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News of the Week

26th November 1948
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Page 28, 26th November 1948 — News of the Week
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R.T.E. TAKES OVER THREE MORE HAULIERS

THREE more long-distance haulage undertakings were taken over during October by the Road Transport Executive. They are F. C. Carr, Ltd., Julian Streit, Grimsby; Edneys, Ltd., Edney House, London Road, Waterlooville, Hants; and Stevenson Transport, Ltd., 121 Thingwall Road, Liverpool, Lancs. All three companies are engaged in general haulage, but Fdneys, 'Ltd.. also handles machinery up to 10 tons.

These names are included in issue No. 2 of the "Gazetteer of Undertakings Acquired." published by the Road Transport Executive, 222 Marylebone Road, London, N.W.1. A full list of haulage concerns taken over up to September 30 was published in "The Commercial Motor on October 29.

EXTENSION OF "NO WAITING" RESTRICTIONS

AS from Monday last, "no waiting" restrictions came into force in more streets in the Central London area, and in 71 streets in the outer area of the Metropolitan Police District. The new restrictions are covered in two Orders, and are similar in principle to those which have been operating in the West End of London since May. last year, and in the City of London since August of this year.

The effect of the new Orders will • increase the present mileage of "no waiting" streets in the central area from 10 to 17, and will create, in the aggregate, an additional 26 miles in the outer areas.

The hours during which vehicles are prohibited from waiting in the central area will continue to be between 11.30 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays inclusive, The same hours will apply in the outer areas, but with the important addition of Saturdays.

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Vehicles engaged in the delivery or collection of goods will be permitted to wait up to 20 minutes. An important feature is that vehicles must not be parked in any street within 120 ft. of the main thoroughfare, but this, an interim measure, may be partly relaxed, should experience prove that this can be done without interfering with the general flow of traffic.

The present "no waiting" restrictions are only temporary, in order to give experience for the framing of measures which will be permanent.

COACHES—BUT NOT BUSES—TO USE MOTORWAYS

riURING the debate in the House La of Commons, last Friday, on the money resolution to the Special Roads Bill. Mr. L. J. Callaghan, Parliamentary Sec.etary to the Ministry of Transport, amplified his statement during the second reading, that " generally speaking," buses would not be allowed to use motorway q He said that longdistance coaches v.iould be permitted to use them, but not local buses.

Mr. Callaghan's explanation will do something to allay the fears of passenger transport operators, but it does not clarify the implication by Mr. Barnes, Minister of Transport, that buses would be allowed to run on the special roads.

Mr. Callaghan also stated: "We believe that it would be improper to develop railways by strangling the growth and proper development of road traffic."

200 PROVINCIAL DOUBLEDECKERS FOR LONDON FOLLOWING arrangements made with a number of provincial companies which formed part of the

Tilling group recently taken over by the British Transport Commission, 200 new double-decker buses will be diverted from the provinces to the London area. This announcement was made by Lord Latham, chairman of the London Transport Executive, on Tuesday.

As 148 will be of the low-height type. Londoners will have to beware of bumping their heads. The balance of 52 will be full-height models.

Lord Latham said that these buses were coming to the London area on loan, and it was hoped that the position would be eased sufficiently in the next 12 months for them to be sent to those areas for which they were intended.

The first consignment is due early in December, and they will he finished in their provincial liveries, mostly green. These buses will operate on normal schedules with London vehicles.

"The Commercial Motor" was given to understand that these new buses wilt not augment existing travel facilities, but will replace unserviceable vehicles which have had to be withdrawn. Provincial services will not suffer by a shortage of vehicles, as those buses which would normally have been taken out of service will continue to operate for a few months longer.

R.T.E. APPOINTS MORE OFFICERS THE Road Transport Executive

announced this week that Mr. S. F. Kneller had been appointed deputy chief officer (general haulage) at headquarters. Mr. J. H. Cleveley has become divisional traffic officer, and Mr. J. H. Webster, divisional accountant, at the Eastern Division headquarters (freight).

