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News of the Week

6th August 1943, Page 18
6th August 1943
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Page 18, 6th August 1943 — News of the Week
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NEW VEHICLE PRODUCTION • FOR 1944

THE arrangements for the production of new motor vehicles for 1944, agrqed between the 11.0.W.T. and the 'M.O.S., show litWe variation in numbers and types from that for 1943. There are, however, to be several additional models, of which the largest is an Atkinson eight-wheeler to carry 15 tons and to draw a trailer, in lieu of the existing Atkinson six-wheeler, which carries only .12 tons apart from the trailer.

Neat in order of size is a Maudslay Mogul with an A.E.C. engine. This will carry 7i tons and draw a trailer. The third is a Morris-Commercial 30-cwt.' van. In addition there will be Ford and Bedford syndard tippers, a small number of battery-electric prams' (these are the ty:pe of selfpropelled vehicle by or behind which the operator walks), and a few batteryelectric vans, There will be no change in the makes and types of public-service vehicle. Those available will be the Bedford single-decker and Guy and Daimler double-deckers; the doubledeckers'will embody A.E.C. sixcylindered power units.

No private cars will be produced for civilian purposes,. but there will be a small production of light motorcycles.

Inquiries as to what i actually available at any time (models which are likely to be obtained more rapidly) should be made to the Road Transport Division of the M.O.W.T., " Abbey 7711, extension 3433 or 3315, Nit, of course, application for permission to purchase should be made in the first place to the Regional -Transport Commissioners.

CORROSIVE EFFECTS OF PRESENT. PETROL

THE Technical Committee of the 1 S. J:C. has. made a statement concbrning the alleged corrosive effects of the petrol which is at present being issued to operators.

The S.J.C. has received substantial evidence regarding these effects. It has been brought to the notiee of the M.O.W.T., and an investigation is being made into the position. It is hoped that the action taken will have beneficial results.

In some cases it has been found that the use of An additive effects an improvement, but that this is not so in all cases, the position depending 'upon a number of factors, such as engine power, average length of ,run and class of use to which the vehicle is put. In the meantime the M.O.W.T. has suggested the following points;—

The maintenance of all petrol vehicles should be very closely' watched; and action taken before trouble caused by deposit on the valves, valve porti and guides can develop. Inspection should be made every 2,000 to 6,000 miles, according to the type of engine, and, in any case, immediately if there be A16 any loss of compression. 'If -a sparking plug becomes gummed up, do not wait for it to clear itself, but clean it at once. The trouble has been found to be more prevalent on heavily stressed engines. M.O.W.T. CLAIMS INITIAL SUCCESS

WE are informed that there has been little or no _internal criticism sof the M.O.W.T. Road Haulage Scheme beyond certain constructive suggestions, and that good progress is being made in its development, whilst the demand for transport facilities is being well met.

THE SHADOW COUNCILS MEET

UST week witnessed the first meetLacings of the Shadow Councils of the Road Transport Organization Joint Conference, and the following appointments have been made:—

• Major R. A. B. Smith, M.C., has been elected chairman of the Federation Sub-committee; Mr. J. H. Turner, O.B.E., chairman of the Road Haulage Association Shadow Council; Mr. B. G. Turner, chairinan of the R.H.A. Fanning Committee; Col. A. Jerrett has becomeachairman of the Traders' Road Transport Association Shadow Council; Mr. W. A. Winson, chairman of the T.R.T.A. Planning Committee. Mr. F. J. Speight has been elected chairman of the Passenger Vehicle Operators Association Shadow Council, with Mr. H. Allen as chairman of the P.V.O.A. Planning Committee.

, Solicitors have been instructed to prepare the memoranda and articles of association for each of the four bodies. The planning of central and area offices and of other administrative matters incidental to the re-organization are receiving immediate attention.

At an earlier meeting it was stated that the Scottish C.M.U.A. and the National Road Transport Employers' Federation had accepted the proposals in principle, and that the local organizations affiliated to the N.R.T.E.F. (with two exceptions) would participate on the basis of sub-areas. Six associations have now accepted the report

MISUSE OF PETROL: SCOTTISH . FARMERS WIN CASE

WHEN four farmers were charged at Aberdeen Sheriff COurt last week with having misused petrol by going to Aberdeen in their cars, when.. alternative public-service accommodation was available, Sheriff Walker found them not guilty. He said that he thought it must be part of the Crown's case to prove that seats could be had on the bus. Inspectors of various bus services said that no guarantee could be given that seats would be available, nor could they always guarantee to -take . agricultural goods with them.

YORKSHIRE -SCHEDULE OF RATES DISCUSSED

AMEETING of the West Midland Regional Committee (Road and Rail Central Conference) to consider the Yorkshire Schedule of Road Rates was held in Birmingham on July 29 under the chairmanship of Mr. W. G. Cooper, chairman of the Road Panel.

That considerable importance was attached to the meeting is shown by the attendance of 'troth Panels of the Western Area and road members of the Yorkshire Panel. It will be recalled that the Yorkshire Schedule, together with explanatory memoranda has been circulated to all Regional Committees for consideration and report.

