NEWS of the WEEK
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FURTHER DEMAND FOR INCREASED WAGES
WE learn that the Trade Unions have put in an application to the Central Road Haulage "Wages Board for a further . increase in wages over and above those specified in RH4. It will be recalled that the first schedule of wages under the Road Haulage Wages Act came into force on January 20 of this year. The application of these rates was followed almost immediately by a demand for an increase which, in some parts of the country, was granted at once, and was, in any event, made statutory on May 6,
That increase was as much as 5s. per week in Grade I areas, 4s. per week in Grade II areas, and 35, per week in Grade III areas. There were also corresponding increases in overtime rates and some increases of subsistence allowances. This further demand, if acceded to. will, therefore, mean a second increase within eight months.
Consultative Committee Personnel
THE list of names of those constitutingthe Road Transport Consultative Committee, which we gave last week, has been confirmed by the Ministry of Transport.
July's Export Figures July's Export Figures
DURING July, the value of commercial vehicles exported from the United Kingdom totalled £86,699, whilst commercial vehicle chassis exported had a value of £72,967. In the case of tractors (except those of the agricultural type) , their export value totalled £55,764.
Association's Work on Military Hardship Cases
THE Scottish Carriers and Haulage Contractors Association has presented cases to military hardship corn-' mittees in many parts of the country. However, it reminds operators. or employees of operators, who are reapplying for a postponement certificate that an effort must be made to find a substitute, and only in • those cases where this procedure has failed will the committee grant a further extension.
WORKING OF THE FUEL. RATIONING SYSTEM
AN invitation has been issued to the British Road Federation to give evidence before the Sub-committee on Transport Services of the Select Committee of parliament on National Expenditure on the working of the fuel-rationing system for commercial road vehicles and the pooling of road
transport. .
'Details of cases where goods have been diverted from road transport to other forms, because of a refusal of the necessary supplies of fuel (whether for use on operators' own vehicles or on those of contractors) are required as soon as possible. It will also be valuable to obtain details of delays or increased costs caused by such diversions. This information should• be addressed to the Secretary of the Federation at 120, Pall Mall, London, S.W.1.
B.R.F. ADVOCATES GREATER USE OF ROAD TRANSPORT
IN its monthly bulletin of road information, the British Road Federation welcomes the close collaboration between the Ministry of Transport and hauliers by the introduction of the new consultative committee, and the establishment of emergency committees at more than 40 ports, the latter to speed up the clearance of goods.
It regrets, however, that there is no suggestion that full use of road transport is necessary for the attainment of this nationally desired efficiency. It asks why the whole problem should not be tackled from the opposite angle, instead of cutting road transport by 30-40 per cent. Why not, it asks, regard the maximum use of its powers as an important factor in the national interest? Delays would be reduced and costs lowered. The railways are applying for a further increase in charges, and their extended use is raising transport costs everywhere.
O.M. for Perkins Oil Engine
WJE learn that a P6 oil engine, mannV11 factured by F. Perkins, Ltd., of Peterborough, which was exhibited at the recent Brisbane Show, has been awarded a First Order of Merit. The company's oil engines for lorries and cars and various industrial applications have for long been in big demand in Australia. In view of the Government's effort to stimulate export trade, it is a matter for gratification to the company that, since the commencement of the war, its exports to Australia have increased by over 300 per cent, per month_
Liverpool Group Organizers Get Together
FIRST steps have been taken to provide organization for Liverpool group organizers. Those in Group 3, which is composed mainly of haulage contractors, have taken the initiative and, at a meeting held last week, appointed the following committee:— Chairman, Mr. W. H. King; secretary, Mr. A. Roberts (Motor Carriers (Liverpool), Ltd.); treasurer, Mr. G. Hartley; and Messrs. W. Broadhead, — Molyneux, W. Macready and J. F. Supplies. This committee, which is more of a liaison committee, will keep in touch with the sub-district manager on all questions and problems concerning organizers in Group 10133.
Title selected by the committee is " 10E3 Group Organizers." Immediate objects are:—(1) To secure uniformity of working in group matters; (2) to facilitate the exchange of opinions and ideas; and (3) provide an opportunity for the sub-district manager to meet organizers and to give details of instructions issued by the Ministry to organizers collectively instead of passing the information on to each individual organizer.
At last week's meeting, held at Liverpool, there was a discussion on the restriction of supplementary petrol to vehicles in the 2-3-ton class (unladen weight), unless they are engaged on local and semi-local work. As local operators engaged in the distribution of cattle feeding stuffs, bran, wheat, flour, etc., have also been notified by the
District Transport Officer that where alternative means for transport exist, supplementary will not be issued, the situation is viewed with concern, What is wanted is a definition of the term " local and semi-local,and a statement of the mileage radius within which railway-owned vehicles may operate from the railheads.
10B3 Group Organizers consider that there should be minimum rates, officially approved, for short-distance " local and semi-local " traffic in order to prevent traders and manufacturers taking advantage of exceptional conditions to depress rates.
Dockers Favour Voluntary System
GLASGOW dockers have made only a minority response to the Ministry of Labour's scheme for registration, which the Government and the Clyde Navigation Trust hoped would lead to more expeditious loading and unload
ing. The dockers, numbering more than 4,000, claim that the voluntary system is the most efficient for docks in Glasgow and the West of Scotland, and they are opposed to all recommendations for reorganization.
Glasgow Fire Brigade Busy
THE mileage travelled by the fire engines of Glasgow fire brigade during the period June 1, 1939, to May 31, 1940, was 12,936. This is revealed by Mr. M. Chadwick, chief officer, in his annual report. The brigade received and responded to 2,910 calls during the year. Of these
854 were false alarms. Expenditure amounted to £99,983, and revenue .totalled £8,908, making a net charge of £91,075 on the rates. LONG-DISTANCE HAULAGE INCREASING IN U.S.A.
SINCE 1936, the number of haulage companies in Massachusetts engaged in inter-state service has increased by 50 per cent. In 1939 there were 3,034 companies in the State using approximately 7,000 lorries for inter-state services, reports the Massachusetts Development Commission. Connections are given to Chicago, to which city 20 vehicles are carrying through freight each way every day; the running time between Boston and Chicago is 72 hours.
New York and Philadelphia are reached overnight from Boston, and there are 58 companies working on the New York-Boston service, traffic being estimated at 5,000 tons a day.
This rapid growth of transportation, says the report, calls attention to the growing praatice of industrial concerns reducing or abolishing storage space in high-rental areas and substituting direct delivery to customer from manufacturer. Orders received by salesmen one day are delivered the following day from a point possibly 300 miles away.
Fill Up the Band Wagon
I F some of our readers have any musi
cal instruments to spare, they can turn these to good account by forwarding them as gifts to an R.A.S.C. company of 350 men, by whom they would be highly appreciated. This company includes many musicians, but lacks the necessary instruments.' Such gifts should be forwarded to Captain R. Stafford, MC., F.I.M.T., No. 334 Company R.A.S.C., " Tudor Gates," Silverdale Avenue, Walton-on-Thames.