MIDLAND MOTOR TRANSPORT.
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An Interesting Scheme.
/NT no part of the country was the effi
ciency of the Government motor transport service more strikingly exemplified. during the recent. railway strike than in the great Midland areas. The eastern and northern district's of this territory has its headquarters for Road Board administrative purposes at attingharn end, from the capital of the lace industry, arrangements were made for the transport of foodstuffs through a long line of country, stretching from the Northamptonshire borders to the Humber and Mersey ports.
It had been -left to a time of industrial upheaval to put to practical test the efficiency of arrangements devised during the" war period, when the registration of all vehicles of over 15 cert. capasity was effected and the immense value of the plan has been now demonstrated under conditions which were never then contemplated.
The bulk of the heavy work in the Midlands, as elsewhere, was naturally allocated to the army lorries, but military resources were enormously stipplemented by the great number of privately-owned commercial motors upon which the authorities were enabled -to draw, with the result that there was never for a moment any serious anxiety' in Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, or, other of the large towns within the area as to the [maintenance of food [supplies.
As a fact, then) were considerably more goods available in many calms to meet houSehold requirements than at a normal period.
Particularly was the value of the road transport proved in regard to the conveyance of. fish, which was not only brought in in much greater quantities from Grimsby and other ports, but in such manifestly fresher condition as to give rise to the hope that a permanent maintenance of this system of transport may be rendered possible in relation to this most perishable of commodities.
When the system of numbering motor and horse vehicles was resorted to daring the war period, there were those in the Midland areas, as elsewhere, who looked upon the process as affording more evidence of official routine than of possible practical results, but recent experience must have effectively dispelled any misconceptien upon this score, if such had continued to exist. The Midland branch centres at Derby, 'Leicester and other places, working through. the Nottingham office, were found to be 838 well-established links in a, valuable chain of transport arrangements, which worked not only with celerity but with absolute smoothness.
The Food Commissioner from the North Midland area has afforded much gratification by making known the contents of a telegram which'he has received from the Minister of Food, wherein Mr. Roberts warmly thanks the Road Transport officers, an-tong ethers, for the invaluable help which they have afforded in securing the food supply of the country during,the strikes adding : "The local organization of the Ministry of Food has proved its capacity to deal with a most difficult situation with far greater success than could .have been expected, and I fool Mire that the thanks and congratulations of the public will be added to those which, as Food Controller, I now convey."
The Midland Commissioner (Mr. J. B. Marsclen-Senedley) adds his awn testimony by observing : " It has only been with the able co-operation of helpers not on the regular staffs and with the invaluable assistance of those who volute. tarily lent motorcars or undertook the important duties of despatch riding that the work has been accomplished.'
Coincidently, with the recent _elaboration of arrangements, increasing consideration • is being paid to the permanency, of road tra.nepart schemes in the Midlands, the matter being brought under discussion at a largely-attended meeting of the Derby Chamber of Commerce under the presidency of Mr. J. A. Alton, who expressed his view that fuxther transport -facilities might be organized.
In his view, it was a case of the Lord helping those who helped themselves. If the members of the Chamber wanted anything done, he suggested that. they must get together with a view to organizing a company of their own, the undertaking to be quite distinct from the ordinary work of the Chamber. He added, in reply to a question, that the distance for road traffic at present proposed from Derby was 100 miles. Mr. .A. W. Farnsworth explained that Ire had drawn up certain information and laid it before the Public Affairs Committee of thern Chamber showing that road transport could be successfully carried out, especially by a company which was large enough to undertake the repair of its own vehicles. There was, no question that the road transport was the
transport of the future, as railway rates were going up.
It would appear from inquiries which would be made that a regular service might be established between Derby and Manchester Leicester and Nottingham. GeographicLily, Derby was the centre of
considerable number of large toWns,and, if a 'motor transport service could be successfully arranged, Derbytrade should, distinctly benefit under the scheme. If members of the Chamber thought it worth while to unite in the formation of a company, there would be a certain "good will" at the outset, and there should be every prospect of success. A company might start with 10 or 12 vehicles of Its own and it could have a working arrangement • with owners of single vehicles in the town.
The Chairman laid stress upon the con. sideration that the Chamber, as a Chamber, was to have nothing to do With the company and that it use purely a commercial scheme which was being propounded.
. 'One speaker expressed the opinion that it would best, conduce to efficiency of arrangement and. to traders' interests to have the ordinary competition, with different companies engaged in the business instead of one big company. The Northampton Chamberhad agreed to act ars-an information bureau an regard to a transport scheme for the Midlands, and in that direction might be able to render eminently valuable service.
'Mr.' Robineon stated that a company with £10000 capital and backed up by one with four millions, -had been formed for the purchase and sale of lorries and • to devote themselves tst haulage business and the repair of lorries. A new conipany might be in conflict withthis one.
The Chairman said that a month agono one had any idea that such an undertaking was in existence, and it was quite probable that the Derby Chamber had stimulated its establishment, The Chamber had done its part in the matter, but the fact remained that there were no real transport facilities in existence:
Mr. Robinson said he understood that the company referred to was incur-, porated about six months ago.
The Chairman : They have not done a great lot yet.
Mr. Hudson suggested the probability of considerable reduction in railway rates so soon as load transport was got thoroughly going, and could deal with sufficient material.