The Schedule was examined in detail, and after a long discussion the chairman said that the whole question would be given careful consideration by the West Midland area, and its recorninendations submitted to the Central Conference. . A meeting is to be held shortly, when the views of all Regions will be expressed. It was the unani mous opinion of all road members present that a national road rates struc ture needed in this important industry, and. it was hoped that the efforts being made would result in this being evolved to cover all types of traffic.

Appreciation of the good work done by Mr. Rodwell and his Panel was, expressed, whilst Mr. • Wood was congratulated on an able exposition.

MANY SAFE-DRIVING AWARDS TO TILLING-GROUP BUSMEN

po US drivers in the Tilling gtoup of

companies have won 1,901 awards in the Safe Driving Competition of the Royal Society for the PreVention of Accidents. Owing to metal restrictions,

the actual medals and bars will not be presented until after the war when 476 drivers will be given silver medals (five years' accident-free driving) ; 442, bars to silver medals (64 years) ; 279, gold medals (10 years) ; 215,, oakleaf bars (11-14 years) ; 88, brooches (15 years accident-free). In addition, 400 men get diplomas (1-4 years).

MORE MONEY FOR SCOTTISH BUS WORKERS AS many as 9,000 Scottish bus workers are to receive an increase in wages of 4s. fid. per 43-hour week. An offer to this effect was accepted by a representative meeting of the Transport and General Workers' Union, held in Edinburgh on July 30 An offer of a further Id. per hour was received for workers engaged on night work. An improved method of calculating overtime payments was also secured.

Women employees as well as men will benefit from the new increases, which are to apply generally. PERSONAL PARS

MR. W. R. G000rma, deputy manager M Wallasey Corporation bus undertaking, has been appointed acting general manager. He will succeed Mr. H. H. Lincoln, the general manager, who will retire on September 30, after nearly 21 years' service.

Ma. A. G. Courts, chief assistant to Sir John Maxwell, Northern Regional Transport Commissioner, has, after three years' work in the Northern Region, been appointed to an important post in London under the

Ministry of War Transport. Before going to Newcastle-on-Tyne in October, 440, he was, for 10 years, with the North Midlands Traffic Commissioner.

MR NOEL G. BROOKES,

A.M Mech . E. , F.I.T. A. , better known to his close colleagues in the industry as "Tiny," has taken up the appointment as engineer to the Aldershot and District Traction Co., Ltd., upon relinquishing his position as service manager with F. Perkins, Ltd., at Peterborough, prior to which he 'was,' engineer to that well-known operating company, Transport Services, Ltd, PLYMOUTH HAS MANY 16-YEAROLD BUSES

I T was pointed out by Mr. C. Jackson, the municipal transport manager, who presented a report, last week, to Plymouth Transport Committee on the question of the provision of new buses, that there were 56 buses in the corporation fleet which were over .10 years

old and had worn-out bodies. The committee decided to apply to the Regional Transport Commissioner for permission to„acquire 22 new vehicles, which will be replacements and not additions to the fleet. The estimated cost of the new buses, few of which are expected to be available for public service before next March, is £50,000, and an application is to be made for sanction for a loan of that amount.

TYRES NOT OBTAINABLE AS A MATTER OF COURSE SPEAKING at the Tyre Economy Exhibition which was opened in Liverpool last week, Sir William Chamberlain, North-western Regional Transport Commissioner, said that no one could hold the view that the work on which he was engaged was of such importance that he could get tyres replaced by just making application. He would use his powers to ensure that abuse of tyres was restricted to the lowest possible limit. Tyres would be issued from time to time in accordance with the reservoir of tyres which would be available.

Mr. G. B. Hutchings, Principal Director of Salvage and Recovery, Ministry of Supply, said that even when synthetic rubber was available and We have learned how to use it, it would be essential to have stocks 'of crude rubber to use with it.

LOCAL HAULAGE MAY INCREASE

THE taking over of long-distance haulage by the M.O.W.T.through its controlled undertakings and units, and the transference of more of such work to the railways, will probably have the effect of throwing more shortdistance work on to local hauliers. It is a truism that all traffic gees by road foi some part of its journey, except where delivery is from siding to siding. Consequently, there may be a larger demand for road-transport facilities at the terminals, unless railway-owned vehicles are able to cope with this additional burden.

• MEMBERSHIP OF SIMILAR BODIES NOT FAVOURED

SOUTH SHIELDS Transport Cornmittee has decided not to become a member of the •recently. formed Public Transport Association, which includes the dissolved Public Services. Transport Association and the Omnibus Owners' 'Association. The transport committee 'is-to approach the Mtinicipal Passenger TranSport Association with a suggestion that its articles of association should be altered to prevent local authorities from being members of two similar organizations. It is held that this step will best serve the interests Of municipal-transport undertakings.

NEW TITLE ADOPTED BY OLDESTABLISHED COMPANY I N dealing with the report of the East London Rubber' Co., Ltd., in our issue dated July 16,We intimated that the company Was likely to change its title so aS to bring it more clearly into line with its present activities. As is announced by the company in its advertisement in this -issue, it will in future trade under the title of Kerry's (Great Britain), Ltd. Its organization has expanded to such an extent that it. now sells machine .tools, machinery, farm and tractor spares, etc. The company's headquarters are -at Warton Road, Stratford, London, E.

