News of the Week
Page 28
Page 29
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
BILL GOES BACK TO THE COMMONS
AFULL day's debate of the amendments made by the House of Lords to the Transport Bill was held in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
The third reading in the House of Lords was notable for.theavarning given by Lord Balfour of Burleigh against further schemes of nationalization. They would, he said, cause a breakdown in the Civil Service, which, already carried a tremendous burden.
The Marquis of Salisbury, Leader of the Opposition, cleared up a misunderstanding which had caused a division on the questions of publishing reports of inquiries into c,chetnes for the co-ordination of passenger services and the appointment of an independent chairman at the inquiries. He said that the Opposition favoured the appointment of an independent chairman, but did not wish confidential documents to be published. The Opposition required merely that the broad conclusion reached at an inquiry should be made known.
Viscount Addison, Leader of the House, admitted that to build up the ._ administration required under the Bill would involve years of work.
Viscount Swinton, chief Opposition spokesman, declared that the Lords had made the Bill better and fairer.
ROAD TRANSPORT LICENCES AND PERMITS
AN Order has been made by the Minister of Transport extending for 12 month a from the date when it would have expired any authorization in force
• on July 31, 1946, to (a) act as driver or conductor of a public service vehicle; (b) as driver or conductor of a trolleybus or driver of a hackney carriage in
• the Metropolitan Police District; (c) use a public service vehicle; (d) operate a public service vehicle under a permit issued under previous Orders; (e) use a goods vehicle under an A, B or C carrier's licence.
This is being done to save man-power and paper both for the Ministry and for operators. The extension will be automatic and without fee. There will be. no need for holders of suchlicences and permits to apply for renewal.
A26 Changes of address or of vehicle specified must, however, be notified to Regional Transport Commissioners.
This Emergency Powers (Defence) Road Vehicles and Drivers (Amendment) Order, 1947, also permits any goods-vehicle operator to accept harvest work for hire or reward, regardless of any conditions attached to his permit, until November 30. of this year.
PROSECUTIONS FOR IGNORING LICENCE CONDITIONS WARNING hauliers against infringVY ing the conditions of licences, Mr. A. Robertson, Scottish Deputy Licensing Authority, said, at a public inquiry in Perth last week:—" We are putting inspectors on the road and I am warning everyone that when conditions are laid down they will be observed. If anyone is caught working outside his area, absolutely no mercy will be shown."
On the same day, fines totalling £15 were imposed by Sheriff Cullen, at Dundee, on James Thomson and Co., 5, Church Street, Broughty Ferry, which admitted four contraventions of the terms of licences and two charges of failure to keep adequate records of journeys.
Licences were issued for the carriage of sand for a specified firm, but bricks, asphalt and ashes had been transported. Gaps in the records had made police investigations more difficult.
JUNE EXPORTS A RECORD
AT a Press conference in London last week Mr. Herbert Morrison said that the exports of commercial vehicles in June, numbering 14,826 units, were the highest on record.
N.R.T.E. SAYS ROAD TRANSPORT HAS GREAT FUTURE
FAITH in the future of the road transport industry is expressed in the second annual report of the National Road Transport Federation. Potential advantages of technical developments must, however, not be lost through failure to establish an adequate and modern road system, the Federation emphasizes.
Tribute is paid to "those who have fought so gallantly, both in the Commons and the Lords," against the Transport Bill, The Federation continues to press for a reduction in vehicle taxation and the allocation of the whole of the proceeds to road construction, improvement, and maintenance. An early decision is expected on the representations for an , increase in the speed limit on heavy goods vehicles from 20 to 30 m.p.h.
Referring to difficulties of obtaining. suitable accommodation and catering arrangements for road transport workers, the Federation states that . employers accept the obligation to care for the welfare of employees, and every effort to improve amenities will be made within present restrictiens. The Road Transport Catering and Accommodation Joint Committee publishes a directory of catering establishments throughout Great Britain, and copies can be obtained, price 6d. each, from the Federation at Roadway House, 146, New Bond Street, London, W.I.
PARIS AND PRAGUE SHOW DATES ANNOUNCED
DATES of two important continental motor shows have been announced.• The Paris Show will be held from October 2-16, the last day being for technical representatives. The 28th International Motor Show will take place in Prague from October 18-28.
