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"30" Work: Hauliers Stand Firm on Wages

BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

A LTHOUGH the employers' panel of the National Joint Industrial " Council for the road haulage industry are likely soon to meet the workers' representatives to discuss the operation of heavy goods vehicles at 30 m.p.h., they have not capitulated on the question of wages.

They will not, I understand, discuss through the any all-round increase in wages, such as the 15 per cent. claim by the unions.

As The Commercial Motor reported on November I, the Road Haulage Association told the unions that an application for 15 per cent. higher pay in return for operation at 30 m.p.h. should be made to the Road Haulage Wages Council, and not to the N.J.I.C. The employers have not changed their opinion.

I understand that they have been given no further reasons to make them reverse their decision. Some months ago, however, they undertook to meet the men's representatives after a suitable period of experience of 30 m.p.h. working had elapsed. It will be to honour that promise that they will discuss the matter with the unions, and not to negotiate a flat increase in pay.

Indeed, there is no evidence of a: general advance in earning capacity as a resialt of the higher speed limit and consequently there is no basis for agreement on wages affecting the whole industry. It seems that the employers can do little more than reiterate their previous undertaking to ensure that drivers do not lose by faster operation.

OIL COMPANIES CUT TANKER ORDERS "THE oil companies have reduced their tanker programme for 1958, says the annual report of Thompson Bros. (Bilston), I.td. The reasons given are the long-term effects of the Suez crisis and the present economic situation. Consequently, there will be some curtailment of production by Thompson Bros.

"The long-term prospects remain good." the report states, " there being a continual expansion in the range and quantity of products carried in road tankers. New materials, welding techniques and design are needed for these products and your company is taking a leading part in this development."

BRITAIN NEEDS URBAN MOTORWAYS

UTRBAN congestion in Britain was so 4,--) severe that it demanded an immediate improvement of the management of street traffic, and a concurrent endeavour to provide urban motorways. This was stated by Prof. J. H. Jones, an American authority on traffic problems, when he addressed the House of Commons All-Party Roads Study Group last week.

Urban problems could not be separated from rural problems, and there was a need for more factual information about the deficiencies of British highways. A full-scale engineering investigation of road needs was required.

Turbines Will Rival Oilers

EEFFICIENCY of the gas turbine would eventually equal that of the oil engine, said Mr. P. A. Phillips, of the gas-turbine division of the Rover Co., Ltd., addressing the Industrial Transport Association in Birmingham last week.

He forecast that gas turbines would be applied to commercial vehicles before being used in private cars, although a gasturbine sports car might . be produced commercially within two years. It would be necessary, however, to eliminate the two-second acceleration lag and improve fuel consumption.

When materials were available for blades to work at 2,000° C., fuel consumption of a gas turbine would compare with that of a piston engine. It would be possible for a turbine vehicle to cover 100,000 miles before a new rotor was required. Replacement could be performed by a garage.

A new rotor would be required after blade creep caused such an extension that the blades rubbed the casing. Contact would not cause disintegration: damage from this cause would be relatively slight.

Turbines would run on petrol, paraffin or oil fuel, without adjustment of the fuel system, but a special combustion arrangement would be needed if heavy residual oils were used. Units of the established type were most efficient when operating under heavy load, and would be given great scope on high-speed motorways.

ENGLAND-SCOTLAND COACH FARES INCREASED

rARES on several long-distance coach

services between Scotland and England, operated by four English and two Scottish companies, are to be increased. Applications for higher fares were granted by the Scottish Traffic Commissioners, last week, after approval had previously been given in England.

The routes affected are from Edinburgh and Glasgow to Scarborough, Liverpool, Manchester and Blackpool, and in the reverse direction. Operators are Scottish Omnibuses, Ltd., Western S.M.T. Co., Ltd., United Automobile Services, Ltd., Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., and Birmingharn and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd.

Fares up to and including 5s. will go up by 3d.; 5s, 3d.-10s. by 6d.; 10s. 3d.15s. by 9d.; 15s. 3d.-fl by Is. Over El there will be an extra ls. 3d. on every 5s.

B Licence Grant Limits C-hiring

SUBJECT to an undertaking that the applicant would not put further vehicles under a C-hiring margin to Westbury Quarries, Ltd., the Western Licensing Authority last week granted a B licence for one vehicle to Mr. J. Derrick, Cheddar, to carry for this company and Batscombe Quarries, • Ltd:, within 150 miles, and for other quarries within 30 miles, Mr. Derrick sought at first to carry quarry materials generally within 150 miles, also building materials and farm requisites, but came to terms with the objectors—the railways and four hauliers --after an adjournment. The vehicle concerned was specified on a C-hiring margin to Westbury Quarries, Ltd., in September, and the applicant said that if a B licence were granted the lorry would be used for 80 per cent, of its time by this company.

