Motor Taxation Tops £97,000,000
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
Page 31
Page 32
Page 33
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A LTHOUGH in the past 10 years /-1. motor taxation has increased by nearly £10,000,000 a year, the amount spent on the roads has dropped alarmingly. In 1939, when taxation revenue totalled £87.223M00, expenditure on the roads was £60,282,000. In 1945 only £34,783,000 was spent on the roads, compared with taxation revenue of £69,940,000.
Motor taxation in 1948 has reached the record figure of £97,196,000, or 2i per cent. of the national revenue. The amount spent on the roads is not yet known, but will be only a fraction of the amount contributed in motor taxation.
These figures are contained in " Basic Road Statistics, 1948," which has just been published by the British Road Federation, 4a, Bloomsbury Square, London, W.C.I, at Is.
The book contains a mass of illuminating information. It shows that in 1930 there were 52,648 'motorbuses, coaches and trolleybuses in this country, but that after the passing of the Road Traffic Act in that year, the number dropped by nearly 7,000. It was not until 1938 that the figure again rose to 53,005. In September, 1946, it had increased to 57,257, and in 1947 to 62,399. • Of the 1947 figure, 34,037 were On the goods side, the number of vehicles has risen consistently over the years and the passing of the Road and Rail Traffic Act appeared to make no difference In 1938 there were 494,866 goods vehicles, in 1946, 560,037, and, last year, 669,691 (19.968 being oilers).
In December, 1947, there were 83,933 vehicles on A licences, 13,944 on Contract A licences, 64,418 on B licences, and 487,151 on C licences, the Iota! being 649446. They were distributed amongst 309.093 operators, of a26 whom 17,600 held A licences, 5,437 Contract A licences, 32,508 B licences and 253,548 C licences.
It is also shown that drivers and conductors of public servide vehicles and executive staff numbered last year 280,000. There were 34,000 people engaged in operating taxis and hire cars, 246,000 on goods transport under A and B licences, and• 340,000 on C-licence work,
N.F.U.• THROWS OUT R.H.A.
SCHEME
CCORDING to a report of the I1 transport committee of the National Farmers' Union, the Road Haulage Association has agreed to withdraw its conditions of carriage for the conveyance of livestock by road, and to submit a new draft to the Union for consideration. The N.F.U. would not agree to many major clauses in the conditions, but pressed for a new draft to provide for the conveyance of livestock at carriers' risk.
HIGHER TARGET FOR EXPORTS: HOME QUOTA NOT AFFECTED
ANNOUNCING export targets for 1949, the President of the Board of Trade stated on Monday that a considerable increase in exports of commercial vehicles was to be expected, mainly to Western European countries. in accordance with present commitments.
The target for vehicles of all types was put at a percentage of 263 of the 1938 volume, as against 255 this year. Exports of agricultural machinery, including tractors, were likely to increase, but there would be a small reduction in exports of private cars. Discussions, however', were taking place with members of the industries concerned.
In answer to a question by a representative of "The Commercial Motor" as to whether there would be fewer commercial vehicles for the home market, Mr. Wilson replied, "1 do not think so."
RAILWAY EXECUTIVE WANTS STEEL TRAFFIC IT is reported that the Iron and Steel I Federation has forwarded to its members a request by the Railway Executive that the. steel industry should transfer traffic from road to rail.
The Federation is understood to have put a number of questions to members, who are asked to supply details Of the amount of road transport used in 1938, 1943 and in the first nine months of this year, with comparable details of rail traffic. Steel manufacturers are also asked to explain why they are making increasing use of road transport.
Minimum weekly wages of male workers in the motor retail and repairing trade will be increased by sums ranging from 3s. 2d. to 4s. 1 litd. under an award by the J.I.C. SCOTTISH COMMERCIAL SHOW DOUBTS THERE seems to be no doubt that i a Motor Show will be staged at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, next year, but difficulties have arisen in connection with the practicability of including a commercial vehicle section.
That part of the Hall in whieh the latter was staged before the war is now occupied by a circus ring around which are tiers of seats, and these have been retained for a number of years, although required only for a circus during the Christmas season. As the Scottish Show has to be held after the close of the Motor Show at Earls Court, thtre would probably be insufficient time to dismantle the circus fittings and re-erect them. It is, of course, possible that some way may be found out of the difficulty.
