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News of the Week

T.U.C. Scheme for Transport Control AT the Annual Congress of the T.U.C., at Blackpool next week, a report will be presented which will conl tam n the suggestions concerning the methods by which it is proposed that much of the internal transport of the country should be handed over to' the Nation. Many of the points have been anticipated by us and have received frequent reference in our columns.

It is proposed to institute a number 01 boards to cover railways, road haulage and passenger road transport. canals and inland waterways, coastwise shipping, porEg and docks and civilian air lines. In supreme control would be a National Transport Authority. We are, of course, mainly interested in those recommendations which apply to road haulage and passenger road transport,

The Road Haulage Board would deal with the roads themselves and the development of motorways; whilst there would probably be a considerable extension of what -is, at present, the M.O.W:T. Road Haulage Organization. In our issue dated August 24, we expressed doubt as to the freeing of the RHO., as it forms such a convenient nucleus for partial or complete nationalization. The 'report recotn mends that the first opportunity should be taken to purchase haulage vehicles and the undertakings which would thereby be involved.

In the proposals covering the passenger sphere, it is strange to find this side of the industry described as being un,coordinated. We look upon it as being one of the best examples of well-managed private enterprise. It seems that even the London Passenger Transport Board would be absorbed if the wishes of the T.U.C, be put into action.

It is significant that the proposed National Transport Authority is to be staffed by " experts,' who would be expected to give up all other positions and sell any shares they possessed in transport undertakings.

On the goods side it is apparently not intended, at present, to interfere greatly with medium and short-distance haulage, but to extend control in only the long-distance field, the saving grace being the existence of a multiplicity of unclerta,kingS in the other two sections.

There will be some perturbation amongst municipalities for, apart from the acquisition of company-owned undertakings, local authorities may be invited 'to transfer theirs to the Board, as an alternative to enforced purchase.

THE.PRODUCTION OF BATTERY_ ELECTRICS

TT is denied by the Electric Vehicle' !Association of Great Britain that the production of the originally contemplated 5,00 national standard electric vehicles was suspended because of the non-availability of materials.

It points out that the decision to suspend production was taken in May last year, after full discussion with the Ministry of Supply, because the estimated requirements quoted at that time by the M.O.W.T, did not warrant the expense and dislocation inseparable from the manufacture of a new product. Contrary to 'the impression which appears to be prevalent in certain quarters, however, battery-electrics are now being manufactured, and there is every indication that progress in the near future will be much • greater 'than was anticipated.

• SALE OF RECONDITIONED EX-SERVICE CARS

MANY people have hopes regarding the purchase of reconditioned exService cars which are sold at controlled prices; but the, M.O.W,T. points out that, in the four months ended Jury, only 220 were available for sale, although applications for permits to purchase numbered many thousands. Until the supply increases, permits will he issued only to nurses, midwives and disabled ex-Servicemen (not less than 25 per cent, disablement), who need cars to follow their occupations.

NUFFIELD ORGANIZATION'S NEW EXPORT MOVES

ATRUCK developed solely for use in overseas countries, the encouragement of the Dominions to found their own vehicle production, and the promotion of sales in territories with which they had no pre-war dealings, are some of the plans of the Nuffield Organization for stimulating its export activities and so supporting the country's desire for trade in the world markets.

The company which will be responsible for co-ordinating all these activities is Nuffield Exports, Ltd., which was formerly Morris Industries Exports, Ltd. Formed in 1933 to unify the export business of Lord Nuffield's group of companies, M.I.E. in the peak year before the war exported about 25 per cent, of all United Kingdom motorcars.

MEMBERS OF N.I.R.T.B. REAPPOINTED

THE Northern Ireland Ministry of Commerce has reappointed the following to be members of the Northern Ireland Road Transport Board for a period of two years:—The Earl of Enniskillen, C.M.G., D.L., Messrs. S. Wallace Kennedy, 0.B.E., D.L., J. S. Rogers, D. Wilson Smyth, D.L., James E. Wilson.

The Earl of Enniskillen has been appointed chairman.

AMERICA'S BIG PRODUCTION PROGRAMME

AMERICA'S truck production should reach, before the end of the year, a monthly rate approximating that of the peak year-1937—during which 591,000 units were produced,whilst all previous records may be exceeded in the first quarter of 1946, according to the Motor Truck Division of the U.S. Auto Manufacturers Association,

SEVEN SUB-AREAS OF R.H.A. IN WEST RIDING ,

yORKSHIRE West Riding Area of the Road Haulage Association now has seven sub-areas, the latest to be formed being that covering York and 'places surrounding it, including Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon, Tadcaster, Easingwold and Borough.bridge.

