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RAIL CUT RATES INCREASE ROAD TRAFFIC.

4th December 1936
Page 38
Page 38, 4th December 1936 — RAIL CUT RATES INCREASE ROAD TRAFFIC.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

That special rail charges might be a double-edged sword was shown at a Leicester sitting of the East Midland Licensing Authority, last week, when it was pointed out that, following the introduction of an • exceptional rate from Leicester to London for boots and hosiery, manufacturers of competing goods in the Hinckley, Leicester, area had been forced to turn to road transport to reduce their own transport costs.

it was proved that one hosiery concern at Barwell, near Hinckley; had, in August, taken from the L.M.S. Railway Co. traffic worth £80-£90 monthly in freight charges and given it to a haulier operating a HinckleyLondon service. The _haulier, Mr. G. W. Woodward, of Barwell, asked for consent to the acquisition of a vehicle for collection and delivery service, on the ground of increasing traffic.

When the L.M.S. Railway solicitor, Mr. Wilk, suggested that Mr. Woodward might take a contract licence for this particular concern's work, Mr. J. H. Stirk, the Licensing Authority, reminded him that by so doing Mr. Woodward, at present operating only to London, might also take the customer's deliveries to Manchester.

The application was granted.

Leading Salesmen Required.

Three leading commercial-vehicle salesmen, one for London, the other two for the South Coast, are required by three main dealers in Morris-Commercial products. Applications should be addressed " Leading Salesmen," care of the Editor.

Sir Raymond Dennis on the Menace of Inports.

During the course of his speech at the annual general meeting of Dennis Brothers, Ltd., Sir Raymond Dennis, K.B.E., joint managing director, said that, during the past year, competition had been very keen, especially on the goods-chassis side.

He said that another adverse factor was the increasing imports from abroad, and supported his assertion by adding that, during the past nine months, 35 per cent, more commercial chassis had arrived from the United States than last year. More menacing than this, however, is the growth in the imports of engines, which increased by 63 per cent., whilst the value of imported components from America, for assembly in this country, increased by 71 per cent.

He referred to the success achieved by the company's light 4-tonner, in the design of which further weight had been saved, so that the company can now offer it with a tipping body at a weight within the 50-cwt. class.

Sir Raymond said that, on the passenger side, prospects are good, and, during the company's past year, sales of the Lancet coach and bed increased substantially.

He referred to the concern's oil enB4 gine, and said that it had reached an economy in fuel consumption unsurpassed by any other compressionignition unit, adding that, during the past month, the company had received orders for over 100 32-seater buses equipped with this engine, whilst 40 double-deckers, similarly equipped, have been ordered in the same period.

A Doubly Refined Lubricant.

Alan Thelwall, Ltd., Hull, is marketing what is described as a doublesolvent refined motor oil, called .Thelson, made entirely in this country from the crude.

Minister Turns Down Tay Bridge Scheme.

In view of the heavy expenditure on rearmament; the Minister of Transport iill not support the project for the construction 'of a road bridge over the River Tay.. This decision has been conveyed to Dundee town clerk.

It is for this reason that the plans for building bridges over the estuaries of the Forth, Humber and Severn have been rejected. • Morris-Commercial 4-5-ton Leader in London.

Stewart and Ardern, Ltd., launched, on Tuesday, the new Morris-Commercial 4-5-ton Leader chassis at its commercial-vehicle showrooms, Morris House, 371, Euston Road, London, N.W.1. During the day there was a constant succession of visitors, mainly traders and well-known transport users. The show chassis will be there until the end of the week, and a demonstration model will be available after that.

Who Are a Farmer's Neighbours?

Who are a farmer's neighbours? This question was asked before the East Midland Licensing Authority, Mr. J. H. Stirk, at Leicester—and it remained unanswered. Mr. Stirk told Mr. Wilk, for the L.M.S. Railway Co., that it might be a man 25 miles away on the other side of a mountain in Wales, or twice as far in Scotland. .

The matter arose when Mr. G. J. Watson, farmer, sought to increase his fleet. He explained that he carried his own milk daily to Birmingham, together with that of his neighbours, and picked up churns en route as far as Kingsbury, seven miles away. He formerly carried 1,600 gallons daily, but since October 1 this figure had nearly doubled. On the return journeys he brought back empty churns and certain commodities for farmers.

When Mr. Wilk objected, Mr. Stirk replied that he had no locus standi. The operator was asking for B licences, but, if refused, he could obtain C licences and can-y all the traffic he wished for his neighbours without being prevented.

"it is a weakness of the Act," added Mr. Stirk. "I have called the attention of the Ministry to it. I do not think it was ever contemplated by the legislature that the carriage of goods by farmers would develop to the extent it has." SHORTAGE OF COVERED VEHICLES IN BRISTOL.

When Reliance Road Transport Service, Hartley Hill, Leeds, applied recently to the Western Licensing Authority for an additional A-licence vehicle, it was revealed that there was a serious shortage of covered vehicles . in the Bristol area, and it was extremely difficult to hire this type of machine. Mr. G. R. Dyer produced letters from many concerns complaining that open vehicles were unsatisfactory, and he explained the difficulties experienced in hiring suitable vans.

Mr. J. B. Pine, for the L.M.S. Railway Co., said 'that, if the application were granted, Mr. Dyer would be able to operate his service more efficiently. Moreover, he would be in a position to abstract more business from the railways.

The Licensing Authority, Mr. A. F. Nicholson, said that the applicant had made out a case. The licence would be granted, on the understanding that the vehicle would be used solely for the collection and delivery of loads fi,),r trunk transport, and not used for competition with other road hauliers.

Important Colleges' Contribution to Industry.

The annual banquet and dance of the Automobile Engineering Training College and the College of Aeronautical Engineering, Chelsea, London, S.W., was held on Tuesday at Grosvenor House, London, W.1, the principal, Mr. C. H. Roberts, A.I.A.E., being in the chair.

In toasting the automobile and aeronautical industries, the chairman said that the colleges had again made excel lent progress. To-day, not only is there a list of firms waiting for students to qualify, but many past students are holding responsible positions. There are 354 students, 278 at Chelsea and Fulham, 60 at Brooklands Aerodrome and 18 with co-operating companies in the aeronautical industry.

Mr. H. E. Wimperis, C.B., C.B.E., President of the Royal Aeronautical Society, said he felt that young men attending the college are doing so during a wonderful epoch.

Lieut.-Col. J. T. C. Moore-Brabazon, M.C., M.P., in a witty reply, suggested that flying was rather boring; he got more thrill by driving a thoroughbred motorcar. His chief interest now was in making buses. Oil engines were used in every walk of life, except in the air, where they were really essential. He had a strong aversion to being burnt alive, and high-octane fuel is more inflammable than ordinary fuel. The production of oil from coal should be encouraged, and it was high time that many lorries should be running on producer gas.

The Kathleen Drogheda Challenge Trophy was presented by the donor to Mr. P. C. Christmas as the best student in automobile engineering for the year 1936-37, and Mrs. J. A. Mollison presented the Mollison Challenge Trophy to Mr. D. R. H. Dickenson as the best student in aeronautical engineering,


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