When the applicant was being crossexamined, the Authority commented: " think in this particular instance I ought to disregard the point asto the vehicle's being on a C-hiring licence, and treat the applicant as if I had granted him without prejudice a short-term administrative licence."

Mr. T. D. Corpe, for the objecting hauliers, referred to the Authority's refusal to add two tippers to the A licence of Mr. D. Sweeting, Sandford, Somerset (The Commercial Motor,

November 29). .

The Authority: "I am not so sure that my decision in the Swecting case can be quoted in this particular application. Sweeting was applying for two additional vehicles on an A licence, which was quite a different proposition from an operator applying for a very restricted B licence."

From Record Profit to Big Loss

T"pendulum has swung with a vengeance in Salford Transport Department. The report of Mr. Charles W. Baroth, general manager, shows that the boom caused by fuel rationing enabled a record surplus of £109,202 to be made in the year ended March 31 last, A heavy deficit is, however, likely in the current year.

Among eight reasons which Mr. Baroth gives for this drastic change is the rapid disappearance of extra traffic created by the fuel shortage. It "ceased to be a potent factor long before petrol rationing was finally ended," says Mr. Baroth.

Indeed, since fuel rationing ended, traffic has been lower than in the corresponding period last year. "The trend of traffic loss which has persisted for a number of years is continuing and is quite independent of fares increases," Mr. Baroth says.

Ice-cream Maker Gets , B Licence for Coal

A PRESTON Ice-cream manufacturer

was granted a new B licence for one vehicle to deliver bagged retail coal, at Preston, last week, after evidence that hauliers were not interested in this type of work.

Mr. T. Molloy also wanted to carry light building materials within five miles, but this was refused after objections by Goodier and Sons, Ltd., Wilson and Ellis, Ltd., and Stokes and Sons, Ltd., An objection by the British Transport Commission was withdrawn.

Mr. J. Sutton, for the applicant, said traders distributing building materials in small lots could nor afford to hire large vehicles by the hour. If the application were refused, no extra work would accrue to the objectors.

One witness told how his goods had been delivered in building contractors' vehicles in return for favours. To this, Mr. J. R. Lindsay, North Western Deputy Licensing Authority, replied that people who required goods carried should acquaint themselves with the law.

For the objectors, Mr. J. A. Dunkerley said a grant would produce an entirely new haulage business. The objectors had 36 vehicles engaged on building work, much of which was in the five-mile radius applied for. They would be pleased to take on any of the work mentioned by the witnesses, but for small lots hourly rates had to be charged.

Mr. Lindsay said that even though four witnesses had been called, no prima facie case had been made out for the transport of building materials.

OBITUARY

WE regret to announce the deaths of COL. EDWARD ROBEg.TS, 0.B.E., MR. HERBERT Startii and MR. WILLIAM R. DUNCAN, M.B.E.

Col. Roberts, who was assistant general manager and traffic manager of Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., died in hospital on December 12 after an operation. He was 63 and had been with CrosvilIe for 33 years. He began as depot superintendent at Aberystwyth. In 1933 he moved to Wrexham to reorganize the town services after the acquisition of Western Transport Services. In 1938 he became chief divisional manager at Chester, and was promoted traffic manager in 1943. His elder son is traffic manager of City of Oxford Motor Services, Ltd., and his younger son is an area manager of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd.

Mr. Smith, who was 47, was secretary of the Spen borough Engineering Co., Ltd., Heckmondwike, with whom he had been associated for 31 years.

Mr. Duncan, one-time superintendent of the heavy engineering department of David Brown and Sons (Huddersfield), Ltd., was responsible for the construction of one of the first trolleybus chassis to be built in this country. It was supplied to Bradford Corporation. After his semiretirement in 1949, he acted in a consultative capacity until 1953.

New Radius Was Three Miles .Too Short

AHAULIER who last week asked for an 'extended radius for his two B-licence vehicles, discovered too late that two of the towns he' wished to serve were outside the new radius he had calculated. Mr. Edwin Walton, of M. A. Walton and Son, Silloth, Cumberland, was refused permission to amend the distance without notice.

