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NEWS of the WEEK

29th November 1940
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Page 14, 29th November 1940 — NEWS of the WEEK
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GOVERNMENT GROSSLY WASTING TRANSPORT

AUT HEN TIC information has reached us concerning a case which may be typical of -others, and in which gross wastage of road-transport facilities is occurring.

An owner-driver, who was working for a well-known road-transport contractor for many years, was pestered daily by the Ministry of Supply to work directly for the Ministry. He protested that he was fully engaged on carrying war materials, hut, eventually, promised that he would give the Ministry part-time service. When he commenced this work, he had strict instructions that he must always return empty at once to reload. Officially he did so, but, actually, carried a load back every time to avoid waste running. Recently, he was told that he must not return empty and was then given loads to bring back. Last Monday, when loaded, he was told that he was now working for the Admiralty and must return empty. On that day, at 8 a:m., he loaded in London for a district,. about .'200 miles away, being told to delitier on Wednesday afternoon and to return empty to London for loading to-day (Friday).

Actually, he could almost do two round trips loaded each way to the area in question in the time allowed for the one trip, and without exceeding the legal driving hours; thus coping with four loads instead of the one.

Service with the Forces: Misunderstandings Removed TTHERE-is still. a good deal of misunderstanding in the industry concerning the procedure to be adopted in the case of men who have registered for

military service. In many instances, men appear to have been registered in a wrong category. For example, a haulier whose whole-time job was managing a goods-transport business, had been told that he could be regis: tered only as a driver and that the category of " manager" was reserved for traffic managers of big concerns. The matter was taken to the Ministry of Labour by A.R.O. and eventually put right.

Men who are working most of their time as drivers of a goods vehicle of between 1/ and 2-1 tons unladen weight should register as such. They are in a reserved occupation if they be 30 years of age or over. Men actually employed in driving a vehicle of over 2i tons unladen weight, whether-they have a B.C.:V. drivers' licence or not, should register accordingly. They are in a reserved occupation if they be over 25 years old.

Hauliers who are actually engaged in. managing or controlling a goods-transport business all or most of their time should register as managers or con trollers of .such a business. But, if most of their time be spent in driving a. lorry, they must register as drivers. Age of reservation for a manager is 25 years. Owner-drivers should have no • difficulty in -obtaining a postponement of calling up until after the sugar-beet season on the score of personal hardship by loss of a considerable amount of income.

Applications for postponement must not be left until it is too late. Once the calling-up papers have been dispatched, it is definitely too late. The application should be made at the earliest possible moment and certainly' not later than the medical examination.

Operators are also warned to see that registration particulars are amended promptly when a mate is promoted to driver, or a driver of a light vehicle is transferred to a heavier vehicle,

Road Fund Tax Payments by Instalments

AS an alternative to annual or quarterly payments for Road Fund taxes, the British Railway Traffic and Electric Co., Ltd., has instituted an attractive scheme which should make a strong appeal to a number of commercial-vehicle operators. By taking advantage of the company's plan of monthly payments, the operator pays less than would be the case by taking out four quarterly instalments.

The plan involves the payment of one-twelfth of the annual tax, when application for the necessary licences is made, and 11 subsequent monthly payments. The company's charges fluctuate with the total tax payable: When it is £150 or under, the charge is 7 per cent., and when it is over £750, 5-/per cent.

In the case of an operator with three 3-ton vehicles, the cbmpany's method results in an annual saving or £5 7s. fid., and where a fleet of 10 5-ton vehicles and one 3-tonner is concerned, the saving exceeds £37.

Operators can obtain details of the scheme, together with copies of the proposal form, by writing the company at I.Zotherham Rouse, 13, Grosvenor Crescent, London, S.W.1.

ROAD TRANSPORT TO RELIEVE RAIL CONGESTION TNDER the pressure of circumstances, and, perhaps," for the reasoit that the new Minister of Transpcirt knows more about his job than did his predecessors, it has been decided that, as a matter of ministerial policy. there will be a diversion of suitable traffics to road and other means for transport, in order to relieve the congestion on the railways.

This information is contained in a letter „addressed by a Regional Transport Commissioner to sub-district managers, and it goes on to say that the railway executive committee has, therefore, instructed its railway representatives to impose restrictions on certain traffics, which will now have to be carried by road.

As a result, application will doubtless be made to sub-district managers for additional supplementary grants of fuel, and where these officials are satisfied, either that a restriction has been imposed by the railways, or that there is likely to be undue delay in the Carriage of essential goods by rail, applications for extra fuel should be granted. In some cases the Ministry will notify the Commissioners as to the traffics for which supplementary petrol is to be issued.

