News of the Week
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S.J.C. KEEPING FULLY OCCUPIED
AT a recent meeting of the S.J.0 Executive Committee, Mr. D. Richardson was appointed acting chairman. The chairman will be elected at the next full S.J.C. meeting. Mr. Richardson will act in the meantime.
The Vehicle Supply and Maintenance Committee is reviewing the Construction and, Use Regulations and a comprehensive memorandum is being submitted to the M.O.W.T. In this and other matters of mutual interest, liaison is being established with the S.M.M.T.
The M.O.W.T. has been asked by the Rates Committee to consider a revision of RH/D/20. Negotiations are also proceeding with the Ministry of Works concerning a schedule of rates for hauling sand and ballast.
It was reported that the Minister of War Transport proposes to issue an Order extending to two months the time within which Government Departments may lodge objections to rates. This extension will not cover horsed transport.
The Executive Committee approved proposals made to the M.O.W.T. for setting up a Joint Conditions of Carriage Committee, comprising representatives of the S.J.C. and of the Traders' Co-ordinating Committee, to deal with matters arising from the Ministry's Conditions of Carriage.
The S.J.0 points out that, whilst its Executive Committee now meets comparatively infrequently—i.e., about every six weeks—day-to-day work is undertaken by specialist sub-committees and panels set up to deal with specific subjects. Almost every day at least one, and often several, meetings of these are held. They facilitate the rapid despatch of business and spread the work of the S.J.C.
FEDERATION COMMITTEE ON MOTOR TAXATION Prim Road Transport Organization 1 Joint Conference announces that, at a meeting of the Federation Governing Body, held on July 13, a Motor Taxation Committee, with the following members was set up:—Major R. A. B. Smith, M.G.; Messrs. B. J. Turner; J. Janes: F. G. Bristow, C.B.E; R. W. Sewill, M.A.; G. W. Quick Smith, LL.B.; the last-named as secretary.
The terms of reference are as follow:—To consider, with a view to approaching the Government, the longterm aspects of motor taxation, particularly (a) total amount, (b) purposes to which it should be applied, (c) need to oppose imposition of any discriminatory or penal tax, (d) desirability of expenditure on construction of new roads being capitalized, (e) appropriate and equitable allocation between community and various classes Of road user of the cost of road maintenance and repair, (f) form in which tax should be imposed and proportions raised by licence dues and fuel tax, respectively. (g) appropriate units and gradations between them to determine the rate of liceace duty, (h) period of Road Fund licences, (i) provision for progressive reduction of taxation, more especially when total revenue increases.
Other details are dealt with in our leading article.
INCREASE IN PROFIT OF
SPURLING MOTOR BODIES nuRING the year ended Feb
ruary 29 last, Spurling Motor Bodies, Ltd., made a profit of £78,560, as against £58,198 a year earlier. After charging depreciation, debenture service, deferred repairs, etc., a sum of £54,453 remains, compared with £42,381 in the previous year. As the provision for taxation takes £36,626, the net profit comes out at £17,827, which is slightly up on the previous year's figure General reserve receives £3,000 and a dividend of 10 per cent., less tax, on the ordinary shares absorbs £10,425. • WAR-TIME EXPERIENCE WILL AID THE INDUSTRY I T will remain the Government's aim to secure the highest efficiency in every form of transport, and to make such use as appropriate, of transport equipment manufactured during the war, This assurance was given by Mr. P. 5. Noel-Baker, Parliamentary Secretary, M.O.W.T., in Parliament last week.
He explained that the operation of all means for transport was, at present, fully co-ordinated by the Minister. Peace-time • conditions differed from those of war-time, but the experience acquired since 1939 would be of great value in dealing with peace-time problems, and it would not be forgotten.
PERSONAL PARS
MR, R. C TURNER has been appointed manager of the service sales division of British Timken, Ltd.
MR. K. G. ROUTLEDGE, formerly assistant traffic superintendent and later chief cashier in the transport departRrient, has been appointed temporary traffic superintendent by Birkenhead Transport Committee.
MAJOR CECIL DICK, who in civilian life was service manager at Newcastleon-Tyne for the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., has been killed by enemy action in the south of England. He was 35 years old and lost an eye during the fighting in Greece.
MR. FREDERICK G. BRISTOW, C,B.E., M.Inst.T., general secretary of the C.M.U.A„ recently occupied the chair at a Court luncheon, in his capacity as Master of the Worshipful Company of Carmen, which was held at Tallow Chandlers' Hall. Mr. Herbert Morrison, P.C. M.P , Home Secretary and Minister of Home Security, was the principal guest, and he proposed the toast of the Company. to which the Master responded.
