IN YOUR OPINION
Page 74
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continued from page 71 has invariably spread its vehicle contracts in the past to several chassis manufacturers and it seems to me particularly ironic that in the present critical situation it should decide that its interests are best served by affording powerful support to an already immensely strong manufacturer. I find it difficult to accept that there would be any serious aggravation of employment prospects at the Albion works if Glasgow decided to give, say, 25 per cent of its future vehicle requirements to the Jaguar group.
In the case of the other municipalities mentioned above there are no such mitigating circumstances and indeed none of them has in the past been as firmly wedded to one manufacturer as they are now. It is high time that both managements and transport committees realized that for all practical purposes competition is kept alive in the passenger chassis manufacturing industry solely by the continued survival of the Daimler company under Jaguar auspices. If municipalities such as Glasgow and Liverpool, who vitally affect the " balance " of the industry, continue to pursue their current policies then ultimately they could conceivably deny not only themselves but other operators, who have pusued a more enlightened policy, any freedom of choice.
Incidentally, in case any of your correspondents should feel inclined to point an accusing finger at the London Transport Board in this respect, it is only fair to point out that the Board has a fairly good record of supporting more than one manufacturer, and the recent introduction into its fleet of Daimler Fleetlines is surely some indication that LTB are anxious to preserve and keep alive an alternative source of supply.
Finally, I cannot help but express my astonishment at the complete lack of advertising by AEC of its current range of passenger chassis in your October I issue. Surely this is almost unprecedented in your Passenger Vehicle
number? It is difficult to resist the temptation not to attach some significance to this, particularly in view of the four-page Leyland spread.
Thornton Heath. Surrey. R. D. HYSLOP.