The closing date for applications for space by foreign exhibitors at the Prague exhibition is July 30. The show will be divided into 14 sections, including those for commercial vehicles. Copies of the regulations and plans, together with application forms, can be obtained from the Czechoslovak Ministry of Foreign Trade, 35, Pont Street, London, S.W.1. MOTOR INDUSTRY REPORT
IN the House of Commons on Monday the Minister of Supply announced that he would shortly publish the report recently submitted to him by the National Advisory Council for the motor manufacturing industry. He said that he would include the substance of it in a report on the work of the National Advisory Council.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO IMPROVE ROAD TRANSPORT
AS a result of a. conference convened in Paris last week by the European Central Inland Transport Organization, it is hoped that the U.S. and British Zones in Germany will announce a plan, to be effective from September 1, for the provision of petrol and oil for approved passenger and goods services through those zonee. It is also hoped that the scheme will be introduced in the French. Zone.
The Governments of Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, and Turkey were represented at the conference as well as various international organizations and the administration in Germany and Austria.
Recommendations affecting reciprocal acceptance of national driving licences, vehicle certificates, freedom for transit traffic, reciprocal freedom from taxation and other matters were referred to a• future conference.
PRIME MINISTER TELLS
CONGRESS, "PLAN AHEAD" nEFICIAL opening of the Public \--1 Works, Roads and Transport Congress and-Exhibition was carried out by the Prime Minister, Mr. C. R. Attlee, on Monday. Introducing Mr. Attlee, the Congress president, Mr. Aneurin Bevan, said the event was of great interest to both the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Health.
Mr. Attlee said that he had been to many exhibitions, but had not always known what they were all about. The purpose of this one was, however, clear. It ebncemed transport and other important amenities of the Nation. It was a matter in which, to-day, the Government was directly concerned.
In the Congress there were the men and women; in the exhibition there were the tools. He was aware of all the difficulties which faced industries, but
they must not neglect to plaa-well ahead for the time when there would no longer be shortages of labour and materials,
75-FT. TOWER ON TRAILER CHASSIS
ATOWER capable of extension from 13 ft. 6 ins to 75 ft., and mounted on a four-wheeled trailer chassis, has been built by John Gibson and Sons, Ltd., Leith, to the order of Mobile Ladders and Equipment Rentals, Ltd., Edinburgh, which has designed and is marketing the appliance. It is built of steel tubing and is raised by an electric motor, which draws its power from self-contained batteries. The normal base is 7 ft. 6 ins. by 8 ft., but it can be increased, by means of swinging-arm jacks, to approximately. 13 ft. square.
METALLURGISTS TO MEET IN GLASGOW
PROCEEDINGS of the 39th annual autumn meeting of the Institute of Metals, to be 'held in Glasgow from September 23-26, will include visits to the works of British Aluminium Co., Ltd., Falkirk, and Albion Motors, Ltd., Scotstoun. Discussions will take place on several papers dealing with the centrifugal casting of copper-alloy wheels in sand Moulds, the frictional properties of some lubricated bearing metals, and the corrosion of magnesium alloys.
MOBILE TELEPHONE EXCHANGE
IN place of the manual exchange at Lilliesleaf, Roxburghshire, a mobile automatic public telephone exchange has been introduced by the Post Office. Weighing 6 tons, the mobile exchange, built on a trailer, was run over steel matting to the site.
OBITUARY
WITH great regret we learn of the VY recent death of MAJOR S. A. Cuatioi, who was for many years connected with the Clayton Dewandre Co., Ltd., and then joined Simms Motor Units, Ltd. Later he represented other interests. He was one of the pioneers of the industry and had a great deal to do with the development of servo braking... MAJOR-GENERAL' SIR EVAN Gina, K.I3.E., C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., who was a well-known soldier and, later, business man, and an old friend of this journal, died on July 13 at the age of 70. In 1923 he became Assistant Director of Supplies and Transport. Aldershot Command, and in 1929 Director of Supplies and Transport at the War Office. It was he who developed haybox cookery for the Army.
MR. LACHLAN MACKINNON, formerly general manager of Glasgow Transport Department, has died at the age of 76. He joined the corporation as a junior clerk in the cleansing department. Some time later the tramways undertaking was transferred from private ownership to the municipality, and Mr. Mack innon ' became private clerk to the first general manager of the tramways department, Mr. John Young. He was appointed traffic manager in 1902, deputy general manager in 1910 and general manager in 1927. He retired in 1936.
SCAMMELL STARTS PENSIONS
APENSION and life assurance scheme for the benefit of its staff and works employees has been inaugurated by Scammell Lorries, Ltd. Male employees will retire on pension at the age of 65 and women at 60.
The company is to pay the entire cost of the provision made in recognition of past service, and is meeting the expense
of providing for death benefit. The management is also contributing jointly with the employees towards the future service pension.