News of the Week
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B.R.F. URGES THE WITHDRAWAL ee • OF 73B
THE drastic regulation, 7313, by which the carriage of general traffic by load, except through the R.H.9., is limited to 60 miles, save by special authority granted by the Minister, of War Transport, is receiving the atten lion of the British Road Federation.
The Federation has urged upon the Governnynt the immediate need for the withdrawal of. this regulation, which was strongly opposed by the Associates Committee of the Federation at the time of its introduction.
NEW MACHINERY FOR THE R.H.A.
AFINAL report of the Executive Committee of the R.H.A. to its National Council upon the subject of " standing committees " was issued recently. It recommends 12 such committees, covering the following:— Vehicles, highWays, public relations, control, technical, rates, licensing, carriers' liability, labour, Road anti Rail Central Conference (Road Panel), membership, and the Road Haulage Consultative Committee.
The work of all these is analysed, and suggestions made as to their powers,
personnel, etc. If the recommendations be adopted, as we understand is the case, the machinery of the Association will take the following form:—(1) National council—controlling the entire work of the Association; (2) executive committee—carrying out the decisions of the national council and dealing with .t.fy-meday affairs; (3) finance commitfee—dealing with the financial, staff :Ind domestic alleirs; (4) standing corn mittees—treating with their respective zubjects; (5) functional groups and functional committees—concerned with specialized interests within the industry; (6) panels—dealing with various matters connected with the M.O.W.T and R.H.O.; (7) ad hoc con3rnitteescovering anything not within the pfovince. of the foregoing.
TEMPORARY VEHICLE DUTY RELIEF FOR AGRICULTURE
WHERE a licence for a goods vehicle 'WV has been taken out under subparagraph (a) of paragraph 5 of he Second Schedule to the Finance Act, 1920 (a) (which, as amended by the Seventh Schedule to the Finance Act, 1933 (b), specifies the rates of duty charged on vehicles registered in the name of an agriculturist and used on roads solely by him for the conveyance of the produce of, or of articles required for the agricultural land which he occupies, duty at a higher rate will not be chargeable by reason that, during the period J-uly 15. to November 30, it is used, whether by the person registering it or not, for the conveyance in the course of harvestieg. grain or operations incidental thereto, of:—(a) the grain harvested, (b) straw or other matter resulting' from the harvesting, (c) workers engaged in stieh operations, (d) articles required in this connection, including those for the sueteaance or comfort of the workers.
THE COLLECTION. OF WASTE SUMP OIL -
NOW that there are more vehicles. 'on the road, it may safely be assumed. that greater quantities of lubricating oil will be used. Consequently, sump drainings will accumulate more rapidly, and the pre-war nuisance of used-oil disposal will return.
The need for economy in imported products, of which lubricating oil is one, still exists. We understand from the Petroleum Board that facilities are available for the systematic: collection of used oil, and that specially marked barrels will be provided, free of charge, for Storage pending collection. Costs will be borne by the concerns nominated by the Lubricating Oil Pool.
Traders are invited to take advantage of these facilities, and if they will comMunicate with. the Lubricating Oil Pool, Petroleum Board, Brettenham House, Lancaster Place, London. W.C.2 (telephone, Temple Bar 1234), a concern will be nominated to arrange for collection. By so doing they will be serving, not only their own, but the national interest,
The scheme is being operated with the approval and under the auspices of the.Ministry of Fuel and-Power.
COMMER AND KARRIER SERVICE IN LONDON
TTIE London service stations of Commer Cars, Ltd., and Karrier Motors, Ltd., now at Willesden, will be transferred to. Rotes, Ltd„ St. John's Wood Court, St. John's Wood Road, N.W.8, as from August I. Incidentally, the stations close from to-day for their annual holiday and will reopen on August-.7
PROFIT OF TILLING MOTOR SERVICES
FOR the year ended June 30 last, the accounts of Tilling Motor Services, Ltd., show that the total income was £406,166, the previous year's earnparable figure being £404,649. After providing for taxation (£47,000) and making allowances for other outgoings, a sum of £355,959 remains. The preference dividend absorbs £10,000, and £309,000 is applied to meeting " ordinary " dividends. which-total 7i per Oent., tax free, for . the year. General reserve receives £25,000. The amount carried forward is £57,742
A.E.C. STARTS POST-WAR PRODUCTION Ay/AR TIME production at the VV Southall works of the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., is by no means at an end,. but the manufacturing programme already includes a small num ber _of civilian-type vehicles. FirSit to.
