hundreds of miles, all carrying the same classes of goods.
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Some traffics are better suited to the road, some to rail, others to coastal shipping, and, in future, probably, some to air. Certain places are geographically better reached by road, others by rail, and surely the most logical method is to employ the mode of transport best suited to the job in hand.
Many branch lines of the railways could be closed down, and this also applies to certain long-distance road services, the deciding factor being economic, plus a reasonable degree of service.
It is my opinion that only under unified control and nationalization of all forms of transport can this be accomplished. We may be told that this is fantastic, that it would. be a gigantic flop, but what of the post office, which is efficiently run to high standards and gives splendid service at moderate Cost? We do not hear of traders bargaining with the post office to have a parcel dispatched at 3d. per lb. cheaper.
Road transport will have its place—and a very important one—in post-war planning, but only as a constituent part of transport as a whole. We know what road transport has done during the days of crisis, but do not let us forget that the brunt of the burden fell upon the drivers. History, however, will tell the story of that
period. A. R. WILSON. Glasgow, 4.
THE contribution, " What is Behind the Threat of Nationalization?" by Mr. W. G. E. Dyer, is fine, The bedside telephones, which he mentions, are no luxury in the haulage business. They are the vital link in efficiency. Some of us do not need any enlightenment as to
--. • the conditions which would exist under nationalization. The 9 a.m, office touch would be a certainty. Even during the war, there are plenty of 9-10 a.m. Government offices, so heaven help us in peace-time As for public opinion, numerous people did not, and even now,..clo not, know that long-distance lorries run by night and day. The public, in general, would not appreciate whether it would be economic or otherwise efficient to run road transport under State control.
The industry has been sadly maligned, otherwise we would not have the state of affairs which now exists. There is, however, one simple lesson to learn in the haulage business, and that is, to like your job, which is a short cut to efficiency. R. ELwrcx. London, N.12.
HAULIERS v. C LICENSEES IN MILK TRANSPORT yOU published, in your issue of October 30, a complaint headed" Hauliers' Views on Milk Transport." This is followed immediately on the next page by a request for frankness. Let us be frank about this particular subject.
Six Milk Movements Officers are drawn from United Dairies. To suggest that this shows a tendency to the placing of. the milk trade into the hands of combines is surely an exaggeration. It is merely an indication that the Ministry of Food has attempted to choose men with a wide knowledge of the districts concerned.
0 My company has been collecting milk for many years, and is the first to agree that rationalization is necessary. It is prepared to trust those in charge of the job to do it fairly, and it cannot criticize them until their plans are published.
So-called legitimate hauliers 'frequently state openly that they intend to oust the C licensees from this work. They should remember that it was the C licensees who started it, organized it, and carried it through, during
the early years when all the difficulties had to be faced, and when hauliers could not be prevailed upon to accept the work.
We are surprised that "The Commercial Motor" should publish a complaint of this nature, made by an obviously biased body, which does not truly represent all those concerned and, in 43.ny case, has very little to grumble abbuf. H. F. SMITH, Director,
Leicester. for Kirby and West, Ltd.
[We appreciate the frankness. of this letter from Mr. H. F. Smith. Obviously, much that is published in this journal could be classed under the broad heading of " bias " if this term be taken to mean that particular interests are affected. We, perhaps, could he accused of being biased in the sense that " The Commercial Motor " is a roadtransport journal and, therefore, does everything in its power to promote the employment of this means for transport, except where this is against the national interest. We endeavour to hold the balance as evenly as possible between ancillary operators and hauliers, but it would not serve the industry as a whole to stifle free comment. As an example, we are strongly opposed to the nationalization of our industry, whilst realizing that a certain amount of control may be necessary, even in times of peace, but this does not prevent us from publishing views in favour of this political objective.—En.] APPRECIATION OF OUR TYRE ARTICLES AND A SUGGESTION WITH much interest I have been reading the series of VI' articles by L.V.B. on tyres in "The Commercial Motor." I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series as it appears, because the whole aspect of tyre failures is put so clearly and understandably.
We know only too well how difficult it is to convince tyre users of the actual reasons for tyre failures, and I feel that what L.V.B. has written should be read by ' every tyre user in the country. I write to you, therefore, to express the hope that you will find it possible to issue the complete series in booklet form.
I believe that, despite the serious rubber situation, of which all users must be aware, more tyres are being wasted through abuse and neglect than ever before. The causes of this tragic situation are probably many, such as shortage of operating staff, inexperienced drivers, E.P.T., impossibility of operators having their own casings retreaded and returned to them, etc. It would surely help, however, to have L.V.B.'s clear-sighted explanations on tyre failures given the widest possible publicity.
• JOHN BARWELL,
, for Barwell's Tyre Renewing Co. Swavesey, Cambs.
[We are glad that Mr. 13anvell finds this series interesting. Already a number of large operators has ordered reprints, but we have in view the possibility of publishing the articles in a complete form when the series ends. Some people take the view that in this form they might not be con. suited so freely, and it is interesting to have your opinion as to the potential value—En.]