News of the Week
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LABOUR SHORTAGE IN PASSENGER TRANSPORT
THE possibility of a breakdown in bus services during the coming winter is emphasized by the Public Transport Association, which represents operators of 41,000 public passenger vehicles and their ancillary interest.
The Association has collected from its members statistics which show conclusively that unless steps be taken immediately by the appropriate Government Departments to provide additional staffs for road passenger undertakings, it will be impossible to maintain existing services; certainly no increase in present services can be made.
At September 20, undertakings operating 33,373 vehicles needed 1,229 drivers, 2,005 conductors and 1,227 maintenance meat to operate existing schedules. This, notwithstanding the fact that the operators have repeatedly presented their case to the M.O.W.T.
A REMINDER TO "TANTALUS '" FROM A.R.O.
THE A.R.O. writes as follows :— " Your esteemed correspondent. ' Tantalus,' would be well advised before writing his articles to consider all the facts. He states: ' The main cause of this uneasiness, obviously, is the complete absence of all inforniation. The accredited leaders are strangely silent. Is this because they have not, as yet, formulated any concrete proposals? Or, alternatively, if plans are, in fact, in course of preparation, are they of such a nature that it is doubtful whether they would be accorded general approval? Surely, by this time, there should be forthcoming from the representatives of the industry definite proposals for submission to the members?'
" This Association desires to call his attention to its statement of policy, which its Sectional Board published last year, and, in case he is unaware of it, to state that this document has been widely circulated and that it has received a very wide measure of support both from within and without the industry.'' POST-WAR POSSIBILITIES OF LIGHT ALLOYS I N view of the obvious and growing part to be assigned to wrought light alloys in post-war commercial-motor construction, considerable interest attaches to an address presented by Dr. E. G. West, manager of the Wrought Light Alloys Development Association, before members of the Institution of British Carriage and Automobile Manufacturers in Birmingham, this week. Incidentally, the same address will be read at Coventry on November 1.
The general characteristics and pro, perties of aluminium and its alloys were discussed, with particular reference to those of interest to vehicle builders, that is to say, high strength-to-weight ratio, high resistance to corrosion, the value of Young's modulus of elasticity and various, physical qualities. The ranges of alloys available to-day were summarized in six or seven main groups. Typical pre-war applications of aluminium alloys were shown, covering commercial motors of all types, public-service vehicles (including tramcars and trolleybuses) and cars.
The working properties and manufacturing characteristics of the alloys were also dealt with, including the methods of pressing, forging, welding, machining, anodizing and painting.
A CALL TO LEEDS AND DISTRICT HAULIERS
AMEETING was held in Leeds, last week, when it was decided that a company be formed and articles prepared that will enable it to be part of the national grouping scheme and represented on the National Conference of Road Transport Groups.
Before proceeding too far; it was decided by the members present that all hauliers in Leeds and district should have the opportunity of joining this group, and any operator who is interested in the scheme should send his name and address to "Group," care of Benj. Spink, Ltd., 4, Little ' Neville Street, Leeds, 1.
DEATH OF R.T.C., NORTHWESTERN REGION
VVE regret to announce the death, at VI' Guildford on October 18, at the age of 63, of Major-General C. W. MacLeod,. CB., C.M.G., D.S.O. He was only recently appointed Regional Transport Commissioner for the N.W. Region. He had been Colonel-Commandant. R.A.S.C., since 1938, after being Director of Supplies and Transport, War Office, from 1933-1937.
BRUSH TO TRAIN GIRL APPRENTICES
ANOVEL feature of a recent expansion of the apprentice-training programme of the Brush Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd., is the inclusion of girl student apprentices of School Certificate standard. These, on completion of the requisite course, will be absorbed into the permanent staff on secretarial, costing and accountancy or technical work, in which there has always been a considerable shortage of well-trained young women, whilst wellpaid permanent posts are available. The Brush scheme provides a three-year course, to which the girls are indentured. Training involves both theoretical and practical work in various departments.
For theoretical instruction they are released during one day a week, with pay, to attend one of the National Certificate courses at 'Loughborough College.
Those intending to take up a technical career in drawing office, laboratory or design department, take the ordinary National Certificate in mechanical or electrical engineering.
