Holds VE-week Function
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AT the I.A.E. luncheon, last Friday, the chairman was the president, Mr. John Shearman. The Service's and the Ministries were well represented and the presidents of several abet technical bodies attended. The toast of the J.A.E. was proposed by Sir CharleS Bressey, C.B., C.B.E. The Institution, be said, enjoyed far-reaching PreStige. It -acted as adviser to governments, parents and many others, and was of major importance in the vast field of technical education. Its (sine had been recognized by the granting of a Royal Charter.
Town planning was particularly concerned With motor vehicles. The modern town depends largely upon their circulation. He gave the interesting information that, at the request of the German Government, a tracing of a cross-section of the London-Southend road had been sent to Hitler, and had become the pattern for the Autobahnen.
Replying, Mr. Shearrnau said that this was a very proud occasion for.the
Institution, It was the first of its social functions -since the start of the European War, and the Institution -could congratulate itself on what it had achieved during that ‘period. Without modern roads motor vehicles could not exist: without motor vehicles modern
roads would not have developed. He hoped that the road plan would be put into action more rapidlythan was the building plan of Sir Christopher Wren, . • Tremendous work had been performed by motor engineers, for the Fighting Services, and many special types /Or military purposes had been based on ordinary models. One of the best designs of Tank had been produced by a motor manufacturer. This took only three months to develop and was running in seven, whilst an amphibious type was' in operation in eight months and one week.
Growing Income of Research Organization The research organization, when it was taken over by the I.A.E., was not a weakly child, hut had an income of , £9,000 per year. Now the income had been raised to £42,000, but it should be able to stand on its own feet and be able to serve the whole industry.
Speaking of social security, he said that this must be earned and paid for; it did not come like manna from heaven. Only by the disciplined hard work e)f all will benefits he obtained.
He had found that few accidents were due to mechanical defects. .Adequale, roads were the only key to
road safety, and vehicle segregation on snitable roads. was essential. Other important factors were the driver's field of vision, also the disposal of control pedals, etc., to reduce reaction time It was his personal hope that the two great systems of land transport would dovetail so that the advantages of both would he combined to the best effect.
Mr. Frank C. Woollard, M.B.E., • president-elect, gave " The Guests," and said that it was most fitting that friends of the I.A.E. should forgather on this day. There were present representatives of the Services which had wielded the Weapons provided by the engineers of this country. He referred to the Repairs Certificate Scheme as one of the important contributions of the I.A.E.
The future of British road transport depended largely upon ,things external to the -vehicle. These were the law,. distribution, wages, sales at home and earnings abroad.
Reply was made by the president of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Mr. F. B. Wentworth Shields, 0.B.E., who referred to his Institution as being one of the . oldest. It was founded about 100 years ago and covered all classes of engineer, ''hut break-aways had been good for it and for other bodies.