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OPINIONS and 6UERIES

8th March 1935, Page 61
8th March 1935
Page 61
Page 62
Page 61, 8th March 1935 — OPINIONS and 6UERIES
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Grove Dangers of Railway Agreed Charges. Licensing Aathorities Must Enforce the Act. The Urgency of a United Effort

The Professional Furniture Remover's Diffic. ulties. Record Forms that Mislead Operators. Interest Rates on Part

year Licences

TRADERS SHOULD BEWARE OF RAILWAY AGREEMENTS BANNING ROAD TI ANSPORT.

[4502] The council of the Road Haulage Association has viewed with concern the numbers of manufacturers, especially those whose business is of a nature depending upon various forms of road transport, who arc contemplating arranging "agreed rates" with the railway companies, one condition of which excludes the forwarding of any of their goods by road-transport concerns, The R.H.A. does not take the attitude that any trader should be asked to exclude entirely the forwarding of his goods by railway transport—such an attitude does not appeal to it as reasonable or in the interest of trade as a whole. But the Association does wish to point out that widespread acceptance of railway agreements of this nature must have far-reaching reactions.

In the first place, it must ultimately reduce the number of road-transport customers upon whom such maimfacturers and traders depend for their sales. In the second place, it must surely be clear that if such railway tactics meet with success in eliminating road competition, it will not be long before the railway companies are in a position either to stiffen their terms considerably or entirely to refuse renewal of such agreements based on flat rates.

The R.H.A. feels that the reality and extent of these dangers has not, perhaps, been fully realized by the traders concerned, and, as an organization deeply concerned with the welfare of all whose living depends directly or indirectly on the prosperity of roadtransport, we would respectfully urge that they consider most carefully the above aspects in relation to any agreement suggested by the railway companies which may contain a condition for the exclusion of road trans Port. ROGER W. SEWILL, M.A., M.Inst.T., Chairman, For the Council of the Road Haulage Association. London, W.C.2.

CARRIERS WHO STILL IGNORE THE WAGE RECOMMENDATIONS.

[4503] We have read with great interest, in your issue dated March 1, the letter (No. 4495) from Mr. A. F. Shaw, of the Merton Engineering Co., Ltd., and we strongly endorse his remarks regarding the neglect of the Traffic Commissioners to enforce the Act, especially in the ease of the report of the National Conciliation Board as to agreed wages.

We think that we may state, without fear of contradiction, that in this immediate Area, we are one of the very few firms paying the wages as agreed, and it has struck us with great force that this tends to penalize us severely whenever we tender for a contract.

It would seem that the Commissioners interest themselves only insofar as they obstruct us from earning a living, restrict our tonnage, inform us as to what wages we are to pay and what hours we may employ our men, but, so far, they have made little or no effort to protect those who are endeavouring to comply with the law.

We are anxious to comply with the Act, but it is obvious to us that we cannot continue to do so and remain solvent, unless the Commissioners will give us

their whole-hearted support. J. M. KNOW-LES, Bettws-y-coed. For CARLTON MOTORS.

[4504] As a driver I appreciate Mr. Shaw's letter in your issue of March 1. This district is full of ratecutting operators who will not pay their drivers a fair wage. Until they are forced to realize the conditions of their A and B licences and the Road and Rail Traffic Act, so long will they continue to ignore their obligations to the men who earn their profits.

COLIN E. COATES.

Downhana Market AN ENDORSEMENT OF UNITED ACTION BY CARRIERS.

[4505] In connection with the plea for the national organization of the haulage industry, put forward by Mr. A. a Butterwick, chairman of the Yorkshire Regional Area of the Road Haulage Association, I would point out that a General Election is coming—perhaps a good deal earlier than most of us expect—and in such circumstances no one is more susceptible to pressure skilfully applied than the average member of Parliament, his attention usually being governed by the size of his last majority and his ideas about the next.

The railway interests have gained their present position of partial control by skilful lobbying and pressure in the constituencies, the railway vote possibly determining the fate of a candidate. The road-transport industry, on both the goods and passenger sides, must use its political weight in each constituency and refuse to be drawn into other controversies by political red herrings.. Why not ignore all the present arguments by the various parties and use the acid test of pro-railway or pro-road, plumping for those who will help the road side?

The motoring interests have potential power of the c39 utmost' value, and every effort should be made to unseat the enemies of road transport. _Numerically, the road side greatly outnumbers the railway, and it would be in a position to dictate terms if only it would organize. We shall have Governments and, in particular, Ministers of Transport, waiting on our wishes, when we awaken to our united strength. A. CLARK.' Eltham.

THE DIFFICULT POSITION OF THE QUALIFIED FURNITURE REMOVER.