N.R.T.F. ELECTS AREA OFFICERS
InA T the inaugural conference of representatives of p.s v. operators nominated by A.R.O. and C.M.U.A which was held last week, the following officers were elected to serve on the first area committee of the new Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association, which is to be formed under the a!gis of the National Road Transport Federation: Mr. F. J. Speight, chairman; Mr. F. B. Monkman and Mr. A. E. Smith, vice-chairmen. The appointment of Mr. F. A. Walker as secretary of the London and Home Counties Area of the New Association, when formed, was ratified. The executive committee consist of the chairman and vice-chairmen and Messrs. li. Pitcher,, C. C. Pounds, S. D. Oddy and
E. Worth.
The inaugural conference of representatives of C-licence holders nominated by A.R.O., C.M.U.A. and the London and Home Counties Haulage Contractors' Association was also held last week, and the following officers elected: Mr. Chris Smith, chairman; Mr. J. Janes and Mr. C. Courtney Cramp, vice-chairmen; Mr.
F. A. Walker, secretary. In addition to the chairman and vice-chairmen, the following were elected to serve on the executive committee: Messrs. A. P. White, H. C. Crafte, H. Kitson, L. R. Sharp and Capt. J. B. Maidens. This section comprises the Traders' Road Transport Association which is being formed under the zegis of the N.R.T.F.
UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS
THE directors of Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd., have offered to provide fellowships at nine universities in Great Britain to be held by senior workers in certain sciences. The scheme is announced to operate for an
initial period of seven years. The fellowships will be of the average value of £600, per annum, although the universities will have power to determine the emolument for each particular appointment.
The directors of I.C.I. have described on broad lines the subjects in which the fellowships are to be held and the administration of the scheme rests wholly with the universities.
The purpose of the scheme is to strengthen the general provision in thBritish universities for scientific tear h• ing and research.
This offer has been made to the larger inetiLopolitan universities and those which have a close geographical relation to the main centres of the com pany's production. In all. 12 fellowships have been offered to the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and London, eight to the Universities of Glasgow, Edinbuegh, Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool and four to the Univer
sity of .Durham.
It is believed that a rational policy of this character, together with a wise selection of men, both as regards capabilities and tenure of ,office, will lead to the emergence of a body of men capable of taking' high academic ox industrial positions. PROFIT OF B.E.T. OMNIBUS SERVICES SLIGHTLY HIGHER
ACCOUNTS of E.E.T. Omnibus Services, Ltd., for the year ended' June 30 show a profit of 4150,893, compared with 4148,598 in the previous year. A dividend of eit per cent., free of. tax, on the ordinary shares (on account of which 3 per cent, was paid on March 1 last) takes 4130,000, and after a dividend of 10 per cent. on the cumulative preference shares, less tax, is paid, there remains 429,291 to be carried forward, compared with 413,598 brought in.
The report of the company shows the following investments in 41 ordinary shares (except where otherwise stated) in associated companies:—Aldershot and District Traction Co., Ltd., 82,721; Birmingham and District Investment Trust, Ltd., 55,700; Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., 31,941 (8 per tent, cumulative preference); East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., .151,356; East Midland Motor Services, Ltd.. 125,000; East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd., 149,362; London Coastal Coaches, Ltd.. 5,000; Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd., 263,492; North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., 373,332; Ribble, Motor Services. Ltd., 530,445; Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., 242,793; Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd., 225,440; Yorkshire Traction Co., Ltd , 9,322 (7 per cent, non cumulative preference) ; Yorkshire Traction Co., Ltd., 214,578.
HOW BRADFORD OVERCOMES SPARE-PARTS PROBLEMS
DEVELOPMENT of the welding plant at the Thornbury workshops of Bradford Passeeger Transport Department, as a means for overcoming spare-parts supply difficulties by the reconditioning of worn or fractured parts, was pointed out to members of ihe Yorkshire Transport Society when they toured the shops, left week.
The enlarged oxy-acety.lene installation is used for both the welding of east iron in connection with the repair
01 such engine parts as cylinder blocks and heads, and for the deposition of steel in the building up of worn brakecamshafts, shackle pins and spindles. The plant is also considerably used for repairs which extend the life of the all-metal bodies.
Outside reconditioning facilities which the Bradford undertaking is using include metal spraying and the electrical deposition of metals. The department has had crankshafts and back-axle shafts built up by spraying, and such parts as king-pins, front-axle pivot pins and shackle pins have been reconditioned by the Fescol process.
TAX REVISION UNDER CONSIDERATION
A LTHOUGH he agreed that he was 11 not, yet in a position to make a statement on car taxation revision, Sir John Anderson. Chancellor of the Exchequer, pointed out, in Parliament last week, that the views of Organizations representative of motor-vehicle manufacturers and • distributors had been received and were under conside rat ion .