come off the assembly line was a group of 'Monarch four-wheeled goods chassis. powered by 7.7-litre six-cylinclered oil engines. Other goods types, the fourwheeled trailer-towing Matador and the eight-wheeled Mammoth Major will follow, together with the two passenger -types which the company will begin building this yeas—the Regent doubledecker and the Regal single-decker.
SMALLER PROFIT ON COLCHESTER'S MUNICIPAL BUSES
I N the past nsunicipal year, the trans
port department of Colchester Corporation made a profit of £3,996; compared with £5,129 in the previous year.. The total number of bus-miles run was 629,830, which is more than 55,000 higher than the previous year's figure.
The surplus is being carried to the appropriation account (making the unappropriated balance on that account £5,34.2 ) from • wh £1,500 te.ing credited to the general sate land. SOCIETY OF FILTER MANUFACTURERS FORMED I N our issue dated June 15 it was intimated that the filter makers of this counkty were getting together with the object of forming a society of filter manufacturers. We now learn that, at an inaugural meeting held recently, the British Society of Associated Filter Manufacturers was formed, and a draft constitution was adopted.
Members of the Council were elected as follow:—President, Mr. C. G. Vokes (Vokes, Ltd.); vice-president, Mr. R.
Brobker (Tecalemit, Ltd.); members of the Council, Capt. C... C. Barker (Auto-Klean Strainers, Ltd.); Messrs. W. B. Bentley (Aerox Filters, Ltd.); R. R. Houston (Fibreglass, Ltd.); E. L. Joseph (Ozonair, Ltd.); S. C. Toye (Amal, Ltd.).
The following 'five sections of the society were formed, with provision for such turther sections as might prove desirab1e—(1) Air cdnditioning, (2) filtration of lair. and other gases, (3) filtration of oil and fuel, (4) filtration and purification of liquids other than water, (5) filtration and purification of water.
Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Co„ 94-.98, Petty France, London, S.W.1, has been elected secretary to the society.
BUS DRIVERS ARE TRAINING WRENS
N /IAN 1V1.T..drivers in the Wrens are IVIleaving the Service during the next few months, and to replace them hundreds of others are being taught to drive by London busmen. Fifty are now at London Transport's Training Cnntre, at Chiswick, undergoing a liveweek course. This includes driving, theory and practical maintenance: They are being instructed on various types of vehicle, _including 15-cwt. utility machines and Morris-Commercial 3-ton vans.
They are being transferred in this manner from categories in which the work is diminishing, and will be eligible to 'serve anywhere, but the majority will probably be employed in the United Kingdom. The curriculum for the Wrens includes skid-control practice on the wellknown slippery surface at Chiswick on which busmen are required to perform remarkable gyrations; and the theoretical part covers lectures on accidents and their causes in conjunction with the Highway Code. In addition, every part of the mechanism of vehicles is the subject of special initruction. The course concludes with a theoretical and practical examination which is arranged to cover two and a half days. " PROGRESS OF MERSEYSIDE TRAFFIC ADMINISTRATORS
AT a Liverpool meeting of the Merseyside Centre of the Institute of Traffic Administration, held on July 16, the chair was taken by Mr. A. S. Keirby, He reported that good progress was being made and a fair number of new members had been enrolled. Those in this area wishing information as to the aims and activities of this body should. communicate with the secretary, Mr. A. T. Irving, 3, Wood Road, Halewood, Liverpool.
