Road Haulage Association Inaugural Luncheon
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ON Wednesday last the inaugural luncheon of the Road Haulage Association was given at the Hotel Metropole, London, the chairman being Mr. E. C. Marston, M.Inst.T.
The toast of "The Association" was proposed by Sir Arthur GriffithRommel/. He said the L.D.R.H.A. was dead, but a new association bad come into being comprising hauliers over any distance. Be wished it a long and useful existence ; it was a sign of better organization of the industry.
He considered that licensing would be of great advantage to the road haulier. Return loads were being obtained by ancillary users at almost any rate, usually uneconomic. Licensing would also be of advantage to the employees as regards their wages and hours of duty, etc.
Road haulage could do certain things infinitely better than the railways, and we in this country were not going r0 give up those advantages. The railways had exaggerated their losses through road transport and had not stated what they had gained.
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Mr. E. C. Marston said that before starting this association he had approached others to form a haulage section, but it failed to arouse enthusiasm. Wonderful progress had been made in the past year, and si great national movement was now in being. Haulage contractors throughout the country constituted a tremendous force, but, disorganized, they had no strength. Road transport had never been at a lower ebb than after the recent railway propaganda, but the L.D.R.H.A. was first in the field with a dignified reply. He was in favour of a proper and limited licensing of hauliers, but would resist any oppressive measure. It was a scandal that hauliers were not represented on the Pybus Committee.
Referring to section 25 of the Act, there was never a graver menace to road transport. The railways hope materially to restricI it, as they hold bridges in the key positions.
The guests were welcomed by Lt.-Col. Sir Maxwell Hicks, C.B.E.. who referred particularly to Mr lnstone, president of the S.M.M. ,and,T.;
A. Hacking, D.S.O., director, British Manufacturers' Section, S.M.M. and T.; and representatives of the tyre companies. Their interests and those of the association were, be said, intimately connected. He also welcomed the six or so Members of Parliament, Sir Philip Dawson, M.P., replied, and remarked that the less legislation there was the better for everyone concerned. Much harm was done by it in the electrical industry. For 25 years be had been intimately connected with the railways, but the older industries are "in the soup," whilst modern ones are progressing. The railways are in such a lethargic state that they believe transport will come to them, instead of them having to fetch it. They should overhaul their managements and consider decapitalization. He was surprised that the railways should start a violent attack on road transport.
Mr. Ernest Bevin, general secretaryof the Transport and General WOrkers' Union, also replied.
The toast of "The Chairman" was proposed by Mr. J. P. Eales,
"Midland Red" Bus Profits.
The report of the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., for the year 1931 shows an improvement over that for the previous year, net traffic receipts, together with interest and dtvidends, increasing from 1397,313 in,1930 to £485,162 in 1931. The net profit, for the years amounted to 1221,683, as against 1184,497 a year earlier. A distribution of 15 per cent., including a bonus of 5 per cent., is to be made on the ordinary Ethane, and after placing '180,000 to the reserve, adding 15,000 to the employees' assistance fund and meeting the preference dividend, there is a balance of 157,473 to be carried forward, as contrasted with 128,789 brought into the accounts.
The company has an agreement with the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co. and the Great Western Railway Co. for co-ordinating rail and road passenger services in the area it serves.
Ownership Preferred in Aberdeen.
The County Road Board of Aberdeen has recently had under consideration the report of a sub-committee dealing with road haulage in the county.The committee thought that it would be more advantageous to purchase motor vehicles than to continue to hire them, and recommended that 24 2-ton chassis should be purchased from Albion Motors, Ltd., Scotstoun, Glasgow, and that separate tenders should be invited for the bodies.
Road-rail Travel Facilities for Whitson. During the Whitman week-end the Great Western Railway Co. and its associated coiripanies will offer many special facilities for travel. At more than 300 points in the West of England, South and Central Wales, interavailability of rail and road tickets will be in force. London Coastal Coaches, Ltd., and Greyhound Motors, Ltd., are concerned in this arrangement for encouraging travel.
