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News of the Week

DEMAND FOR LOWER VEHICLE TAXATION

THE Commercial Vehicle Committee of the S..M.M.T. is supporting the Car Section Committee in the matter of patting forward suggestions for a general reduction in motor vehicle taxation. For many years the receipts from such taxation have greatly exceeded the amount expended upon roads, and it is .manifestly unfair that just because an operatOr employs a motor vehicle, either for private purposes or for his business, he should be heavily penalized in comparison with other members of the general community.

LORD LEATHERS SENDS A SEASONABLE MESSAGE

THE Minister of War Transport has sent a message to all transport workers. It was to the effect that wherever such workers are engaged they are serving on our world-wide network of land and sea communications, and, in their daily task, maintaining those lines of supply without which the Armed Forces of the United Nations could not pursue the struggle against our enemies.

The mass invasion of Europe, for which these workers have been preparing the nay, will he the greatest transport task ever undertaken and a supreme trial for all. Every roadtransport worker, railwayman. seaman, docker or boatman haS a 'part to play no less important than that of the man in the line of assault.

Lord Leathers sent his best wishes for the success of their efforts in the New Year, which must he made that of the decisive victory.

.ROAD TRANSPORT'S AID FOR MERCHANT NAVY FUNDS

AS a further road-transport effort in aid of Merchant Navy benevolent funds, the North-East Regional Transport Commissioner, Major F. S. Eastwood. and members of his staff, have arranged another series of Saturday tea dances, which are being held at the Queen's Hotel, Leeds. The first of this series raised approximately £130, from which £100 was earmarked for merchant seamen's welfare work in Hull and handed over at a recent presentation ceremony at that port.. The next tea dance in the series will be held cm

January 8. .

INTER-STATION BUS SERVICE STARTED IN LONDON

ON Monday evening of last week a new bus route connecting five principal London main-line railway stations was put into operation. The new service is for the convenience of .railway passengers who arrive at a main-line terminus and are unable to obtain a taxi to take them on to another mainline station.

The facility, which has been arranged at the request of the Ministry of War Transport, is being provided daily from about 6.30 p.m. until midnight. Buses leave at 90-minute intervals and .run non-stop in both direc

tions between Paddington, Victoria, Waterloo, Easton and Icing's Cross. The fare for any stage of 'the 'journey is Is.; luggage is aCcepted.

The vehicles pick up and set down passengers at the following points only:---Paddington, forecourt leading from Praed Street; Victoria, internal' forecourt; Waterloo, station approach; Euston, arrival forecourt; King's Cross, forecourt, adjacent to Euston Road.

PERSONAL PARS '

MR. T. M. WALTERS, secretary. of the

Ribble Section of Burnley Transport Workers' Union, has been re-elected on the Union's national committee for the bus industry.

MR. H. W. HATTON, A . I • Mech E„ who recently resigned from Brush Coachworks, Ltd., has taken up the position of chief engineer and .adviser with Northern Coachbuilders, Ltd., Claremont Road, Newcastle uponTyne.

MR, R. M. DAVIS has been appointed advertising .manager of the India Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., Inchirman. He is a member of the Incorporated Advertising Managers Association and has been with the company for over 14 years, being engagedon sales pro motion work. He is responsible for the two publications, " Emergency Measures Affecting the Motor Trade " arid A.B.C. for the it,.T.D.," the latter being 'Attended for the use of authorized tyre depots..

LORD LATHAM has been reappointed as a member of the London Passenger Transport Board for a further period of three years from January 20 . next, when his present appointment expires. This action has been taken by the Appointing Trtstees, acting under the provisions of Section 1 of the London Passenger Transport Board Act, 1933. The Minister of War Transport has been notified accordingly. Lord Latham is leader of the London County Council and has, been a member of the Board since 1935.

MR. E. B. HUGH-JONES, M,C., B.Sc., M.Inst.C.E., has been appointed by the Minister of War Transport as Divisional Road Engineer for the Wales and Monmouth Division. In this post he replaces MAJOR S. EVANS, M.Inst.C.E„ 14'.R.I.B.A., who retires to-day. Mr. Hugh-Jones, who is 53, began his engineering career with the Canadian Government Department of Railways and Sir Robert McAlpine and Sons. He served with the Royal Engineers from 1914-19, and was appointed to the Roads Department of the Ministry in 1923, being engaged for some time on London traffic problems, and for 11 years with the Divisional . Road Engineer, London Division. For the past year he has been serving as Divisional Road Engineer for the Eastern Division. BID TO SPEED UP HIRING ACCEPTANCES

I N some parts of the country there has

been delay on the part of operators who have offeredvehicles under hiring contracts to the Ministry of War Transport, to complete the acceptance form RH/R/1G. This has resulted in one Regional Commissioner giving notice that unless acceptances be received within a stated period the application for the hiring of vehicles will be regarded' as withdrawn and will not thereafter be entertained.

