News of the Week
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NEW YEAR• HONOURS
SOME people in, or connected with, our industry are included in the New Year Honours, which, of course, cover many of those who were engaged in the war effort. They are as follow:—.
Knights Batchelor: D. C. Bailey (inventor of the Bailey bridge) (M.O.S.); T. E. Thomas (formerly. general manager, L.P.T.B.).
K.C.B. (Civil Division)Colonel F. Garrett, G.C.B.: Sir Cyril Hurcomb (DirectorGeneral, M.O.W.T.).
K.B.E.; Sir Graham Cunningham (Triplex, Ltd.) (Controller-General, M unitions Production, M.O.S.)
C.B.E.: W. Edwards (President," National RSIld Transport Employers' Federation); C. G. H. Richardson (joint managing director, Ransome and Manes Bearing Co., Ltd.); H. G. Starley (director and sales manager, Charnpion Sparking Plug Co., Ltd.); P. J. R. Tapp • (Director of Road Haulage, M.O.W.T.).
ROUTES GROUP'S BIG EXPORT PLANS
ACCORD1NG to an announcement 1-1made by the Rootes Group, this aims to ship commercial vehicles and cars to 79 countries in 1946. They are India, New Zealand, Africa, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, Holland and other areas of Europe Some countries where British • vehicles have been rarely seen, such as Greece, Costa Rica, Salvador, Paraguay, Ecuador, Sierra Leone, the Belgian Congo and Bermuda, will receive shipments.
It is estimated that the value of the exports from this one group will be some 17,500,000—more than one-third of the total from the United Kingdom in 1938. Commercial vehicles will represent about 25 per cent PERMIT GRANTS IN THE NORTHEASTERN REGION
DEFENCE permits have been granted by the Transport Commissioner for the North-eastern Region, Major F. S. Eastwood, in several cases which he heard recently at a public inquiry in Harrogate.
Smith and Robinson (Leeds),. Ltd., of Rothwefi, sought A permits ig respect, of six tank vehicles, each ot anproximately nine tons unladen weight, to be acquired, •for the transport of refined edible oil and kindred products between various destinations. The Commissioner granted A permits in respect of four vehicles only, not exceeding nine tons unladen weight each.
Mr. John Miles Dawson, of Heuthwaite Lodge, Wetherby, asked for an A permit to operate a motor horsebox, unladen weight not exceeding three tons, to be acquired, for the transport of racehorses, brood mares and hunters, where required. -The Commissioner has granted a short-term permit, valid for six months, and asked the applicant to keep a record of all journeys and the number of horses carried.
To Mr. William Newton, a Wetherby trainer of racehorses, who sought a B
permit in respect of a motor horse-box of 2 tons 19 cwt. unladen weight, in possession, for the transport of racehorses within 100 miles of Wetherby, the Commissioner has granted a shortterm B permit, valid for six months. To this cermit is attached a condition restricting the use of the vehicle to the transport of racehorses undergoing training at My. Newton's establishment.
NEW UNDER-SECRETARIES OF M.O.W.T.
THE following well-known members of the M.O.W.T. have been appointed under-secretaries:—Messrs. R. H.
Tolerton, C.B., D.S.O., M.C.; C. A. Birtchnell, CR.; S. A. Bailey, M.B.E.; S. J. Page, M.C.; N. A. Guttery; W. G. Weston, C.M.G., and R. H. Wilson. In addition, Mr. G, F, Stedman, M.C., has been appointed acting under-secretary.
BUS SERVICE BETWEEN SWITZERLAND AND ITALY?
ABRITISH. ex-officer wishes to draw attention to a project for establishing a bus service between Switzerland and Italy. It is to be operated by an Italian and Swiss group centred in Milan, and the object is to find in England a group able to provide from 15 to 20 cbassis for 40-seater single-deckers, the bodies for which would be built in Italy. They would be of the Pullman type, and the chassis would have to possess good hill-climbing abilities, whilst a freight and spare-part service would have to be arranged.
It is thought that this would be a good opening for British chassis. The British investment would be confined to the cost of the chassis, including freight and spare parts. Earnings on this would be paid from balances held in Swiss francs, and the investment would be guaranteed by debentures on the vehicles or some similar form of security.
Any concern interested should write to " Autobus," care of the Editor.
AUSTIN PRODUCTION SPEEDS UP
NOW that the last war-contract vehicle has left its works, and postwar vehicles for civilian use are coming off the assembly lines in increasing numbers, the Austin Motor Co., Ltd., announces that it hopes to reach and substantially improve on its pre-war volume of production before many months of 1946 have passed.
Over 1,100 Austin distributors and dealers have been signed up for the home market, and distributors and dealers have been appointed in over 170 overseas territories.
Up to the present it has not been possible to achieve an export figure higher than 33i per cent, of the total output, but by the spring it is hoped to reach the export target of 50 per cent.
With the cessation of war contracts employment has fallen, but it will steadily increase in 1946, and soon the pre-war figure of 19,000 workers is likely to be employed on Austin commercial-vehicle and car production. A NEW RANGE OF OILS TN association with Alexander IDuckham and Co., Ltd., the Nuffield Organization is marketing as from January 1, 1946, a new range of lubricants under the brand of " N.O.L." This is in continuation of an association which started in 1931.
In the light of war-time experience and because of research into the benefits arising from the use of less viscous grades of lubricant, Alexander Duckham and Co., Ltd., has developed, in conjunction with the Nuffield research department, the new range of " N.O.L." oils. • These new oils have been designed to cover the needs of the full range of Nuffield products, including MorrisCommercial vehicles.
