IONS TO PROBE TRANSPORT PROBLEMS
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FROM OUR INDUSTRIAL CORRESPONDENT
A.DE Union leaders are to launch comprehensive probe into Britain's port problems. The broad outline cope of their inquiry was discussed the T.U.C.'s nationalized industries aittee met leaders of the transport is at Congress House this week. eaim of the inquiry is to draw up 11-embracing policy covering roads ail, air and waterways, ready for the Congress. If it is then adopted as 1 policy it will clearly have to be considerable weight by any future ur Government.
'list there is general agreement ig the transport unions on the need " integrated " national transport n under public control, there will orne ticklish problems when the is get down to the practical implica)f their proposals.
r any measures to transfer to rail now carried by road would inevitaffect road haulage workers, most horn belong to the Transport and ral Workers' Union. In spite of his ion to " integration ", Mr. Frank ins, the Union's general secretary, is ely to agree to anything that would Ely harm his members.
ad haulage workers could be ed in a number of ways. Punitive :es, for instance—as currently prat by the Labour Party to stop the Lb of C licences—could lead to a reduction of traders' vehicles with ansequent fall in the number of jobs able for drivers. Imposition of er licence terms on A and B vehicles, including restrictions on distance, would hit the long-distance drivers.
But the railways unions. too, will have to face some problems. Hitherto railway goods depots have been worked only by the railways own vans and lorries. But if Dr. Beeching's liner trains--due to be introduced next year—ace to be successful it may be necessary to allow manufacturers and traders to make their own deliveries to the loading depots or to collect the .goods at the other end in their own vehicles.
It will he surprising if the unions agree on a workable policy that will satisfy them all. But, if nothing else, it will he a useful exercise if it pinpoints the problems which will be encountered if the policy of integration " is to be put into effect.
Damp-proof Parcel Vans
VAN bodies of special damp-proof construction will be a feature of nine Albion Chieftains just ordered by Tuffnells of Sheffield Ltd. for their parcel delivery service, which extends from Liverpool in the west to HUH in the east.
The bodies will be built by Kennhigs Ltd., using plywood panelling on steambent wood framing. This construction will be completely covered with glass fibre bonded in position, thus avoiding exposing body joints to the elements. A translucent roof panel will be incorporated and hinged angle brackets fitted, which can be folded flat against the inside of the body or swung out to carry rolls of linoleum or carpeting.