News of the Week
Page 28
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THE recent forecast by Sir Stafford Cripps of the cuts in capital expenditure to be made on roads and transport was largely confirmed in the Government's White Paper issued on Monday. The agreement between the Government and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has been overridden and the commercial-vehicle export quota of 40 per cent has gone by the board.
The White Paper supports Sir Stafford's earlier statement that only 50,000 goods vehicles would next year be released for the home market, compared with 85,940 in 1946.
Sir Stafford has, however, revised the previous forecast that public service vehicles for the United Kingdom would be limited to 4,000. The figure given in the White Paper is 6,000, which was approximately the pre-war annual rate of turnover. In 1946, 6,430 new buses and coaches were taken into service in this country a totally inadequate number.
Exports 66+ per cent. of Output
Mr. R. Gresham Cooke, director of the S.M.M.T., told "The Commercial Motor" on Tuesday that, having regard to the increased production expected next year, the export quota will be raised to 661 per cent, of the output. The proportions for the home market will
be about half the present rate. He describes the quota of goads vehicles for home service as "very small."
The White Paper states that the programme of major road works will he reduced by 80 per cent., decreasing the labour force employed from about 17,000 to 10,090. As already announced, the Severn Bridge and Dartford Tunnel schemes have been shelved; as well as the extensions to the Great West Road and Cromwell Road, London, and the Widnes-Runcorn Bridge.
s26 As already reported, there will be retrenchment in . road maintenance to release about 20,000 men.
The Government has approved in principle an extensive programme for establishing oil refineries in Great Britain, at an ultimate cost of about £95,000,000.
BUS COMPANIES NEGOTIATING WITH B.T.C.? •
" REPORTS recently current have attributed the well-maintained firmness of toad passenger transport shares to the possibility of a voluntary agreement for acquisition by the Transport Commission of some bus companies," said "The Financial Times" on November 29.
"Inquiries made by 'The Financial Times' of leading groups of bus companies left the feeling that some negotiations were in progress between the Commission, on the one hand, and one or more groups on the other.
"There was, however, emphatic rejection of one reported method of cornpensation, namely, seven-year purchase based on the last published profits. One prominent authority described as quite unfounded 'that portion' of the report that acquisition was being considered by the Commission."
Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., had denied that it was in any way involved in negotiations with the Commission, and the British Electric Traction Co., Ltd., was believed to be outside such negotiations.
THE council of the Society of Motor
Manufacturers and Traders has authorized arrangements for the holding of the 14th International Commercial Motor Exhibition and the 33rd International Motor Exhibition at Earls Court in the autumn of 1948. As was forecast in this journal, the primary objective of both Shows will be the development of the export trade.
There will be a reversal of the customary pre-war sequence, the prospective dates for the Commercial Motor Show being October 1-9 and for the Motor Show October 28-November 6. Although the sequence has been decided, the dates may be subject to slight adjustment.
C-LICENSEES MAY JOIN R.A.C.
LAST Monday the Royal Automobile Club opened a section for C-licensees, who may enjoy all the Club's services, except the " get-you-home " scheme and the licence-reminder service.
The annual subscription is 12 2s. for a " unit " of one or two vehicles, with another £2 2s. for each additional " unit " of two vehicles. There is a joining fee of 10s., which covers the use of one badge and a key to R.A:C. roadside telephone boxes.
AUSTIN EXPORTS TOP 36,000
nURING the past financial year, the LI Austin Motor Co., Ltd., exported, through its subsidiary, the Austin Motor Export Corporation, 30,765 cars and vans, and 5,636 other commercial vehicles, valued at £11,250,197.
Mr. L. P. Lord, chairman and managing director, who made this announcement at the company's annual general meeting, said that the Longbridge works was capable of producing 3,400 vehicles a week. During the past six months, shortages of supplies had restricted output to 1,950-2,050 vehicles a week.