Hauliers Ignore Threats : -Buy
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8370 of List 10 Vehicles HAULIERS have demonstrated their confidence in the future of free enterprise by purchasing nearly 83 per cent, of the vehicles offered in list 10 by the British Transport Commission.
This excellent result was achieved despite the closing of tenders the day before the General Election and shows that hauliers refused to be intimidated by Socialist threats of renationalization. It augurs well for list 11, for which tenders close next Wednesday.
Of the 542 units and 861 vehicles offered in list 10, 461 units and 712 vehicles have been sold. All tenders for 80 units (147 vehicles) have been rejected. Only one unit (two vehicles) attracted no bids—a significant fact. All the units consisted of vehicles only, and most of them were being put up for ,the first time.
The results of list 10 fall little short of those of list 9, in which 86 per cent. of the vehicles offered without-premises (a record figure) were sold.
Just over 16,000 vehicles have now been sold, leaving about 16,500 still to be disposed of.
CEYLON'S BUS NEEDS TO BE MET BY U.K.
CEYLON required about 1,100 buses and the chassis would all be supplied by Britain, said Mr. K. L. B. Perera, one of the chief operators in Ceylon, when he visited Albion Motors, Ltd., last week.
American makers did not meet Ceylon's requirements, he said. British vehicles were preferred because they lasted twice as long as American types and because they had oil engines. Twenty-five Albions had been sent to Ceylon last month and a further 30 would follow next month.
Maj. M. Jayewickreme, Ceylon's Minister of Transport, said that improved roads in the country made it possible to run heavier vehicles. Half the total road mileage of 20,000 was Class I.
The party also included Sir Claude Corea, U.K. High Commissioner to the Government of Ceylon, and Mr. K. B. A. F. Perera, son of Mr. K. L. B. Perera, who received part of his training with Albion.
TOLLS OFF DUNHAM BRIDGE?
FFORTS are being made to remove the tolls from Dunham Bridge, on the main A57 road from Nottinghamshire into Lincolnshire, which carries much heavy traffic to Lincoln. Nottingham County Council are writing to the Minister of Transport, and Mr. F. J. Bellenger, M.P. for the Bassetlaw Division, is to ask the Minister to abolish the tolls.
ARMY FEAT DURING STRIKE
DURING the rail strike, the Army moved by road 100,000 men and women and 5,000 tons of military freight. In addition, the Post Office employed 600 Army vehicles and 760 drivers.