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BIRD'S EYE

31st December 1965
Page 44
Page 44, 31st December 1965 — BIRD'S EYE
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

VIEW By the Hawk Say That Again The news item • in our

December 10 issue that a Harrow MP wants private enterprise mini-buses in London reminded one of his constituents —a colleague of mine—that Londoners are spoiled in one way at least by London Transport. It's easy, for instance, to say a No. 9 bus will take you to Piccadilly because, after all, numbers are international.

But my colleague, recently back from a 30,000-mile sixmonths look around South Africa, wonders if it could reach the same state as one area of Natal is in at the moment. How would you explain that the Thuthukami Muzi Wakwetha Express bus service owned by Chief Hlengwa runs to Umlazi as part of a Durban maze where at least 425 different p.s.v. undertakings operate more than 1,300 vehicles on scheduled carriage services?

With revolutionary zeal which does them credit British Road Services are to present watches and clocks to long-service staff after 25 years, which contrasts markedly with 45 years hitherto.

The presentations are to spread over several months, which should give district managers time to think up a few fresh compliments! Long Service

Speeding Along The British Railways Board

recently announced the appointment of a chief officer to help speed plans for reshaping the railways. Without comment I record that Dr. Beeching took over as BR chairman on June 1, 1961 and published his "Reshaping Report" on March 27, 1963.

Meanwhile, as reported in The Commercial Motor on December 10, road freight traffic increased by 27 per cent during 1960 to 1964 even when Beeching was at the helm.

So maybe it's already time to reshape the reshaping!

There must have .been handier things in most people's Christmas stockings than a 50-tongross attic, but I am told that Governments think big. This particular goody was Britain's gift to Iran and it was handed over to the Crown Agents for the Colonies in Liverpool just before Christmas.

The goody was a Model 821 Dyson low-loading semitrailer, 32 ft. 6 in. by 10 ft. 6 in., offering a 35-ton payload, coupled with an ERF 66CU220 tractor, with left-hand drive and Cummins 220 engine. On the trailer the platform has been cut away• to enable standard tyres to be fitted with clearance for full axle movement on rough ground— yet load level remains low at 3 ft. 6 in.

This particular gift was presented under the Central Treaty Organization scheme for aid to underdeveloped countries and will be used to transport earth-moving machinery on an Iran-Turkey road link. Gift for Iran It Fell Flat When colleague Brian Cottee wrote about liner trains in our December 17 issue, he had a crack at " co-ordination " by remarking that although BR was using 27 ft. containers grossing 22 tons, BRS had decided to standardize on 28 tons gross for its new artics (thus ruling them out for 22-ton loads).

Unfortunately for him, some well-meaning soul altered " BRS " to "BR's "—and the dig fell flat. Perhaps it serves him right for trying to be sarcastic in the Christmas season.

Storm Weathered Apart from the more serious aspects described last week, there were many amusing incidents to report about the maiden voyage of the North Sea Ferries roll-on/roll-off vessel " Norwave ". The dancing in the lounge in the early stages of the voyage before she encountered the gale on the outward journey was particularly funny to watch, according to the two CM men aboard, Norman Tilsley and photographer Dick Ross.

As the seas got rougher, so did the dancing—and so did the jukebox, the needle of which would jump 20 or 30 grooves during a heavy roll. On two occasions dancers actually ended up sitting in the midst of a tray of sandwiches on a nearby table.

Guinea Pigs Seen weathering the storm in extremely good condition were Mr. E. T. Wright, of Continental Road Transport Services (Ackworth) Ltd., Mr. Driessen, managing director of Konig International Transport of Rotterdam, and Mr. Van der Ven, a director of Wetram West European Transport, Rotterdam.

I particularly admired the way Ian Churcher, general manager of the ferry company, comforted reporters at a Press conference at the end of the trip. " In the North Sea you get an average of five force-10 gale days per annum. Norwave '," he continued, "has already had three—one on the day of her trials and two on the inaugural run ". He thanked them for being his guinea pigs.

Journalists specializing in road transport had a long wait with pencils nonproductively poised last week. The occasion was the Press conference at the Ministry of Transport to usher in the publication of the White Paper on Road Safety Legislation. Discussion on drink and the motorist—breath tests, blood tests, urine tests and all—lasted from 3 p.m. to 4.15 p.m. Measures of vital concern affecting 1i m. goods vehicles which travelled 23,000 m. miles in 1964 were allowed 15 minutes.

For most of the time matters concerning private motoring and commercial vehicle operation just don't mix. That also goes for Press conferences, and it is to be hoped that the new Minister will recognize the fact in future. Non-Productive


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