It will be appreCiated, states the letter, that these instructions appear to be a complete change of policy, which will probably lead to a large increase in the amount of extra fuel which may have to be supplied, inasmuch as longdistance haulage by road may now have to be allowed to a far greater extent than before, but the policy of our war organization must be sufficiently fluid to be adapted to the changing circumstances. The need for safeguarding fuel is still important, and it is still necessary to see whether the carriage of the goods by road is esSential.

Difficulty of Controlling Used-vehicle

.T.HE question of the prices of used I vehicleS has been taken up with the Ministry of Transport by A.R.O., with a view to some sort of control. As the outcome of this consultation, however, it has become apparent that the difficulties in the way of such a step are well-nigh insuperable,

, It is suggested, however, that any member who, having applied. to the Regional Transport Commissioner for permission to purchase a new vehicle, is referred by him' to the used market, where he is met by demands for prices which he considers extortionate, woUld be justified in communicating the facts to the R.T.C.

The Association has, in fact, advised the Ministry that it it proposing to recommend that'procedure to members. In the meantime, all cases of difficulty in the purchase of used vehicles, arising through exorbitant prices or otherwise, Should be referred 'to the A.R.O. local or area secretary. LEAKAGE ALLEGED IN MEAT DISTRIBUTION

LEAKAGES in the Government's La meat distribution scheme were revealed at Bradford City Police Court, last week, when a motor driver and a carrier pleaded guilty to stealing meat from the Bradford Butchers' Retail Buying Committee.

For the prosecution, it was explained that after meat had been allocated, porters at the city abattoir carried the meat to carriers' wagons for delivery to the butchers. In no case should there be a cash transaction between the carrier and the butcher, the procedure being that the butcher paid by weekly cheque to the Retail Baying Committee. It was alleged that the two accused sold meat to butchers for cash, giving two-thirds of the money to cer

tain porters at the abattoir, who had placed the meat in their wagons.

In comments at -the conclusion of the hearing, the Stipendiary Magistrate, Dr. F. J. 0. Coddington, said "If am to accept what I havebeen told in these cases, we have now revealed a very serious criminal conspiracy, involving three sets of individuals— abattoir porters, who appear to be the instigators of this criminal conspiracy, carriers who carry the meat, and butchers who buy ,it.

He gave_ a waraing that if any butcher buying meat in this irregular manner came before the Court his chances of being sent to prison would be high.

One of the accused was fined £20, with the alternative of four months' imprisonment. The other defendant was remanded for medical examination. NEW WAGES INCREASES NOT YET IN FORCE

TIEEE appears to be some mis

understanding amongst hauliers as to the application of the latest increases in wages, We have already announced that the Central Road Haulage Wage Board has proposed that the wages of haulage workers shall be increased by 3s. 6d. per week in the case of adults, and Is. 9d, in the case of youths.

Hauliers are in doubt as to whether these increases are immediately applicable or not. The answer is that they are not yet in force. In due course, a new notice, RH6, will be issued announcing these new rates and stating the date on which they will come into operation. All transport employers should receive a copy of that public pamphlet when it appears.

GROUPING SCHEME TO USE IDLE MOTOR PLANT

vORMATION of the Scottish Engi

neering Group, Ltd., which was announced recently, is an interesting effort to marshal the productive facilities of small motor engineering undertakings in the national interest. Since the outbreak of war, many small engineering establishments, acting individually, have been unable to obtain suitable work for their plant, only a small percentage of their number being able to undertake contracts of sufficient volume to interest either the Ministry of Supply or other main contractors. The result is that a considerable 'amount of productive plant has, so far, been ineffective.

Therefore, 40 small engineering establishments, members of the Scottish Motor Trade Association, in Glasgow and the West of Scotland, have joined together to form this new company, which will endeavour to obtain considerable contracts and allocate pro

duction throughout the group. The type of work which it is best able to undertake is repetition machining .of fairly wide limits.

More About Steel Helmets for Transport Workers LAST week's issue contained a paragraph intimating that it had been agreed that mild-steel helmets were to be made available for road-transport workers engaged on essential services. The price of the helmet is 7s. The helmet does not afford the same degree of protection as the Service steel helmet, but it is considered to be adequate against falling debris, spent shrapnel and shell splinters. Any roadtransport undertaking desiring to be supplied with such helmets should sub.nit an application to the Regional Transport Commissioner. The application should specify clearly :—(1) The number of helmets which will be needed (calculated on the basis of provision for one " shift " only); (2) the employees to whom helmets will be issued (i.e., -drivers, conductors, attendants on goods vehicles, inspectors, or other outside staff); (3) the areas covered by the routes or services

concerned; (4) the nature of the goods carried.

