New Output and Export Records
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NEW records continue to be set up by commercial-vehicle manufacturers. In the first four months of this year, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders announced on Monday, commercial-vehicle output was 29.1 per cent. higher than in the corresponding period of last year. A total of 107,075 vehicles was built.
Output in April reached 23,206 vehicles, giving a weekly average of 5,801. In April, 1954, 18,218 vehicles (4,555 a week) were built, and 83,023 in the four months.
Last mont h, 15,322 commercial vehicles, valued at £8,141,019. were exported, compared with 11,093 (£6,345,821) a year earlier. The total for the first four months of the year was 56,568 (f29,790,654), compared with 43,849 (U4,538,218) in the first four months of 1954.
Australia continued to be Britain's best market for commercial vehicles, followed by South Africa, British West Africa, New Zealand and British East Africa, in that order.
MR. WILLS REPLIES TO MR, CALLAGHAN
REPLYING to Mr. James Callaghan's claim that the Labour Party, if returned to power, would nationalize the WET group, Mr. J. S. Wills, managing director of the British Electric Traction Co., Ltd., described the B.E.T. companies as excellent examples of a successful partnership between the State and free enterprise.
The British Transport Commission and B EN., he said, owned equal shires in some 17 bus companies operating about 11,000 vehicles. The combined shareholding of the partners varied from 100 per cent. to 65 per cent. Each partner nominated equal numbers of directors. In many cases there were other directors representing outside interests.
HARD TIMES FOR WEYMANN'S
BECAUSE of intensive competition at 1-/ home and abroad, Weymann's, Ltd., had a difficult time last year. Profits were much lower than in previous years.
This observation is made in a statement by Mr. G. W. Scott, chairman and joint managing director of the United Molasses Co., Ltd., of which Weymann's, Ltd., is a manufacturing subsidiary.
" Unfortunately, these adverse conditions continue and prospects for improvement in the ensuing year are not good," Mr. Scott adds.
EXPRESS BUSES FOR LONDON? IN the autumn, express bus services I may be introduced in the Greater London area by the London Transport Execative. The services would be experimental, and would probably at first be used to connect heavily populated districts with Underground and main-line railway stations. A 6d. minimum fare has been suggested.