The following have also . been appointed divisional accountants:— Midland. Mr. B. F. Pocock; Western, Mr. W. W. Hubble; North Western, Mr. S. F. Cox; Scottish, Mr. E. J. Crook; North Eastern, Mr. A. B. Davies; South Western, Mr. L. J. Whittaker.

District managers have been appointed as follows:—Peterborough. Mr. J. W. Calvert; Midland Division, Mr. P. A. Collins and Mi. W. Latham; Newport-Cardiff, Mr. P. J. Lewis; Swansea, Mr. H. Reed; Bristol, Mr. 0. Smart; Aberdeen, Mr. W. Wiseley.

P.T.A. CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT HARROGATE

THE 1949 Conference of the Public Transport Association will be held at Harrogate from May 3-5, The Maynard Cup Golf Competition will take place on the afternoon of May 3, and in the evening there will be an informal reception at the Royal Hotel. The annual general meeting will be held on the morning of May 4, also in the Royal Hotel, and there will be a paper and a discussion. The same evening will see the Association's annual dinner and dance at the Grand Hotel. On May 5 there will be a morning session for the reading and discussion of a paper, and in the evening a civic reception and dance at the Royal Hotel.

"FLAY THE CAME" WITH THE STATE, SAYS MR. FITZPAYNE

pOINTING out that increased fares were essential to meet rising costs, Mr E. R. L. Fitzpayne, general manager of Glasgow Transport Department, said in Glasgow, on November 18. that it might be possible for the department to pile up losses until the State took over, 4 but that, to my mind. is not playing the game." He was addressing the Incorporated Sales Managers' Association on the subject of peak-period traffic conditions.

He said that abbot 800,000.000 passengers a year were being carried by Glasgow's transport. The solution of peak-period problems by increasing the number of vehicles was more difficult than it appeared.

Apart from the fact that vehicles were scarce, an increase in the fleet involved a comparable rise in operating costs. Moreover, many roads in Glasgow, particularly in the new housing districts, were not large enough to accommodate extra traffic, nor were there sufficient stands in the centre of the city.

Mr. Fitzpayne thought that vehicles with increased standing capacity, or with trailers, offered, perhaps, the only solution of peak-period problems.

He also referred to the exceptionally high turnover of labour in the transport department, and to the waste of money in training new personnel.

WHERE THE DUMPER SCORES VIRTUES of the dumper vehicle equipped with low-pressure tyres, as compared with the normal type of tipper, were emphasized by Mr. A. E. Ryeland in a paper read at the Public Health and Municipal Engineering Congress, at Olympia last week. The rapidity of tip and the fact that the angle of discharge was vertical were two outstanding features of the dumper. " Sticky " materials could be freely unloaded, and the dumper remained at the discharging point, where the ground was usually soft, for only a few seconds. The dumper, said the author, would run over material previously tipped without the aid of sleepers or mats, whereas in the majority of cases a lorry would not do so.

The reasons given for the dumper's general superiority and immunity from becoming bogged, were, said Mr. Ryeland, its low-pressure tyres, short wheelbase, absence of tipping gear, ability to take shock loading, the use of much lower gear ratios than in a normal lorry, design of the tipping cradle, ability of the driver to face the direction of travel without discomfort, and the quick return of the body to its loading position without manual assistance.

WILL LICENCE BE REVOKED?

AT Dundee, last week, Mr. William Wallaoe, 7, Fleming Gardens South, was called before the Scottish Licensing Authority to show cause why his B licence should not be revoked. At a previous inquiry it had been stated that an agreement between Mr. Wallace and Messrs. Watson Bros., Broughty Ferry, to purchase the former's business, had been signed three days after Mr. Wallace had obtained his licence.

Mr. Wallace said last week that he had had every intention of carrying on, but had to give up because of ill-health. Decision was reserved.