[4506] I have been a reader of The Commercial Motor for some considerable time, and I would like opinions on the following position:— 4.am the owner of a fleet of coaches and vans, the latter being kept solely for the purpose of removing furniture. I find that there are great numbers of ownerdrivers possessing only one lorry for a mixed business of coal, haulage and furniture removing, who get away with a lot of contraventions of the Road and Rail Traffic Act. They work over the legal number of hours and overload, etc. They cut the removal _rates and say that they can afford to do so as they are not put to so much expense as I am, whilst I_ must keep the law.

As you will understand, they are getting the business, whilst I_ am left with a fleet of vans and a staff_ of men with nothing to do.. As I am an .emPloyer of labour T must adhere strictly to the Act, but this matter has now become a serious problem, and I should like advice as to whether or not there is any remedy for this state

of affairs. HOPEFUL. Leeds.

RECORD FORMS WHICH INDUCE OPERATORS TO GIVE EXCESSIVE INFORMATION.

[4507] I am still receiving from certain of my members specimen forms which are published by printers in various. parts of the countryrelating to the driver's work ticket and operator's record, which is requirecl to be kept under the provisions of Section 25 of the 1934 Act.

On certain of these specimen forms it is indicated that the hiring charge requires to be. inserted. This is very misleading to the operator, for, as you know, the Section referred to makes no reference at all to this point and it is not necessary for any such figure to be inserted on the ticket or record, except, of course, for the operators personal personal and private use.

For the general information of printers and operators throughout the country, I am quite prepared to submit a specimen form for their information so that the correct details may be incorporated on any form that they may desire to obtain or have printed. F. A. WALKER, Secretary, For The Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association, London, S.W.1.

EXTRA COST OF QUARTERLY LICENCES.

[4508] Your correspondents are begging the question in writing about interest rates on part-year licences. The reports of the several Departmental Committees which dealt with this matter, equally with the speeches of successive Chancellors of the Exchequer who have been responsible, have in no instance included the words " interest " or "per cent, per annum."

The extra £4 (paid on October 14) on a £40 atfnual tax (paid on January 14) is a straight 10 per cent.

If any Commercial Motor reader is "interested in the savings against this 10 per cent, extra which they ultimately pay, it is shown in the following calculation :- c40 It is fair, no doubt, to reckon this average in hand for the year of £12 Os. 9d. (4,403 £-days ÷ 365) at 5 per cent, per annum in value to the licence-holder, which set-off is 12s., to be deducted from the £4.

The net extra is thus reduced to £3 8s., or to a straight 8 per cent, on the annual tax. This net percentage holds good throughout the whole tax range.

London. PRECISION.

DIFFICULTIES WITH EXCEPTIONAL LOADS.

[4509] We have been asked to tender for the conveyance of a single-unit propeller, four blades, and weighing about seven tons, and we are advised that the overall width of this propeller Will be 12 ft: ' Our lorries are A.E.C., Mammoth Majors and Leyland

Hippos and their' extreme width • would be about 6 ft. 10 ins...to:7 ft. This would mean that there Might'. be 2. It. 6_ ins projection on each side :of the lorrSr. Possibly, by somewhat stewing the propeller, we might"

be-able to reduce this slightly. .

Can you tell us the extreme width of load-width overhang that we are permitted to carry, whether there is any regulation to be observed on a special job like this, and if we have to give police notice or notices?

We know of the Regulation "Authorization of special types Order, 1931,"but this 'refers to special vehicles..

Swansea. HEAVY TRANSPORT.

[There appears to be no doubt that in view of the decision of the Divisional Court to which we refer below, a motor vehicle when carrying a load the width of which exceeds 8 ft. is regarded as being subject to the provisions of the Motor Vehicles (Authorization of Special Types) Order (No 1), 1931. In order to carry out the job for which you are tendering it will be necessary for you to have at least four men, including the driver, in attendance to look after the vehicle and load, and to give four clear days' notice to the thief officer of police of every district through which it is proposed that the vehicle shall pass. Apparently it will not be necessary for you to give four clear days' notice to every highway authority and to every bridge authority responsible for the maintenance and repair of any road or bridge over which it is proposed that the vehicle shall pass, in accordance with paragraph 10 of the Order. The case to which we referred above was a decision of the Divisional Court on April 25, 1934, upon an appeal by Fred. Robinson (Transporters). Ltd., against a conviction by the Newport (Mon.) Justices for using a motor vehicle which carried a load exceeding 8 ft. wide and not having four men in attendance. The Court dismissed the appeal. They appear to have taken the view that the Order applies to all vehicles which carry a load exceeding 8 ft. in width. Our legal adviser disagrees with the decision but points out that it would probably be followed in any other case, The above decision in effect overruled the decision of the Cardiff Stipendiary Magistrate in a propeller case.—F.D.1

[4510] We are much obliged to you for your very full and interesting letter in reply to our query.

We rather agree with you that it is ,by no means clear whether we are entitled to load the abnormal traffic exceeding 8 ft., on a normal lorry, but, at any rate, in view of the case you refer to, and which went to appeal, we think it would be unwise of us to accept

this business. HEAVY TRANSPORT. Swansea.


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