Irish Divisional Manager and Manager Giant TyreDealer Sales at head office, Wolverhampton. He is succeeded in Bristol by MR. H. firra.isToNE, who was Western Divisional Manager from 1935 to 1937, when be transferred to
London as branch manager. Both appointments are effective from June 1 next.
'AN ASSOCIATION TO DEVELOP ALUMINIUM
THE new Aluminium Development Association, Granville House, Arundel Street, London, W.C.2, held its inaugural luncheon in London on May 10.
Proposing the toast of the guests, 'the Hon. Geoffrey Cunliffe said that the body intended to carry out propaganda, but this would be directed not simply to the sale of aluminium. It was a mistake to say that as you have plenty of something it must be used for everything. Aluminium should be used only where it ought to be employed.
There were three main platforms for the Association. One was to develop by practical means, not merely by oldfashioned sales talk; secondly, it would encourage research; thirdly, propaganda and advertising would be used in what it is hoped 'would be an intelli
gent manner.. ,
Replying, Sir Stafford Cripps said he .had no need to stress the importance to the aircraft industry and to the 31.A.P. of aluminium and the lightmetals. industry during the war. All forms of transport demand the lightesz practicable material consistent with the required strength. The development in the 'Strength of light alloys had been remarkable, but there is a huge field for fresh advances. -" Mr. Hugh Dalton said that aluminium represented a young, 'expanding and' hopeful industry. It had built some of the Most modern plants in just those areas where an increase of employment is most necessary.
MORE OIL FROM COAL IN BRITAIN
pc a circular issued to its shareholders, 1 British Coal Distillation, Ltd., refer§ to its Suncole distillation works and .plant, Stating that negotiations are in hand for the erection and equipment in the " development areas " of at least one plant of this kind for the conversion on 'scientific lines . of 150,000 • tons per annum of high-volatile bituminous small coal. This will be accompanied by plant for the treatment on intensive lines of coal derivatives, to • produce such materials as motor spirit from gas and from the hydrogenation of coal tar, also fuel for oil engines. The total cost of this plant will be £400,000.
Recently the company purchased a Welsh anthracite colliery which has a reserve of fuel amounting to several million tons. Also, it has acquired an 'option on a bituminous colliery with an estimated reserve of over 6,000,000 tons.
• £40 FINES ON HAULAGE DRIVER FOR FUEL FRAUDS
pETROI. frauds s,vhich he committed while employed as a long-distance haulage driver resulted recently in the imposition of fines .totalling £40, at Halifax Borough Court, upon a than
• who pleaded " Guilty" to four charges of obtaining money by false pretences. The amounts involved totalled £4 16s. 5d.
The prosecution said that the frauds were committed over a period of 12 months. Suspicion was aroused when the expenses which defendantclaimed to have incurred seemed to be more than necessary. The firm reported the matter to the police, whose investigations involved inquiries in various parts of England and Scotland. It was found that the man's method. of defrauding his employers hail been to pretend to have purchased at petrol stations more' petrol than he had actually bought.
LABOUR SHORTAGE HOLDS UP IMPROVED BUS SERVICES
SHORTAGE of labour as an obstacle to an increase in the bus services provided by the Yorkshire Woollen District Transport Co., Ltd., the operations of which radiate from Dewsbury, was stressed by the chairman, Mt. W. T. James, at the company's annual meeting.
" We have been authorized by the R.T.C. to run additional services," he remarked, "but although repeated representations have been made td the appropriate authorities to secure further staff, very few extra workers have been provided. Without additional labour we can do little in the way of putting • on further services,"
Stating that traffic demands continued to place an increasingly heavy burden upon the staff and vehicles, Mr. James said that during 1944 a record number of passengers was carried, despite the fact that, owing to acute shortage of staff, it was possible to operate only a small increase in vehicle mileage. Notwithstanding the increased difficulty in keeping the vehicles well maintained, service failures due to mechanical causes were less than, one in
every 80,000 miles operated, and compared favourably with the pre-war figure.
With reference to finance, Mr. James stated: " Out of every Is. collected in fares, 31d. is paid in taxation, 4d. goes in wages, and 31d. in fuel,, materials and other expenses necessary for the working of the undertaking, leaving 1d., which goes to .shareholders by way of dividend."