New London-Glasgow Goods Service. A road-motor goods-transport service between London and Scotland has lately been inaugurated by Messrs. Platte, of 384, Cranbrook, Ilferd. One journey per week is being made, a 5ton van leaving London on Tuesdays, and delivering goods in Sheffield, Leeds and Bradford on Wednesdays, in Newcastle-on-Tyne on Thursdays and in Edinburgh and Glasgow on Fridays.
On the return journey goods can be picked up in Glasgow, Carlisle, Manchester and Birmingham for London.
Many Vehicles at Irish Show.
A large range of commercial vehicles was shown at the Spring Show of the Royal Dublin Society, held last week at Ballsbridge, the exhibitors including Henry Ford and Son, Ltd. ; W. F. Poole and Co., Ltd. (Karrier and Morris); the,.Great Northern Railway Co.'; the Irish Omnibus Co., Ltd. ; International Harvester Co. of Great Britain, Ltd. ; Mr. J. M. Carthcart (Eagle traikr) • Doyle Motors, Ltd. (Bedford) ; Callow and Sons, Ltd. ,(Manchester) ; Buckley Motors, Ltd. (Commer) ; Fleet Motors, Ltd.; Charles Hurst (S.E.), Ltd. (Dennis) ; W. Beardmore and Co., Ltd.; Thomas Thompson and Sons (Latil). The makes of vehicle shown by agents are given in parentheses.
Exhibition of Body Designs.
The Institute of British Carriage and Automobile Manufacturers is giving an exhibition of drawings and examples of handicraft entered for the competition arranged in conjunction with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers of London, to stimulate improvements in the design of bodywork for public-service and other vehicles. The exhibition will be open to the public free of charge from May 16th to May 21st inclusive, at the Fyvie Hall, The Polytechnic, 309, Regent Street, W.I
Oswald Tillotson's Trading.
The net profit for 1931 of Oswald Tillotson, Ltd., which acts as the wholesale distributor in the North of England for A.E.C. products, and has headquarters at Burnley, amounted to 114,597, compared with /21,047 in the previous year. A dividend of 10 per cent, is recommended for payment, and this will absorb 116,600 and leave 14,371 to be carried forward. In spite of depressed trading conditions, the company reports a considerable increase in its turnover
A Plea for Overworked Plugs.
During the period from May 9th to May 16th the Champion Sparking Plug Co., Ltd., is making a special plea for the better treatment of sparking plugs and is reminding vehicle users of the importance of changing their plugs
after every 10,000 miles driving. It has been ascertained that when in use for this distance a sparking plug has fired approximately 15,000,000 times, delivering a spark from 500 to 1,500 times per minute, according to the speed of the eagine. The temperature around the firing points varies, after the engine is warm' from 600 degrees F. to 1,800 degrees F., the average being about 1,300 degrees F.
The company stresses the fact that, although the plugs will continue to ignite the charge after such arduous service, combustion is not nearly so complete and, as the spark loses its intensity, engine efficiency is impaired.
Lower Registrations in Canada.
The Dominion Bureau of Statistics at Ottawa reports that registrations of motor vehicles in Canada in 1931 showed a decrease for the first time, the decline being 2.7 per cent. Canada now has a total registration of 1,206,836 motor vehicles. Personal Pars.
It is stated that Mr. H. M. S. Catherwood has been appointed a director of the National Omnibus and Transport Co., Ltd.
Mr. D. 0. Sara, Cardiff manager of the Anglo-American Oil Co., Ltd., has been appointed assistant sales manager for South Wales.
Mr. H. Clayton-Wright, of the Laycock Engineering Co., Victoria Works, Millhouses, Sheffield, has recently returned from an extensive tour in the United States.
Major-General Sir Reginald Ford, K.C./sI.G., C.D., D.S.O., chairman of the Traffic Commissioners for the Southern area, has become a member of the Institute of Transport.
Mr. A. H. Sharrem, a well-known Blaina haulage contractor, has been elected chairman of Nantyglo and Blaina Urban District Council, of which he has been a member for seven years.
