Passing Comments
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THIS year the Minister of War Transport is taking early steps to deal with difficulties which may be caused by snow in the winter months. To do so, he has appointed a committee to consider the most suitable means for securing the co-operation of road users with the responsible highway authorities in dealing with snow clearance, particularly in respect of the utilization of goods and public passenger vehicles. Incidentally, Major R. A. B. Smith, President, of the C.M.U.A., has been appointed a member of this committee.
Commendably Early Efforts to Arrange Snow Clearance .
Why Use " Steamhave been waiting for it, Roller" for Russia's V.nd now it has arrived in Huge Armies ? . . . a section of the Daily Press—
that most unsuitable expression, "the Russian steam roller." It was one of the favourite allegories of the Press during the early months of the war of 1914-18, but the Russians, we presume, can hardly be flattered by being compared with a machine which travels as far backwards as it does forwards, and is a very slow mover at that. At thern very least, the description might have been changed into "motor roller," which is more up-todate, although still acting in the aforesaid manner. Millers and Drillers QCHOOLBOY "bowlers " Other Than Those lsdnever fail to provide amuse Sought ment, but this particular type
of humour is not the exclusive product of the younger generation. The Ministry of Labour is becoming a strong competitor, as the following examples serve to illustrate. Recently, an engineering firm sent to the Local Labour Exchange to obtain the services of a miller. In due course a man reported for duty. He was set to work on a milling machine, but it was soon evident that he had not even an elementary idea as to how to start operations. After watching for some little time, the foreman questioned the man regarding his previous employment. . Imagine the consternation of the former when it was revealed that the recruit had worked previously in a flour mill ! In the second instance the services of a driller were sought. The man reporting for duty upon this occasion was dis-,
covered to have been engaged formerly upon work connected with artesian wells. Though such experiences do not assist in speeding up production, they 'do serve to keep supplied the wells of humour.
nUICK action to give statu
tory force to certain schemes for restricting retail deliveries is being taken by the Minister of Food, as, for example, in St. Andrews, Fife. Here a scheme was prepared by the traders themselves and originally secured a wide measure of support. It was hoped that it would become effective on a voluntary basis. Eventually, this appeared unlikely', hence Lord Woolton's decision. Now any trader who fails to carry out the provisions of the scheme during the next few weeks will be warned and subsequently, if necessary, legal proceedings will be taken. Application tory Force Deliveries . . . .