Leyland Take Over Scammell
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THE offer made by Leyland Motors, I Ltd., for the ordinary and preference stock of Scammell Lorries, Ltd., which closed on Wednesday of last week, was accepted by holders of over 90 per cent, of each class.
Leyland's chairman said that, as when Albion Motors, Ltd., were acquired in 1951, Scammell Lorries would be operated as a wholly owned subsidiary under a separate board, with Mr. W. E. Pearson continuing as managing director. Scammell products will continue to be available under the original name.
Leyland are now the parent company of an organization embracing 16 subsidiary and associated companies.
According to a Leyland statement, this latest acquisition offers to the group extensive scope for rationalization as a long-term project.
The products of the three main members of the group, Leyland, Albion and Scammell, arc complementary to one another, with little overlap between the range of vehicles produced by each. Products will now range from a 3-ton three-wheeled tractor to 100-ton outfits.
Scammell will also bring to the group their semi-trailer production, which includes a patented automatic -instantaneous semi-trailer coupling, and their chassisless tanker construction.
DISPUTE OVER WEEK-END DRIVERS
THE Ministry of Transport is to be asked by Transport and General Workers' Union branches in Scotland to withdraw the licences of spare-time bus drivers. These workers are alleged to be employed at lower rates by "small bus-companies," thereby taking employment away from full-time drivers.
Bus companies in the West of Scotland maintain that the drivers are competent, experienced men, and that they are paid the standard rates. In no way does the use oL week-end drivers constitute cut-price competition, they say, as there are not enough full-time drivers to man their vehicles.
EMERGENCY TRANSPORT POWERS REVOKED
ALL general and special authorities given by the Minister of Transport or by Regional Transport Commissioners under the emergency regulations were revoked from midnight last Sunday. The special arrangements relating to vehicle insurance during the emergency also ceased.
UNIFIED LAWS WANTED
LEGISLATION affecting vehicles La should be uniform throughout the Provinces of Canada, it was urged at the first national highway conference in Ottawa last week. It was decided to establish a permanent Canadian Highway Safety Conference with Mr. Brooke Claxton, a former Minister of National Defence, as the first president.