IN YOUR OPINION
Page 84
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Low Rates
I N the July 17 issue, a letter by Mr. T. G. Johnson was published. In this he said "The blame for low rates lies with the people who accept them, not the people who pay them". But is this entirely fair?
With rising maintenance and other charges, I am sure there is a large percentage of hauliers, particularly those with only one or two vehicles, who would welcome a low rate load rather than no load at all—merely to keep their vehicles on the road. Even if haulier A did refuse a low rate load, I am sure that haulier B would be quick to get it—so what good has been done?
No, sir! The people to get something done are the organizations, particularly the R.H.A. and the T.R.T.A. These people, representing thousands of operators, hold the power to improve conditions for road transport.
I have not yet left school and therefore have not had first-hand experience of the complexity of this problem, but from what I have read on the subject, I am sure that co-operation between the organizations is the only solution.
Steyning, Sussex. T. J. DYER.
Open on Sunday ?
I AGREE entirely with the sentiment expressed in your I issue of July 17 that the Museum of British Transport should be preserved. But why is this the only museum in London which does not open on Sunday afternoon? If it is because of the question of payment, why not open it till 9 or 10 p.m. on weekdays?
Ruislip, Middx. _ G. KRASKER.
That Tilt Cab TK
I WAS interested to read "The Hawk's" remarks on the
" Matchbox " Bedford TK with tilt cab. I would, however, like to offer a more plausible possible reason for Lesney's enterprise. In common with most of their competitors, a sizeable proportion of their output goes to North America and other countries where American vehicles are familiar sights. As you will be aware, the tilt cab is almost universal on lightand medium-weight forward-control /rucks in the U.S. and Canada.
Having no suitable popular prototype in this country with tilt cab, Lesney's choice of the TK is obvious. The appearance of the TK is similar to the comparable GM and Chevrolet, whilst there is an even more marked similarity to-the tilt cab Ford introduced about 1957.
Incidentally, one of the latter was road tested by your technical editor in, I think, 1958—he spoke highly of the cab arrangement.
Lack of Interest
When I returned to England in 1962 after eight years in Canada and saw the TK for the first time, I was amazed to find that it was not a tilt cab model. I have often wondered about the lack of interest in this feature and can only put forward one valid reason—that is the large proportion of Luton type bodies one sees here compared with North America. However, let us hope "The Hawk" is correct in his conjecture regarding future Bedfords. After all, Bedford could still supply the existing cab with its untidy flaps and front wings for their Luton van customers.
Wirral, Cheshire. C. A. REDDY.