What are Road Transport's Prospects for the New Year
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IN two days the New Year will be with us, and 'whilst it is difficult and, possibly even dangerous, to take on the role of the prophet, it may be of interest to consider the position of road transport in the light of the events of the past few months.
In the article which precedes this we have discussed the important matter of fuel and its supply, and the shadow cast by those factors is not too promising.
Undoubtedly, there will be intense activity in connection with endeavours to solve the problems pertaining to the employment of various types of alternative fuel.
We are not highly optimistic concerning the possibility of utilizing any considerable quantity of coal gas during, at least, the first half of the year, unless big efforts be made in the direction of low or medium-pressure containers. Quite candidly, we believe that there will be difficulty in obtaining high-pressiire cylinders in really adequate numbers —by adequate we mean sufficient to exercise a real influence upon the quantity of liquid fuel replaced.
Steel of high quality must be employed, and this may well be needed elsewhere. If there be a large extension of balloon barrages, considerable numbers of large cylinders will be required for this purpose, whilst oxygen and other containers are needed in growing quantity for our rapidly expanding medical and other services. There may be some sudden call for cylinders, which would mean that vehicles employing them might have to be denuded and thus left in a worse position than before. • There will undoubtedly, however, be extensive developments in connection with producer gas, once the teething troubles have been overcome. Many manufacturers are interesting themselves in this matter, and are making arrangements for the most intensive production of suitable plant. The provision of new vehicles for the home market is, apparently to be restricted to something like one-fifth of the normal sale. This should place a premium on the used vehicle, and we may expect a considerable market in this connection.
Prospects for the export trade are likely to be good, as the Government is endeavouring to encourage this so that more credits abroad can be rendered available. It remains to be seen, however, whether our bigger factories will experience any reduction in demands from the Services, but this, in our view; is unlikely for several months, but no doubt due consideration will be given to the proportion of output to be sold abroad.