NEWS of the WEEK
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FUTURE OF PETROL PRICES SAID TO BE UNCERTAIN " IT is impossible to foresee future
trends in petrol prices," a representative of the Petroleum Board informed The Commercial Motor this week. On Tuesday the price of petrol rose by Id. a gallon to ls. 94d. a gallon, with existing differential rates in the North and West of Scotland.
Increased costs have brought about the further rise in price, which was foreshadowed on October 17, when it was stated that the increase of 2d. per gallon then made only partly reflected the war-time level of costs.
The.price of fuel has increased at the source, the Exchange rate has dropped and tanker freight rates have risen, although the rate charged to Great Britain is still lower than that levied on neutral countries. In addition, there is war-risks insurance to be taken into account, whilst rationing has reduced output and standing charges have to be spread over a smaller gallonage.
Milk Haulage Rates Going Up
AT a meeting of representative milk hauliers, held on Tuesday last, in Wolverhampton, it was decided to increase the present rates by 15 per cent, as from December 1, 1939, for the remainder of the present contracts. The Regional Commissioner, District Traffic Officer, Milk Marketing Board, Dairymen's Association and the National Farmers' Union are being notified accordingly.
National Organizations Plea for Weight Concession
THE construction and repair of vehicles, under war conditions often render it necessary for heavier substitute materials to be employed, also the incorporation of gas producers will often make the unladen weight of vehicles normally within the 50-cwt. class now exceed that weight. For those reasons the Standing Joint Committee of Road Hauliers' National Organizations has recommended to the Minister of Transport that the speed
Al8 limit for vehicles exceeding 50 cwt. and not exceeding 60 cwt. should be increased from 20 m.p.h. to 30 m.p.h. The question of taxation in relation to weight is also under consideration.
Dumpers Are Not Vehicles
AT Oban, on November 8, Sheriff Chalmers decided that an oilengined dumper was not a motor vehicle under the Road Traffic Act. He was giving judgment in favour of Mr. A. M. Carmichael, managing director of an Edinburgh roadcontracting company, who had been charged with permitting workmen to drive dumpers on the road without third-party insurance.
Still Examining Rates After Two Years cOR about two years the Scottish
C.M.TJ.A. has been considering a minimum scale of haulage rates. At a recent meeting in Dumfries, a recommended scale of minimum rates prepared by a sub-committee from a schedule framed about two years ago, was put up. After review the scale was again referred back to a committee for further investigation.
Army Hiring of Lorries
WE learn that Mr. H. Norman Letts, representing numerous clients concerned with the rates of payment for the hire of lorries by the Army and the obtaining of at least part of the money due to them, accompanied by Mr. Allan H. Simpson, has recently had an interview with an Army officer of high rank.
Following a lengthy discussion, it was arranged that, pending the ultimate decision of questions arising, a substantial payment should be made on account, entirely without prejudice to the rights of either party, in all cases where the rate agreed was not less than that specified in a particular letter dated September 5. The amount of the interim payment is regarded by Messrs. Letts and Simpson as entirely satisfactory as such. As to the final payments, we recommend the War Office and operators to study the suggested rates included in this issue. VEHICLE LICENSING BY DEFENCE PERMIT CERTIFICATES THERE appears to be some confusion 1 as to the licensing of goods vehicles. The issue of licences under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, has ceased for the period of the war. Such licences are now replaced by defence permit certificates issued under the Emergency Powers (Defence) Road Vehicles and Drivers Orders, 1939.
The owner of a requisitioned vehicle who applies for the substitution, on his licence or permit, of a vehicle of the same or Iess weight unladen is always granted a defence permit for the period covered by the instalments of the licence already paid. There is no charge for the issue of a defence permit in such circumstances and it enables the vehicle to be used for any purpose for which the original vehicle would have been employed.
The issue of permits for other vehicles depends upon the Regional Transport Commissioners' view as to the need for the services of the vehicle concerned.
Two Trailer Pumps May Be Drawn
UNDER the Road Vehicles (Fire Brigade Trailer Pumps) Order, 1939, a heavy motorcar or motorcar can now draw two trailer pumps used for fire-brigade purposes, provided the laden weight of neither exceeds 25 cwt.
