Progress of I.R.T.E. Acclaimed
Page 41
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
OVER 300 members and guests li/attended the annual dinner-dance of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers, in London. last Friday.
The guests included Mr. fohn Birch, chairman of the Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association; Sir Charles Bartlett; Mr. R. Gresham Cooke, 0.B.E., director, and Mr. S. E. Clark, 0.B.E., secretary, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders; and Sir Cyril Birtchnell, K.C.M.G., Ministry of Transport.
Mr. G. Mackenzie Junner, president, expressed appreciation of the way in which many of the guests had received visiting parties of Institute members. He referred to the great progress made' by the Institute and to its recent incorporation under licence issued by the Board of Trade, which had enhanced the status both of the members and the Institute. It was now the repreSentative body of the technical interests of the road transport engineer.
Mr. Birch expressed concern regarding the state of the roads, which was affecting the life of vehicles. Before the war, £60m. a year was allocated to road improvement and repair. This year £250m. would be collected from vehicle 'owners, of which only £15m. would be made available for the roads. Contributions from local, authorities would bring the total to 05m. As, however, the potential purchasing value of the pound was less than half its prewar rate, the condition of the roads was likely to become worse.
Mr. R. Gresham Cooke also spoke.