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Tomato Traffic a Triumph for Road Haulage

25th November 1938
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Page 44, 25th November 1938 — Tomato Traffic a Triumph for Road Haulage
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YET another story of triumph for road transport, in the face of many difficulties, is given to us this week. The company concerned is Burrows Transport, Ltd., of London, Portsmouth, Southampton and Birmingham, and it is well famed for its Jersey potato and tomato traffic, in addition to Government contract work and a large generalhaulage business.

The 1938 Jersey tomato season, just ended, has not been an ideal one. More planting was done, it is true, and with better climatic cond:tions a record might well have been made in every way. The sun, however, was loth to give its favour, whilst the rains came late, after weeks of drought, and took heavy toll. Moreover, if the rain relaxed, there were heavy dews to cause equal havoc.

Never pick a tomato while the stalk is wet," they say—and these stalks were certainly too often wet.

That is not all, however. Just as important, from the points of view of the distributors and marketers, is the fact that raging seas and dense fogs were frequently making the Jersey-Portsmouth passage a treacherous one and the choice, often enough, was between peril and delay, with the latter, in all humanity, given

preference. The HuelinBurrows boats are good ones, well commanded, and they did remarkably well on those rough days. Even, so, however, there

834 were considerable delays to conquer.

That was where modern commercial vehicles " stepped in." So good were the road-transport facilities provided by Burrows Transport, Ltd., that consumers did not suffer, and the entire service did not lose any of its reputation. In fact, it undoubtedly gained considerable prestige.

Before leaving what may appear to be a dirge of difficulties, and before going on to the brighter side of the whole business, it is necessary to remind our readers that in the midst of this season, which ended a week or so ago, came the "black week" of world-wide fear awl upset. The point need not be stressed, for all of us know the effect it had on every transport business.

Let us get down to figures. The season has seen the carriage, by this company, of nearly 3,000 tons of tomatoes, equivalent to nearly half a million trays. It was necessary to make 28 voyages, this year, as against 18 during the 1937 season. This must be regarded as a fine testimonial to the service and reliability which customers have enjoyed in the past.

The average tonnage taken on each voyage of the company's modern motor vessels was roughly 107. There was a considerable increase in the tonnage served to the Midlands and the north, owing to the efficacy of the usual 48-hour service to these areas.

Great co-operation was given, in the maintenance of the reputable Burrows service, by Fraser and White, Ltd., Town Quay, Portsmouth. This stevedoring concern looked after the unloading on the quay—a job which requires skill and speed in execution. Praise is also due to J. W. Huelin, Ltd., 44, Esplanade, St. Helier, Jersey. which concern's experience and skill were responsible for the orderly loading arrangements which so vitally affect the prompt handling and despatch on arrival this side.

Derricks on the boats were, of course, used con sistently, but, on many occasions, it was necessary to use also the mobile cranes on the quay. Derricks alone could be used for one-customer consignments, but when a load was composed of various marks for different consumers, the work of unloading systematically and sorting without delay was, naturally, facilitated by the use of the mobile cranes. The trays were packed on scale-boards, for transfer by crane, and about 120 small trays filled a scale-board, with a weight of 15 cwt.

It is estimated that the total tonnage of tomatoes carried would have been double that already mentioned if the season had been favoured with more normal weather. As it was, the figure of 3,000 tons represented twice that registered in 1037. The whole point is that production was not outstanding as regards quantity, but the season was an exceptionally long one, hence the large number of voyages.

Many Large concerns are loud in their

praise of the service. Among these customers may be mentioned L. B. Clarke and R. Joel, Ltd., of Covent Garden, Messrs. M. Mack, Spitalfields,

the Co-operative Wholesale Society, Ltd., Spitalfields, H. Lane and Sons, Ltd., Croydon Market, and R. A. Phillips, I3rentford Market. Burrows Transport, Ltd., 31-33, fabard Street, Long Lane, London, S.E.1, also has depots in Birmingham Morville Street, Edgbaston). Southampton (Threefield Lane), and Portsmouth (Somerset Road, Southsea), and branch services and agencies are to be found in all the main provincial towns. The company is official agent for all air lines and coach services.


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