WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"The wheel of wealth Will he slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Grane9'
The R.T.B. Limpet.
A true specimen of the "Limpet" has been diacevered in the secretary of the Stoke-on-Trent area Road Transport Committee, whose address is 112, Liverpool Street, Stoke-on-Trent. Owners of vehicles in the area last week were supplied with forms H.S.O.T. 817-1/3 to fill in, giving the number of horses, number of registered vehicles, number of covered vehicles. Rightly is it asked of what use is this department now ? The idea of co-ordibatang road transport throughout the country was good, but its execution was execrable. Months and months were spent in building up a vast organizatiou, dividing the country into 10 divisions and the divisions into nearly BO areas, each division having its road transport officer and assistant and a divisional board and divisional advisory committees, and each area having its transport committee, secretary and offices, whilst some districts had their trade coMmittees, the whole of this organization controlled by the Road Transport Board with its central advisory committee, its chief executive
officer, secretary, and what not. The mere' recital of the bare details of the organization with its hundreds of names occupies a volume of 114 pages, and the nunibering of the vehicles, and the preparation of this volume constitute all that had been done to utilize transport vehicles during the stringency which preveiled before the Armistice released the manufacturers from their contracts. To think that this waste of time and effort is still permitted!
Fire at Leyland Works.
A fire took place shortly after 3 o'clock on Thursday morning last at the Leyland Co.'s Meadow Street works. It started in the paint stores and_ spread to a general coachbuilding and, trimming shop. The conflagration was extinguished after burning for close on 321 hours. It did not, fortunately, spread to a big new coacbhuilding and painting shop and a sawmill adjoining. The fire provided the first call for a standard 500-gallon motor pump, which was only delivered to the Charley fire brigade authorities as recently as the previous days This engine materially assisted in combating the -fife and limiting the damage done. The Preston and Leyland town brigades were also in attendance, as well as the Leyland works brigade.
Goods by Tramways.
The members of the Bradford Corporation Tramways Committee generally approved of a suggestion which came. before them secently for the extension of the parcels delivery system now being worked in connection with the tramways. There are certain restrictions as 'lel route and the weight of parcels existing at the present time. Inasmuch as the whole question is bound up with the national transport problem, the committee is placing the matter before the Ministry of Labour and the Municipal Tramways Association.
It is pointed out that if the tramway :Parcels delivery system is to be made
B 26 more efficient there will be a necessity for tramway vehiclea carrying parcels Only, as distitact from passengers. Under present conditions the parcels have to stand for some time in the streets waiting for available cars, and there is a greater liability of the contents being damaged than would be the case under a thoroughly organized service separate from the, passengerstraffic.
From tne stsisdpeint of uatismal advantage an increase in the quantity of goods carried by the tra.niways between the various big towns would be of enormous advantage. Bradford is adnirably situated in relation to other towns having tramway facilities, and one suggestion is that the Ministry. of Transport might very well take this into consideration. For this purpose a de,velopineatanight-be possible of the electrically-driven vehicles, taking power from the overhead wires, which have been in use in Bradford for several years. Having reserve batteries, which would propel the vehicles from ltits; 20 miles without the use of the overhead wires, the suggestion is made that there ought to be no elitfintilty in arranging a transport system to the
seaports of the north. ,
Industrial Council Rulings. .
The Joint Industrial Ceuncil for the Road Transport. Industry has recently issued the following rellings
Overtime Rates: (a) That Where overtime is calculated on each day, not less than ordinary time rates shall be lid for the first hour, time and a quarter for the next two hours, and time and a half thereafter; (b) if -the. accumulative week is agreed to, the first six hours overtime shall be at not less thanordinary time rates and time and a half afterwards; (c)double time shall be paid from Saturday midnight to Sunday midnight; (d) thetas overtime rates are not to prejudice higher overtime ratee where each already exist; (e) the above rates took effect from the beginning of the first pay period after August 11th, 1919.
Annual Holidaya: Resolved that a week's holiday with pay be granted 'for continuous service of not less than one year and if the employee has not been absent for more than seven days in any one year without reasonable cause or previous notification. The holidays to be taken between May 1st and October 31st. Men entering employment direct from the armed forces shall be deemed to have been employed by the firma for the previous year. This will become operative for the year 1920.
Statutory Holidays: Resolved that the following holidays be paid for :—Christmas Day, Good Friday, and the four Bank Holidays, with the exception of Scotland, where the usual Scottish holidays shall apply, and other national proclaimed holidays; If a man be called upon to work on these days, he shall receive an additional day's pay..s Holidays will not be paid for if a man absents himself on the following day without permission.
The Air Navigation Co., Ltd., of Addlestene; Surrey, have changed the style and title of the company to the Air Navigation and Engineering Co., Ltd.
Illicit Premiums.
The demand for motor vehicles hiss brought about a revival of the old-time practice amongst agents and dealers of exacting a premium on the list price when supplying retail customers. The Motor Trade Association at its last meeting heard `and adjudicated upon a complaint of this kind against a motor agent in Surrey, and, eon.sidering the matter proved, recommended that the name of the agent be added to the stop-list. The decision comes up for -confirmation at Deblin this eeek. Motor vehicles not being " artides of common use '! (we had rather thought. they were) do not come within the -Profiteering Act.