IMPROVED PISTONS FOR OIL ENGINES
ANEW range of Hepolite pistons for oil engines has been introduced by Hepworth and Grandage, Ltd., St. John's Works, Bradford, They are made in Hepiex alloy, chosen for its strength, resistance to wear, and low coefficient of expansion.
Only three compression rings are used, the top ring being located well away from the piston crown. Piston skirts are form-ground to such a shape that high pressure spots are avoided, and the thrust is distributed uniformly over a wide area.
In this new range of pistons, the gudgeon-pin poles are produced by what is termed accurizing, a machining process which ensures extreme accuracy of alignment, and a finish which is claimed to be superior to that obtained with normal boring methods.
AMERICAN COMMENTARY AT I.R.T.E. MEETING
SOME 200 members attended the first meeting of the winter session of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers at the Royal Society of Arts on October 21, when Mr. G. D. Robinson. chief designer, and Mr. S. Hollands, home sales manager, of A.E.C.. Ltd., read their paper on "The Tretd of Developments in America." It was extremely interesting and was followed by a long and animated discussion.
The paper will be repeated at a meeting of the North-Eastern Centre of the Institute at the Hotel Mefropole, King Street, Leeds, 1, at 7 p.m.. on November 18.
A brief synopsis of answers given by the authors to certain queries is as follows:—One American concern is turning out between 30 and 50 chassislees buses per week. Damaged parts of vehicles are often cut right out and new sections welded in. Chassisless construction seems infinitely better than other methods. Vane-type shock absorbers are used in conjunction with Torsilastic suspension,
In some buses using blown engines, blower bearings are renewed at 200,000 miles, but otherwise only piston rings have to be changed. Torque converters are successful because of high power
weight ratios, but fuel consumption is very high. Practically all brakes squeak, some immediately, some after material from impregnated facings exudes and !eaves raw asbestos. The only buses without brake squeak are those of General Motors, which have very rigid drums. Oil engines are allowed to smoke, and American users get 60,000-70,000 miles out of injectors. All tyres are still synthetic. Fire-engines travel at 75 m.p.h. in main city thoroughfares—all traffic must stop on the warning. Much beautiful equipment is spoiled by cheap 'controls, inefficient starter switches, etc. Considerable weight is often saved by using light metals. The Twin Coach weighs under 7 tons in light alloy, but the equivalent Mack in steel weighs tons. Air for engines is often taken from the top of a pillar in the body.
OBITUARY
WE regret to announce the death of VT MR. C. J. VERRALL, a director of the F. H. Wilson Transport Co.. Ltd., London, S.E.16. He was taken ill a few weeks ago and died on October 21. Mr. Verrall was originally a partner of Mr. F. II, Wilson, managing director, and, when she Company became limited, was appointed a director.
Ma. P. D. WHITING. Of the saverseas sales department of Tilling-Stevens, Ltd., and Vulcan . Motors, Ltd., died recently after a short illness. He was well known to distributors and dealers at home and overseas.
LAST OF MANCHESTER TRAMS TO GO
A T its meeting last week, Manchester In, Transport Committee announced that the change-over from tram to bus operation would be complete by January 10.
The one route remaining for conversion is from Exchange Station to Hazel Grove, and a joint application was made to the North-Western Licensing Authority by Stockport and Manchester Corporations for sanction to run a 12-minute bus service, with a 2d. minimum fare, operating in the Stockport borough to protect Stockport's remaining tram services.
The North-Western Road Car Co., Ltd„ objected. Mr J, R. Williams, chairman of the Licensing Authority, said that the application should not be considered in the absence of further financial details, unless the corporations were prepared to reduce the minimum fare to correspond with existing tram fares. Decision was reserved.
GETTING ROVND SHORTAGES
THE Board of Trade states that the delivery of goods from export quota to residents of the United Kingdom against payment from accounts in other parts of the sterling area, is directly contrary to the national interest. Such transactions should not appear as exports in the °mums made by industry to the Board of Trade, nor should they be recorded against export targets.
TRANSPORT ACT HAS COME TO STAY
D EPEAL of the Transport Act, if the
present Government were thrown out at a General Election, was not regarded as likely by Mr. Henry Rossington, chairman of the National Conference of Road Transport Clearing Housea, when he spoke at the ,recent annual meeting of the Conference's North-eastern Area, in Leeds.
