News of the Week
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12,791 NEW C-LICENCE VEHICLES THE total number of C-licence vehicles rose to 593,869 at the end of November, an increase of 12,791 on the total in operation at the end of October. Of the aggregate use of 12,791 in November, 4366 were additions, to existing fleets and 8,425 for new operators.
Just under 9,000 of the new authorizations were for vehicles of under 30 cwt. unladen weight; 982 were for utility models and 2,240 for adapted private cars.
The following table gives a breakdown by unladen weight of the November authorizations and the total in operation at November 30:—
VEHICLES AUTHORIZED UNDER C LICENCEMEEENCE PERM/TS
C.M. SUPPLIES STILL RESTRICTED
RFADERS who are under the impression that copies of "The Commercial Motor" will be available to meet all demands, when present restrictions o-n newspaper supplies are removed on January 3, are, unfortunately mistaken.
The new rationing concession applies only Co newspapers. Periodicals, • including "The Gornmercial Motor," remain restricted to their present paper ration, corresponding to 40 per cent. of their pre-war consumption of paper, For the time being, therefore, no extra copies of "The Commercial Motor" can be printed to meet outstanding demands.
PASSENGER' NEEDS COME FIRST
THERE is no analogy between I increasing the number of tours on a licence and increasing the frequency of a stage-carriage service. In the latter case, the problem is to adjust the number of journeys to the number of passengers; in the former, it is to give a sufficiently varied choice to meet the public tastes. Statistics of passengers carried or left behind are irrelevant. This opinion was given by Mr. J W. Nelson, in a report to the Minister of Transport, who has upheld a recent decision of the South East Licensing Authority. Southsea Royal Blue Parlour Coaches, Ltd., Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., and Triumph Coaches, Ltd., were appealing against A28
a decision to allow certain modifications to a licence held by White Heather Transport, Ltd.; Southsea.
For these three concerns it was argued that in respect of each of the tours affected there was no evidence that the existing facilities were insufficient, no statistics of passengers carried, and no evidence of passengers left behind. These arguments seemed to Mr. Nelson to be bes:de the point.
The only question raised in the appeal was whether the Licensing Authority was justified in adding to the applicant's licence, tours which were already run by other operators. BAN ON LUXURY COACHES TO BE REMOVED WJE understand that the ban on soYV called luxury coaches, which was imposed by the Ministry of Supply in a circular sent out on March 5, 1948. is to be removed immediately. Bodybuilders will be permitted to revert to their previous freedom to build coaches which will meet all the requirements of operators.
"The Commercial Motor" dealt with this matter in a leading article on December 3, and there is no doubt that this exercised a great influence upon the decision now taken. COMMERCIAL VEHICLES IN BREACHES OF COVENANT
CCORDING to the British Motor r-VT rade Association, a number of commercial vehicles is included among the 7.500 breaches of the convenant which may be the subject of court proceedings. The announcement that there had been as many as 7,500 breaches of the covenant was made by the B.M.T.A. after judgment was given in the Association's favour in the test case brought before Mr. Justice Roxburgh in the Chancery Division.
The B.M.T.A. was granted an injunction restraining the defendants from dealing in cars offered to them by persons whom they knew to be intending to break the covenant, or their agents. The Association had claimed damages and iniunctions against R. F. Salvadori and W. J. Mansfield. trading as Mansfield Autos, Ltd., and Oswald Salvadori, trading as Silverthorne Motors, Ltd.
Mr. Justice Roxburgh ruled that in seven of the 16 cases involved there had been procurement of breaches of the covenant. In nine cases there was a series of overt acts amply sufficient to prove that the defendants combined knowingly to interfere with the Association's contractual relations.
NOVEL FEATURES IN NEW DODGE VANS
r1A NEW range of forward-control delivery vans. of 10-cwt. to 2-ton capacity, is now being produced by the Dodge Co., of Detroit, U.S.A. These new models are unusual in many respects, the foremost being the low frame line, which has been made possible by a new chassis design. This low-loading line affords a 6 ft. 4 ins. interior height in the van without exceeding the usual overall height for vehicles of the same class.
The engine and gearbox are offset to the extreme off side of the chassis and drive through a single-piece propeller shaft to the differential assembly, which is solidly mounted in rubber on the chassis frame. The final-drive unit, connected to the wheels by open axle shafts equipped with .universal joints, moves up and down with the frame and body, independently of the wheels.
The length and :angularity of the driving shafts change with the deflection of the springs, the shafts telescoping to compensate for changes in load. Shock absorbers are fitted to the front and rear axles.