Suffolk Services.
The Eastern Road Car Co., Ltd.; has been registered. at Somerset Hoese -with a nominal, capital of .259,000 in LI shares. The objects are to take over all or .part of the -business carried on in Suffolk by Thomas 'Ming, Ltd. The first directors are: C. S. B. -Hilton, J. E. Spag,neletti, R. M. Tilling, W. Wolsey, Jim., and C. Reeves. Any trust deed for securing debentures sir"debenttire stock may, if so arranged, provide for the appointment of
a:director by the trustees. Secretary, J. Worasam. The registered office is at 32, Silent Street, Ipswich.
Arbitration Awards.
A: Court of Arbitration was held on .
August 6th to a:insider awards for thecarting iedustly, the parties concerned are (1) the National Alliance of COIMer cial Road • Transport Associations and Federations, the National Union of Horse and Motor Vehicle Owiaers' Associations (Inc.), and the Metor Transport Employers Federation and their constituent associatioes and firms; and (2) the National Transpert Wreakers Federa tion and iteaffiliated unions.
The claim submitted was :—Applicalion for substituted rates by the addition of an increase of 10s. a week for adults and those doing adult's work, and 5s. for youths.
The Court awarded the men concerned, aged 18 years and over, and the youths under 18 years of age who are doing adult's work, an advance of 4s. a week, The youths concerned, tinder 18 years cf age, and not provided for under the previous clause, are given an advance of 2s. a week.
These awards took effect from the beginning of the first pay period after August 11th, 1919, and are to be regarded as war advances dependent on the existence of the abnormal conditions now prevailing.
The best publication so far to reach us dealing with the war-time activities of a business organization is that from Ruston and liornsbys,of Lincoln. Magnificently i produced, it s a record of an. accomplishment of which the directors and staff have every reason to be. pray', net only because o/ the extent bet of the variety of the equipment produced.
The " departmental " honours list being delayed, probably by reason of the enormous size to which it is growing
The Glasgow Tractor.
Inkresting developments in the manufacture of agricultural tractors are occurring in the Glasgow district. The national projectile factory at Cardonald has been purchased by the Wallace Farm Implements, Ltd., from the Government, and work will commence there immediately the necessary plant has be-en inMa lied .
The Wallace Farm Implements, Ltd.. includes the following concerns :—John Wallace and Sons, Ltd., the D.L. Motor Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and the Carmuirs iron Foundry. Ltd., Of Falkirk. The buildings alone cover a space of about 12 acres, and the factory is designed on modern lines, with a view to securing the largest possible eutput. The equipment includes electric cranes and other labour-saving devices. • It is expected that the works will pro.'
vide employment for betiveen 2,000 and 3,000 men, and the annual out-pot of tractors is expected to be over 5,000. The men will be employed on a profitsharing basis.
The type of tractor to be built is well known as tlirl Glasgow traetor, which has already gained a considerable amount of favourable comment. The -essential points of this machine will he described in our .series of articles entitled " Trueors for the 'trials."
The entire output of tractors for five years has been disposed laf to the British Motor Trading Corporation, of London, nd thc BritiehEmpire concession, vering. the United Kingdom and all arts of the overseas Dominions, with he exception of Canada, has been given
this Corporation.
A Canal Passenger Service.
Our neglected canals are beginning to eeeive an amount of attention of which hey should never have been deprived, nd ender new men and measures it is robable that they will be Teetered to ornething like their pre-railway usefuless. The Dunlop Rubber Ch. is setting n example Ill the way of a banal pasnger service. Their own motorbus fleet being inadeenate for the conveyance of three shifts dairy from Birmingham to Fort Dunlop end back, the coMpany experimented with a canal boat fitted with a 10 h.p. motor, running on the lockless stretch of canal from Alm to the Fort. The results were so satisfactory that it, is intended to add three more boats to the -water service. Each vessel will seat approximately 100 employees', and waterproof coverings are provided for use in bad weather. We are informed that the initial outlay end running expenses compare favourably with that of the existing bus service, for which new vehicles are at present. unobtainable.
Coal Transport Reorganization Scheme.
With a view to assisting in the restoration of normal conditions, it has beer/ decided that the restrictions imposed an the transport of coal by rail under the Coal Transpert Reorganization Scheme shall be suspendeeas from September 1st until further notice.
In order to give effect -to this decision, a general permit has been issued, and it will not he micessery until further notice to apply for permits in individual cases after the above date.
It is to be observed that this decision dots not affect the instructions at present in force to suppliers of coal as to the maintenance, of eupplies to their existing customers.
London Traffic Committee.
Sir Eric Geddes, Minister of Transport, is sending a letter to the chairman of the County Councils of London and adjoining counties, asking for the appointment of a nominee on a special advisory committee he is setting up to deal with the matter ea far as the powers of the Ministry permit.
This committee is being set up without prejudice to the idea advanced by the Kennedy-Jones Committee, now being considered by the Cabinet, that there should be for London a separate traffic authority to deal with the whole question,