The effect of this would he that non. hired vehicles would not normally be permitted to be used for long-distance general haulage, also that applications for fuel for them to engage in other work, at present being carried out in vehicles normally used for such work, would be examined carefully.

PRAISE FOR WORK OF ROAD HAULAGE OFFICER

TRIBUTES to Mr. Robert Hanson, 1 the Divisional Road Haulage Officer, who is retiring at the end of the year, were paid at a dinner organized by the Area Haulage Officer, Mr. H. .L. Fenton, and the unit controllers in the area, which was held at Hiiddersfield last week.

Mr. Fenton, who presided, said that Mr. Hanson had beena real source of strength in the North-Eastern Region, and had exerted every effort to make the M.O.W.T. Haulage Scheme a success. He. added that he had reasiOn to believe that work in connection with the Scheme would continue to increase during the forthcoming months, and the backing of operators would be necessary to ensure success.

Mr. Hanson said that in the Iluddersfield area the Ministry Scheme had worked very well.

LEEDS STAGES SAFETY EXHIBITION

ALL aspects of safety were featured in " Accident Prevention Through the Ages," an exhibition arranged by the Leeds Accident Prevention Council and staged at Lewis's, Ltd., from December 10 to 24. Among the points broirght home to the general public were how brakes and axles have increased in efficiency during the past 20 years.

. The axles were shown by the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., and the brakes by Leeds Passenger Transport Department. Many safety ideas were demonstrated and the other exhibits included photographs and plans of road-reconstruction schemes.

With the co-operation of Ferodo, Ltd., another display showed the evolution of brake, facings from rodii asbestos to the finished product.

MAKE THIS A BUMPER PAPER WEEK

NOW that Christmas is over, all cardb should be consigned to the waste. paper collectors. Likewise, the thousands of calendars for '1943 should go' the same way, and any New Year cards in the following few days, The total should greatly augment the paper supply. Do not keep the packingmaterials from your Christmas presents-add them to the -salvage.

BECK AND POLLITZER BECOME PRIVATE COMPANY

ON December 17, Beck and Pollitzer was formed as a private company to acquire the assets• and business, including shares in Beck and Pollitzer Contracts, covering the activities as warehousemen, road-transport contractors, forwarding agents, etc., carried on by Messrs. Joseph S. F. Pollitzer, George E. P. Pollitzer and Edward P. Pollitzer, as Beck and Pollitzer. They become directors of the new concern, the registered office of which is Universal House, Southwark Bridge, London, S.E.1. This famous old business was established as long ago as 1863,

IS TRANSFER OF CONDUCTRESSES JUSTIFIED?

A GROUP of about 14 bus conductresses at Newcastle-on-Tyne have been requested to take up similar work at Birmingham. Some time ago a party of Newcastle conductresses, which had been found work at Birmingham, returned home within a few days on the ground that conditions were not what was expected.

It is understood that, whilst Neweastle-on-Tyne transport undertaking is not to take any definite action on the matter, it is contended that sufficient labour could be found at Birmingham without transferring Newcastle employees.

NEW FORTH ROAD BRIDGE , PROJECT

AN alternative scheme for the proposed road bridge over the Firth of Forth was submitted by Lord Elgin at last week's meeting, in Edinburgh, of the committee representing the local authorities concerned in the project

The new scheme costs a little less than the £3,260,000 " Mackintosh Rock " plan and provides a link with the Great North Read. It makes provision for a suspension bridge, approximately l miles long, with two main spans, each of 2,400 ft.

• It was decided, without departing from the " Mackintosh Rock" scheme, to obtain a report on the new.proposal from the engineers. acting for the committee.

SAVING FUEL ON STATIONARY ENGINES

'TWO bulletins and posters indicating J. methods of avoiding waste in the use of liquid fuels on stationary engines have been issued by the Ministry of Fuel. The bulletins amplify and extend the points enumerated in the posters, and are directed to both managements and operatives, who are asked to give serious consideration to the, matters raised.

That numbered 23 points out that the high efficiency of the oil engine is no excuse for inattention to the fuel savingwhich can be rought about by care in engine operation, tttilization of energy produced, and of waste heat. .Some 60 per cent, of the heat is carried away in the cooling water, and exhaust, *and, in suitable cases, the recovery and employment ofthis waste heat is well worth consideration. Reference should be made to Bulletin 14 ,in this connection.

It. discusses mainly the economies which can be achieved in operation, the importance of preventing oil spillage, which is the worst form of waste. It shows also the necessity for cleanliness, regular routine, maintenance and regard for correct fuel-pump settings— the last being suggested as a job for the expert. Unnecessary idling or running on light load is grossly inefficient.

BRITISH' EMULSIFIERS, LTD., ACQUIRES RADIATOR BUSINESS f/

A RECENT announcement by British Emulsifiers, Ltd., is to the effect that the company has, during this year,the whole of the share capial of W. and A. -Williamson and Co., Ltd., a concern manufacturing radiators and working in sheet metal.