An electrically controlled parking brake, of similar pattern to that employed on the N.C.B. 30-cwt. batteryelectric, is fitted to all the new models, whilst the larger vehicles are offered with the Chrysler fluid drive. The new range of vehicles is equipped with a 3.77-litre engine, which is claimed to develop 102 b.h.p. at 3,600 r.p.m.
LONDON TRANSPORT STRIKE? A T the time of going to press, a con
ference was still in progress at Transport House on the decision of London's bus and tram workers to stop work on Saturday afternoons, beginning to-morrow (January 1), to enforce their demand for time-and-a-half overtime payment on Saturdays after I p.m.
Officials of the passenger section of the Transport and General Workers' Union said that the outcome of the conference was not likely to be made known until yesterday (December 30), but it is understood that they were urging "no action" until the ease had been put to arbitration.
BIG ORDERS FOR TRACTORS A CCORDING to Mr. R. T. Pollard, 1—Australia's Minister for Commerce and Agriculture, Australia will import 5,400 Fordson Major tractors in the current year ending June next. In 1950 10.000 of these tractors will be available for import by Australia.
CURB ON LONG-DISTANCE COACHING IN EIRE?
J ONG-DISTANCE coach services La running parallel with the railways should be discontinued when railway services are improved, and an increase in bus fares is justified, states Sir James Milne, in a report to the Eire Government on the working of transport services in Southern Ireland.
He recommends that a central highways authority should be established to maintain and improve the roads, and all forms of transport should contribute to it. He considers that Eire's present system of transport is inequitable, because of the inequality of road and rail costs.
Sir James says that rail, road and canal transport should be treated as part of a national system. Subject to conditions to prevent unfair competition with public services, traders should be free to operate their own veh'cles.
He expresses the view that the chairman of Coras lomnair Eireann, who is appointed by the Government and can overrule the decisions of h:s co-directors, has too much power. It also suggests that a 5-ner-cent, cut in wages would not be unreasonable.
Much or the report deals with the railways.
PROFESSIONAL STATUS A TARGET FOR YOUTH
rIA THING that was worth having was worth striving for, and entry to such a professional body should not be made too easy for the younger generation, said Mr. W. E. Macve, divisional manager, north-western division Road Transport Executive, speaking at the annual dinner of the Institute of Traffic Administration's Manchester Centre, last week.
Noting that the organization paid particular attention to the younger element, he said that unless the industry 'could build on a solid foundation in this respect, there would be no one to take the place of the older generation.
The organization had had small beginnings, but now possessed 18 active branches and was in a virile state, said Mr. A. Lawes Cole, centre chairman.
8-FT.-WIDE TITANS POPULAR
LARGE orders for buses have recently been received by Leyland Motors, Ltd., from Blackpool Corporation and the West Riding Automobile Co., Ltd. The corporation has called for 50 Titan chassis, 8 ft. wide, and the company is buying 38 Titans with Leyland Lowbridge bodies, 7 ft. 6 ins. wide. Fifteen 8-ft.-wide Titans have also been ordered by Southport Corporation and the Yorkshire (W.D.) Transport Co.. Ltd.
Other Titan orders include 14 with Hybridge bodies for Maidstone and District Motor Services. Ltd., eight with 8-ft.-wide Lowbridge bodies for Scout Motor Services, Ltd., and four with Lowbridge bodies for Messrs. W. L. Silcox and Son Twenty-four Comet passenger chassis have been ordered by Hants and Sussex Motor Services, Ltd., 12 by Messrs. Dartmouth Coaches, and 10 by J. Smith and Co. (Wigan), Ltd., among others. LORRY ACCIDENT SET GARAGE ON FIRE
A FAULTY nut on a lorry's stub. t'. axle assembly, alleged to have been the primary cause of a Knutsford (Cheshire) garage fire in June, 1947, led to an award of da m ag es of £3,676 I Is. 2d. to Mr. B. L. L. Cowburn, the proprietor, against Mr. Arthur White, of Meynell Gardens, Hackney, the owner of the lorry, in an action at the Manchester Assizes.
C. E. Minns and Co., Ltd., Strand, London, W.C., which for a number of years has repaired Mr. White's vehicles, was also awarded costs against him.
During the two-day hearing it was alleged that the faulty nut on the assembly caused the wheel to become dislodged as the lorry was travelling along Toft Road, Knutsford. The vehicle crashed into the petrol pumps of the garage and the garage itself, causing total destruction of the premises by fire. The lorry was also destroyed.
Giving judgment for the agreed damages, with costs; against Mr. White. Mr. Justice Sellers said that the defence had shown that the lorry stub axle in question was last repaired in December, 1946. Since then it had been in almost continuous use and ha U travelled 13.000 miles. Experts called before him, he said, had stated that a new lorry should have its axle assembly examined every 5,000 miles. The lorry concerned in this accident was by no means new and he found that the responsibility rested solely with the owner (Mr. White).