Sir Herbert Austin has been appointed by the Minister of Labour to the chairmanship of the Greater Birmingham Employment Committee, in succession to Mr. J. L. Hickinbotham, who has resigned.
We learn that Mr. R. Winter, M.C., has joined the board of Liquid Measurements, Ltd., which, for the past eight years, has been producing Hammond petrol pumps in England. The company's works at North Acton, London, specialize in the manufacture and distribution of petrol and oil-measuring equipment. The business has expanded both at home and overseas, and the company has added a variety of garage servicing plant and appliances to the range of pumps produced.
Hauliers to Meet at Stockton.
The northern regional area committee of the Road Haulage Association has arranged to hold a meeting at the Vane Arms Hotel, Stockton-on-Tees, to-morrow, May 11th, at 7.30 p.m. Members of the National Council of the Association will address the meeting, to which all hauliers resident in the Hartlepools, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Darlington and adjacent districts are invited to attend. The hon. secretary for the area is Mr. F. Milton, Imperial Garage, Felling, Gateshead-on-Tyne.
Bus Profits at Rawtenstall.
The first of the reports covering municipal passenger-transport activities in the year ended March 31st, 1932, has been received and it deals with the working of the Rawtenstall system. In the 12 months to the date mentioned there was a gross profit of £16,006 on the operation of the corporation's motorbuses, the net profit being £7,812, after deducting sinking fund charges, etc.,
amounting to £8,194. The total receipts amounted to £45,880 and operating costs to 129,873, the former showing a big increase over the previous year, by reason of the fact that buses have replaced tramcars on two of the municipal routes.
822 On a per-bus-mile basis, total working expenses were reduced from 9.578d. in 1930-1931 to 8.791d. in the past year. The corporation operates a fleet of Leyland buses, which in March numbered 24, with 14 vehicles on order.
21,000,000 Animals Carried by Road.
In 1931, lorries in the United States set up a new high record for hauling livestock from farm direct to market, 21,162,430 head of cattle, calves, hogs and sheep having been conveyed to 17 markets, representing an increase of 25 per cent, over the figure for 1930. The weight of the livestock carried during the year is estimated at 3,000,000 tons and the average mileage per journey, 65.
Hauliers Protest Against Longer Goods Trains.
Liverpool motor owners, through their respective trade associations and the Chamber of Commerce, have objected to the Mersey Dock and Harbour Board's proposal to amend a by-law to enable it to increase the length of the goods trains using the line that runs for the length of the dock estate, from 18 wagons to 30 wagons.
As the line is parallel with the heavily trafficked dock road, and the speed limit for these goods trains, which are preceded by a man with a flag, is 4 m.p.h., haulage contractors fear that loss of time will ensue as the trains cross the entrances to the dock estate through causing a hold-up of road traffic.
The Dock Board has given a promise that the by-law, as amended, will not be operated harshly.
Dunlop's Trading in 1931.
The trading results of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., for the year ended December 31st, 1931, show total profits from all sources, after providing for depreciation, of £1,181,503. After deducting dividends on the preference shares of Dunlop Cotton Mills, Ltd., Dunlop Plantations, Ltd., and Dunlop Rubber Co. (India), Ltd., of £309,750, and interest on debentures, loans, etc., amounting to £391,724, there is a balance of £480,029, as contrasted with £541,424 a year earlier. The total sum available for distribution, after adding the balance brought forward, is £1,048,052.
A sum of £374,943 is transferred to the taxation reserve, whilst dividend payments on the A, B and C cumulative preference shares will absorb £281,250, so that the amount to be carried forward is £391,859. No dividend is to be paid upon the ordinary stock.
The net profit for 1931 is lower by 161,395 than that for 1930, whilst the increase in the amount set aside for taxation is higher by £274,912, owing to the rise in the income-tax rate and to the fact that the previous year benefited from provisions made in earlier years.
The balance sheet shows fixed assets at £3,914,684, and investments and advances at £15,800,266, these figures being £104,449 and £931,336 less respec tively than a year earlier. Current assets total £5,655,991, as against £4,888,553 in the previous year, although under this heading stocks at £1,863,430 are £489,971 lower.