Bird's Eye
Page 50
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ViewBY THE HAWK
Men Short
IN case an-One thinks it is not very surprising, I now record with just that emotion that the Southend round for the Lorry Driver of the Year Competition WILL this year take place. Under the energetic guidance of E. J. (Eddie) Barber, Southend has been a landmark for years Past in the competition.
But this year it nearly was not held—because sufficient volunteers could not be found to man it. "It seems rather unfortunate that with an RHA sub-area membership of some 100 persons we 'find it difficult to raise 45 people on a Sunday in June", Eddie wrote to me this week.
"Is there a simple solution which has not occurred to us?", he asked despairingly. Only if he can find 50 or so men as dedicated and enthusiastic as he is himself!
Back Garden Economics
COuLDyou on your own build 10 motor vehicles a year in your back garden? That target would daunt the most avid do-ityourself enthusiast.
Yet that ratio is roughly equivalent to what workl-wide General Motors achieved in 1965-7.27m. cars and trucks manufactured by 735,000 employees.
Roughly, that is, apart from having f1,485,000,000's worth of plant and equipment to help the job along!
Information, Please
MOT long ago I passed on an appeal for information about an underfloor-engined Atkinson six-wheeler, and I now learn that the quest has been satisfied, It was a unique vehicle supplied to Carlsberg Lager in 1957, with a Gardner 6HLW.
Now the same inquirer is after something different: he asks for details of 1916-20 Maxwell 25/30 cwt. trucks, c.1949 Crossley DD42/5 and DD42/7 double-deckers and all Leyland steam wagons. Replies, please, direct to D. N. Miller, 33 Warren Drive, Eastcote, Middlesex.
Share-out
NOW is the time of the biggest club night in the country. Vauxhall Motors is about to pay out a record £1,156,073 to 29,493 employees at Luton, Dunstable and Ellesmere Port factories under the company's profit-sharing scheme.
If you're interested (personally I can't get very excited about other people's money) the divi is based on 3.193 per cent of 1965 earnings. Yum.
Technical Co-ordination
HOVERCRAFT were seen in a new role last Friday evening. At a hastily rearranged top table because of some event or other on March 31, the principal guest at the annual dinner of the Institute of Transport, F. B. Bolton, president of the UK Chamber of Shipping, said that because hovercraft could traverse land, sea or air there would no longer be demarcation disputes between the several forms of transport. For too long they had been a Tower of Babel each going their own way. So seemingly we shall reach co-ordination through technical development rather than through politics.
Earlier the president of the Institute, A. R. Dunbar, reminded us that the ratio of terms of office was IoT presidents—one year, Ministers of Transport—two years. Remembering that the fairer sex has the edge over mere males in longevity we were left speculating whether the present Minister might readjust the ratio. Time— after March 31—will tell!
Pressing Invitation
661r F you are unable to attend, would you please let us know so that we can forward the necessary tickets, etc."— Invitation this week to a trade association conference.