NEW A.E.C. DISTRIBUTORS

OVERSEAS distributors of A.E.C. vehicles have been appointed as follow:—Sweden: Ana Ab Nykopings, Automobilfabrik, Nykoping. Belgium: As from January 1, Ets Jean Fondu et Cie, Brussels, will be succeeded by Establissernents G. Spitals, Rue Tweemont 165-167 Deurne, Anvers.

OBITUARY

WE regret to announce the death of MR. G H. R. MASON, who has been associated with Hills (Patents), Ltd., since the company's inception.

GRINDING POWDER IN BUS OIL FILTERS?

D ECENT reports that buses manu

factured in Canada for the South African Government Railways and Harbour Board had been damaged in operation through the presence of grinding powder in the oil filters, are being. investigated in Montreal by the Caradian Car and Foundry Co., Ltd., which. has supplied about 100 buses to the Union.

The company has pointed , out that every bus, before" being shipped, Was 'put through exhaustive running tests .under conditions far more severe than those met in normal service. This procedure was standard for all buses, whether for domestic or export orders. Thirteen buses shipped to South Africa sotine time ago had been in continuous serviceand wero reported to be -com pletely satisfactory.

The South African Railways authority is extending the network of passenger services for Europeans wherever roads are suitable and sufficient traffic is offered. Several new routes have been opened recently, whilst a number of new services, already approved, will be started as soon as the routes have been surveyed and the necessary arrangements made.

ROAD TRANSPORT SAVES DAMAGE TO CYCLES

AINOR damage to closely packed al cycles being conveyed by rail has led the B.S.A. Co., Ltd., to experiment with road transport to avoid the hazards of shunting and to facilitate door-to-door delivery without fear of bent forks or scratched paintwork.

The vehicle being used is a converted demonstration van, based on a 1932 Daimler chassis with a Gardner fivecylindered engine and Fluid Flywheel transmission, -in which 90 cycles can be carried. A floor space of approximately 140 sq. ft. and an interior height of 7 ft. 5 ins, enables the machines to be packed 'in two tiers. They are supported in grooved felt racks and held firmly in place by padded separators, which are arranged to bear upon the frames in such a way that any type of cycle can be accommodated. '

An average distance of 1,000 miles a week is covered by the van, operating from one or other of the B.S.A. cycle factories. The fuel-consumption figure is reported to be 15-16 m.p.g. The experiment has proved so successful that it is planned to have a fleet of similar vehicles.

Ild. MINIMUM IN COVENTRY?

rOVENTRY Transport Committee proposes to apply to the West Midland Licensing Authority for permission to introduceolid. minimum fares, excluding children's fares, as from April 1 next. Additional charges totalling £47,990 are expected in the next financial year.

The committee has declined to introduce workmen's fares outside the normal hours to, conform with the winter scheme of staggering hours in industry, and to extend this concession to shop and distributive workers. PERSONAL PARS Ma. -Aruxotr) Ducturr has been appointed a director of the Moss Gear Co.. Ltd. .

MR, H. W CLARKE, works manager of B 0 Morris, Ltd., has been appointed a director.

MR. W. P. DRISCOLL has been appointed secretary of the Yorkshire Division of the Motor Agents' Association, on the retirement of MR. A. L. H unsort MR HARVEY S. FIRESTONE, J R., chairman of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio. U.S.A., has heel awarded by the French Government the Cross of Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, in recognition of outstanding service to agriculture

• throughout the world

MR. PAUL K. JENNENS has been appointed advertisement manager of Temple Press Ltd.. proprietors of "The Commercial Motor," in succession to MR. Erne N. ADLINGTON, who joined the board of the company last April. Mr. •Iennens was formerly provincial manager of the group, with headquarters in the Midlands.

USERS' DELEGATES IN B.T.C. INDUSTRIAL LIAISON?

CLOSE relationship between management, tabour and the consumer was envisaged by Coure B. W. Berry, chairman of Bradford Passenger Transport Committee, in a paper on "Industrial Relations in a Nationalized Transport Industry," which he read before the Yorkshire Transport Society. He believed that only in this way could service efficiency be increased.

