That was the year...
Page 18

If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
CM was launched in 1905; for our centenary year we're bringing you stories from years gone by. This week we're back in 1951 and 2001.
The UN opened for business in New York: use Koch, known as the sadistic "witch of Buchenwald" was jailed for life. In the Korean war Chinese and North Korean troops took Seoul the UN condemned China as the ag,gresson the US began nuclear tests in Nevada and John Wayne took to the skies in The Ming Leathernecksin the I 3 K Winston Churchill was hack as PM.
No nationalisation!
Protests against I .abour's nationalisation of road transport were organised by the RH A.They took the form of convoys of trucks driving slowly through major cities. many featuring a white elephant to symbolise nationalisation. A mile-long demo in Plymouth attracted up toNlvehicles;furtherdemos were planned for (llasgow. Edinburgh and the West Midlands.
Going Hungary
Hungary introduced a new truck, the Mavag B-5, featuring a seven-seater cab with a double-hunk sleeper cab. It marked the continuing rise of the post-war Hungarian manufacturing sector. In 1949 it produced 3,200 CVs — this was expected to rise to 9.t XX) by 1954. In the pre-war years German competition had kept the Hungarian industry dormant.
Too disinterested
Many drivers in the st,11..:-controlled operation run by British Road Services went on strike in protest against additional road patrols.The Road Haulage Executive sought help from the private sector to carry the stranded freight but to no avail. "Generally the operators were too busy or too disinterested to take on the work." CM reported. 'rerrorists blew jet liners into the New York World Trade Centre killing more than 3.(XX) people; the US invaded Afghanistan. Crown Prince Dipendra of Nepal killed his father, the king, his mother and other members of the royal family with an assault rifle then shot himself.
Gas trials
the Department of Transport invited hauliers to take part in trials on natural gas-fuelled vehicles. This was allied to the £30m Powershift programme which provides grants toward the cost of buying green vehicles.
Lobby goes
After nearly 70 years of lobbying for better roads the British Road Federation was forced to close its doors because of dwindling financial reserves. Ironically, in the same week the government launched a El bn roads package.
Bye-bye Bill
Fuel duty became an issue in the run-up to the election in June. The Tories promised to cut duty by 6p/lit while UKIP offered a 9p cut. Labour kept its powder dry and was returned with a second landslide victory, putting paid to William Hague's prime ministerial ambitions.
Attacks memo
A spate of attacks on enforcement officers led to a memo by the TCs to Traffic Area Offices that they would revoke the licence of any haulier found threatening an officer. Attacks included the torching of a vehicle examiner's car.