P.T. OFF TAXIS?
THE Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. Glenvil Hall, recently received a delegation of taxi drivers and owner-drivers at the Treasury to hear an appeal for the removal of the purchase tax on taxis. The talks were conducted on a friendly basis, and Mr. Hall promised to submit the request to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
COACH TOURS FOR FOOTBALL FANS REFUSED
THE North-western Lic e n sin g Authority has refused an application by Mr. Eric Blackshaw, Worsley Road, Swinton, to run coach tours for football-club supporters to Southport. Llandudno, Rhyl, Blackpool, Morecambe, Manchester and other towns.
In conveying his decision, reserved when the application was made in October, the Licensing Authority advances no reason for the refusal. Supporting his case, the operator said that existing operators could not cater for all the traffic and pointed out that one frequently called on him for the hire of his coaches.
The North Western Road Car Co., Ltd.. Lancashire United Transport and Power Co., Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., Messrs. W. R. Hargreaves, Pendleton, Messrs, T. Walsh, Swinton. W. Fieldsend (Salford). Ltd., and the Railway Executive opposed the application.
C.I.E. TO RESUME TOURS
AFTER an interval of nearly 10 years, Coras lompair Eireann is to provide coach tonrs again, and new luxury vehicles are being built at Inchicore for the purpose. Next summer there will be a series of mineday and six-day tours covering the whole of Eire, in addition to day trips from Dublin and Galway.
It is learned that a manufacturer in this country has offered facilities to a concern in America for the assembly of vehicles, HAULIER FINED FOR CHARGING FOR. WAITING TIME
FINES totalling £.119 and special costs of £6 were imposed at Walsall on a haulage concern which charged its customers a separate fee for waiting time at Walsall Gasworks. The prosecution was brought by the Ministry of Fuel, whose representative described the sending of two invoices as an ingenious system for avoiding price control.
Horace Kendrick, Ltd. 1, • Mary Street, Walsall, was alleged . to have sent out two invoices, one showing the weight of the coke and its cost, and the other detailing the expense entailed waiting at the works.
For the defence, it was stated that gasworks vehicles were allowed to by-pass those of private concerns, which were sometimes kept out of the loading yard and turned away empty after a wait of two hours. The local fuel overseer refuted the suggestion by the defence that he had told the defendant company that the extra charge was in order.
BUSES FOR TRAMS AT SOUTHAMPTON IN 1938, Southampton Corporation Idecided that as the tram tracks came to the end of their life they should not be renewed, but that the system should eventually be replaced by buses. The war necessitated deferment of the scheme, but a start was made on May 16, 1948.
Two tram routes are left (from Swaythling to Royal Pier, via Bassett, and from Shirley to Floating Bridge). Some peak-hour extras are also run from Millbrook and Bassett to the Docks. It is expected that one of these routes will be changed over at the end of February or beginning of March.
Until the change-over began, Southampton was still using at peak periods a number of open-top trams, with knifeboard seating, nearly 50 years old. It is believed that these were the last vehicles with such seating in use anywhere in the world.
A feature of the Southampton system was the circular working of the tram services, so as to cover High Street adequately in both directions. This arrangement is to some extent preserved in the new bus workings.
NEW VOLUNTARY INTERWORKING PLANS " DURING the year, joint services with the Rotherham Corporation have been put into operation between Chesterfield and Rotherham, and further co-ordination has been effected between Rotherham and Worksop. Proposals for joint working in the Chesterfield area are at present under discussion," said Mr. J. W. Womar. M.Inst.T., chairman of East Midland Motor Services, Ltd., at the company's annual general meeting, on Tuesday.
Referring to the substantial improvements in wages and conditions received by employees in 1947, he said that increases had again been granted, and consideration was being given to a further application. Mr. Womar added that "platform costs" per vehicle-mile for the year ended September 30 last were 16 per cent, greater than in the previous year and 110 above pre-war.
BRITAVEMA MEMBERS PULL TOGETHER EFERRING to the scheme for 111. co-operation between the Austin, Ford, Nuffield, Rootes, Standard and Vauxhall groups, Associated Commercial Vehicles, Ltd., points out that the membert of the British Transport Vehicle Manufacturers' Association (Bfitavema), which was formed nearly five years ago, interchange experience on all matters affecting research, design, production, sales, management and export.
By one of the articles of association, they must provide operators with the best possible vehicles at the lowest possible price. By another fundamental article, members refuse to countenance anything in the nature of a price ring.
