News of the Week
Page 16
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NO CONCESSION ON BUS WIDTH
THE response by the Minister of War Transport to the request from many bodies for an increase in the " box dimensions of public-service vehicles has not met with success, the only concessions being in respect of laden weights and the height of vehicles.
The Minister has considered the matter in the light of all representations made to him and has come to the following conclusions in respect of the four proposals :— (1) With regard to maximum permissible length, he regrets that he does not see his way to depart from the present requirements.
(2) With respect to maximum width, again the Minister regrets that, having regard to the road conditions in this country and after taking into account the reasons advanced for the proposal, he does not feel able to allow the general use of p.s. vehicles 8 ft. wide.
(3) With regard to maximum overall height, the Minister is prepared to remove the special limit of 10 ft. 6 ins.. on single-deck vehicles and to accept the suggestion that the maximum height for both single and double-deck vehicles should be 15 ft. (with an appropriate addition for trolleybuses). This relaxation cannot, however, be accompanied by any modification of the provisidns as to the stability of singleand double-deck vehicles.
• (4) With regard to maximum weights, the Minister is prepared to amend the Regulations to allow maxi. mum laden weights of 12 tons for fourwheeled and 14 tons for six-wheeled p,s. vehicles (with an additional halfton, in each case, for trolleybuses). The Minister stresses that a limit of 8 tons is necessary on the individual axle load of each type.
He further proposes, when the amendments are made, to abolish the special additional weight allowances for built-in gas-producer plants.
I.T.A. PRESIDENT MAKES A
PROTEST
WEhave received from Mr. C. Courtney-Cramp, president and chairman of the Industrial Transport Association, a letter concerning a reference in this journal, dated November 17, to the formation of a new body entitled "The Institute of Traffic Administration."
He points out that our readers will know that the Industrial Transport Association, founded in 1927, covers the field professed to be that of the new body. This comprises the promotion of transport education, holding of examinations and the enhancement of the professional status of industrialtransport executives and their staffs.
It is at present formulating a comprehensive programme for post-war education, in which particular attention is being paid to the needs of returning members of the Forces—first, to assist those already in the profession; secondly, to guide others who may wish to make it their career. Contacts have already been established in Ministerial circles and with several influential bodies, which will permit the programme to be furthered to the fullest extent. The constitution also provides the necessary scope for all professional requirements.
Another point raised is that the wellknown and recognized abbreviation of the Association's title to " I.T.A." enables rather a pointed conclusion to be drawn from the assumption by the new body of a title that can be indicated similarly.
It will, says Mr. Courtney-Cramp, De interesting to learn the number and identities of the " well-known personalities " who are founding the new " Institute " and to receive a clear statement concerning the bodies and policies with which they disagree.
POST-WAR DISTRIBUTION OF TYRES
A PLAN for the orderly and PI economic distribution of tyres, when control in these ends, has been worked • out, at the invitation of the Government, by the Tyre Manufacturers' Conference, the M.A.A., and other organizations concerned.
It aims at conducting distribution in the cheapest and most efficient way to give the public the lowest possible price, and of ensuring a trading arrangement which will permit manufacturers to maintain a high level of employment.
POWER FARMING CLUB GETS UNDER WAY
WHEN the recently formed British IT Power Farming Club held its first meeting in London on Saturday last, a good gathering of members and their friends attended from many parts of the country. It was an informal affair. at which plans for the future were outlined; and the interest evoked by the technical discussions on power farming, embracing tractor drawbars, augurs well for the success of the new organization. It is the intention to hold further meetings in provincial centres, and, ultimately, to form local groups, and, as the Club provides a good opportunity for owners, operators, drivers (they were well represented at the first meeting), dealers, and other trade repro-' sentatives to meet on a common platform, it should gain the ready support of all those interested in power agriculture, The primary objects of the Club are to spread the gospel of power farming and to collect as much information as possible on all phases of the subject for general dissemination amongst agricujturists.
SYNTHETIC RUBBER PRICES REDUCED
REDUCTIONS in the prices of synthetic rubber have been announced by the M.O.S. Rubber Control. They became effective from November 15 and are as follow per pound:—GR-M, from 3s. to 2s. 9d.; Perbunan, from 4s. 60. to 2s. 9d.; Hycar O.R.15, from 4s. 60. to 2s. 9d.