B.E.T. RESULTS AND DIVIDENDS
REVENUE of the British Electric Traction Co., Ltd., for the year ended March 31 last, amounted to £779,608, compared with £767,962 for the previous year. After deducting general expenses, etc., and debenture stock interest, and providing £317,791 for income tax, there remains £323,737 for appropriation, compared with £316,441 for the previous year.
The directors recommend the pay merit of the following final dividends for the year: 5 per cent, on the participating preference Stock, less income tax, making 8 per cent, for the year. 4 per cent, on the preferred ordinary stock, less income tax, making 8 per cent, for the year.
30 per cent, on the deferred ordinary stock, less income tax, making 45 per.cent. for the year.
A sum of £62,110 is left to be transferred to the undivided profits account.
FINE RECORD OF FIVE LONDON TRANSPORT DRIVERS
D ECENTLY, Lord Ashfidd presented
awards of bronze crosses, won in the Safe Driving Competition for 1943, to five -London Transport Central Bus drivers for 25 consecutive. years' freedom, from accident. The4 names and length of service are as follow:— Messrs A. C.. Draper (Victoria garage) 37 years, T. H. Middleton (Twickenham garage) 34 years, R. W. Bishop (Hornchurch garage) 31 years, A. J. Lee (Leyton garage) 35 years, W. •S. Barrett Walmers Green garage) 30 years. HAULIER FINED FOR PRODUCING FALSE RECORDS
WE often learn of cases of proceedings being taken against drivers for the production of false records, but at Nottingham recently C. Wilde, of Beeston, an employer in road haulage, was prosecuted under the Road Haulage Wages Act, 1938, on the charges of " Production of False Records " in respect of two workers. He pleaded guilty, and was fined £50 on the first charge, the second being taken into
consideration. There were also costs amounting to £3 3s.
REPLANNING ASSOCIATION URGES MOTORWAYS
AT a recent meeting of the Bristol Replanning Association, when an address was given by Captain M. ClarkHall, assistant secretary of the British Road Federation, the following resolution was passed unanimously:—" It is
resolved that H.M. Government be urged to declare at the earliest possible moment a policy for national road reconstruction embodying adequate provision of motorways."
Considerable interest has beer aroused throughout the South-west in the possible adoption of the County Surveyors' Society's scheme for motorways, which envisages a motorway connecting Swansea, Cardiff, Bristol and London, crossing the Severn by the proposed new bridge, HIGHER RECEIPTS FROM WEST HARTLEPOOL BUSES
A PRELIMINARY report on .tite 171. working of the municipal-transport undertaking of West Hartlepool Corporation for the year ended March 31 last, states that receipts totalled £117,069, an increase of £4,483 on the previous year. Only on the Seaton Carew route were receipts below those for the previous year. The number of passengers carried on the trolleybuses was 8,7,491, an increase of 271,520, whilst 10,489,805 passengers were carried on the motorbuses, an increase of 493,221.
VULCAN MOTORS TO BUILD A TIPPER
VUE are tidvised by Vulcan Motors, W Ltd., Maidstone, that it has received sanetion from the Ministry at War Transport to build tipping vehicles from July, 1945. Thq class of vehicle to be built will have a wheelbase of 9 ft, 9 ins., and will be -known as the Vulcan type tiVF.
WHERE MINISTRY SANCTIONS USE OF WIDER VEHICLES AN anomaly in the position concerti-, ing motor-vehicle widths is revealed in a M.O.W.T. order issued on April 28. AlthOugh the Ministry. has rejected all pleas for general permission to increase vehicle widths to 8 ft., it has waived the rule to permit tipping wagons 10 ft wide to be operated on public roads on behalf of the Ministry of Works.
The Order in question (S. R. and O. 4) auttiories the operation of 30
25-30-ton tippers. Such 10-ft.-wide vehicles are being used in Yorkshire for the transport of outcrop coal obtained under the Ministry of Wanks scheme for open-cast coal workings. They are operating on the roads all around Wentworth, and some of them are running into Barnsley. • TEXTBOOK ON CELLULOSE PAINTING REQUIRED
rINE of our readers wishes to obtain sound textbook on the cellulose painting of vehicles, and we shall be glad to know of any book of this type
which is available. •