JUNE SETS UP " LOW " FOR • ROAD ACCIDENTS •

DEATIIS as a result of road accidents in June were the lowest for any month in the past 10 years. The total of 380 was 16 fewer than in April, Which previously had the lowest record Of fatal toad accidents for Many years.

Particularly disturbing, however, was the high proportion of children to other victims. This increased from one in seven in the first half of 1940 to about one in five in the first half of this year ; in June the proportion was nearly one

in three. Injured of all ages numbered 8,865.

LIVERPOOL CHAMBER KEEPS • ABREAST OF EVENTS

CONSIDERATION has been given by the Road Transport Section of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce to an outline of the policy of the M.O.W.T. in respect of the conversion of compression-ignition engines to producer gas.

• The situation will be further reviewed when it is made clear how heavy haulage vehicles will be affected.

The procedure to be followed by the Section in any representations which it might find necessary to make in connection with the Government Road Haulage Scheme was also discussed. It was agreed that, on matters' of principle, representations should be made through the local Standing Joint Committee. Questions of local organization and co-operation with the Northwestern Division of the Ministry, can be submitted, as before, for the attention of the.Section.

WAR PLANES CARD GAME FURTHER supply of the card game, " War Planes," is now available from Temple Press Ltd., Bowling Green Lane, London, E.C.1, at 4s.' 3id. per packet, including purchase tax and postage. The game is instructive and amusing, a unique feature being that 52 of the 67 cards bear the ordinary symbols, so that ordinary games can be played.

CLEARING-HOUSE CONFERENCE ASKED FOR EVIDENCE THE Sub-committee for Depart/ mental Inquiries of the Select Committee on National Expenditure has agreed to receive . from the National Conference of Road Transport Clearing Houses a memorandum concerning the Government Road Haulage Scheme. This will be considered as evidence in .connection with the inquiry into the Scheme which is now being proceeded with.

GOODYEAR 'SAVINGS GROUP WINS CHALLENGE TROPHY WITH an employee membership of • VI/ 96 per cent and a contribution of 9.27 per cent, of savings to net wages, the Goodyear Tyre and -Rubber Co. Savings group were successful in winnuig the Wolverhampton Industrial Group Savings Challenge Cup. The cup was donated by the Wolverhampton Industrial Savings Group as a challenge trophy for. competition between the many industrial units in the district for the best individual savings group performance. MAKE BEST USE OF LABOUR

EMPHAEMPHASIS Must be laid upon the SIS for making the bestuse of all available labour. In our industry, particularly,• more skilled men -are likely •to be taken for the essential needs of the Services. Therefore, skilled personnel shoyild never be employed upon non-skilled ,jobs, and• even on essential work not more skilled men than are necessary—in Other words, labour must be reorganized to the best advantage. -The co-ordination of rdpair facilities has proved most advantageous, and vehicle maintenance is being kept going with a reduced number of men. The M.O.W.T. is experiencing a continuous demand for further lectures and demonstrations in connection with repair work. Last year 7,000 people attended for instruction; this year the number will be higher and there will be more lectures. There are now six M.O.W:T. repair demonstration units, each staying three to four days at a centre. Their value is not only to show how work can be done with the tools as • carried on, the vehicles, but how it can be performed with the tools available in the shops visited.

TYREECONOMY EXHIBITION AT NEWCASTLE MEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE now has a 11 Tyre 'Economy Exhibition, which is being held' it the City Baths, Northumberland .Road; and will close on Aug. 25., It waS opened bY the Lord Mayor, supported by Sir John Maxwell, C.M.G., the R.T.C. _Reasons for the exhibitibn were 'given by Mr. P. S. King, Deputy Director of Tyres.

LONG SENTENCES. FOR FRAUD ON HULL HAULIERS

SIX men appeared at Leeds Assizes last week in connection with the conveying of loads of rubble from Hull to an aerodrome. Sentences of three years'-penal servitude were imposed on C. 0. Jackson and J. E. Greenham, both haulage contractors, of Hull, for obtaining money by false pretences from the Port of Hull Road Transport Control, Ltd. For 'aiding and abetting the former, Cyril Noble, a foreman employed at the aerodrome, was similarly sentenced to three years' penal servitude. Greenham was also found " Guilty " of forging a weigh ticket, and this was taken into consideration.

C. W. ,Heward, a Hull contractor, was found " Not Guilty" of obtaining money by false pretences from the transport syndicate, but " Guilty " of forgin a weigh ticket, He was. sentenced to six months' imprisonment.

• The other two men, J. W. Thompson, a Hull haulage contractor, and Frank Whitaker, a _ foreman employed at the aerodrome, were found " Not Guilty."

The prosecution alleged that the frauds consisted of motor drivers procuring two weigh tickets for single loads of rubble, and, thereafter, obtaining double payment for _single loads from the Port of Hull Road Transport Control. Ltd„ a syndicate formed by about 120 Hull hauliers. .


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