F OLLOWING complaints by the Road Haulage Association of the lack

30th April 1954, Page 72

30th April 1954

Page 72

Page 73

Page 72, 30th April 1954 — F OLLOWING complaints by the Road Haulage Association of the lack

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of transport units offered in central Scotland, the Road Haulage Disposal Board, headed by Sir Malcolm Trustram Eve, QC., chairman, visited Edinburgh last week to study the denationalization of road haulage at first hand.

Discussions were held with representatives of the R.H.A., and British Road Services. It is understood that the Association were assured that List 5 (published on Wednesday) would probably do much to meet the needs of Scottish hauliers. It would contain a large number of small units and, if the response were good, further substantial batches of small lots might be included in future lists.

Nevertheless. Sir Malcolm made it clear that the Board could no longer hold up their plans for selling units as companies, some of which had already been tentatively formed. He urged that any operator who wanted to buy a B.R.S. group or depot under the company structure should tell the Board at once.

The chairman's committee of the R.H.A. met the Board in London on Tuesday and heard the results of the Scottish trip. Other matters were then discussed. The meeting with the Board was reported to the Association's executive committee on Wednesday.

The company method of disposal was mentioned by Mr. Bernard Winterbottom, national chairman of the R.H.A., at Newcastle upon Tyne, last Friday (see page 346). He emphasized that assets sold in companies must be transferred at values written down in accordance with the method adopted before the 1953 Act was passed, and not on some new formula.

B.T.C. Statement The British Transport Commission said in Edinburgh last Friday that the Disposal Board "attach great importance to carrying out their task in such a way that the minimum of disturbance is caused to transport users in trade and industry and that full account is taken of the special needs of Scotland.

" A considerable number of lorries have already been offered in small lots and there will be further small lots so as to ensure that the small man has the opportunity today which the Act requires.

"Consideration is, however, also being given to the offer of larger groups of vehicles (either in the form of companies or otherwise) with a view to giving continuity in the services at present being provided throughout the country," Our Glasgow correspondent reports that operators in central Scotland fear that a large haulage combine is to he started in the area. The spokesman of a group of operators told him that he. along with other former hauliers. was invited six months ago to join a proposed new haulage company which

aimed to serve central Scotland. We were told that the company would get favourable consideration from London,c22 he said, "but I told those who arranged the meeting that we wanted to get away from combines that savoured of nationalization."

Hauliers have complained to the R.H.A., to the Disposal Board and to Mr. Malcolm Macpherson, M.P., of the paucity of units offered in central Scotland. They said that only two depots had been offered in the StirlingFalkirk district.

One of them was at Grangeburn Road, Grangemouth, but the unit was later withdrawn because the tenders were too low. The other depot was ar Midthorn, Grangemouth, where, a haulier alleged, old vehicles were substituted for the superior vehicles that were formerly operated.

The hauliers' spokesman told our correspondent: "I wrote to the Disposal Board asking why they did not put up for tender units in this area which 1 enumerated, but I received a reply written on B.R.S. notepaper, stating that they were not to he offered," C-LICENSEES AND VEHICLES INCREASE BY UNDER 4% I AST year the number of C-licensees increased by 3.68 per cent, and the number of C-licence vehicles by 3.88 per cent. Figures just issued by the Ministry of Transport show that 15,369 new C-licensees came into being in 1953 and that 32,386 more C-licence vehicles were placed on the roads.

In December last, there were 432.052 C-licensed operators, compared with 416,683 a year earlier. During the 12 months, the number of C-licence vehicles rose from 833.936 to 866.322.

BRITISH OILERS CUT COSTS AFLEET of Leyland oil-engined buses which was placed in service by Jamaica Omnibus Services, Ltd., late last year, is reported to be reducing fuel costs substantially. The fuel cost of the new oilers is approximately lid'. a mile, compared with I3.8d. a mile for the American petrol-engined vehicles operated.

Leyland 9.8-litre oil engines are to replace the petrol units in the American buses. One has already been successfully converted.

A report on Jamaica Omnibuses appeared in The Commercial Motor on March 26.