In the Associated Commercial Vehicles group, comprising A.E.C., Crossley and Maudsiay, this work has been carried still further. Within the organization, there are technical committees comprising fully empowered representatives of the manufacturing companies. These committees interchange. detailed information and supply expert advice and practical recommendations to the parent board.
NEW C. AND U. REGULATIONS FOR AUSTRALIA CHANGES in the construction of lorries and buses intended for use in Australia are recommended by' the Australian Transport Advisory Council. A minimum aisle width of 15 ins. will be required in town buses and of 12 ins, in country buses. Floors should be of non-slip materials and sealed to prevent entry of fumes. Except in the case of rear windows of buses of less than eight-passenger capacity, safety glass must be fitted.
Loaded vehicles, except double-deck buses, are not to be more than 14 ft. high. Limits are placed on rear overhang. Safety straps should be fitted to prevent the forward end of the tailshaft from dropping onto the road, if it becomes disconnected. Trays, says the council, should be fixed to prevent inflammable liquid from dripping onto exhaust pipes and electrical equipment.
Weight limits and a maximum width of 8 ft. have been laid down for lorries and buses. Turning circles must not exceed a diameter of 80 ft.
Drivers are to be protected from the engine by steel plate at least thick.
• The forward end of vehicles must be rounded.
Brakes must be capable of stopping a bus or lorry weighing under 50 cwt., at 20 m.p.h., within 30 ft.; where the weight is over 50 cwt., within 45 ft.
Length of all trucks, trailers and combinations of vehicles is to be limited to 45 ft.
RAIL CHIEF CONFIDENT IN a message of good will to the staff lof British Railways, which coincided with a threat by the National Union of Railwaymen to call a strike if demands for increased wages were not met, Sir Eustace Missenden, chairman of the Railway Executive, states that the cessation of some of their uneconomic activities should give British Railways a larger share ot the traffic for which they are best equipped to deal.
" I foresee," he says, "that when co-ordinatioi is fully effective, British Railways will stand more firmly than ever as the greatest single arm of the national transport service."
MORE FISH IN THE SEA IN a New Year message, Mr. B. G. I Turner, M.Inst.T., chairman of the Road Haulage Association, says that the Edinburgh Conference in September showed that the loss of some of the road-haulage industry's leaders, as a result of nationalization, could be made good. He adds that members can look forward to 1949 with the confidence that they have set their house in order. COACH LICENCE CONDITIONS TO BE STRICTLY ENFORCED
(ION DITIONS of road service N—licences will in future be more strictly enforced, said Mr. F. Williamson, chairman of the North-western Licensing Authority, at Manchester last week.
Mr. Frank Mather, of Bostock Street, Warrington, sought permission to move his picking-up point for tours from Lovely Lane Garage, where Messrs. F. Shadwell had a picking-up point. Mr. Shadwell objected to the application.
Mr. Williamson was disturbed by the evidence of laxity on the part of both Mr. Mather, who had picked up pas sengers from unauthorized points, and Mr. Shadwell, who had operated two vehicles instead of the one he had licensed for excursions. He said he was well aware that there had been a lack of strictness in the past, but now the Authority had more enforcement officers, and was determined that coach operators should comply with the conditions of their licences.
That warning applied to all coach. proprietors.
Mr. Matter was allowed to change his picking-up point as a temporary measure until Mr. Williamson could visit Warrington anti see the situation for himself.
LUTON PLAN VETOED
AT a joint inquiry in Luton, a proposal by the corporation to extend its bus service to certain routes outside the borough was successfully opposed by Birch Bros., Ltd.
Sir Henry Piggott, Metropolitan Deputy Licensing Authority, who presided, said the present services were admittedly adequate and the Licensing Authority was unable to find sufficient reason for allowing the corporation to operate along the routes concerned. He did not think the decision would affect the 'inter-working agreement between the corporation and the Eastern National Omnibus Co., Ltd.
The Authority welcomed a suggestion by Birch Bros., Ltd., to co-operate within the framework of the scheme. S.M.M.T. GIVES EXTRA 120,000 TO M.I.R.A.
I N addition to its usual annual subscription of £40.000 to the Motor Industry Research Association, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders is making a further donation of £20,000 towards. .M.I.R.A.'s high expenditure involved in taking over the aerodrome at Lindley, near Nuneaton,
as a proving ground. .
Strains and stresses on commercial vehicles are being tested on this ground by M.I.R.A.'s staff. The control tower of the aerodrome is being converted into offices and a writing-room, in• which officials can make out their reports after using the track.