Are Road and Rail Rates to be Linked?
WITH a view to ensuring VI' uniformity, it has been suggested by the North Eastern Divisional Committee of the Commercial Motor Users Association that the minimum road rate should be not less than the appropriate rail rate. This has been referred to the Standing Joint Committee of Road Hauliers' National Organizations. As the whole question of rates for road transport is bound up with that of rates charged by other forms of transport, the Committee has considered the subject in all its aspects, and has asked the road side of the Central Road Rail Conference for a report on the matter. THORNYCROFT TRADING RESULTS
IN the year ended July 31, 1939, John I I. Thorny-croft and Co., Ltd., made a profit of £169,171. After deducting interim dividends that have been paid and adding £45456 brought forward, there is a balance of £199,252. A final dividend of 3 per cent, on the cumulative preference shares (making 6 per cent.) takes £6,000, a final dividend of fif per cent. on the participating preferred ordinary shares (making 7,1 per cent.), £9,375, and 10 per cent, on the ordinary shares, £30,000. Deducting these amounts, plus an allocation of £100,000 to reserve, leaves a balance of £53,877 to be carried forward.
An interesting item in the company's report is that the percentage of exports to total sales was, as regards motor vehicles, 20.
Higher Cartage Rates Pending THE management committee of the i Liverpool Cart and Motor Owners Association has decided upon an increase in rates for local-cartage work and has remitted to the rates sub-committee the duty of fixing the date of operation and of completing the necessary arrangements for putting it into effect. What the increase will be has not yet been decided.
The Association announces :—" Experience has shown that the vast majority of traders only require to be satisfied that an increase is general in its application for them to accept it without demur, particularly as no advance has ever been, or will be, fostered by the Association which cannot be justified up to the hilt."
On Latest Brake Technicalities
LITTLE remains unstated, or unillustrated, in a new publication by Bendix, Ltd., Tyseley, Birmingham, entitled simply "Brakes " (it is also identifiable as Booklet No. 47). Rather, more than half the book (17 pages) is devoted to the Bendix twoleading-shoe brake, its mechanism and functioning. The remainder deals with braking technicalities.
The subject is one in which much progress has been made recently, so any new book, from a source that has been intimately concerned with development, indeed responsible for some of it, such as Bendix, Ltd., constitutes a contribution to one's stock of knowledge and should he in the possession of all automobile technical men.
Success of Ford Scholarship Plan
SENT from schools and colleges in different parts of the country, 25 boys have just arrived at the Ford works, at Dagenham, to begin their studies under the Ford scholarship plan. The purpose of this plan is to provide a nucleus of trained young men to take up posts on the distributive and service sides of the motor industry.
Training lasts for two years and is conducted partly in the Ford factory and partly at the nearby South-East Essex Technical College. Some 150 students are attending the courses. ARE C-LICENCE HOLDERS UNDERCUTTING?
COMPLAINT that some C-licence holders in Yorkshire are taking unfair advantage of the war Emergency Order, which allows such operators to run their vehicles for hire or reward, is made by the Federation of Yorkshire Road Transport Employers. Cases of alleged rate-cutting by C-licence holders have been brought to the notice of the Federation, which has sent a letter to its members asking them for reports of any operations which are considered to give ground for complaint. Evidence is being collected by the Federation with a view to taking action in the matter.
Although an agreement has been reached between all parties concerned in the transport of sugar beet, states Mr. Harry Clark, the secretary, it has been reported that at least one C-licence holder in Yorkshire has begun to do this work at 9d. per ton less than the professional hauliers.
A.E.C. Dividend Payment
THE directors of the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., are recommending the payment of a final dividend on the ordinary stock of Is. per £1 unit, free of income tax, making Is. 6d. for the year ended September 30, which is equal, approximately, to 11.54 per cent. for the year, subject to taxation of 7s. in the pound. The net profit for the year was £179,500, compared with £177,500 in the previous year.
