QUICKER TURN-ROUND NEEDED • TO AVOID HIGHER RATES
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AWARNING that substantial increases :n roan transport rates will have to be made, unless steps can be taken to decrease the time during which vehicles are being kept idle at factories. works, and docks, awaiting loading and unloading, was given by Mr. F. F. Fowler, chairman of the rates committee ot the Road Haulage Association, at a meeting last week.
• " There are several factors.' said Mr. Fowler, "which will, in the immediate future, make some increase necessary in rates at present being charged for the carriage of goods by road. Undoubtedly, however, the most serious factor at the present moment is the delay in loading and unloading, caused by the adoption of the five-day week in many industries, and by arrangements for powerless days and the staggering of working hours. The position is made worse for road transport by the fact that different districts choose different days on which to economize in the use of power, and in many cases different days are actual( being selected by different firms in the same districts."
It is sugg4sted that skeleton staffs should be provided at factories and works for loaIng and unloading road vehicles on powerless days. on Saturdays, and even on Sundays where necessary, TO FORM N.W. CENTRE
TRIBUTES to the work ot "The I Commercial Motor" on behalf of the road transport engineer, and to Mr. G. Mackenzie Junner, president of the I.R,T.E., were paid by Mr C. D. Morgan, secietary of the Institute, on October 16 at Warrington, when members met to inaugurate the organiza
a26 tion's new North-Western Centre. Nearly 60 members from a wide area were present.
Mr. J. H. Jones was elected centre chairman, with Mr. L. H. Lee as vicechairman. A temporary, committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. A. T. Arden, H. Wilmer, F, W. Bartlett, J. C Blore. E. Cartwright, W. Whitehead, A. Wood, J. Tweedie, H. Whittington, J. H. Chalmers, J. A. Cromie, and C. A. Leigh. Future meetings are to be held in Liverpool. The selection of this city is, however, subject to the approval of the Council of •the Institute.
FORDSON TRACTOR TO BE MADE EVERY TWO MINUTES
TO enable one tractor to be produced every two minutes, instead of every 3i minutes as at present, the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., is erecting a new factory at Dagenham. More than 600 concrete piles have already been driven into the marshland on which the existing factory stands. The new building will be devoted solely to the production of tractors.
Sir Rowland Smith, managing director of the Ford company, gave this information in Perth last week, after the biggest demonstration of mechanized farming ever held in '3cotland. ENGINEERS PROTEST AT LOSS OF BASIC RATION
A PROTEST against the abolition of
the basic petrol ration has been made to the Minister of Fuel and Power by the Engineering Liclustries Association, which represents 3,000 British concerns.
The objection is based on two main points—that the abolition of this ration robs a large nun'iber of the country's most valuable workmen of a substantial incentive to production, and that the removal of many thousands of private cars from the roads at this time must result in further overcrowding our already uncomfortably loaded publictransport systems.
As regards the first, the workman w ho saves to buy and maintain a car is a type who nr4t only gives his best in his job but is qualified to do the best work. To pay the running expenses, he often carries other workpeople, thus relieving public transport. Now that he is forced to lay up his car, he feels frustrated; he is losing something that represents in tangible form the reward of years of hard work, careful dornesiic budgeting, and much sacifice on his own and his family's part.
THE INDUSTRY'S EXPORT TARGETS
AAS a guide for United Kingdom exporters, the Government has summarized targets for 1948. It should be noted, however, that to express the changes in volume it has been necessary to adopt constant prices, the level selected being that for the fourth quarter of 1946, but as prices in general are rising at rather more than 1 per cent, a month, the actual value of the exports required to meet the targets will be considerably higly:r than is indicated by the figures The figures given indicate millions of pounds. For commercial vehicles they are:—Fourth quarter of 1946, 2.15; middle of 1948, 3.125; end of 1948, 4. The corresponding figures for .agricultura! machinery are as follow:-0.72,54, and 4.5.
PRESIDENTIAL SUPPORT
THE president of the Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund, Mr. Claude E. Wallis, M.B.E., will attend the dance to be held by the London and Home Counties Centre of the Fund at the Lyceum, Wellington Street, Strand. W.C.2, on November 12. Tickets, for which there is a keen demand,' are obtainable, at 7s. bd, each, from Mrs. Doris M. Clark, 230, Lauderdale Mansions, London, W.9
THE SHOWS MAY BE HELD
SUBJECT to the approval of the Council of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, both the Commercial Vehicle and Motor Shows will be held in 1948. We understand that the recommendation is that the usual order should be reversed, and the Commercial Vehicle Exhibition held first. The exact dates are at present doubtful, but the latter may open at the end of September and the Motor Show may follow it in October.
11. MORE APPEALS IN NEXT FORTNIGHT
L' LEVEN appeals Are to be heard • within the next fortnight. From October 28-30, the Appeal Tribunal will sit at Halifax .House, Strand, London. W.C.2, to hear the appeals of Mr. G. W. Murgatroyd against a decision of the Metropolitan Licensing Authority, and of Caudle, Ltd., against a decision. of the West Midland Deputy.. Licensing Authority. In the latter case there will be eight respondents,
At Chester from November 4-6, the Tribunal will hear the appeals of the following against decisions of the North Western Deputy Licensing Authority:— Globe Parcel Delivery Co., Ltd., Messrs. J. W. Walker and Sons, Jarvis Robinson Transport, Ltd., Mr. Henry Parker, Mr. J. P Wild, Mr. John McGrath, Joseph Roscoe and Sons, Ltd., and Hazel Haulage, Ltd. A decision by the North Western Licensing Authority will be disputed by Mr. R. R. Jones.
The railways will be prominent respondents in most of these cases.
HIGHLAND DEVELOPMENT HELPS ROAD TRANSPORT
DEVELOPME,NT of the hydroelectric schemes in the Highlands is creating an increased demand for haulage on the part of contractors engaged in the work. At a sitting of the Scottish Licensing Authority in Inverness .several applications for licences to operate vehicles to convey materials to the schemes were granted.
110,500,000 IN SAVINGS
THE road transport industry has contributed £10,500,000 to National Savings. Mr. A. Barnes, Minister of Transport, who is president of the Road Transport Savings Committee, made this announcement in London last week. A resolution pledging the industry to active co-operation in the "Silver Lining" Savings Campaign was passed by the committee.
VEHICLES FOR CHRISTMAS DINNERS
WHAT is said to be the largest single VI' shipment of British vehicles ever to leave the United Kingdom for the American continent was loaded last week on to the 10,500-ton refrigerator ship " Rippingham Grange" at the Royal Albert Docks, London.
The cargo of 194 Morris cars, St, Morris light vans, and 54 Morris-Commercial lorry chassis completed the last instalment of the first £1,000,000 sterling of purchases of Nuffield products made in the past 18 months by Agar Cross and Co., Ltd., of London and Buenos Aires. All the vehicles 4re fitted with left-hand steering.
The "Rippiugharn Grange" will make the 4:Tossing in about 19 days and will return with over 7,000 tons of Argentine meat which will go towards Britain's . Christmas dinners.