In his opinion, the most that could be done would be to stay further steps in implementing the Act. It was difficult to see bow it was possible for anyone to come back.into the industry if his business had been taken over by the British Transport Commission.
Urging the importance of support for the road-haulage rates schedule recommended by the Conference, Mr. Rossington said that the short-distance haulier would find competition very severe, because the majority of undertakings already taken over had vehicles operating on short-distance work. Unless a rates schedule were established now, and maintained, the "free " short-distance operator would soon be out of business.
It was imperative that the longdistance haulier not yet taken over should maintain his rates at an economic level, because part of his compensation would be based on the average of his net profits over several years, and if he lost money on his last year's work, it would be reduced.
Mr. Harold Firth, of Huddersfield, was re-elected chairman, and Mr. J. F. Archbold, of Leeds, honorary secretary.
TRANSPORT NATIONALIZATION MAY BE 'FATAL" IT is bad enough to experiment with mines; but it may be fatal to experiment with transport," said Mr. G. W. Odey, Conservative M.P. for the Howdenshire Division, referring to nationalization, at the annual dinner of the Humberside Section of the Institute of Transport at Hull, last week.
Nationalization, Mr_ Odey commented, should be recognized as an experiment in which some people believed." "I do wish, however," he added, "that before the Government applied this experiment to the lifeblood of the nation, which is transport, they had given themselves the advantage of Teaming from their experience in nationalizing the mines."
After saying, "there are some things which are done by Parliament which cannot be undone," Mr. Odey continued: "All we can do is to see that their bad effects—if their effects are bad —are mitigated."
Mr. David Lamb, president of the Institute, was among the speakers.
MANCHESTER I.T.A. REOPENS NeTEMBERS of the Industrial Trans/Ylport Association have revived their Manchester branch. Mr. K. Bland has been elected chairman, with Mr. C. Dewey, 1, Benchill Crescent, Northenden, Cheshire, as honorary secretary. Messrs Babbs, Anderson. Hayton, Murray and Langton form the committee.
Meetings are to be held on the third Friday in each month. •
HAULIERS' POSITION STRONGER QPEAKING at the annual dinner of 6.) Mansfield Sub-area of the Road Haulage Association, Mr. D. Derham, East Midland area chairman, claimed that, whatever the future might hold for operators, they had, by their fight against nationalization, put themselves in a stronger position.
Other speakers were Mr. P. D. CotesPreedy, Deputy Licensing Authority, Mr. A. C. Shepherd, town clerk of Mansfield, Mr. F. C Ashton, sub-area chairman, and Mr. W. T. Kemp, subarea secretary. 500 AT SCA.MMELL BALL lUORE than 500 employees and guests In attended the annual ball given last Friday by the staff of Scammell Lorries, Ltd. Mr. E. R. Cartwright, C.B.E., M.I.C.E., chairman of the company, and Mr. W. E. Pearson, managing director, were present. Mr. Kenneth Home, sales director of the Triplex Safety Glass Co., Ltd., topped the cabaret bill.
STRONG ACTION IN SALFORD DISPUTE NAEMBERS of the National Union of LVI Public Vehicle Drivers and Operators, who claim to constitute about six-sevenths of Salford Corporation's traffic staff, decided last Friday to strike at midnight on Tuesday (October 26) unless the corporation had by thenmade moves towards recognizing their Union. The transport committee replied that employees not reporting for duty on Wednesday would be regarded as having ended their service. The dispute arises from the fact that the new Union was not consulted before certain revised timings were introduced.
ROYAL SHOW NEXT JULY THE Royal Show wiH be held at 1 Shrewsbury from July 5-8 next year. Regulations, prize lists and schedules covering implement and commercial exhibits will be available next month from the Royal Agricultural Society of England, 16, Bedford Square, London, W.C.1.
NEW T.R.T.A. SUB-AREA? London and Home Counties Tiraa of the Traders' Road Trans port port Association is considering setting in the east. The final port Association is considering setting in the east. The final decision a sub-area nal
decision will be made at a meeting of Eastern Region members to be held at the University Arms Hotel, Cambridge, on November 17.
MUNICIPAL PURCHASES AND PROPOSALS Scarborough Corporation proposes to purchase a mechanical road sweeper. Ayr Corporation is recommended to buy two more Dennis refuse-collection vehicles with double cabs, Hove Corporation is recommended to buy a Fordson Major industrial tractor from Hartley and Midgley, Ltd. Rotherham( Corporation's chief fire officer has been authorized to obtain a new lire-engine at an estimated cos. of £3,750.