Applicants should confine their initial requirements to a bare minimum.

Joseph Lucas Profit

N" profit of Joseph Lucas, Ltd,, in the year ended August 7, 1940, amounted to £297,317. Interim dividends absorbed £35,134, so that available balance, after adding £63,703 brought in, amounts to £325,886. A final dividend of 121 per cent. (less tax) on the ordinary shares, making 15 per cent, for the year. takes £140,918, the reserve fund receives £100,000 (bringing it up to £900,000) and the workpeople's fund £15,000. The amount carried forward is £65,986.

COMPENSATION FOR VEHICLES DAMAGED BY ENEMY ACTION

AMEMORANDUM has been drawn up by A,R.O. dealing with the subject of compensation for damage to vehicles due to enemy action. It is. however, being held in abeyance pending the publication of the Government insurance scheme. Hauliers are advised, however, that if they be unfortunate enough to have to claim, they should obtain from the District Valuer, form V.C.W.1 and complete it. The claim should be lodged with the valuer within 30 days of the occurrence of the loss or damage. ;Under present arrangements, of course, no compensation will be paid until after the war.

COMMISSIONER ADVOCATES STANDARDIZED RATES

WWHEN he recently addressed a meetW ing of Aberdeenshire hauliers, under the auspices of the Scottish Carriers' and Haulage Contractors' Association, Mr. Henry Riches, Regional Transport Commissioner for Northern Scotland, advocated the fixing of standard rates for the transport of goods by road. , For a long time past, he said, it had been the plea of hauliers that it was difficult to fix a standard rate for a particular district, because wages varied so much.

With the standardization of wages and hours, should it be difficult to accomplish the standardization of rates? asked Mr. Riches. Unlike the railways, they had, at present, no maximum rates in force. The rates were all more or less competitive. But he saw no reason why standard rates should not be fixed for the carriage of all classes of goods, including livestock. He also saw no reason why rates should not be standardized on an hourly basis for the use of vehicle and driver. He admitted that there were difficulties, but not insuperable ones.

Mr. John Strang, a former president of the Association, discussing the Road Haulage Wages Act, criticized the absence of a definite formula whereby wages should go up in accordance with the cost of living. The Association had drafted a resolution on this subject to the road panel of the Scottish Area Wages Board. When the war finished and the cost of living comes dawn there would be great difficulty in getting wages down, he added. If they go up on a sliding scale they can come down on a sliding scale, he said.

Death of Mr. Arthur Come

WE learn, with regret, from Major W. H. Goddard, of the death, in November, of Mr. Arthur Cox, of Birmingham. He was a man who specialized in carburation, and many people will remember the well-known Cox Atmos carburetter, which he designed. His theory was that in every engine there is a great waste of fuel, particularly at .low speeds and idling, and especially when the strangler is employed to facilitate starting. As a result, he developed his Cox Atmos Economizer. He claimed that his 9 h.p.

Singer car ran over 60,000 Miles without the oil in the sump being changed, and that if had not been decarbonized for over 70,000 miles.

He was a fine man with a most cheerful disposition, and his loss will be much felt by his many friends, Yorkshire Society's Winter Programme I N the absence of many of its younger members on service in the Forces, and in view of other war-time factors, which adversely affect attendances at meetings, the Yorkshire Transport Society has not arranged a formal syllabus of lectures for this winter: Instead, the programme largely comprises monthly discussions at the Society's headquarters, Bradford Technical College, upon articles on various aspects of transport, selected from technical journals. AN ATTRACTIVE USED-OIL REGENERATOR

AN authority on oil filtration wrote, in an I.A.E, paper recently, to the effect that the type of filter commonly used for reconditioning lubricant drawn from engine crankcases is capable of rendering used oil in a better condition, than filters incorporated in the engine, and that " batch" filtration is obviously the most effective way to clean dirty oil. (See The Commercial Motor dated November 15.)

There is on the market a number of such devices, varying in method of functioning, degree of elaboration, capacity, size, cost and other features, and with most of them we believe our readers to be familiar. One, however, which has recently come to our notice and which we do not recall having dealt with in these pages, but which merits attention, is the Seagull oil regenerator, marketed by William Clark (Spare Parts), Ltd., 5, Marshalsea Road, London, S.E.1.

