Fighter for Freedom

21st September 1956, Page 129

21st September 1956

Page 129

Page 129, 21st September 1956 — Fighter for Freedom

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Keywords : Buses, Double-decker Buses, Leyland Atlantean, Leyland Motors, Todmorden, Leyland Titan, Thornycroft

THE choice of Mr. Peter Thorneycroft, M.P., President of the Board of Trade, to open the Commercial Motor Show today is particularly appropriate. Apart from being responsible for export trade in his ministerial capacity, he has in the past had a close association with road transport. He was an active member of the Conservative Party Transport Committee and a great fighter for free enterprise. Indeed, in an election speech at (1 think) Newport, his enthusiasm led him to promise rather more in the way of bus denationalization than his party's policy statement implied, and certainly more than was justified by the Government's subsequent performance. His opening speech today is unlikely to be enlivened by any such indiscretion, but I hope that ministerial responsibility has not blunted the vigorous delivery which was always such an attractive feature of his speeches.

Empty Kennel

THERE will be no Mastiff in the Thornycroft kennel

at Earls Court. This model, a 14-ton-gross fourwheeler, was announced last November by Sir John E. Thornycroft in his annual statement to the shareholders. He described it as a long-term project, but it was expected to be introduced at this year's Show. I gather, however, that it is still a puppy.

Off the Record

THE Leyland Atlantean, which is seen in public for the first time today, is rather different from the rear-engined double-decker which made a surprise appearance in the demonstration park at Earls Court two years ago. The original version had a Leyland Cornet vertical engine with an exhaust-driven turbo-charger, The entrance was also at the rear, so that the conductor was given a free course of vibro-massage. Leyland Motors, Ltd., would not release details of the design, but directly the bus appeared in the demonstration park it was spotted by a representative of The Commercial Motor. He obtained as much information as he could before his identity became known, when he was quickly replaced by another reporter, who managed to take part in a demonstration run. He in turn was found out and another colleague was called in to fill in the missing facts. .Between them they produced the exclusive report published in The Commercial Motor on October 8, 1954, with a picture for good measure. Representatives of Leyland Motors smiled wrily, but said nothing.

The Velvet Glove

AOST transport journalists have a soft spot for Leyland IVI Motors, partly because they never ask for corrections. Unlike some I could mention, they never write indignant letters to the editor if, in the stress of closing for press, a journalist should commit a simple error of fact. If they think 'that their products have been unfairly criticized, they merely invite the offender to visit their works in the hope that they can convert him.

Leyland's industrial expansion has not, as frequently happens, been accompanied by an inversely proportional contraction of mental outlook. So often the size of an organization can be measured by the number of its prickles.

First Man In

THERE are conferences at which the chairman's announce' ment of the opening of the discussion is followed by a chilly hush. Not so with that of the Municipal Passenger Transport Association. When the time comes for comments on the first paper it has become traditional for a figure to rise with the words." Whitaker. Todmorden," and Aid. J. H. Whitaker, chairman of Todmorden Joint Omnibus Corn mittee, delivers some pithy observations. The ice was broken in this manner at Southport last week and immediately the temperature rose. The trade section appeared unaccountably shy when, for the first time in history, it was invited to take part in the discussions. On the opening day only one representative of industry mounted the rostrum, but the lack of quantity was offset by quality. Mr. J. H. Cansdalc (British ThomsonHouston Co., Ltd.) presented his forthright views with polished economy of words.

Whose Fault?

"TWO0 Lancashire men expressed the gathering's official of the president's address. In his speech. air. W. Alker, Bury's Chairman, posed a question that has crossed the minds of many in the transport business. Is it the fault of municipal operators that large numbers of industrialists are supplying their workers with transport? Ald. E. Ball, Wigan's transport chairman and a great advocate of staggered hours, had more to say on his pet subject in the course of the day. Aid. Ball's experience in municipal transport goes back about 30 years and he is a regular speaker at the conferences, as befits one who has attended on some 25 occasions.

Non-aggression

Z-1 A SOMEWHAT 'chilly view of what he apparently regarded as self-criticism of the industry in the president's address and in Mr. Humpidge's paper, was taken by Mr. N. Morton, Sunderland's general manager. Both. the papers concerned certainly approached matters in a spirit of self-examination which stimulated their bearers to lively comment.

Those whose lot it is frequently to attend conferences are all for a critical approach by the principal participants. Too often the keynote of papers at theSe gatherings is not that of self-criticism, but of self-satisfaction. And self-satisfaction is nearly synonymous with dullness.

Pease Please

IF J. Glaseby. of Pease Transport. Ltd., wins the title of I Lorry Driver of the Year at Bramcotc on September 23, his company will have Made a great impact on the drivers' competition this year. The condition of their vehicles has earned them great honour in the eliminating rounds at Oxford, Slough and Portsmouth, at all of which the Traders' Road Transport Association were responsible for the maintenance inspections. In addition, a Pease driver scored .high marks at Oxford and Glaseby swept the board at Portsmouth. Pease drivers and fitters seem to know how to bring home the trophies as well as the sugar.

Fine Feathers

ALONDON remover published a centenary booklet in .which the directors were shown gathered around the boardroom table. Somehow a copy of the booklet came into the hands of a tailor in the East End,

He wrote to the directors, submitting that the cut, fit and appearance of their suits was not appropriate to their status. He would be pleased to quote them for new suits, ensuring first-rate workmanship at moderate prices, special terms • arranged if necessary.

The chairman replied that although he and his fellow directors were not in need of new suits, no doubt the tailor's enterprise would produce results in other directions. Inevitably the tailor would profit and maybe in time would move to a new house. In this event, the company would be, pleased to quote him for the removal of his furniture.

Fighter for Freedom

Page 129

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