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FUEL SITUATION IMPROVING

1st February 1957
Page 30
Page 30, 1st February 1957 — FUEL SITUATION IMPROVING
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Inconsistencies Continue : Long-term Outlook Uncertain : Fuel Stocks Count Against Ration

AGENERAL improvement in the fuel-rationing situation as it affects goods-vehicle operators is evident from a nation-wide survey made by The Commercial Motor this week. Because of the lack of uniformity among the Regional Transport Commissioners—and, indeed, from district to district within a traffic area—it is impossible to generalize; certainly there is some relief, if not satisfaction, among most hauliers who have received notification of their final allocation for the current period.

At a Press conference in Birmingham on Monday, Mr. H. Watkinson, Minister of Transport, said that although the country had held its position with regard to fuel, the long-term outlook was still uncertain.

Petrol in Oilers : Apply Early •

DUS operators who were experiment

ing with a mixture of petrol and dery were, this week, advised by the Minister of Transport, Mr, H. Watkinson, to make an early approach to the Ministry, giving details of their tests. The question of whether additional fuel could be allocated to them because petrol was being used would then be carefully considered.

Mr. Watkinson was speaking at a Press conference in Birmingham. The experiments, which were exclusively reported in The Commercial Motor on December 7, had his blessing, he said.

Later, Mr. D. M. Sinclair, general manager of the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., told The Commercial Motor that a proportion of 10 per cent, of petrol to 90 per cent, of dery in oil engines "appears to be a working proposition."

The company were employing a commercial grade of petrol, and there was no noticeable difference in performance or fuel consumption compared with engines operating wholly on derv. There was no increase in exhaust temperature, he added.

TIGER CUB TRANSMISSION CHANGES LIVE-SPEED constant-mesh gear

boxes and single-speed rear axles are to be fitted to the five Leyland Tiger Cub underfloor-engined passenger chassis which have hitherto had fourspeed gearboxes and two-speed rear axles. The new gearbox is of Albion manufacture, as fitted to the Comet goods chassis, and it has forward ratios of 7.08, 4.36, 2.715, 1.63 and 1 to I.

The rear axle is a Leyland spiralbevel unit, which is used also in Comet goods chassis and Tiger Cub models with Pneumo-Cyclic transmission. Ratios of 4.111, 4.625, 5.143 and 6.166 to 1 are offered.

This modification increases the chassis weight by only 44 lb. Other recent tmodifications include the introduction of paper-element fuel filters and the provision, on export models of a large-bore air-intake pipe which is led to a big oil-bath air cleaner.

A28 Substantial numbers of Aand Blicensees have been granted 65-75 per cent. of their normal consumption. Some hauliers engaged on such essential work as milk collection have received more than 90 per cent.

From one area comes the disturbing report that the assessment of fuel needs appears to be made not on the nature of the traffic, but on the type of licence held and the size of the undertaking.

As the survey on page 26 reveals, there have been complaints by hauliers in the Eastern Traffic Area that Clicensees are receiving substantially greater supplementary issues than holders of A and B licences doing the same kind of work. In the same area, the big operator is generally faring better than the twoand three-vehicle haulier.

In some areas, only " one or two" appeals against final assessments are being taken up by the Road Haulage Association on behalf of members. In others, a flood of appeals was pending early this week.

Mr. Watkinson was in Birmingham to meet the West Midland Regional Transport Commissioner -and his staff. It was the first of a series of such meetings with the Commissioners.

He said that out of 22,000' appeals against supplementary, fuel allowances made in the West Midland area only 100 had asked the Commissioner, Mr. W. P. James, for a reconsideration. Of these, only two had been refused additional fuel, although many had not received the amount they wanted. Out of a total of 55,000 operators in the area, 23,000 had applied for the supplementary allowance.

Mr. Watkinson told The Commercial Motor that the amount of supplementary fuel granted to applicants would be affected if they had fuel in store. There was no improvement in the supply col: oil fuel, hut petrol was more plentiful.

Referring to the proportion of traffic which the railways could' handle, Mr. ,Watkinson said he would be well satisfied with an overall increase of 10 per cent.

A special meeting of area chairmen and area secretaries of the R.H.A. was held yesterday morning to receive a report on the fuel situation-. It preceded the national council's quarterly meeting.


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