Southwark Borough Council is to purchase a vehicle for use by the building works section a a cost not exceeding 050. Douglas (Isle of Man) Electricity Committee bropo,es to boy a tower wagon, costing .£870. from E. B. Chnstian and Co.
Fulham Borough Council is recommended to purchase two Brush battery-electric salvagecollection vehicles from Treece (Birmingham). Ltd.
Fluffingdon Rural District Council has accepted tbc tender of Glover Webb and tiversidge. Ltd.. For the supply of a 1 0-cnbie-vd. refuse collector. IN A LINE OR TWO
Coach operators and hauliers should note that the Ideal Home Exhibition will be held at Olympia from March 1-26. * . Union Tyre Supplies (Great Britain), Ltd., has opened depots at Measham, Burton-on-Trent, Thirsk, Yorkshire, and Bournemouth.
The export division of Leyland Motors, Ltd. will be transferred, on November I:from Leyland to Hanover House, Hanover Square, London, W.1.
• • • The Ferguson Truck and Equipment Co.. Ltd., Vancouver, has been appointed agent and distributor of Leyland vehicles and units in British Columbia, Canada. • * *
The telephone number of Automo tive Products Co., Ltd., Lockheed ra
Hydulic Brake Co., Ltd., and Borg and Beck Co., Ltd., has been changed to Leamington Spa 2700. According to Capt. Smith-Clarke, m
who recently retired from the chairmanship of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (Automobile Division), the Division has 3,353 members. On November 2, in the B.B.C. Home Service series entitled "Questions of the Hour," Mr. R. Gresham Cooke will speak on the success of the motor industry's export drive and the prospects of a permanent overseas market.
1500 PRIZES FOR IDEAS ON BODYWORK
PR1ZES valued at more than £500, as well as additional awards in the form of free visits to a Continental motor show, will again be offered in the 1949 series of Drawing and Handicraft Competitions. These are being run by the Institute of British Carriage and Automobile Manufacturers, in conjunction with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers.
A first prize of £15 and two other prizes will be awarded in Competition No. 3, which is for an outline drawing of a utility body . Three prizes, of which the largest is £75, are offered in Competition No. 4, for a generalarrangement drawing of a coach, 28 ft. long and 8 ft. wide, based on a forwardcontrol chassis with rightor left-band steering. The winner of the first prize in this eompefition will also be offered facilities for a free visit to a Continental motor show.
A working drawing of a mobile library is the subject of Competition No. 5, in which there are three Prizes, the highest being £40.
Further details can be obtained from the Institute of British Carriage and Automobile Manufacturers at 50, Pall Mall, London, S.W.I. BUSES FOR TRAMS: COMPANIES • APPEAL AGAINST GRANT
ASUBMISSION that Glasgow Corporation had failed to produce any evidence to support the replacement of trains by buses on the route between Paisley and Barrhead was made dnring the hearing of an appeal, in Glasgow last week, against the Scottish Licensing Authority's decision to allow the corporation :to run public-service vehicles over the route.
Mr. T. P. Macdonald, K.C., on behalf of the appellants Paisley and District Omnibus Co., Ltd., Western S.M.T. Co., Ltd., and Messrs. IVI'Gill's Bus Service, said that the evidence given by Mr. E. R. L. Fitzpayne, general manager of Glasgow Transport Department, before the Licensing Authority, did not show that the present services between Paisley and Barrhead were inadequate.
The reason put forward for justifying this application, he continued, was that Glasgow Corporation had been requested by Renfrew County Council to discontinue the use of 1,716 yards of single-line tramway track on the fivemile route. The real reason, however, said Mr. Macdonald, was that trams were out of date and the corporation could not get steel rails.
The Western S.M.T. concern at present ran three buses an hour over the route and Messrs. M'Gill's Bus Service, four. The corporation was running five trams an hour between these two towns, but proposed to operate instead a I5-minute bus service.
If this had been an application to run a shuttle service in the gap, We would have had no objection whatsoever;" Mr. Macdonald declared.
The corporation claimed that the grant was in the public interest.