He told Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, Northern Licensing Authority, that he had measured the radius on a map with a calibrator. He thought that if the present 25-mile restriction were increased to 40 miles, he would be able to carry flour and feeding stuffs for two of his present customers, Can's Flour Mills and John Pattinson and Son, Silloth. Deliveries would be made to shops, bakeries and farms in West Cumberland, the PenrithAppleby area, and Southern Scotland.

"Workington and Frizington are just within the 40 miles," he said. However, Mr. Hanlon measured up with a ruler and replied: "But Bootle and Appleby are just three miles over."

Mr. B. G. Montgomery, for Mr. Hurst, was told that the radius applied for could not be amended to 45 miles, even though the railways were the only objectors.

In evidence, Mr. Walton said his work as a coal merchant occupied one vehicle only three days a week. Haulage to the new atomic power station at Sellafield had ceased, and there was little furniture traffic. Both vehicles were idle one or two days each week.

Granting the application for one vehicle, Mr. Hanlon warned that the radius must not be ignored. If Mr. Walton wanted the extra three miles he would have to apply for them.

CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEES TO BE UNALTERED

SUGGESTIONS that the functions of the Transport Users' Consultative Committees should be altered were refuted by Mr. G. R. H. Nugent, Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, in the House of Commons, last week.

Mr. J. Snow (Soc., Lichfield and Tamworth),' wished the role of the committees to be that of a users' watchdog instead of an advisory body to the Minister and the British Transport Commission. The reports of the English area committees should, he said, be published separately, instead of being combined with the central committee's report.

Mr. Nugent said that the committees had to be protected from being swamped with small complaints. The B.T.C. had a staff to deal with these. He felt that the committees were well balanced and that they should be the watchdogs of the efficiency of B.T.C. services rather than the watchdogs of the efficiency of the Commission itself.

He added that an up-to-date and efficient transport system was essential if Britain were to compete in the European free-trade area.

A30

Men in the News

MR. RAYMOND BIRK C.TT, civil air attaché at the British Embassy in Paris, has been appointed general manager of Skyways' coach-air services as from February 1.

MISS DENISE MCCANN has been appointed chairman and managing director of the British School of Motoring. She became assistant managing director four years ago.

MR. C. A. BELL has been appointed managing director of George Cohen Sons and Co. (Australia) Pty., Ltd. He was until recently manager of George Cohen's machinery division in the Midlands.

MR. A. CARLETON WHITLOCK has been re-elected president of the Agricultural Machinery and Tractor Dealers' Association, with MR. R. J. RICKERBY as vicechairman. MR. C. Corns remains treasurer.

MR. D. L. HYDE. technical asiistant with Manchester Transport Department, has been appointed rolling stock engineer for Southport Transport Department, He succeeds MR. H. TAYLOR, who will become technical superintendent of Liverpool Transport Department.

MR. R. DUNK, at present traffic manager of Hebble Motor Services, Ltd., Halifax, will in January succeed the late MR. B. G. SHIRREFT-HILTON as traffic manager of the Yorkshire Woollen District Transport Co., Ltd. Mr. Dunk was with the Yorkshire Traction Co., ltd., Barnsley, from 1925 to 1948.

MR. P. C. KNIGHT has been appointed manager of the Royal Automobile Club's associate membership department, in succession to MR. R. AtexANDER, who retires on December 31 after 35 years' service. MR. R. CRAIG, manager of the R.A.C. Belfast County office. retires on the same date and will be succeeded by MR. J. CoPELAND, who has been superintendent in the Ulster area since 1946.

Higher Fares Granted— In Principle

ALTHOUGH Manchester Corporation needed higher fares, some aspects of their proposals did not altogether satisfy the North Western Traffic Commissioners. This was pointed out last week by the chairman, Mr. F. Williamson, when the Corporation's application was granted in principle.

Mr. A. C. Marsh, deputy town clerk, said they wanted to retain the 2d. minimum fare for one stage, but to add fd. for the second stage. Existing 4d. farcs would go up to 41d., whilst Id. would be added to fares between 6d. and 9d. Airport fares would be increased to 4s. for adults and 2s. for children.

The corporation also wanted to discontinue morning concessionary fares, which belonged to "a vanished world," but to avoid a double increase it was proposed to delay this change for six months.

Mr. Williamson said decision would be reserved on the question of early morning fares, return fares in the Wilmslow area, and fares on services which crossed the city boundaries.