Coun. Berry stressed the importance of joint consultation at all levels. Consumers' interests should be adequately represented, so that there was no suspicion that management and labour were combining against transport users. Although the responsibility of managing any nationalized industry must rest with the management, the best ideas were not always the exclusive possessions of one body or section.

Promotion in transport should be by merit, and length of service and other qualifications should be considered only when other things were equal.

Mr C. R. Tattam, president of the Society, suggested that regular meetings of joint consultative bodies might lead to stagnation. There was a tendency, he said, for sections of such committees to broach only matters that affected their own well-being, whereas service efficiency. must always be the aim. Meetings S'Iiould, he thought, be convened only when some special matter requiring attention arose.

FIVE MORE GOODS APPEALS

FIVE appeals under the Road and Rail Traffic Act are listed for hearing during the next fortnight, all at Halifax House, Strand, London, W.C.2. They are as follows:—

A28 , November 10: Isaac Mawby against the Yorkshire Licensing Authority. December 1. G. W. Tryhorn against the Metropolitan Licensing Authority. December 2: Railway Executive against the Metropolitan Licensing Authority. December 7: Richard Stamper against the Northern Deputy Licensing Authority. December 9: R. S. Cording against the Western Licensing Authority.

Two days have been set aside for the. hearing of Mr. Stamper's appeal. to which there are 13 respondents. BRADFORD TO END WORKMEN'S FARES?

D ECALISE Bradford Passenger TransLs) port Department faces the prospect of another deficit this year, the traffic and fares sub-committee has recommended that the Yorkshire Licensing Authority be asked to sanction the abolition of workmen's fares. Meanwhile, the sub-committee has suggested that workmen's fares should operate until 8 a.m., instead of 9 a.m.

Unless revenue can be increased quickly, a deficit of about £30,000 during the current financial year is foreshadowed, bringing the loss in three years to £90,000.

' Last year's increase in fares on the motor buses, trolleybuses and tramcars has producedsthe expected extra revenue of about £140,000 a year, but this does not cover the heavy increase in expenditure, particularly on wages. Further

more the loss on the operation of the city's remaining trams—computed at 64d. per car-mile during the past financial year—cannot be obviated until new motor buses and trolleybuses are de.livered in sufficient numbers to permit complete abandonment of the trams.

SALES LITERATURE DE LUXE IN a series of leaflets just published .I. Leyland Motors, Ltd., Leyland. Lancs. covers its range of goods and passenger vehicles, bodywork and under-floor engine and transmission units. This literature is notable for the excellence of its printing and general physical presentation, some pages being printed in four colours.

Main components are illustrated by !ins. drawings and half-tone blocks, the units shown in section clearly disclosing evtly detail of construction. P.V.O.A. WARNING ON TRANSPORT ACT . •

ASERIES of meetings has been held in Scotland during the past week by Mr. F. A. Walker, national secretary of the Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association, to deal with the Transport Act, 1947, and to outline the action which the Association is taking to safeguard the interests of operators.

Two meetings were held in Glasgow on November 19, the first for hire-car operators, and the second for public service vehicle operators. Similar meetings took place in Edinburgh on Monday of this week.

Continued dissatisfaction was felt. said Mr. Walker, at the refusal of the Ministry of Fuel and Power to remove the 124-per-cent. cut in fuel for excursions, tours and private-party work. Further representations were being made by the Association.

ACORNS AND OAKS 'THE humble beginnings' of various I commercial-vehicle manufacturine businesses h the north are related in "Early Days," a new 48-page book which cleats with the motor trade in the Manchester area. The authors, Sam Lomax and John Norris, are wellqualified for their task of recording the story of the initial struggles of the infant industry.

Copies of "Early Days" can he obtained from Joseph Cockshoot and Co., Ltd., 39, Great Ducie Street, Manchester, 3, at 2s. 6d. each.

143,395 NEW VEHICLES

REGISTRATIONS *of new vehicles other than cars and motorcycles, rose from 12,785 in August to 15,734 in September, and brought the total for the first nine months to 143,395.