He was answering a question by Wing , Commander Hulbert as to whether he could make a statement cut the result of his inquiries ilto the desirability of revising the existing basis of taxation
FILLING I. OF T. COUNCIL
•THE President of the Institute of Transport has declared certain members to he elected as Ordinary Members of Council to fill the vacancies for representatives of railway, road and water transpOrtswhich will arise on October 1. We give only those names which concern road transport. They are:—Messrs. C. Barringto% joint managing direttor, .Transport Services, Ltd.; C. T. Brunner, departmental manager, Shell-Mex and B.F., Ltd.; J. S. Wills, chairman, Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., and managing director, Western Welsh' Omnibus Co., Ltd.; also one associate member, Mr, G. Dickinson, assistant to chief executive officer, McNamara and Co., Ltd.
LOAD FIRED IN TRANSIT:
REMOVER'S DEFENCE SUCCEEDS A PLAINTIFF whose' furniture and PA effects; valued at over 4800, were destroyed by lire while in transit by road lion} Leeds to Bridlington, unsuccessfully claimed their value trOm the remover, at Leeds Assizes, last week. For plaintiff it was stated that, while his furniture was being transported in a large boxvan owned by defendant, Alfred Hutchinson, removal contractor, of Nowell Parade, Leeds, the vehicle was burnt out near Burton Agnes. According to plaintiff's case, something seemed to be wrong with the enginewhen the van began the journey, and it was suggested that some mechanical defect resulted in overheating and was a likely cause of the fire.
The defence denied that the engine was defective, and suggested that the fire might have been caused by sparles being blown into the van from a field in which farm workers were burning weeds and other rubbish. .
Giving judgment for the defendant. with costs, Mr. Justice Hilbery held that it had not been established that the fire was caused by any negligence on his part. Perhaps the best indication that the engine was not overheated to the extent suggested on behalf of plaintiff, said the judge, was that, during the journey, a boy employed by defendant sat on the bonnet of the engine in the cab. That some of the burning debris blew into the van from the field was quite possible. He was satisfied that, after the discovery of the fire, every effort was made to save the furniture.
Expressing sympathy with the plaintiff in the loss of the whole of the contents of his home, the Judge said that, so far as he knew, he did not have the fore,sight to insure his goods against destruction by fire
The 'invasion front demands tre. mendous quantities of paper for shell containers and innumerable other articles. Do .not waste a Scrap.
GOOD TRADING YEAR OF BROMILOW AND EDWARDS I N the year ended March 31 last, the
trading profit of Bromilow and Edwards, Ltd., amounted to £78,923, compared with 434,080 in the previous year. Depreciation takes £3,692, taxation £19,307, and provision for war contingencies £39,300, and the net profit of £15,224 compares with £10,160 in the previous year. A dividend of 10 per cent. and a bonus of 2i per cent. are to be paid, whilst general reserve receives £7,500, leaving £1.352 to be carried forward.
LEEDS TRANSPORT WORKERS' GESTURE TO LONDON BUSMEN ABOUT 100 bus workers, including drivers and conductors, employed by Leeds Passenger Transport Department, volunteered last week for a temporary exchange of duties with fellow-workers in the London area. The offer was an entirely spontaneous gesture on the part of the Leeds
employees. Mr. W. Vane Morland, general manager of the Leeds undertaking, thereupon contacted the L.P.T.B. with a view to the introduction of an exchange scheme.
A MINISTER FOR ROAD ACCIDENTS ,SUGGESTED
IN the House of Commons, last week, Mr. Churchill replied in the negative, and pointed out that the M.O.W.T, was already charged with the matter, when he was asked by Mr. Granville if, in view of the number of road casualties, he would appoint one Minister to co-ordinate the preventive measures of all the departments concerned and to initiate a special cam-, paign for the purpose of reducing the number of accidents.
In view of the fact that civilian casualties on the roads exceeded our military casualties since the war began, did not the Prime Minister think some more vigorous action was required, collectively, by Ministers under a single direction, to -reduce this appalling bast of civilian life? asked Mr. Granville.
Mr. Churchill pointed out that the Minister of War Transport did all in his power. " Of course, in war-time," he added, " with the street lighting taken away and With military lorries going sometimes very fast, there would be an increase, but I agree with him it is a shocking tale of tragedy that takes place every year on our roads. and certainly it ought not to slip far away from the attention of the House of Commons."
NEW ISSUE OF B.R.F. BASIC ROAD STATISTICS THE British Road Federation hopes to be able to publish its new edition of Basic Road Statistics at the same time as its reconstruction document entitled " Roads and Road Transport." The object of the statistics is to provide a standard reference on all essential road matters, and the figures have, with the -assistance of the Ministry, been brought up to date, so far as possible, to the outbreak of war.
RESIDENTS TO DECIDE CLASS OF ROAD SURFACE?