10 VEHICLES-100 TONS A YEAR

RESERV1NG his decision on an application cation for B licences for 10 vehicles by South East Oils, Ltd., Duns, Berwicks, Mr. W. F. Quin, Scottish Licensing Authority, Said last week that as it had been stated that the vehicles would be required to carry only 100 tons of goods a year (in addition to C-licence traffic), he would probably reduce his grant to an appropriate number of vehicles.

There were no objectors. The company wished to carry oils in barrels and drums for Scottish Oils and Shell-Mex, Ltd., with five vehicles operating within 30 miles of Duns, four working within 30 miles of Newton St. Boswells and one within 20 miles of Peebles.

The applicants distributed oils and bulk fuel to agricultural consumers, and Mr. Quin was told that it would be convenient if they could take oils for -Shell at the same time. A C-licence vehicle would be taken off the road if the application were successful, There was no intention of entering general haulage.

LUKEWARM WELCOME FOR STAGGERING PLAN

A SUGGESTION by Mr. J. T. Lynch, chairman of the West Midjands Industrial Development Association, that goods-vehicle drivers should stagger their lunch hours to ease road congestion, has met with some scepticism. Last week he proposed that operators should ask half their drivers to take lunch at noon and the other half at 1 p.m.

Mr. L. Patrick, secretary of the West Midland Division of the Traders' Road Transport Association, has said that the idea would not be practicable for longdistance drivers, but might be workable by drivers of local-delivery vehicles. Mr. H. Lett, of the Midlands region of the 'Transport and General Workers' Union, thought that the suggestion, although made with good intent, was impracticable.

"Visiting Hauliers' Cause • Delays,' GIVING back-loads to visiting hauliers to remove traffic from the Leyland area had proved so unsatisfactory that

Leyland Road Services, Ltd., needed more A-licence vehicles to overcome the shortage of transport. This was claimed last week by Mr. J. A. Dunkerley, when the company asked Mr. J. R. Lindsay, North Western Deputy Licensing Authority, to add two vehicles to their A-licence fleet.

Mr. Dunkerley said there was an immediate shortage of vehicles after denationalization, when British Road Services closed three local depots and took 50 vehicles elsewhere. Mr. Richard Lowe, Mr. James Miller and Mr. Bernard Murphy, who had all been connected with haulage before nationalization, went into partnership with two special-A vehicles, and later three more were added. But five vehicles could not cater for the demand.

Local hiring had proved good, but casual hiring by out-of-town hauliers seeking back-loads had caused many complaints. In April, 1956, when subcontracting had reached between £2,000 and £3,000 a month, four vehicles were applied for. However, after discussions with the British Transport Commission, it was agreed to try to ease the position with only two.

Mr. Miller said in evidence that hiring was now below £2,000, but there was still far too much casual.hiring. Goods were being collected on Leyland Road Services vehicles, and transhipped on to other hauliers' lorries at their base. As customers thought the loads would go all the way on the company's vehicles, there were serious complaints over delivery delays.

For the B.T.C. it was submitted that the company's overall figures had been reduced since the 1956 application. Only one specific instance of inconvenience caused by casual hire had been quoted.

The hearing was adjourned until the company's traffic manager could attend to enlarge on this point.

MINISTER GOING AHEAD WITH ROAD SCHEME

ASCHEME for building an under-pass at the junction of Kingston By-pass and the Surbiton-Leatherhead road has been approved by the Minister of Transport, despite objections from local residents. Traffic on the Kingston By-pass will flow under the junction, and there will be four one-way slip roads for turning vehicles.

Estimated cost of the project is £370,000, but this will be increased to £500,000 by the construction of more dual carriageways leading to the junction. Commenting on alternative proposals put forward at a public inquiry, the Minister said he was satisfied his plan was the right answer to the problem, and that it was in line with the best modern road engineering practice.

8m. Passengers from Estates

EIGHT million passengers a year are 1-4 being carried by Lowland Motorways. Ltd., from housing areas in the east of Glasgow to shopping centres and factories in Parkhead and Shettleston. This was pointed out to the Scottish Traffic Commissioners, last week, when the company sought permission to serve a new housing development at Easterhouse.

Mr. Michael Donohoe, depot superintendent, said they wanted to extend their existing Parkhead-Barlanark service in an eastward direction. Among the objectors were Scottish Omnibuses, Ltd., and Glasgow Corporation.

Mr, Donohoe claimed that Lowland were the pioneers of public transport in housing schemes east of Glasgow, and had more experience of the demand than Glasgow Corporation. He agreed that as the Easterhouse houses were not yet occupied it was impossible to say what the demand would be, but the company were basing the application on experience of neighbouring housing schemes.

