Rhodesian Group Buys 14 Companies
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SINCE registration in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, on December 14, 1954, Rhodesia United Transport, Ltd., who are controlled by the United Transport Co., Ltd., and the British Electric Traction Co., Ltd.. have acquired 14 companies.
"The object," says Mr. John Watts, chairman of Rhodesia United Transport, in his annual statement issued last week, "has been to bring together into one group a number of complementary passengerand freightcarrying companies operating throughout the three territories comprising the Federation of the Rhodesias and Nyasaland, and to integrate their services so that they can offer the public a network linking all the main centres in this huge area.
"Such a project is ambitious. It will take time to co-ordinate services, to standardize on vehicles and equipment, to develop through-booking facilities and to effect economies which full integration will render possible." United Transport and B.E.T. have agreed that in the Rhodesias and Nyasaland the lead should be taken by the United Transport Co., Ltd. Responsibility will remain in the hands of the party with the largest.financial interest, and direction and management will reside in the area of operation.
Rhodesia United Transport control six exclusively haulage companies— Kariba Transport, Ltd., North Charterland Transport Co. (Nyasaland), Ltd., Scottish Transport Service (Private), Ltd., Swift Transport Services (Private), Ltd., Hall's Transport Services, Ltd., and Mackintosh Transport (Private), Ltd. Two companies—Central African Road Services, Ltd., and Moore Transport, Ltd.—carry both goods and passengers.
Four companies—Nyasaland Transport Co.. Ltd., Rhodesia Omnibus Co., Ltd., Rhodesia Touring Co., Ltd., and United Transport (Africa), Ltd.— are solely bus operators.
In addition, there are two property companies—Swift Properties (Salisbury) (Private), Ltd., and Swift Properties (Bulawayo) (Private), Ltd.
Three of the transport companies operate in Northern Rhodesia, six in Southern Rhodesia and three in Nyasaland.
Although the first year was fundamentally one of survey and preliminary planning, Rhodesia United Transport made a profit, after all charges, of £202,630. Assets were valued at £2.368,000.
"Much spadework has been done," says Mr. Watts, "but much remains to be done before services can be integrated throughout this huge area. An engineering survey has been completed and the ordering of vehicles for delivery in the years 1956-57-58 has been centralized and standardized as far as conditions allow. New or improved workshops and depots are under construction in various centres or have been planned for construction within the next two years."