After 43 Years I IKE many others about to retire,
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Mr. Sydney S. Guy was not short of well-intentioned, but contradictory,ladvice. One school said: " By all means retire, but keep an interest in the business, otherwise you will be dead in 12 months." The other said: "Cut yourself completely adrift and do all the things you have never had time to do in the past." He has chosen the second course and, knowing him, I suspect that he did not need anybody to make up his mind for him. He has personally directed his own business for 43 years and has always made his own decisions. But I am certain of one thing: he will not be idle.
Down to the Sea
I T has fallen to the lot of a Member of Parliament with shipping interests to urge the Government, at the Conservative Party's annual conference next week, to speed up road construction. He is 44-year-old Mr. John M. Howard, M.P. for Southampton Test, an ex-officer of the R.N.V.R. and vice-chairman of the shipping sub-committee of the party's transport committee.
But Mr. Howard is not deliberately sacrificing coastal shipping to road transport, for the resolution that he is to move refers particularly to roads to the ports, although it embraces highway construction in general.
Base Suspicion
A HAULIER confessed to me the other day that he had suspected one of his drivers of misapplying fuel. After all, 6+ m.p.g. with a 5-cu.-yd, tipper seemed rather unreasonable, especially as the vehicle had been averaging about 10 m.p.g.
The engine was checked and no fault could be found. Another driver was assigned to the vehicle and the result was-64 m.p.g. Then the penny dropped. The lorry was engaged on a road-maintenance contract, spreading cbippings behind a tar-sprayer, and was being reversed for seven hours a day.
I think the original driver rather enjoyed being suspect. as the change gave him a chance to straighten out his neck.
Wild Geese Fly
PERHAPS it was a guilty conscienoe that made the haulier add that most operators watched fuel consumption too closely and other costs too little. While the transport manager was diligently trying to discover the reason for a fluctuation of 1 m.p.g., a driver could gaily ruin a £300 set of tyres without risk of remonstrance.
That is, perhaps, a slight exaggeration, but there is more than a grain of truth in it.
Welcome Ally
THE news, published by The Commercial Motor last week, that British Road Services are joining the Traders Road Transport Association and the Road Haulage Association in the Valuable work done by the West Midland ,Maintenance Committee, is welcome. It is a sign that B.R.S, are willing to take a part in the voluntary educational work in the industry.
Members of the State organization have, of course, presented valuable papers to institutions, but participation in the work of the maintenance committee is more practical and should help to raise the status of the road transport industry in general.
Tired of Waiting A NEW and influential voice has been added to the chorus
of demand for air suspension on British vehicles. It is that of a prominent brick manufacturer—but he is calling to Germany. He has grown tired of waiting for a British design to be made available and is investigating the possibility of importing equipment from Germany for installation on rigid eight-wheelers.