Mr. Herbert Moller, managing director. said the population •of the Easterhouse estate would be 25,791, and he was certain that many people there would want to travel to shops at Parkhead and Shettleston, even though shopping centres were

to be built at Easterhead.

Thehearing was adjourned to a date to be fixed.

INDIAN COMETS RETURN 12-14 M.P.G.

A FUEL CONSUMPTION rate of 1-1, 12-14 m.p.g. is being returned by the Indian-built Leyland Comet buses of the Kerala State Transport undertaking when operating on short services fully laden, and with a quarter of the passengers standing.

Several of the vehicles have completed 180,000 miles with maximum bore wear of 0.004 in. Oil changes on Leyland vehicles are performed at 4,000-mile intervals, whereas 2,500-mile changes are specified for engines of other makes.

The Leyland Comet is one of two types upon which the undertaking have decided to standardize. Because of the low cost of teak, which is available locally, vehicle bodywork to seat 45 or 47 people may be constructed for as little as £500.

Reinforced with steel and panelled in light alloy, the bodies have a proven life of 15 years. K.S.T. cover some LOGO route-miles.

ELEVEN different plans for increasing the capacity of the Mersey Tunnel have been submitted to the governing committee, who have been told that new construction will be necessary to deal with growing traffic congestion. Another tunnel would cost over £18m. Most of the schemes involve a drawback concerned with ventilation. The ventilation plant, probably the largest in Europe, may soon be inadequate to clear the fumes of the increasing number of vehicles using the Tunnel.

"Lorries Working 24 Hours a Day

REFUSING to grant X.R.E. Transport, N. Rotherham, an additional B-licence vehicle, Mr. J. H. E. Randolph, Yorkshire Deputy Licensing Authority, remarked last week: "The applicants don't know what they have applied for."

The extra vehicle was sought by Mr. H. R. Pinchbeck, who claimed that three of his six existing B-licence lorries were working 24 hours a day, whilst his A-licence vehicle was fully employed in carrying steel. There had been a great shortage of tippers in the Rotherham area since British Road Services disposed of their fleet, he added.

Mr. Michael Taylor, for a road objector, pointed out that Mr. Pinchbeck's figures of earnings had not been certified. For British Railways, Mr. T. B. Atkinson submitted that the only customer witness wanted road materials to be carried, and the applicant had not even sought this type of traffic.

• BUS TRIPS TO CIRCUSES AND ICE SHOW

SPECIAL evening bus trips from 84 outer London areas to the circuses at Olympia and Harringay and the Wembley ice show are to be run by London Transport. Tickets for the trips may be booked in advance at country bus garages and travel agents, and the cost will include admission to the shows. Arrangements will be made for the buses on the return journeys to take people near to their homes in certain areas, where local services by that time will have stopped running for the night.

Cost of the trips will range from 7s. to 15s. for adults and from 5s. 6d. to lOs 9d. for children,

FEW ENGINEERS ON BOARDS

BECAUSE of the shortage of technologists, most engineers were confined to special jobs and there were few to be found in the ranks of top management. Sir Ewart Smith, vice-chairman of Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd., told members of the Institutions of Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineers on Tuesday.

Forty per cent, of companies had boards with no technically qualified members. Only 22 per cent, of directors of engineering concerns had technical qualifications, and of these only threequarters were engineers.

Company Forgot to Restore Suez Cut

WHEN Suez cuts were restored by the VI' Midland General Omnibus Co., Ltd.. they forgot one service, the East Midlands Traffic Commissioners heard last week. Neither the company nor Alfreton Urban District Council realized for more than a year that a Saturday afternoon and evening service between Alfreton and Suttonin-Ashfield had been kept at a 30-minute frequency, instead of returning to a 15minute service.

This was stated by Mr, Kenneth Laing, traffic manager, when he applied to keep the service at a 30-minute frequency. Ile said there would be a saving in revenue and passengers were adequately catered for. No one had complained about the company's error.

Granting the application, Mr. A. G. Curtis, chairman, said he hoped the company would keep under consideration the necessity of occasional duplication, especially late at night. At present, all companies had to make as many reasonable economies as possible to minimize future fare applications.

WORKS SERVICES: CHALLENGE TO BIG OPERATORS

DECISION was reserved by the North Western Traffic Commissioners last week when Godfrey Abbott Motor Tours, Timperley, applied for a substantive licence to run work services between Stretford. Sale and Timperley and the Thompson Nuclear Engineering Co., Ltd., Knutsford. When the firm were granted their current shortterm licence (The Commercial Moior, October 25), the Commissioners said that their action would not prejudice the case for a substantive grant.

