Passing Comments

1st May 1953, Page 66

1st May 1953

Page 66

Page 67

Page 66, 1st May 1953 — Passing Comments

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Cut the Red Tape

TT is high time that something was done to reduce I documentary work and other hindrances to the free flow of trade between countries, and the British National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce, is doing what it can in this direction.

At the recent 78th session of the Chamber held in Paris, an important British industrial concern gave details of some of the difficulties to members of the council. An incident was quoted where the documents to be prepared comprised 16 copies of the bill of lading, nine of the commercial invoice, eight each of the certificates of analysis and inspection and a packing sheet, four of a cable advising shipment and four other forms, making 57 in all. As they were sent by registered mail, it was also necessary to provide the buyer's bank with the receipts for two registered letters.

Another difficulty is in the splitting up of large orders amonaA various customers, all with import c20 licences. This has sometimes led to 10 times the number of orders being handled for the same quantity of goods than was the case before the war.

In by the Front Door

ASWEDISH visitor to England thinks that Britain does not pay enough attention to first impressions. Landing at Tilbury, he was transferred to a grimy train which crawled through the least salubrious parts of London to deposit him in the City. He feels certain that there must be a pleasanter way of reaching the metropolis and one that would later recall happier memories of England.

This is a case in which road transport might well be used. Coaches on the lines of the B.E.A. vehicles, with ample room for luggage, could strike northwards from Tilbury and enter London through Epping and some of the pleasant northern suburbs to drop passengers in the centre of London. The air lines provide terminal transport for passengers, so why not the shipping companies?

Australian Road Conditions

THE ratio of commercial vehicles to population in Australia is not generally realized to be one of the highest in the world, it is about 1 to 20. This is slightly ahead even of America, and almost three times that in Britain. For this reason the condition of the roads there is most important. Unfortunately they are bad in a number of regions, for miles of speedy and safe highway are apt to be followed suddenly by long stretches of uncomfortable and often dangerous surface of the so-called gravel type, frequently corrugated, potholed and rutted.

For these sections, graders are employed, but it seems clear that the handling of these machines is looked upon as almost unskilled labour, consequently incipient corrugations are started in the effort to level off too deeply and too rapidly, whilst many of the graders appear to be too light. Sometimes, where the road has to be resurfaced, this work is carried out after weeks of exposure following grading and rolling, and after traffic has produced crests and furrows.

Jaywalkers Beware • WE hear from America that mortality cases " amongst careless pedestrians there are now known as pedestricides. According to the Automobile Club of Southern California, the madness, which attacks only people who cross roads against red lights or who otherwise show themselves to be jaywalkers, causes more deaths than poliomyelitis, influenza and pneumonia combined. Often becoming an epidemic during holiday and busy shopping periods, the symptoms of the disease are impatience, carelessness and absentmindedness.