Worcestershire's Haulage Costs APART from a Thornycroft 2i-tonner, the fleet of 16 vehicles normally operated by Worcestershire Engineer's Department consists wholly of Leylands; of these, one is an 8-tonner, one a 6-tonner, two 3-tonners and the remaining 11 are 5-tonners.
During the past year the fleet worked for 4,648 days and carried 103,050 tons over 317,932 miles, at a cost per ton of 28.006d. (3.633d. per ton-mile). Cost figures include wages of drivers and loaders, fuel, stores, depreciation, repairs, renewals, licences and insurance.
Important Notice to Readers
I F your newsagent has not been in the habit of regularly delivering or reserving The Commercial Motor for you, you should, to save possible disappointment, immediately place an order with him instructing him to reserve a copy for you weekly. Newsagents' supplies are restricted owing to war-time conditions, and they cannot be expected to anticipate casual demands. It is wise, therefore, while our present difficulties last, to help the country in its economy campaign, to deal with the same newsagent and not depend upon getting The Commercial Motor from other sources where you may find your copy is reserved for some reader who has taken the precaution to order it. Alternatively, you can have The Commercial Motor posted to you direct from this office at a cost of
*20 4s, 11d. for three months. including postage, longer periods pro rata.
If you have any difficulty in obtaining your copy at any time Ive shall be obliged if you will let us know the name and address of your newsagent.
A.R.O. Eastern Area Meeting
rrO-DAY, November 18, a meeting of 1 the Eastern Area of A.R.O. will be held at the Globe Hotel, King's Lynn, at 2.30 p.m., to consider the present road-transport position. The principal speaker will be Mr. J. L. Kinder, the assistant director of the association.
MOTORS WILL SAVE £8,145 PER ANNUM
REASONS given by Manchester Corporation's cleansing committee for the expenditure of £18,000 on 30 additional motor vehicles to replace 80 or 90 horses, are :— (1) Motors will not require protection against air raids to the same extent as horses ; (2) workmen made surplus may be more easily absorbed while so many employees are undergoing A.R.P. training ; (3) many of department's vehicles would be diverted to A.R.P. purposes in an emergency and the additional vehicles, by reason of greater mobility and potential longer hours of working, will be more useful than horses in overcoming disorganization.
When all the workmen made redundant are absorbed, there will be an expected saving of £8,145 per annum by reason of the change.
Minister to Address Inst. of T.
THE Institute of Transport will hold its annual general meeting at the Charing Cross Hotel, London, on Monday, December 11, at 2.30 p.m., and it will be followed by an address by the Minister of Transport.
Monthly luncheons, also to be held at the same hotel, have been arranged for the remainder of the 1939-40 session. At these, Mr. Ernest Bevin will speak on January 8, Lord Stamp, G.C.B., G.B.E., on February 12, Mr. Robertson F. Gibb on March 11, and Mr. Frank Pick on April 8.
Who Has Lost Spare Wheels?
OPERATORS appear to have a habit of losing spare wheels at Oldham. We have received a note from the Chief Constable concerning three, which he is holding pending claims. The descriptions and times of finding are as follow:—February 18: complete with iron bracket and with tyre marked "British Bergougnan Bus Balloon," size 7.50 by 20; October 2: disc type with Goodyear tyre, size 34 by 7; October 10: disc type, Firestone tyre, size 40 by 8. Letters should be addressed " Lost Wheel," care of the Editor.
The Q A.B.C. by Tapley ' stands for the actual pull exerted by a vehicle, in Tapley language. "The Q A.B.C. of Motoring for Maximum Ration Mileage" is the name of a little book (price Is.) just issued by Tapley and Co.. Totton, Southampton. Although primarily intended for the private motorist, it is by no means without interest or value to those engaged in commercial motoring.
The Q A.B.C. comprises paragraphs on motoring matters, under headings arranged in alphabetical order, all centring around the performance meter. There are 74 pages of them, plus a conversion table giving gradients in three terms, and equivalent tractive forces and accelerations. It is a bright little book, very readable, informative and comprehensive. NEW COMMER " SUPERVAN " 1V/IANUFACTURERS are not allowing IV/war conditions to interfere with all their plans for progress. From Commer Cars, .Ltd., Luton, comes information of a new Supervan.