A PROPOSAL to tarmacadam a porrt tion of the main street at Grassington, Yorkshire, which is paved with stone setts, has met with criticism on the ground that this would impair the character of the picturesque thoroughfare. One of the critics is Mr. R. G. Brundrit, R.A., the Yorkshire Dales
artist. The local parish council has asked the highway authority to defer action until the council has tested tne general feeling on the question.
MORE FACTS-ABOUT SYNTHETIC TYRES
India Tyre and Rubber Co.,
III7td., 30, St. John's Wood Road, Loudon, N.W.8, has issued a sequel to its interesting booklet, "Facts About ' Synthetic ' Thres," in the form of a further bociklet, `` More Facts About Synthetic ' Tyres." This will shortly be available to traders and operators, and in each case the usual penny stamp per copy must be sent.
It brings up to date the information on tyres of this material. Included ere a new chapter dealing with synthetic rubber and a table giving comparisons of the effects of main abuses on tyres of natural and synthetic tubber, respectively.
A change in the medallion used on synthetic tyres is of topical interest.
32-TON LOAD OF POTATOES ENDS IN PIG FOOD
-r-HE Minister of Food, Colonel
Llewellin, is to inquire into the facts of a case, brought to his notice by Mr. Touche, in Parliament last week, and he will communicate the results to the Member. .
Mr. Touche asked for a statement on the circumstances. in which the M.O.W.T. ordered four 8-ton lorries to take 32 tons of potatoes from Lingfield to Aldershot on July 10; is he aware that when the lorries arrived at Aldershot, after a delay of foul hours, they were sent back unloaded to Lingfield; that on the following day. after several hours' delay, the lorries were then again sent with the same load to Aldershot; that the drivers were then told that this load was not wanted at Aldershot, and, finally, the potatoes were sent to Bagshot for use as pig food?
NEW ADDRESS OF SPECIALLOID BRISTOL DEPOT
I T is nearly two years since Special bid, Ltd., established its western area service depot in Glasshouse Lane, Bristol, and as a result of the need for increased stocking and service facilities, the company has recently removed into new and enlarged premises at 52, Redcliffe Hill, Bristol,
R.T.C. TO HOLD BUS CON. FERENC& IN NORTH 1 INTIMATION from the North Regional Transport Commissioner that a conference will be held at N'orthallerton on August 4, to discuss passenger-transport facilities, was reported at last week's meeting of Wath Rural District Council. The council's chairman, Councillor J. Hargrave, was appointed delegate.
FARMER WINS COLLISION CASE AGAINST BUS COMPANY
FOR damage to his lorry in a collision with a bus on Cocken End Hill, between Skipton and Ilkley, 2151 and costs were awarded to a Skipton farmer, in an action which he brought against the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., at Leeds Assizes last week.
It was stated that the collision occurred on a January morning when the road was covered with ice. Travelling down the hill the bus got into a skid when trying to avoid a pony and trap and crashed into the approaching lorry, the driver of which was killed. Plaintiff alleged negligence on the part of the driver of the bus. The defence denied liability, submitting that the mishap was inevitable.
Giving judgment, Mr. Justice Hilbery said that liability clearly rested with the bus company. It was the duty of the driver of the bus, which had been travelling along an icy road at 18 to 2'0 m.p.h., to realize what the condition of the road was.
FORTHCOMING I.A.E. MEETING THE following meeting of the I.A.E. may be of interest to our readers— September 5, general meeting at 6.15 p.m., at the Royal Society of Arts; paper by Mr. T. C. Stott, " Some Notes on Synthetic Rubber Oil Seal Applications."
CONSTRUCTION AND USE BOOKLET REVISED
THE fourth and revised edition of " Construction and Use of Motor Vehicles," by Mr. Frederick G. Bristow, C.B.E., has been published by the C.M.U.A., 50, Pall Mall, London, SW.!, at 2s. net. It has been brought up to date and includes the Regulations and Orders issued up to the beginning of July of this year.
FUEL AND MILEAGE SAVINGS BY RATIONALIZATION WITH regard to the collection of W milk, schemes of rationalization of transport, at present in force, save 433,000 road miles and 30,000 gallons of petrol a week.
As regards milk distribution, the figures are $79,000 miles and 39,000 gallons a week, and 6,700 men and 2,150 women released. These figures were.given by Col. Llewellin, Minister of Food, in the House of Commons, last week.
LEEDS SUSPENDS ITS PARCELS SERVICE QUSPENSION of the parcels service of Leeds Passenger Transport Department has been decided upon by the city councirst transport committee: This decision has been prompted by the shrinkage in the parcels traffic from shops—due to the war-time reduction in supplies of goods—coupled with man-power, fuel and van-maintenance factors. The suspension does not affect the carriage of passengers' personal luggage on the corporation's buses and trains, or the transporting of schoolchildren's meals by the department.