MEET HOME DEMAND FIRST FOR SPARES
SHORTAGE of, and the difficulty of procuring, spare parts and accessories for commercial vehicles, was discussed at a recent meeting of the Road Transport Section of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.
Members agreed that the export of spares would aggravate the supply position in this country and it was felt that, in view of the shortage of new vehicles, the Ministry of Supply should ensure the availability of spares to meet the home demand before permitting their export. • The Section decided to seek advice on this question from the regional maintenance and certifying officer of the M.O.W.T. at Manchester.
ANTI-NATIONALIZATION MASS MEETING AT BRISTOL THE Road Haulage Association 1 (Western Area), in conjunction with the T.R.T.A. and the P.V.O.A., has arranged to hold a mass meeting in support of the anti-nationalization campaign at the V'7.toria Rooms, Clifton, Bristol, on January 21, at 6.30 p.m. It is intended to invite all the local Members of Parliament.
INCREASES IN PRICES OF MOST STEELS
ONE of the constant complaints of the motor industry has !seen that the prices of steels employed in the manufacture of chassis and bodies are excessive. The steel makers, on the other hand, claim that they are now uneconomic, for during the war the Government subsidized the industry in respect of the increase in the costs of certain raw materials. Such subsidies will now end, with the exception of any excess of 50 per cent, over post-war levels, which may have to be paid on imported ores. Therefore. from January 1 the average price of steel was raised by 5 per cent., with the one exception of steel in the form of motorbody sheets, the price of which is actually reduced by some £2 per ton. For pig iron the basic price has been increased by El per ton, whilst steel billets rose by only 3 per cent., from £12 10s. to i12 17s. 6d. per ton.
Thus, whilst those makers who produce their own bodies and bodybuilders themselves will gain slightly, the cost of producing chassis alone -will increase. BAKERS TO CHARGE FOR DELIVERING BREAD?
THAT bakers should make a charge for delivery services when daily bread deliveries are resumed, was suggested at a recent meeting of the Livernool Bakers and Confectioners Association. It was pointed out that, with the present prices of bread, it would be impossible to operate doorto-door delivery services on an economic basis.
Assuming a full van load was sold and reasonable wages were Paid to the driver and junior assistant, it was estimated there would be a dead loss of 11 at the end of the week. Van costs, including wages, per week amounted to fg 10s. A lot of sales would have to be made to cover those costs, and if the round be a scattered one it would be almost hopeless to make it an economical proposition.
TEMPLE PRESS REQUIRES CHAUFFEUR-MECHANIC
TiERE is a vacancy in the Temple Press garage for a competent chauffeur-mechanic to assist in the rermir and maintenance of out staff cars and to act as chauffeur in London. Applicants should send full particulars of their qualifications to the Staff Manager, Temple Press Ltd., Bowling Green Lane, London, E.C.1.
AVAILABILITY OF UTILECON ALL-PURPOSE VEHICLE WM are informed that the Utilecon VV all-purpose conversion body can now be obtained on Austin, Bedford, Fordson and Morris 5-6-cwt. and 10-12-cwt. van chassis.
In all cases the conversion unit has been approved by the vehicle maker. In due course, it is hoped that the Utilecon will be available on the larger van models of the makes of vehicle mentioned. The maker of the unit is Martin Walter Ltd., Cheriton Road Works, Folkestone.
INDUSTRIAL TRANSPORT ASSO
CIATION ISSUES HANDBOOK A N interesting handbook dealing with ruts objects, membership and examinations has been issued by the Industrial Transport Association, Albion House, 59, New Oxford Street, London, W.C.1. Copies are available to students and other interested persons of laigher standing.
The syllabuses of future examinations have been set out in detail with the object of providing the utmost guidance for students, and whilst it is the desire of the body to recommence its examinations in 1946, it will, before doing so, pay due regard to such other educational facilities as may be available.
"RED TAPE" DELAYS DELIVERY OF ORANGES " IT is a typical case of what is likely to happen ' under nationalization," commented Mr. R. E. Britton, chairman of the 'Hull Area of R.H.A., regarding the delay in the transport of oranges after their arrival at Hull. A cargo of 4,532 Vans of Valencia oranges reached that port on December 20, but none of them reached Leeds or Bradford in time for Christmas. Refuting the suggestion that the oranges could not be delivered earlier owing to transport difficulties, Mr. Britton contended that if Regulation 73E had not precluded private hauliers frort1 doing so, they could have made deliveries to Leeds or any other West Riding town in time for the oranges to have been in the shops and sold by Christmas Eve.
. He had a dozen lorries available for the work, and said that a number of other hauliers were placed in a similar position.
NEW H.Q. FOR ECITO
THE new address of the headquarters of European Central Inland Transport Organization is 40, Grosvenor Square, London, W.I.
WILL GOVERNMENT RESIST PRESSURE?
" IT would be an act of insensate folly
to replace a proved transport system by a revolutionary and experimental system, without an exhaustive inquiry into the probable repercussions of the proposed innovation," declared Mr. R. B. Stockdale, of Motor Carriers,-Ltd., at a recent meeting of Liverpool•Chamber of Commerce.
" I have no doubt that the Government will resist pressure for a public inquiry, because it knows the weakness of its case, and can be expected to rely on its parliamentary majority to force its will on the people," he said.
A resolution was passed at the meeting, voicing apprehension of the effects of nationalization.