Passing Comments
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If You Wan t a TWO brothers who run a
Job Done — Don't I small haulage business
Interfere . sought to speed the day's work
by unloading some empty cases from a lorry while the staff had the midday break. When they had moved one or two crates, the driver and his mate appeared and ordered their employers to replace the boxes, as, they said, unloading was their function. Under an implied threat of a strike, the brothers had no option but to accept the rebuke. The old saying, "If you want a good job done, do it yourself," is, seemingly, no longer true.
The Salesman's Job COMMERCIAL VEHICLE in Our Post-war salesmen have a sympa Britain thizer in Mr. J. S. Wills,
M.Inst.T., chairman of the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd. At the company's annual general meeting he described "the main function of the modern British salesman" as being "to explain pleasantly to prospective customers that no deliveries can be made for some years, that no definite promises can be made' and that no firm prices can be quoted." These words might be humorous if they were not so tragically true.
Failure of Supplies THAT absence makes the Emphasizes Value of L heart grow fonder seems Trade Journals to apply to some readers of this journal who, for one reason or another, such as the transference of their places of residence to other parts of the country, and failure to notify their newsagents, have temporarily lost their right to copies. We are constantly receiving urgent appeals for assistance in rearranging the
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supply. These are often accompanied by most flattering remarks as to the value of the journal to all concerned in road transport. Many operators and others agree that they feel lost without their trade paper, as they are unable to follow progress in various matters outside their immediate environments. Yet the trade and technical Press receives little encouragement in respect of supplies of paper.
Even Driving ExaminA YOUNG member of our ers are Subject to " staff recently took, and Human Failings passed, the driving test.
Shortly afterwards he was riding on his bicycle along the cycle track on the Great West Road, when two men passed by on their bicycles on the track, but in the wrong direction. They should have been on the track on the other side of the road. The face of one of the cyclists struck a note of familiarity in our colleague's mind, and after a moment's pondering he remembered who the man was. It was his driving examiner!
Ribbed Brake p ECENTLY there has been Drums that are Pray" some criticism of the use ing Successful . of strengthening or cooling ribs oribrake drums, as they are said to cause patchy wear. Those on the Albion CX model do not, however, appear to cause any trouble in this respect and are well arranged for cooling purposes There are two circumferential ribs with others crossing diagonally. The effect is to force the air across the exterior of the drum. This not only assists cooling, but helps in obviating squeal. The drums are, of course, considerably strengthened and the cross ribs appear to prevent the wear on the drums and friction material from being uneven. THE Western world is not alone in industrial unrest. Malaya had a transport strike, unintentionally financed partly by members of the public, who were most inconvenienced by it. The day before the stoppage began, fares were collected, but no tickets were issued. The money was placed in the strike fund. An exmember of the staff of "The Commercial Motor" who is now in Malaya wrote: "This strike looks like going on indefinitely, but the workers seem to be the least concerned. Clearly their ' initiative ' is keeping their families fed!" We would not advise similar action in Britain—it might be followed by summonses for misappropriation
Bus Passengers Finance Malayan Transp or t Strike
Quality More ImportA TIMELY warning to ant Than Quantity in 1-1. British manufacturers was Exports recently given 'by Mr, A.
Keats, chairman of the Midland Region of the Engineering Industries Associa tion. He urged them to resist the temptation to reduce quality in an effort-to increase production for export. "It is better to disappoint the customer than to give him goods you are not proud of and which will not lead to permanent business," he said. It should also be remembered that financial difficulties may arise where products do pot reach the standard indicated in the specification on which the business was negotiated, and the exporter may be left with goods on his hands in an overseas country.