This sub-area was recently formed at a meeting in York, when Mr. J. Newton, of Northern Motor Utilities, Ltd., York, was unanimously elected to the chairmanship. A tribute to the useful service which Mr. Newton has already rendered on various committees connected with the industry was voiced by Mr. R G. Crowther, M.B.E., of Wakefield, who gave an address in which he reviewed R.H.A. activities and prospects both nationally and in

connection with the West Riding area.•A letter from R.H.A. headquarters,

crystallizing the function of sub-areas, pointed out that they were set up in order that individual members could have a better chance of taking part in the Association's activities and of understanding what was taking place under its auspices.

Referring to the constitution of the new sub-area's committee, Mr. Newton said the democratic' Procedure was for each drstrict in the sub-area to be repre

sented, a procedure which must be carried out if the committee was to be really efficient.

Elections in addition to that of Mr. Newton to the chairmanship were as follow:—Sub-area hon. secretary: Mr. J. E. Rayson, assistant general manager, Northern Motor Utilities, Ltd. Committee: Messrs. T. A. Bell and F. Wright (York) , S. W. Hall (Knaresborough), F. Raston and R. Robinson (Harrogate), J. Stephenson (Easingwold) , E. Walker (Tadcaster), Corps (Boroughbridge) and Mrs. I. Green (Ripon). It was decided that Mr. Newton be nominated as the subarea's representative on. the West Riding Area Committee, COVENTRY CHAMBER TO FORM TRANSPORT SECTION

COVENTRY Chamber of Commerce proposes to form a road transport• section and has asked the Liverpool Chamber for advice and assistance. It has invited Coventry to send a repre, sentative to attend a local section meeting later in the year.

OBITUARY

MR. P. M.KINLEY, bus proprietor of Ballagan Garage, by Balloch, a wellknown member of the transport industry in the West of Scotland, has died.

We regret to announce the recent death, at Beaconsfield, of MR. F. L HALFORD, He was general manager and a member of the Petroleum Board, managing director of Shell-Mex and B.F., and a director of a number of other associated concerns.

The death has occurred at Pocklington (Yorks) of MR. SYDNEY H. EVERINGHAM, managing director of the E.B. Bus Services, Ltd. He was 54 years old and a former member of the Paddington Urban and Rural Councils. HELPING EUROPEAN INLAND TRANSPORT

THE new Minister of State, Mr. P. J. Noel-Baker, presided at a conference held last week on European Inland _Transport, when repreSentatives of many European countries were present.

The main purpose of the Provisional Organization for European Inland Transport, which was formed on May 8, is to advise and guide Ihe Governments and authorities concerned on co-ordinating the movement Of traffic of an internal character and of rehabilitating the surface transport system of Europe by rail, road and inland waterways.

Steps have already been taken to ensure the quick delivery of welding material, at cost to the Governments concerned. It is believed that within a few weeks much immobilized transport will be able to resume its work.

NEW SCOTTISH MAKER AND REPAIRER OF SPRINGS

WE are advised of the formation of Scottish Road Springs, Ltd., Fairfield Street, Fairmuir, Dundee, to manufacture and repair all classes of road spring, and the company is now in production. The directors are Mr. J. Burns, who was for many years with Auto Chassis Spares, Ltd., of Leyland, and Road Springs (Leyland), Ltd., Mr. G. W. Davidson and Mr. O. Smith, of Dundee, Mr. J. Wilcock and Mr. R. C. Ward, of Edinburgh.

The company extends an 'invitation to traders and haulage contractors in the area, and to others interested, to visit its works.

TRANSPORT CLEARING HOUSES MEETING AT LEEDS .

THE North-eastern Area of the National Conference of Road Transport Clearing Houses is holding its annual general meeting at the Metro; poleHotel, Leeds, on Thursday, September 13, at 7 p.m.

BEAMA MEMORANDUM ON HEAVY LOADS

AMOST useful booklet on the tra asport of heavy and indivisible loads has been issued by the British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers' Association, 36 and 38, Kingsway, London, W.C.2, at 6d. net. It will be realized that products in this spherg are often of considerable weight and size and require special treatment. Details of typical loads are given, also a few notes on what is being done in other countries.

Amongst the -recommendations, it is stated that the industry views with much concern the statement that there is likely to be a limitation for 'road transport of 16 ft. 6 ins, for the under. clearance of. bridges in the post-war period. It is considered that 20 ft. should be the minimum.