The company hopes to recruit girls from high schools or public schools all over the country. ANOTHER ,,STEP TOWARDS UNITY
AT an extraordinary general meeting of the National Road Transport Employers' Federation, held on October 18, the chairman, Mr. William Edwards, put a resolution to the meeting to the effect that the draft amalgamation agreement to be made between the Federation and the othei bodies concerned should be approved, and that the National Council be requested to convene the necessary meeting of the Federation to wind it up in accordance with the terms of the Federation, and to appoint a liquidator to carry the same into effect as soon as the National Council is satisfied that similar resolutions have been passed by the other organizations concerned or a sufficient number of them to make the agreement reasonably effective,
The resolution was passed, and the position of the 15 members of the Federation can be summarized as follows :—Eleven associations voted in favour, Bolton abstained from voting, Burnley was not represented but expressed itself as being in support, Bristol Cartage Association was not represented but understood to be prepared to participate, whilst the Port of Bristol Association would, in due course, resign from the Federation.
NEW PILOT TIPPING GEAR ANNOUNCED
THE introduction of a new hydraulic tipping gear by Pilot Works, Ltd., Bolton, was announced at the Seddon Conference, which is reported on page 235 of this issue. It is of the horizontal type and its principal feature is that it has two telescopic rams instead of one. This enables a longer ram to be used and makes it possible to apply the thrust near the middle of the body instead of, as is usual with this type of gear, near the rear of the body, close to the hinges.
The gear is particularly compact, so that it does not protrude into the body space. The oil reservoir is the ram cradle: there is no need for a separate tank; only one external pipe is thus required.
The ram head is attached to the bbdy in such a way that unevenness in loading, tending to tilt the body sideways, merely has the effect of turning the inner ram tube, which is free to turn, within the outer one. Any possible stress on the ram head is thus relieved.
The unit is supplied complete with a sub-frame, which is designed to spread the load over a considerable proportion of the chassis frame. Sub-frames are designed to suit each make of chassis and eight bolts only are needed to attach the gear, complete with subframe. In many cases no more than two or three holes need be drilled in the chassis frame.
Provision is made for the pump and power take-off unit to be combined in one. The angle of tip is larger than usual and the weight of the gear, complete with sub-frame, is 3 cwt. 1 qr. • A point of interest to those who require long-wheelbase tippers, is that this gear is particularly adaptable for use on such vehicles. HALIFAX HAULAGE POOL GETS • UNDER WAY
THE number of road operators associ: ated with the haulage pool estab• lished in Halifax is, so far, about 25. The following are the directors of the company formed, under the title Halifax and Distriet Transport Owners, Ltd., for the operation of the pool:—Mr. J.
• Wild (president of Halifax Transport
• Qwners' Association), and Messrs. W. Robinson, H. Bell, S. D. GoIdthorp, J. Gomersall, T. Hoyle, W. Scott (Hebden Bridge), and H. H. Beaumont (Ripponden),
The formation of the company was referred to in our issue dated October 13.
BEDFORD SPARES POSITION IMPROVES WE learn that improvements are being made in the supply of spare
parts for Bedford vehicles. This is particularly the case with cylinder heads, requests for which, when put forward in the proper manner, can he met within a month.
TRANSPORT CHARGES FOR P.O. CHRISTMAS WORK AT BRISTOL
WE learn that the Western Area of A.R.O. is again co-operating with the head postmaster at Bristol in connection 'with transport which he will be requiring for Christmas mails, and the following scale of charges has been agreed :—Z40-40-cwt, vehicles, Os. 6d. per hour; 50-60-cwt. vehicles, 8s. per hour; 2s. 6d. per hour extra for.work carried out on Sundays and on Christmas day—it has also been agreed for a minimum hiring period of four hours on any such day.
GOOD WORK BY AMBULANCES IN SCOTLAND
DuRING the past year, the motor ambulance services throughout Scotland of the St. Andrew's Ambulance Association answered 58,854 calls for assistance in cases of accident and illness. The number of patients conveyed daring the Association's long history now reaches the figure of 1,216,430. These facts were commented on by the Duke 01 13uccleuch, president of the Association, when he spoke at its recent annual general meeting in Glasgow.
MINISTRY SUPPORTS WITHDRAWAL OF TRAMS THE decision as to when buses shall replace trams on FarnworthWalkden routes now rests with the North-Western Transport Commissioner. Major G. Wilson, of the Ministry of War Transport, has in. spected the tram track on two routes and, following his report the Minister has intimated to Bolton Transport Committee that he will raise no objection to the, withdrawal of the trams. Bolton's transport manager has, therefore, applied to the R.T.C. for licences authorizing him to operate buses on Iwo routes. The transport committee has instructed him, on receipt of licences, • to observe the same -fares as applied on the tram services.