For the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., Mr. W. Blackhurst said that his clients should provide the facilities, because they ran unremunerative services in the area. Referring to the support given to Mr. Abbott by A.E.E.-J. Thompson, he said that it was the first time in his experience that an employer wanted to dictate who should run a special service. If this were the case, contract operation should be continued.

Mr. H. Robinson, for the applicant, said that the objectors' tactics savoured of dictatorship. Not one of North Western's routes passed A.E.I.-J. Thompson. It would be against democratic principles to uphold the objectors' contention that the existing stage operators were entitled to run the services.

NEW RATES FOR EMPTIES

EVISED rates for the carriage of cotton empties, agreed between the North Western (Western) Area of the Road Haulage Association and the Federation of Master Cotton Spinners Associations, are now in operation. The schedule covers four areas.

Charges from places within 50 miles of Oldham are as follows: Empty cases, Is. 5d., in cases or skips, 2s. 7d.; empty beams, small, Is. Id., large Is. 9d.; skips, lid.; bundles of wrappers, ls.; baskets, 11d.; bags of tubes, 11d.

Mr. Thom Praises One-man Buses

THE' introduction of one-man-operated buses on some services run by the East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., was praised last week by Mr. H. J. Thom, chairman of the South Eastern . Traffic Commissioners. They were a welcome innovation to reduce demands for

increased revenue„ he said. : East Kent were applying to reduce frequencies on some routes, designed to cut yearly expenditure by £25,000. Mr. P. W. Dodge, traffic manager,said the 22 applications for time-table revisions affected 23 local authorities, and it was significant that only five had objected.

The company had introduced one-man buses, he added, and it was proposed to extend their use as far as possible.

Granting the application, Mr. Thom said reductions were inevitable if the company were to run economically. He noted that on some services. buses had not been used to a third of their capacity.

I.T.A. AFFINITY FOR

AT a dinner held by the London Division of the Industrial Transport Association, last week, the national chairman, Mr. A. A. Hart, stressed their excellent relationship with other institutes. These included the Institutes of Transport, Mechanical Engineers (Automobile Division) and Road Transport Engineers.

Many members had both mechanical and administrative responsibilities and the I.T.A. felt a special affinity for the I.R.T.E. The Association were always Willing Lb collaborate to 'advance education and professional status.

Their .present strength contrasted markedly with the position in 1943, when the continuance of the 1.T.& came under review. Mr. C. Courtney Cramp and Mr. W. G. Widnall had done much to ensure the Association's survival.

A DAY LATER

BECAUSE of the Christmas Holiday, the next issue of The Commercial Motor will be published on Saturday instead of Friday.

15-cwt. Noah's Ark for Christmas Shopping ,

THE , annual flood of Christmas L shopping has resulted in another Noah's Ark to cope with the problem, this time on a Morris J2 15-cwt. chassis. The unusual coachwork was built by W. Mumford, Ltd., St. Andrew Street, Plymouth, for the Exeter Pram and Toy Shop. The vehicle was supplied by Motor Macs (Exeter), Ltd.

The gable roof of the ark is of resin= bonded plywood, covered with irripregnated-canvas. Display windows for small toys and models are incorporated in the front and sides. The body is framed. in wood and panelled in aluminium sheet, with hand-beaten shaped sections for the front and rear ends. The headlamps are mounted in shaped recesses. Slots have been cut in line with the existing radiator intake to provide sufficient cooling.

A drop tailboard and roller shutter enclose the rear of the loading compartment. Two adjustable skids facilitate the loading of prams.

EXPORTS STRONG: ORDERS FEWER XPORTS by Associated Commercial Vehicles, Ltd., were well maintained in the year to September 30 last, but the total value of orders on hand is now lower than at this time last year.

The company state that during the first half of the past financial Near. turnover and profit were higher than in the corresponding period a year earlier. During the second half, both turnover and profit fell and the trend has continued in the present financial year.

"A PLEASANT DUTV "

A LTHOUGH most branch meetings of r". the Institute of Transport were well attended in the past year, a few events attracted poor support, according to the Institute's annual report. Members should regard attendance at meetings as a pleasant duty, it says.

Membership increased by 237, bringing the Institute's strength to 9,566. There was again a high "turn-over" in students last year. with a modest increase of only 186.