VISIT TO LYNWOOD lt/lEMBERS of the Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund who wish to visit Lynwood, the new borne for elderly people at .Sunninghill, next Wednesday, should advise the secretary at 204. Great Portland Street, London, W.1, or the fund's stand (No. 71) at Earls Court. A coach will leave Earls Court at 2 p.m., returning there at 6 p.m. Tea will be served, and the inclusive charge will be 7s. 6d.
AUGUST REGISTRATIONS DROP REGISTRATIONS of new vehicles other than cars and motorcycles, dwindled from 15,818 in July to 12,785 in August. The total for the first eight months of the year was 127,661. Registrations in individual classes are as follows:—
NO TAX ON LORRIES ABROAD?
WHEN the road transport subVV committee of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe meets on December 7, it is hoped that progress will be made towards the preparation of reciprocal agreements for the abolition of taxes paid on lorries travelling in foreign countries. The secretariat of the Commission has been asked to study the matter in collaboration with the International Road Transport Union.
The Commission has asked Governments to refrain from levying taxes on fuel contained in the normal tanks of motor vehicles coming from abroad, pending the conclusion of an international agreement on the subject.
INSTITUTE PAPERS ON PASSENGER TRANSPORT
TWO papers dealing with passenger transport are to be read in the provinces before members of the Institute of Transport. On November 9. at 6.30 p.m.. Mr. W. Luff, general manager of Blackpool Corporation's transport department, will address the Yorkshire Section at the Great Northern Station Hotel, Leeds. on "Budgetary and Statistical Control of Road Passenger Transport." Mr. C. F. Klapper will read a paper on " Road Passenger Transport " before the North Staffordshire Group, at the North Stafford Hotel, Stoke, at 6.30 p.m, on November 12.
The Scottish Section's .annual dinner will be held at the North British Hotel, Edinburgh. on November 10, at 7 p.m.
EXTRA 6s. FOR CIE. WORKERS
AS a result of the recent dispute over wages of employees of Coras lompair Eireann. the Labour Court has recommended an increase of 6s. per week for certain workers employed in the traffic section of the company's road passenger transport undertaking. The Irish Transport and General Workers' Union claimed an extra us. per week. The Court refused to recommend extra pay for drivers of 66-seater. buses.
C-VEHICLE DEFINITION
TOprevent evasion of the fuel regulations by the use of dual-purpose vehicles, the definition of a C-licence vehicle is likely to be altered. Mr. Gaitskell, Minister of Fuel and Power, made this announcement last week.
LI I BRICATION —FROM IN SI DE Oo Monday. at .7.30 p.m.. Mr. A. Cairns. A.M.I.Mech.E., M.I.R.T.E., will read a paper on "The Inside Story of Lubrication," at a meeting of the Institute of Road. Transport Engineers to be held' at the -institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders, Glasgow
NEW DODGE DISTRIBUTOR
A COMPANY entitled North Eastern r-k Motors. Ltd., West Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 4, has been formed as Dodge distributor for the North East. Mr. P. M. Colvin-Smith, managing director of Colvin-Smith. Ltd.. is managing director Other directors are: Mr. W. A. Whitehead, secretary of the sub-area committee of the Road Haulage Association and a director of Adam
Atkinson and Co.. Ltd., a prominent Birtley haulage concern; Mr. F Orrell, director of Northumbrian Transport Services, Ltd., and Bedlington and District Luxury Coaches, Ltd.; and Mr. F. Beal, previously with Dodge Bros. (Britain), Ltd. The company has a nominal capital of £5,000.
TRACTORS ON HIRE PURCHASE
AN arrangement between the British Wagon Co., lids and Harry FergOon, Ltd., has made it possible for farmers to buy Ferguson tractors and implements by hire-purchase. Equipment can be supplied for a first payment of one-tenth of the list price, the balance being spread over 12 months.
RUBBER TO CARRY STRESS EIRST reading of a paper by Mr. I S. W Marsh, chief engineer of the Andre Rubber Co., Ltd., will take place at a general meeting of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (Automobile Division). at Storey's Gate, London, S.W.1, on November 9, at 6 p.m. It will deal with "Rubber as a 'Stresscarrying Material, and Some Design Considerations." A section of the paper will describe the uses of rubber bonded to metal.
Mr.Marsh's treatise will be read at Bristol on November 25, Coventry on December 7, Leeds on December 15, and Luton on December 21.