News of the Week
Page 18
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IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS WITH BATTERY ELECTRICS
WE learn, with considerable interest, of the early coming to fruition of a scheme for the production of batteryelectric vehicles on a large scale. Important interests are concerned, and a large amount of capital will be invol. ed. The company concerned will work in close co-operation with Government Departments. We hope to publish further details 'at an early date.
HEAVY FINES FOR USING PETROL FROM STOCK
FINES and costs totalling £2,990 were imposed last week on the South Wales Transport Co., Ltd., under the Defence Regulations and Motor Fuel Rationing Orders, for using petrol from stock. The company's share was £2,170, whilst total penalties on officials were:—Messrs. P. R. Blake, managing director, £465; J. G. Death, secretary, £75; •H. F. E. Matthew, chief engineer, £90; T. C. G. Clobburn, assistant to managing director, £80; T. Toms, assistant to chief engineer, £110.
Quite a number of operators and • private-car users appear to be under • the impression that any petrol which happens to be held in stock by them may be used despite the fact that it is not covered by the basic ration or supplementary allowances, and in this connection readers would do well to see the footnote to a letter in out-, " Opinions' pages.
BETTER CATERING FOR DRIVERS
MUCH has already been done by the Roth Haulage Central Wages Board to improve catering for drivers. Now it has arranged to set up panels representing drivers and their employers in each area, to keep a check on -the matter, and to endeavour to arrange for improvements both in food and accommodation, where these are shown to be
necessary. Transport drivers are to receive lists of the various cafés on trunk roads so soon as these can be compiled. CONTROL OF USED-TRACTOR , PRICES
Oo June 18, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works and Buildings, in reply to a question in the -House, stated tat, after consultation with the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, he . proposed to make an Order under Regulation 55 of the Defence (denera..1) Regulations, 1939, to control the price of used tractors and other classes of contractors' and agricultural plant. He also stated that this would be put into immediate operation.
CALL FOR FUEL ECONOMY IN FARMING
THE Petroleum Board is sending to every agricultural tractor user throughout the country a copy of an ..instructive leaflet entitled " Fuel for Farming," which has been produced with the knowledge of the Ministries of Agriculture and of Fuel and Power (Petroleum Department). It sets out in lucid style seven points which are intended to make for econbmy in operation, and it is emphasized that with careful handling consumption can bematerially reduced. If every tractor could save half a pint of fuel per hour, the net result would be that sufficient fuel could be provided to keep an addi
tional 5,000 tractors at work. The hints are simple enough in themselves, but, oh! how often they get overlooked.