It is also felt that a revision of Section 30 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, is overdue. The guiding principle should be positive action for the strengthening of weak bridges rather than the negative policy which gives power to the local authority concerned to prohibit or restrict the use of vehicleS over particular bridges.

GOOD RETURN FROM ACCRINGTON'S BUSES

THE bus undertaking of Accrington Corporation shows a profit for the year ended March 31 last, of £3,552. There is a credit balance to carry forward of £48,341. No loan debt is outstanding on the undertaking, and the purchase of new buses has been financed out of revenue.

NEW PUBLICATION ON CENTRELESS GRINDING

_ book dealing with the pro

cess of eentreless grinding, which appeals to both novice and expert alike, has recently been published by Arthur Scrivener, Ltd., Tyburn Road, Birmingham, the well-known maker of machine tools.

It deals thoroughly with the principles involved, and no fewer than 67 pages are devoted to production data. The book is well printed and profusely illustrated. Readers interested in this subject should get in touch with the publisher at the address given.

PURPOSE OF LANCASHIRE JOINT TRANSPORT BOARD

LAST week, Councillor A. T. Barratt, Lsichairman of Manchester Transport Committee, gave an assurance that the creation of the proposed Joint Transport Advisory Committee for southeast Lancashire would not lead to the smaller undertakings being " swallowed up" by the Manchester Corporation system.

Replying to fears expressed by Alderman J. L. Lord, chairman of Bury Finance Committee, he said: "This committee is, being set up for the mutual interest of 13 authorities in the Manehester district. If anything, Manchester is losing, for Bury, a much sit/41er undertaking, has exactly the seine representation as Manchester. The main duty of the committee will be to

advise upon services operated by two or more of the undertakings and discuss the services to the satellite towns,he continued.

Manchester invited the passengertransport authorities of Salford, Stockport, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and Ashton, together with the Stalybridge, Hyde and Duk-infield Joint Transport Board to send representatives to a recent conference convened for the purpose of discussing the desirability of constituting a Joint Committee of an advisory character for the purpose of planning passengertransport services in the area.

BUS RETURN.FARE BAN TO GO THE Order cancelling all bus return I. fares costing more than 10d, in the Northern Region is to be revoked so soon as new tickets are printed by the bus companies. In addition, Sunday morning services are to be restored.

Return fares costing over 10d, and Sunday morning services were cancelled in the Northern Region two or three years ago. Several unsuccessful attempts were made by local authorities to have the matter reconsidered. MORE BUSES FOR TRAMS AT BLACKBURN•

FROM October 1, buses are taking the place of trams on the residential Preston New Road section at Blackburn, which means that the town's third tram route is to be uprooted. Only three others remain, those to Darwen, Wilpshire and Church.

PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN AGAINST THEFTS THE Chief Constable of Sussex has

asked us to point out that he has launched a three months' publicity campaign in that county designed to encourage the public to become more ,anti-crime conscious. This applies particularly to thefts of and from vehicles. He strongly recommends that ignition keys should be removed; also, whereever possible, articles of value, and, in cars, that the roofs and doors should be locked and the windows closed before a vehicle be left unattended. We would add, however, that in the case of commercial vehicles carrying valuable loads, much more cornprelaeneiVes precautions should be taken. To leave loaded vehicles by themselves is simply encouraging losses.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN RUBBER BONDING?

Do you know the principle involved in the process of bonding rubber to metal, or how such bonded 'components can be used in industry? Do you know to what materials rubber can be bonded or whether the rubber is in •a liquid state when placed in the mould?

Whether you do or do not know the answers to these questions, if you are interested in the subject you would do a ell to acquire a copy of a publication recently issued by Rubber Benders. Ltd., Flexilant Works, Dunstable, Beds.

Whilst it is not intended to represent finality on the subject, or to be anything more than an ambitious commen. tary, it should prove an exceedingly valuable publication to those using or contemplating introducing such com.ponents in any form.

Copies can be obtained from the publisher, at the address given, price 15s. • MANCHESTER TO ABANDON TRAMWAYS

ik ANCHESTER'S decision to scrap 'nits remaining tramways system and to 'employ buses is causing Stockport Corporation transport officials much concern. A joint service operates between the towns, and following the North-west Regional Transport Commissioner's rejection last November of Stockport's application to substitute buses on the inter-city route, the council has spent :30,•000 on the tram track.