Instruments to be employed on the track are also being developed, including electric timing gear for speed trials, a dynamometer car for towing behind vehicles to impose artificial loading, and instruments for measuring and recording acceleration and deceleration.
SALES SCHEME REORGANIZED
SALES arrangements of Renfrew Foundries, Ltd, Hiltington, Glasgow, S.W.2, have been reorganized, and the country ha lbeen divided into five areas. Each will be looked after by a foundry sales engineer.
Appointments as from January 1 have been made as follows:—Scotland: Mr. R. MeGlashan. Northern England:
Mr. A. J. Hebden. Midlands and Wales: Mr. T. A. K. Fergie. North London and Eastern Counties: Mr. E. P. Mendoza. South London and Southern England: Mr. J. S. Thompson.
METAL BODY CONSTRUCTION
BASIC problems in the engineering of LAan all-metal body will be dealt with by Mr. E. S. White, of British Light Steel Pressings, Ltd., at a meeting of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (Automobile Division), at Storey's Gate, London, S.W.I. on January 11 at 6 p.m. The paper will also be read at the George Hotel, Luton. on January 18; Royal Hotel, Bristol, on January 27; Geisha Cafe Coventfy, on February 1: and School of Arts, Derby, on 'February 10.
SHOW TO COMBAT IGFNORANCE OF FINISHES, THE first national Exhibition of Industrial Finishing to be staged in Great Britain will be held at Earls Court, London, from August 31September 13.
The decision to hold it grew out of investigations by the Council of Industrial Design on the interrelation of finish, design, service conditions and cost, as they affect consumer goods and machinery. • It was found that the failure of finishes was more often due to ignorance than to bad workmanship. and that designers and manufacturers frequently selected finishes unsuitable to the shape and service conditions of the component. It was evident that the choice of finishes is often unduly influenced by low price, because of inadequate knowledge of the effects of price on quality.
The exhibition will be organized by the Armstrong Wridale Organisation, 26, Old Brompton Road, London, A32 S.W.7. In addition to commercial stands for manufacturers supplying finishes, equipment for preparing surfaces and for applying finishes, it will contain a central technical exhibit, which will graphically present to industry and to the public unbiased and authoritative information about industrial finishes.
SAUNDERS BODIES FOR LONDON WHEN Mr. Harold Wilson, President VI,' of the Board of Trade, visited Anglesey, he was shown, at Llangefni, a double-deck bus for London Transport, the body of which was built by Saunders Engineering and Shipyard, Ltd., at Beaumaris. The vehicle was the first of 250 for London.
"TRENT" TOURS FOR 1949
.' ROVIDED that catering arrangements can be completed, the Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd., will run the following long-date tours next season:— Grampians and John &Groats (14 day). £36 15s.; Royal Deeside and Western Highlands (12 days), £31 10s.;
Devonand Cornwall (10 days), £26 5s.; Scotland (seven days), £18 7s. 6d.; Devon and Cornwall (seven days), £18 7s. 6d.; South Coast and Isle of Wight (seven days), £18 7s. 6d.; Wye Valley and Wales (six days), £14 3s. 6d.
Manchester's change-over from tram to bus operations will be completed on January 11).
REGALS OPEN FIRST STATE SERVICE IN ARGENTINA
THE first State-owned passenger transport service to be operated in Argentina was inaugurated on November 27. With the title of Empresa Nacional " 17 De Octubre," after an historic date, the new service was opened with 35 A.E.C. Regal Mark Ill buses taken from a fleet of 50 origin ally purchasedthe Buenos Aires Transport Boar. The remaining 15 will be put into commission as soon as they-are available.
Supplied through Agar Cross and Co., Ltd., A.E.C. (ACLO) distributor for Argentina, the Regals, which have Fluid Flywheel transmission and airoperated brakes, are provided with 35-seater 8-ft.-wide bodies built in Britain by Saunders Engineering and Shipyard, Ltd. They will operate between Buenos Aires and Lujan at 15-min. intervals. The distance between these two towns, 37 miles, will be covered in 1 hour 54 mins.
Employees of the nationalized system will receive a share of the profits, a practice which is to be progressively extended to all transport undertakings controlled by the Argentina Department of Transport.
CEYLON BUYS BRITISH
OF the 45,849 motor vehicles in us.: in Ceylon at the end of September. 29,113 were imported from the United Kingdom. Buses accounted for 2,733 of the vehicles in use, and of these. 1,157 were of Chevrolet make and 514 Ford.
COCHIN NATIONALIZES
THE Prime Minister of Cochin, South India, recently stated that the Government policy was to nationalize road transport in the State, and that steps had been taken to acquire the bus service operating from Mattancheri Ernakulam.