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One Hears

7th April 1939, Page 23
7th April 1939
Page 23
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

That trailers are taking a big part in A.R.P.

That a TAC-tical error might still ruin transportpeace prospects.

That we're all in favour of the "gentle spring" —so long as it is tempered with strength.

Of a surprising number of bus passengers who find that they are travelling in the reverse direction to that intended.

That some " stop-and-go " signalmen on road repairs spin the boards so that it is difficult to know " heads" from "tails."

That even if the use of the horse for transport dies out its name will live long iii connection with some mechanically propelled vehicles.

That insurance concerns may use possible claims from people " shocked " by viewing accidents, as an argument to obtain higher premiums. • That drivers have found this winter the worst on record for rheumatic shoulders.

Someone complaining that March was -" overdraughty, like some bank accounts".

Of someone asking, "Can it be on moral grounds that the railway is combating anything ' fishy ' in road transport '1"'

That in the views of some operators the " threelegged " mechanical .horse will be gradually supplanted by the "four-legged."

• Of a driver saying that the bituminous " buffer " line along the middle of our concrete roads satisfactorily takes the place of Michigan's black-painted band.

Of a number of 1929 Leyland bus chassis, after having run a distance of 500,000 miles each, being overhauled and fitted with modern coach bodies by the Sunderland and Distriet Omnibus Co., Ltd.

That Rumanian oil will not calm

troubled waters.

That tuned twin horns are becoming popular on commercial vehicles.

Traders expressing fears that an agreed rate may prove a greedy one.

Some doubts as to whether rail transport will be cheaper "in the long run."

That visiting drivers, from the provinces as well as from abroad, find London traffic alarming.

" SQUARE-DEAL " REPORT SUGGESTION TO MINISTER.

VIETHE Minister last week intimated he hoped to receive the report of the Transport Advisory Council on the railway companies' " square-deal " application before the Easter Recess. On being asked whether he proposed to make its terms available to Members in advance of any legislation, Mr. Burgin said he imagined it would have to be published, but perhaps he should be allowed to give a little thought to the proposal.

The Royal Show and Goods Vehicles.

THE Commercial Vehicle Department of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has decided not to exhibit goods vehicles at the Royal Show, as a result of displeasure at certain clatclitions concerning such exhibits. This is more or less a private arrangement between members, not an official ruling, and it may not affect future procedure, nor does it affect other approved agricultural shows.

Morris-Commercial Institute Drivers Club.

STABLISHED to benefit operators, .L:adrivers and public alike, Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd., Adderley Park, Birmingham, announces the formation of the Morris-Commercial Drivers Association. One of the many free services offered by this attractive and carefully prepared scheme is an employment bureau for the benefit of the men who drive the vehicles made by the company. Under the association's own insurance scheme, the family of a member who is fatally injured while driving a Morris-Commercial vehicle receives 100, with an additional for each child under 16 years of age.

To each driver who joins, a lapel badge and wallet and notebook, containing hints on driving and legal

A22 information, are presented. Membership is free, and drivers and drivers' mates of any type of Morris-Commercial vehicle are eligible:

The Scheme can claim to have achieved -immediate ..::i.ucc6ss,' because over 20,000 enrollitent, forms have been received in lesethan a ireek: Electri.ear Vehicle Demonstration in

THE demonstration of battery electric vehicles in the London area, arranged by the Electric Vehicle Association of Great Britain, Ltd.. 2, Savoy Hill, London, W.C.2, will take place from April 25 to 27 inclusive. GOODS VEHICLES VISITING NORTHERN IRELAND.

CURTHER to our paragraph, "Licence Validity in Northern Ireland," published on March 24, this applied mainly to private-car licences.

A carrier's C licence issued here is not valid in Northern Ireland, where each vehicle must be licensed and bear a plate with a distinctive number attached by the Licensing Authority (The Licensing Officer, Royal Ulster Constabulary, Atlantic Buildings, Waring Street, Belfast). The vehicle must first be produced to the Authority for examination and testing and may be re-examined at any reasonable time to ensure adequate maintenance.

The Government of Northern Ireland desires, however, to offer facilities to users residing in Great Britain, who find it necessary to send vehicles temporarily to Northern Ireland and for their benefit has materially modified the procedure.

In such cases licences are granted without the usual formalities. Only a cursory examination lasting 5-10 minutes is made to ensure that brakes and steering arc in order.