It functions on the principle in which a special cleaning powder is introduced into the oil, which performs the combined functions of absorbing impurities, neutralizing acids and separating out foreign bodies by mechanical filtration. In addition the plant incorporates a porous filter pad, which operates in conjunction with the introduced medium, and electrical heating apparatus for evaporating diluents.

Backing National Savings encourage the purchase of TNational Savings Certificates and War Bonds, a co-operative advertising campaign is being undertaken by a group_of road-transport concerns interested in the carriage of goods, which group is itself operating nationally.

The advertisements are appearing in certain transport papers, as well as in national and provincial daily papers. They stress the need for saving time and money by utilizing the facilities provided by road transport, which saving can then be allocated to war purposes. The campaign is being sponsored by Transport Services, Ltd.

Success of Bedford Dealers' Spitfire Fund THERE has been a splendid response 1 to the Vauxhall-Bedford Dealers' Spitfire Fund. A total of 400 dealers and their staffs subscribed, and a cheque for over £5,000 has been handed to Lord Beaverbrook for the purchase of a Spitfire, to be named the " Vautrhall-Bedford."

Some novel ideas were used in the appeal, and they are worthy of the attention of other organizers. Every subscriber was presented with a " shareholder " lapel badge or brooch, which consisted of an enamelled Spitfire badge bearing the word "shareholder," this being reproduced in various colours to correspond with the size of the subscription.

To mark the occasion, Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., is also presenting to dealers who participated an attractive metallized Wall plaque. All expenses were borne by the company, so that every penny subscribed was devoted to the fund. POST OFFICE CHRISTMAS WORK IN BRISTOL

THE secretary, Western Area, ARC., announces that there is a shortage of vehicles required for Post Office work in the Bristol area. He asks that hauliers within a reasonable distance of the city, who have vehicles which they could hire for this work. should get in touch with him at once. He states that fair rates have been agreed with the Bristol authorities and information as to these may be obtained upon application.

Association Help Helps the Association

IN contrast with the tendency in YOrkshire—noted on page 210 of last week's issue—for hauliers to become lax in their support of their Association, is an announcement from Mr, A. G. Akers, secretary of the Western Area of A.R.O., that the members of his area continue to increase numerically. No fewer than 31 enrolmeuts have occurred during the past month, Moreover, this is not an unusual figure, but is an average increment to the membership.

The reason for the growing popularity o,f A.R.O. in this area seems to be indicatedby a recent announcement, also coining from Mr. Akers, in which he states, that,. whilst present conditions Make it difficult to call meetings of members, the office staff and the area ontside represerrMtive, Mr. M. A, Alway Jones, are available to deal with such protlems: as members may meet in the course of their businesses. Indeed, they have, during the past month, helped members in respect of a number of vital matters.

Fined for Dirty Livestock Lorry

A FINE of was imposed, at Ash

tn. bourne Petty Sessions, on. Mr. Joseph Wood, a cattle remover,. of Alderwasley, for aiding and abetting Sydney Flint, a lorry driver, of Derwent Terrace, Whatstanclwell, who was summoned for conveying livestock in a cattle carrier and failing to have the vehicle cleansed and disinfetted.

Scottish Association's Strong Position

THE Scottish Horse and Motormen's Association reports assets of 195,630, being an increase of £90300 compared with a year ago. Mr. Robert Taylor, general secretary, states that the surplus for the past three months was £3,886. The branches have approved the executive's recommendation to invest 5,1300 in Government securities, free of interest, for the duration of the war.

I.T.A. PROGRESS IN THE PROVINCES I N the course of a tour of branches in Scotland and the North of England, Mr. J. A. Dunnage, general secretary of the Industrial Transport Association, last week visited Manchester and met local members. Extensive work of the association in connection with the Central and Supplementary Registers was stressed in a report' on war-time activities. Mention was also made of considerable work in assisting members to positions in the Forces, where their technical qualifications would be of value. "

In his talk Mr. Dunnage emphasized the I.T.A. policy of concentrating on the personal welfare of the individual members. A series of monthly meetings is to be inaugurated by the Manchester branch.

Death of Mr. John Tillotson rrIE death is recorded, at the age of 52 years, of Mr. John 0. Tillotson, of Burnley, who was the founder of the well-known concern of 05,wald Tillotson, Ltd., motor engineer and agent, which he started 31 years ago. Retiring from active connection with the company last January, he continued with the smaller business known as Messrs. Used Units, of which he was managing

director. 3'


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