This has involved a valuable extension of the company's.interests in the aluminium industry, which now embrace the production of secondary aluminium alloys, aluminium castings and the fabrication of sheet-aluminium products.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE BEST FOR BREAD DELIVERY SPEAKING of progress in delivery services, Mr. L, Pepperell, breadrounds inspector of the Plymouth Co-Operative Society, asks who can deny that electricity is playing a great part in that direction. He says that bread delivery has always been a problem. Cleanliness is very essential, and he considers that the electric vehicle is a vast improvement on the horse or the petrol-driven motor.

Smells which easily affect bread or sundries are absolutely eliminated by the electric vehicle, and, in his opinion—if for that reason alone—it is the best method to. employ on bread delivery. He knows that there will be some people who ivill disagree with him on this question, decrying the speed of these vehicles ascompared with petrol-driven vans, but he submits that apart from isolated country districts, where the daily mileage exceeds the range of the electric vehicle, this type is ideally suited for bread delivery, ADDRESS TO LMT. MEMBERS ON TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ON January 6 the Institute of the Motor Trade is holding a luncheon at the Connaught Rooms, London, W.C.2, after which an address will be given by Mr. H. B. Wallis, head of the Technological Department of the Board

• of Education, on ." The Framework of • Technical Education After the War." Reservations for the luncheon, price 8s. 6d. each, must be made through the Institute, 201, Great Portland Street, London, W.1, as early as possible.

• In view of the launching of the Institute's educational scheme, it is considered that this occasion will be of special importance. Dr. Abbott, of the Board of Education, Lord Latham, Mr. G. H. Lanchester, president of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, and Sir George Kenning are amongst those who are expected to be present.

TYNESIDE PLANS FOR TROLLEYBUS WORKING WHEN Felling-on-Tyne Urban Coun cil recently met, a report was submitted on a conference between representatives of Newcastle, Gateshead and Felling local authorities, and Gateshead and District Tramways Co., regarding the plan to run trolleybuses from Newcastle into Gateshead and Felling.

The company contended that -there were too many low bridges in Gateshead for operating trolleybuses, and single-deck trolleybuses, it was suggested, would not be suitable. It was stated that there were, however, no difficulties to prevent the running of trolleybuses in Felling.

The local authorities agreed that difficulties concerning individual routes could be considered further. The authorities rejected a suggestion by the company that a General Standstill Order on the matter shtuld be applied for three years.

SIMMS'S LARGER SOUTH LONDON DEPOT

WE are advised that Simms Motor Units, Ltd., has removed its South London depot from Greenwich to larger premises at 29-31, Montpelier Vale, Blackheath, S.E.1. The policy of the company has been to service electrical, oil-engine, and ignition equipment through its own branches, and the use made of the South Landon service by customers in that area has justified the move to improved premises.. The new depot is equipped for servicing all the dompany's products and those of other makes.

YORK PLANNING INTERNAL RING ROAD

FIRST part of a plan for the post-war reconstruction of York is a scheme for a new ring road inside the city. This scheme, which is to be submitted to the city coun6I at its next meeting, is intended to supersede the pre-war project for a ring road around the city's edge. Some of the existing thoroughfares would be utilized, either in cir present form or after widening, and two new bridges over the river

would be built.

As to the construction of an t.tter ring road whereby through traffic could avoid the city, the view is held in York municipal circles that this is a responsibility for the county councils the areas of which are involved.

HENLEY'S BRISTOL BRANCH

THE new address of the Bristol branch of Henley's Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., is 381, Gloucester Road, Northfield, Bristol.

POST-WAR DOCK SCHEME WILL BENEFIT TRANSPORT

IT is evident from the statement made by Sir Thomas. A, L. Brocklebank, • who presided at a meeting of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board last week, that in the post-war scheme for the modernization of the Liverpool docks railway facilities will be much improved. This has caused some people in the local road-haulage business to be somewhat apprehensive that their wings may undergo a dipping process., For many months now a Port Access Committee has been in session. When it was first formed, road trans-. port was not represented but, as the result of pressure, it was eventually given a voice in the deliberations of the committee, themeetings of which

have been held in private. • Sir Thomas Brocklebank stated that the Board's general manager, as a member of Sir William Chamberlain's committee, had every opportunity of studying the problems of rail and road transport for the port. There had been meetings between the Board's officials and the railway companies, as a result of uAich a scheme had been prepared which had greatly inaproved the railway working to and from the port.

The Board agreed that the freeing from tolls of the Mersey Tunnel would be of the greatest value.

TALK ON OIL-ENGINE MANUFAC .TURE

ON Friday, January 21, at 5.30 p.m., at an informal meeting of the London Graduates' Section of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Storey's Gate, St. James's Park, London, S.W.1, Mr. W. S. Burn, M.Sc., will introduce the subject of " Future Possibilities of Diesel Engine Manufacture."