"Keep the Wheels of Industry Turning."
Page 1
Page 2
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The Effect of the War upon Deliveries and Orders.
We have listened with mixed feelings of amusement and, consternation to some estimates of war effects. The consequences of war purchases are certainly of a far-reaching nature, and some owners have already suffered disproportionate loss. Impressment methods—not to dwell upon lack of method— are known to have imposed unnecessary hardships and to have caused invidious diatinetione between neighbouring owners in the same line of business. Thanks in part to second and third " sweeps " by the impressing branch of the War Department, and in part to revision of periodic returns of impregsed vehicles in relation to official registration lists in the possession of county and county boroughs, such temporary anomalies have seldom been of long duration. Rumour tells us, too, that not a few aggrieved persons communicated information as to the existence of unclaimed vehicles, with the result that these soon came within the ken of the valuation officer. 'Twere beyond human endurance, we agree, in some instances, quietly to observe all one's trade falling to the lot of rivals who had come into being later than oneself !
We have referred in past state-of-war issues to the patriotic attitude of motor manufacturers who have put in hand parts for hundreds of three-tonners, the existence of the risk of three weeks notice from the War Department to terminate notwithstanding. What shall we write, then," cone...unityb / the patriotism of commercial-motor owneys who are, from the same motive, bearing in silence very real sufferings, both actual and consequential, in hard cash and, a prejudiced future ! The smallness of our post-bag, the unwillingness to grumble thereby disclosed, the readiness to support their big share, the quick acceptance of the View that no intentional harm has been done by military officers either regimental or temporary.: we acknowledge to the credit of owners that these and other facts demonstrate the desire to help. We are ourselves glad that the number of appeals to the county courts has been almost negligible. References by the War -Department to District. Commanding Officers have led, we know, to eettlements on the split-the-difference basis, but that small improvement upon initial terms does not touch the Larger question of deprivation of the means of livelihood. It is in that regard there will be unavoidable and indefinite financial losses. Hereanent, we foresee, when peaceful days succeed those through which we are passing, the Commercial Motor Users Association will have an unequalled opportunity to render service to many who, with their cases properly stated and backed, may hope to receive legitimate compensation. We write briefly as to this on the next page.
Our immediate concern is to lay idle rumour as to the likely position when the war is over. . We are asked by some if, and told by others that, three-tonners from the Geat of war will flood the market at ridiculously-low prices a year hence. Our replyand comment are: the suggested date of this return of the prodigals is pure guesswork ; there will he no such crop of bargains in any event.
The foregoing paragraph may savour of positive assertion. It does. The assertion, however, is based on a combination of anticipation and knowledge. The proportion of saleable vehicles which will bei brought home from Europe is unlikely to exceed 40 per cent. of the totals shipped—aey, 2000 out of the' 5000 which will be supplied if the war run its whole course. The ultimate residue of 2000 .vehicles will mostly be of the 1912 W.D. subsidy type, seeing that the earlier models will have " gone under "during their longer terms of war service. Be that as it may, we place the returns at a maximum of 2000, no matter on what date the war is terminated. The next consideration is to inquire how these chassis will be absorbed. Our view follows.
The'Territorial Forces of this country were found to be not equipped with transport,. except in particular instances where the officers had come to the rescue out of their own pockets, when the present war broke out. Motor transport was efficient und sufficient for only a few companies—not for a single complete regiment or battalion! Impressment and purchasing difficulties have been increased by these deficiencies; much of the hustling and hustling of the last few weeks has been due to belated efforts to make good these-Territorial shortages. 'We intend to urge upon the military authorities of the country the expediency, nay, the absolute wisdom, of their handing over to the Territorials any excess motor transport from the war. We believe this will be done, and that civilian snatchers of Government stores at auction will be sadly disappointed so far as returned commercial motors other than " scrap " are concerned.
No scheme of holding-off will help the buyer or woutd-be buyer of three-tonners if that scheme be based upon the likelihood of second-hand bargains from the War Department. There are but two ways of securing replacement, or new vehicles: one is to order three-tonners, for delivery after W.D. demand is satisfied; the other is to order two-ton, 30-cwt., or smaller units, for delivery in rotation with the growing volume of commercial orders in those categories, which growth is now seen to he the feature of the trade position. The effect of the war on deliveries has been most disconcerting for ownersand intending owners. It still remains so. If false expectations concerning relief are allowed to influence the placing of orders now, the consequences of those postponements will be upon the heads of the parties who prefer dilatoriness to action.