NEWS of the WEEK
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OVER 500,000 COMMERCIAL MOTORS LICENSED.
At the end of November, 1936, 445.825 licences were current for goods vehicles and 72,818 for hackney vehicles, the corresponding totals for 1935 being 420,004 and 72867 respectively.
The gross receipts from the taxation of road vehicles in the 12 months ended November, 1936, were £32,320,043, . . . . .
compared. with £30,480,176 for the year ended November, 1935,. the average receipts in respect of a wholeyear licence being • £27 14s. 6d. for internal-combustion and steam goods vehicles, £24 18s. for electric goods vehicles, and £52 Os. 6d. for hackneys.
• Support for Willesden Chamber's Resolution.
The recent resolution, passed by 'Willesden Chamber of Commerce, urging, among other things, that the Government should set up a committee to examine the operation of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, with a view to the tabling of an amending Act; is gaining support from other Chambers of Commerce. The matter was discussed at a meeting of West Lewisham Chamber of Commerce, last week, when it was decided fully to support the Willesden resolution.
The Commercial Motor understands that Mr. Arthur Andrews, chairman of A.R.O. South Wales Area, is to put the resolution before a meeting of Swansea Chamber of Commerce.
Driver Shadowed for Two Days by Ministry Officials.
When Robert G. R. Connell, lorry driver, 20, Low Street, Buckie, pleaded guilty at Banff Sheriff Court to three " hours " charges, it was revealed that for three days he was shadowed by two Ministry of Transport officials.
. Mr. J. Kissock (Fiscal) stated that, in March and May last, Connell's employer was convicted of permitting his drivers to drive for excessive periods. When the defendant left Buckle on August 2, his destination
being North Shields, he was followed by two Ministry officials, who also followed himpart of the way back. Realizing that he was being shadowed, he informed his employer, who sent another driver to Edinburgh.
Instead of warning the driver, the officials allowed him to continue his offence for two days. When the relief driver arrived by car at Edinburgh, Connell took over the car.
It was curious, said Mr. A. W. Lyall, for the defence, that whilst Connell should be allowed to drive a lorry for only a certain number of hours daily, it was no offence for him to continue to drive a private. car.
Sheriff More imposed a fine of 15s.
Labour Party to Urge Nationalization of Transport.
" When the Labour Party comes into power, it intends to take over all transport, remove competition between the various forms, and deal with all means for transport as one national ser vice." This striking statement as made by Major C. R. Attlee, leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons, last week.
Before long, said Mr. Attlee, the public transport services in this country would be co-ordinated and nationalized. Shareholders might take comfort from the fact, however, that the Labour Government would give proper compensation.
Mr. Tom Ormiston Dead.
The death occurred, on January 15, of Mr. Tom Ormiston, secretary of the Scottish Carriers and Haulage Contractors Association. He was 58 years of age. A lawyer by profession, he represented Motherwell in Parliament from 1931 to 1935. 1936 IMPORT AND EXPORT FIGURES SHOW EXPANSION.
The Board of Trade returns for December show that the value of commercial vehicles, cars, chassis and accessories imported was £491,478—a big advance on the total (£312,816) for December, 1935, and almost three times as large as that for the same month of 1934. For the whole of .1936, such imports had a value of £4,215,084, as against the 1935 total of £3,849,422.
The number of complete commercial vehicles exported last December was 326, which is well ahead of the comparable 1935 total (198), although their value at £79,254 was a lot lower than the total (£116,176) for December, 1935. In 1936, 3,379 complete commercial vehicles were exported, their value being £969,862.
So far as commercial chassis are concerned, 1,141 were „exported, their value at £199,598 showing an increase on the December, 1935, value (£182,985), which is proportional to the increase on the number (1,108) for December, 1935. In the whole year, 13,547 commercial chassis were exported, with a value of £2,180,370, Hay's Wharf to Extend Heavy Haulage Interests?
Hay's Wharf Cartage Co., Ltd., London, W.C.1, is applying to the Yorkshire Licensing Authority for permission to take over the heavyhaulage section of the business of Messrs. Coupe Bros., 19, Carlisle Street East, Sheffield. The application involves four vehicles (44 tons) and 16 trailers (611 tons) in possession, and a 14-ton 16-cwt. vehicle to be acquired to replace a machine of similar unladen weight recently discarded.