DRIVERS BOOK EXTRA TIME, HAULIER ALLEGES

AT Tower Bridge Magistrates Court, London, on November 17, Alfred Miller (Haulage), Ltd., Tooley Street, London, S.E.1, answered 46 summonses alleging the employment of drivers for excessive hours and failure to keep proper records. The company pleaded guilty to 22 charges concerning records, and the remaining 24 charges in respect of drivers' hours were dropped.

For the prosecution it was stated that of the records of 15 vehicles examined, 12 were in order, but in three cases 17 offences had been detected. The company had claimed that these were errors made by the drivers, but the prosecution pointed out that they should have been detected by the operator at the time.

The employer had also stated, when questioned by the inspector, that the excessive hours shown on the sheets in question had not in fact been worked, but had been booked by the drivers to secure additional wages. This was the first time the company had been prosecuted for any offence under the Road and Rail Traffic Act.

For the defence, counsel pointed out that, as the drivers were paid by the hour, there was a great temptation to book an extra hour or so, and this was difficult to detect. Regarding 12 cases of failing to keep proper records, it was explained that, since April, the whole of the management of* the business had been left in the hands of the transport manager, as the secretary had left. Because of inadequate office accommodation, the company had been unable to provide a successor. These charges related to cases which had occurred since the secretary had left.

The company was fined £2 on each of 12 summonses for failing to keep proper records, with 3 guineas costs.

1.0.T.A. MANCHESTER DINNER

THIS year's dinner-dance of the Institute of Traffic Administration (Manchester Centre) is to be held on December 20 in the Tudor Suite at Belle Vue Gardens. Double tickets cost 35s. and are obtainable from Mr. C. J. Parker, 107, Moss Lane, Ashtonon-Mersey, Sale, Manchester.

ACCUMULATORS EXPLAINED

EXPLAINING simply the fundamental principles, manufacture and maintenance of the lead-acid accumulator, a well-produced booklet entitled " The Accumulator" has been issued by the Edison Swan Electric Co., Ltd., 155, Charing Cross Road, London, W.C.2.

NEGATIVE PLATES IN PLASTIC ENVELOPES

1-1. A NEW battery in which the negative

plates are enclosed in plastic envelopes, has been introduced by Holsun Batteries, Ltd., 137 Victoria St., London, S.W.1. This envelope forms one of three elements which separate the negative from the positive plates, the other two being felted glass wool and perforated ebonite sheets.

Whilst this form of plate separation provides for the quick diffusion of the acid essential to assist high rates of discharge, it is of low resistance and offers a maximum of protection against internal shorting. This new battery is known as the Dagenite Shednought.

LET'S ALL GO "ROUND THE BEND!"

IY/HILE "he waited for buses that YV never came, or, if they did, were too crowded to stop," Brockbank, whose cartoons are well known to readers of "The Commercial Motor," has "striven to see and record the point of view of the British motorist." The results of his observations are to be found in "Round the Bend," a collection of some of Brockbank's most delightful sketches.

In his foreword he says that he has two pet underdogs, one being the Chinese peasant and the other the British motorist, who, Brockbank points out, "have a surprising amount in common." If for "British motorist" one reads "British commercial vehicle operator," the comparison with the Chinese peasant is no less apt and amusing.

In these days 7s. 6d. (or three single whiskies in die, places frequented •by commercial vehicle operators) is little to pay for a good laugh. "Round the Bend" (published for Temple Press Ltd. by the English Universities Press. Ltd.) offers about 60 hearty chortles for that small sum.

ALL ABOUT TRANSMISSIONS

A LAVISHLY illustrated brochure dealing with gearfioxes, steering units, rear-axle worm gears, hypoid and spiral-bevel gears has been produced by David Brown and Sons (Huddersfield), Ltd., under the title of "Automobile Transmissions.for Cars and Commercial Vehicles." Particularly stressed is the development of the rear-axle worm gear, the David Brown patented form• of which was introduced 35 year I ago. A31.


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