It is an 8-cwt, vehicle, based on the model of the same rating with which operators are familiar. In its latest form, howevc!, it will incorporate numerous innovations enhancing its attractions, but the price remains unaltered---£1.49 complete. In our next issue we hope to include a full illustrated description.
Drought Cripples Sales in Australia DROUGHT conditions in New South L./Wales, Victoria and South Australia are said to have been responsible for a 15.7 per cent. drop in the sales of new commercial vehicles in Australia in the year ended June last, compared with the previous year.
Last year 19,387 new vehicles were registered, compared with 23,009 in the previous 12 months. Moreover, 3,095 vehicles were put out of service and not relicensed.
Land Girls " Useless " as Tractor Drivers INCOLNSHIRE branch of the ..LA National Farmers' Union, meeting in Lincoln, passed a resolution urging the need for young farm workers to be placed on the reserved list. The opinion was expressed that land girls .would be useless compared with boys as tractor drivers. The resolution asked that steps be taken to point out the serious position which would arise with regard to the production of food if young men of 19 and 20 be taken off the land, and that agriculture should be placed in the same position as other industries in which young workers were being reserved.
Alderman G. A. Jenkinson said that if young tractor drivers be called up, increased food production would be in jeopardy. Youths from 16 to 21 years of age were skilled drivers and ploughmen 'and, on many farms, were essential. • Mr. H. N. Palethorpe asked whether farmers were in a position to press for reservation of these young men. Thousands. of land girls were being trained and few of them could find work.
A Useful Municipal Contract
A THREE-YEAR contract, valued at £1,542 a year, has been secured by Egertons (Ipswich), Ltd., which is to hire three vans and, eight cars to Ipswich Electricity Department.
Leeds Agreement on Petrol Service
A GREEMENT on terms for the hire of petrol pumps and tanks for the exclusive service of A.R.P. vehicles has been reached between the Leeds Section of the Motor Agents Association and the Leeds A.R.P. Committee. It
provides for an annual rental of £40 per pump and tank, plus 1d. per gallon of petrol put through the pumps, in respect of labour.
Notts Fixes A.R.P. Rates I N connection with the part-time use of commercial vehicles during A.R.P. exercises, Notts County 'Council's emergency committee has decided to pay 24d. per mile for vehicles up to 2 tons unladen weight and aid. a mile for vehicles over that figure. Drivers who lose their wages in these exercises will be reimbursed.
Mr. Cadwallader's Daughter Married I T is seldom that we refer in this journal to weddings, but in this case the lady involved, Miss Olive Cadwallader, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Cadwallader, is well known in commercial-vehicle circles. She was married on November 11 to Sub.-Lieut. Frederick Leopold White, R.N. (A) Mr. Cadwallader is joint general manager of C.A.V., Ltd. THE PRICE OF WAR
A CHESHIRE haulage contractor tit, told a tale of woe at Chester Castle Police Court, last week, when summoned for allowing a lorry to be driven with a defective tyre. The man, Frank Thomas, of Chester Road, Huntington, said that at the outbreak of war -he bought a new lorry and soon afterwards the military authorities took it over. He purchased a second new vehicle and the Army again commandeered it. His third purchase was an old vehicle, and he intended to have it reconditioned, including the fitting of new tyres.
While the tyres were on order, he was summoned for running on a defective old tyre. A fine of 10s. was imposed.
Joseph Davies, of Upper Northgate Street, Chester, the driver of the lorry, was ordered to pay 45. costs for driving with a defective tyre.
Dennis Dividend Declared I N respect of year ended September 30,
Dennis Brothers, Ltd., has declared a final dividend of 10d. per is, share, making is. 2d. for the year. A special taxation reserve receives £20,000, and amount carried forward is increased by about £11,000
Durham Wants Its Say FIURIIAM Finance Committee, which I_/considers that petrol rationing should be dealt with by local boards upon which county councils should have representation, has recommended the county Council to protest to the appropriate Government Department. The committee considers that existing arrangements are ". unsatisfactory."