The fees charged for goods-vehicle licences vary with the unladen weight as follow;—(a) not exceeding 12 cwt. unladen, 10s. ; {la) exceeding 12 cwt. but not exceeding 2 tons, £.1; (c) exceeding 2 tons, ; but where goods vehicles are brought from Great Britain for short periods, no fee is required, and they are equipped free with the usual plat CS. Drivers are also supplied with provisional licences in respect of their vehicles.

It is necessary, however, for the owner of every such vehicle to obtain for it a Northern Ireland Road Fund licence, obtainable from the Motor Licensing Department at Belfast, and use must be covered by an insurance policy for each vehicle issued by a company in the list approved by the Ministry. There are over 100 of these insurers, many being in Great Britain. Operators interested can view the list in the offices of this journal.

Standing Joint Committee of Road Hauliers' National Organizations.

THE agreement recently reached I. between the general managers of the four railway companies and the Liaison Committee representing road interests, provided for the setting up of a Central Consultative Committee of rail and road representatives. The railways have announced the names of their members of the committee and. in accordance with a decision taken at a conference of Road Transport National Organisations, held on March 21, the following nominations of road representatives to this committee have been made by the Liaison Committee and ratified by the Standing Joint Committee at a meeting held on March 1213:--Mr. A. Andrews, Captain C. Barrington, Messrs, J. W. Beresford, C. S. Dunbar, Harold Elliott, G. T. M. Fairclough, N. D. Fawkner, I. R. Grove, C. Holdsworth, J. S. Nicholl, R. W. Sewill and Major W. Taylor.

R E-REGISTR ATION NECESSARY TO CHANGE CLASS.

I-AN Friday of last week a decision of 1.--Imagistrates for the division of Norham and Islandshires was reversed by Lord Hewart and Justices Macnaghten and Singleton, in a King's Bench Divisional Court. Douglas Dickson had been summoned for having, on May 3, 1938, in Cornhill-on-Tweed, used a lorry restricted to a speed of 20 m.p.h. without having the necessary " 20 " disc.

The court was informed by Mr. H. M. Abrahams (who appeared for Mr. Thomas Small Scott, the appellant) that this particular vehicle had an additional body which could be removed and which was included in its weight. On the day in question, the additional body, which bore the disc, had been removed, with the result that the unladen weight of the vehicle on, the road was under 24 tons. Dickson's case was that the vehicle, without the additional ,body„ came into a different class and need not carry the disc, because its speed need not he restricted to 20 m.p.h.

The magistrates upheld that contention and dismissed the information. They decided that the additional body was not necessary to the use of the vehicle on the road and the regulations did not require that the vehicle should be re-weighed and re-registered before it could be used on the road without an additional body.

Allowing the appeal, Lord Hewart said the contention of appellant prevailed, namely that a vehicle could flot be changed from one class to another without being re-weighed and re-registered. This vehicle was in the heavy class, over 2 tons in weight, and was limited to 20 m.p.h. with the additional body or without it.

New Guy Has Inbuilt Equipment For Driving Machinery.

rAPABLE of being used for a wide ‘,.....variety of purposes where power is required remote from a source of electrical supply, an interesting vehicle has been produced by Guy Motors, Ltd., Wolverhampton. It is the Ant-type four-wheeler equipped with air-compressor equipment and is capable of negotiating rough country.

The compressor is driven from an extension of the main gearbox shaft and operates when the vehicle is stationary. On each side of the compressor is an air container, the two having a total air capacity of 51 cubic ft. The compressor is capable of an air delivery of 112 cubic ft. per min. at 80 lb. pressure.

Grouping Plans in the North-west. Pr HE necessity of road-transport operators in the north-western area forming into groups for emergency, was stressed at a public meeting held at Lancaster, on Thursday of last week.

Mr. F. Williamson, defence plans officer for the north-western area, gave interesting details regarding the division of the area in relation to the new control system. Under the scheme, the Lancaster sub-district would be under Barrow, and he explained that 35,000 operators would form themselves into groups which would elect 1,600 group organizers. There would be 30 subdistricts in the north-western region and in turn that would be further divided under the control of eight district officers appointed by the Ministry of Transport.

The index to Volume 68 of The Cotwercial Motor is now ready, and can be obtained at 6d. GOODYEAR INTRODUCES RUBBER NUMBER PLATES.

RUBBER number plates are now being manufactured by the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co. (Great Britain), Ltd., Wolverhampton, these being merchandised exclusively by Sol Number Plates and Signs, Ltd., 28a, Basinghall Street, London, E.C.2.

The plates are made of a specially hardened rubber, which allows a cartam n flexibility. The index letters and digits are also of rubber, and the method of affixing them to the 'plate is ingenious.


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