H.E.T. OMNIBUS SERVICES. • REPORT •
THE report of B.E.T. Omnibus Ser-.1 vices, Ltd., for the year ended June 30 last shows a profit of 1,150,678, the sum available being £179,969 after adding £29,291 brought in from the pre• viaus year. A 10 per cent. dividend, less tax, is to he paid on the cumulative • preference shares,. and a dividend of
per cent., free of tax, on the ordinary shares; the latter will take 1130,000, and after these deductions have been met £44,969 remains to be carried forward.
PURCHASE AND SALE—ONLY MOTORCYCLES FREED •
LAST week we published a paragraph headed " More Freedom to Sell Vehicles,"' a revocation of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Acquisition and Disposal of Motor Vehicles (Amend
ment) Order, 1942 (a). The (a) of this part of the Order concern Ati motorcycles; consequently other commercial motor vehicles are not affected.
We regret any inconvenience caused to those who did not note this particular point.
CONFERENCE ON UNIFICATION OF ENGINEERING STANDARDS
T' opening date of the Conference on the Unification ofEngineering Standards has been fixed for September 24 next. In announcing this date, the Combined Production and Resources Board states that the Conference will be held in Ottawa, Canada, and will be attended by delegates appointed by Canada, Great Britain and the United States,
This will be the third in the series of conferences. which have been held in the past two years under the auspices of the C,P.R.B. Included in the agenda for the meetings arc screw threads (including pipe threads), limits and fits, drawing .practice, and metrology in mechanical engineering.
CORDS PISTON RING REMOVAL E are advised that Cords Piston
Ring Co., Ltd., has removed from 42, Bell Street, Healey-on-Thames, to its London premises ,at 30, Hampstead Road, NAV], to which all orders for Cords piston rings and all pistons for servicing should be sent.
A TO Z LIST OF STEEL PRODUCTS
WE have received from the United Steel Companies, Ltd., a list of the products cf its associated concerns. It is arranged for quick and easy' reference, the product, the branch Irons which it is obtainable, and. remarks relative to size and other matters being clearlyS.et out.
"Copies may be obtained from any of the Group's sales offices situated in Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester and Sheffield.
KERRY'S TRADING RESULTS
FDR the year ended February 28 last, Kerry's (Great Britain), Ltd., made a net profit, before providing for taxation and including dividends receivable. from subsidiary companies, of £126,178, this . amount being reduced to 130,253 after deducting £89,923 for taxation and £6,000 for staff pensions scheme. .
After meeting -a dividend at the rate of 51per cent, per annum on the preference stock, a balance of £67,467 remains, after adding £42,714 brought in. Out of this sum a dividend of 10 per cent., less tax, is to be paid on the ordinary stock, which will absorb £11,667 and leave £55,800 to be carried forward.
BUSES ADVANCE, BUT -TRAMS PEGGED BACK AT BLACKBURN
THE annual report for the past municipal year of the transport department of Blackburn Corporation shows a surplus on the operation of the buses of £11,305, -which, added to the amount brought lanyard, makes a total of 172,179. The surplus for the previous year was £"9,713.
There was a 'deficiency On the trams, through 'war conditions, of £8,228, against a surplus of £2,812 for the previous year. Thus the surplus account for the trams has been reduced from £41,132 to R32,904.
The number of passengers carried by the buses was 16,816,228, an increase of 775,783 over the previous year's total, whilst the figure for the trams was 17,868,623, a decrease of 531,033.
AMPHIBIAN BUSES FOR MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL?
MANCHESTER Regional Town Planning Cammittee is shortly -to consider a plan for the operation of regular water-bus . services on the Manchester Ship Canal. Mr. E. L. Leeming, surveyor to I.Traiston (Lancashire) Urban District Council, is responsible for the scheme, which is to be submitted to -the town planning committee at an early date. Mr. Leeming proposes regain services across the canal between Irlarn and Partington and at a point near to present Flixton Ferry and, in addition, _a service operating along the entire length ofthe canal. between the Manchester town centre and New Brighton, the popular. Merseyside seaside resort, Ramps enabling the buses to by-pass the canal locks by travelling overland for a short distance before re-entering the canal could be built at -small cost, says Mr. Leeming.