More Units Offered

1ST 5 of transport units was published on Wednesday. As forecast in The Commercial Motor on April 2, it contains a number of units composed of heavy-haulage, furniture, tank and contract-hire vehicles. About 650 units (2.050 vehicles) are offered.

Tenders for lots comprising vehicles only close on June 2 and those for units with premises on June 16.

SHOP WORKERS DEMAND FUEL-TAX CUT

APROTEST against the fuel tax was registered at the annual conference at Brighton, last week, of the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers. A resolution, agreed upon unanimously and without discussion, declared that the tax had a serious effect on all public transport undertakings and did not help to bring down the cost of living.

" Its imposition is such that increases in fares are being continuously sought and creating further burdens on the public purse," it was stated.

The executive council la ere asked to give immediate attention to the problem and urge the Government to re-examine the duty to afford some relief.

At a meeting in London last week, the standing joint committee of the Royal Automobile Club, the Automobile Association and the Royal Scottish Automobile Club decided to urge Members of Parliament of all parties to press for a reduction in petrol tax when the Finance Bill comes before

Parliament. They expressed dissatisfaction at the failure of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to grant any relief in the tax in the Budget.

LIVERPOOL COACII OPERATORS' DEAL

OPERATORS of a group of excursions with about 200 destinations, MacShane's Commercial Motors, Ltd.. Liverpool, are, it is reported, to be acquired by Crown Coachways, Liverpool.

Crown also operate excursions, and have picking-up points in the suburbs of the city. Last year they purchased the local branch of Messrs. G. Murray, St. Helens, known in Liverpool as Jubilee Coaches. With the acquisition of MacShanes, Crown will have control of all daily excursions operating from the centre of the city with the exception of those run by Ribble Motor Services. Ltd., and Crosville Motor Services. Ltd.

NEW DENNIS LIGHTWEIGHT BUS IT is understood that Dennis Bros..

Ltd., Guildford, are developing a lightweight underfloor-engined bus version of the Falcon coach chassis. New castings are being made for a horizontal 5i-litre oil engine and it is probable that single tyres will be fitted at the rear. As a bus the Falcon will be a 40-seater.

"Glasgow Operators Should Co-operate"

iNLESS co-operation was achieved between transport undertakings, a body might have to be established to exercise control both within and outside Glasgow, said Mr. W. F. Quin, Scottish Licensing Authority, when he opened Glasgow Transport Department's new £150,000 bus depot at lbrox. Municipal transport could be justified only if the people were properly served, said Mr. Quin. He was, not suggesting they were not, but he thought it would be necessary to judge whether or not some system of• co-ordination was possible between the municipality and private companies running into the city. He thought the department ought to consider whether people wanted to get to the city centre or to other points in the city, and whether it were possible to establish a ring circuit from one part of the city to another. CUT:. R. McAllister, transport convener, said there would be a surplus at the end of the financial year, and consideration would be given to the possibility of reducing fares. The new depot, which has open accommodation for 100 buses, was erected on the site of an existing garage with the minimum of interference to normal working. This was achieved by planning the new building on the perimeter of the existing yard. Facilities are provided for repairing 10 vehicles at a time. The doors to the repair bays are electrically operated. and there is space heating. Extraction grilles arc provided in the pits to take away exhaust fumes.

,NEW COMM ER 15-CWT. VAN VAN and convertible bodies are now available on the Commer 15-cwt. chassis of 9-ft. 3-in, wheelbase, which is also used for a medium-duty pick-up body. Apart from more windows and seats for 12 additional passengers in the convertible, both van bodies are similar, providing 178 Cu. ft. of payload space. The cab and body are integral. The body has a hardwood frame panelled externally with sheet steel and the convertible has a hardboard roof lining. Iwo windows are provided in each side lf the convertible, which has timbert-amed seats and cushions arranged to iinge upwards when not in use, thus sroviding clear floor space. The 2.266-litre four-cylindered side,alve engine gives 50 b.h.p. at 3,200 .p.m. A four-speed synchromesh gearlox is fitted and 7.00-16-in, tyres of sixily rating are standard.