This Year and Next
Page 17
Page 18
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
TO-MORROW marks the commencement of a New Year. ' What that will mean for the world, and for Britain in .particular, no one can yet say, except that we are all convinced that, if it does not bring peace; it will, at least, be a •• year which will bring us-well on the way towards it We, like millions of others, hope that it will mark .Victory for the United Nations against the Germans and their dupes. For " The Commercial Motor," the year of which this is the last day, has been an extremely interesting one', and although we have continued to be confronted with many difficulties in the way of reduced staff, restrictions on the supply of paper, etc., we have succeeded in increasing and spreading our activities to help, in every possible way, our readers and the war effort The Trade Function of the Year The first big move in this direction was " The Commercial .Motor ". Get-Together Luncheon, which took place on January20. At this function, for which over 500 places were booked,. we were able, for the first time that this had happened during the war period, to bring together a representative gathering of makers, operators,' and ancillary, interests to hear vitally important expressions of opinion on urgent' war-tittle problems, the key speaker being the _ Earl of Rothes, Director of Tyres, who was followed by Sir, Alfred E. Faulkner, C.B., CBE:, at that time Director of Alternative Motor Fuels, Mr. F. G. Smith, M.I.A.E., Director of Vehicle Maintenance, Lieut.-Col. Mervyn O'Gorman, C.B., D.Sc., an acknowledged expert on road matters, and last, but not least, a long-distance road-transport driver, . Mr. C. E. Lett, who was generally considered to be one of the stars, and who was given special leave for thi occasion by the, courtesy. of Messrs. J. F. E. Pye, IP., managing director, and R. T. Smith, chief engineer, of the Pye group of companies. This function received the approval and cordial co-operation of the other organs of the roadtransport Press, most of the Editors of which brought their own parties. Next was held a luncheon and conference The 'Industry Has Been Restricted organized by the Editor, at But Must Gather Its Forces', operators' *as. asked to co to Resist Oppression operate in devising some scheme by which the makers of commercial vehicles, particularly on the goods: transport side, could be advised as to post-war requirements in connection with their products. At this conference, which was held on March 31, the Editor suggesfed the formation of a Technical Institute of Road Transport Operators. At the time, this was thought to be too big an advance, and the subject was, later, ventilated over a period of several months in the columns of this journal. The tremendous volume of contributions and the many views which were published during this Period have already stirred up activity in several quarters and will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences.
Later in the year, manufacturers of tyres and, incidentally, of vehicles for the transport of passengers and goods, became alarmed at the increasing number of failures which were occurring with wheels. Hitherto, these important.components had not received their due share of attention. They had been considered to be almost' everlasting,so much so that they were often transferred from older vehicles to newer models, but,. as with every other part of a motor vehicle, it soon became apparent that their life, at least in -sortie instances, could be ended by their additional years of service. Although there were not many cases resulting in accidents, there was sufficient evidence to prove that serious attention must fairly quickly, be paid to them, in order to avoid the dangerous consequences which might result fromcracking and eventual complete failure.
Wheel Failure Inquiry Conducted The Editor was, therefore, approached by the Tyre Manufacturers' Conference Mileage Group Committee, comprised of most of the leading tyre makers in the country, and asked to conduct an investigation into the troubles which may occur with these wheels, particularly those used on the heavier classes of transport vehicle. The main objects were to ascertain what faults should be looked for, and how breakdowns and accidents might be avoided. During the course of these inquiries, we visited the works of the leading wheel makers and made contact with the Techhical Branch of the S.M.M.T.
The results were published as a comprehensive article entitled " The Ills of Wheels." reprints of which were ordered by the tyre makers concerned and circulated to all important operators throughout the country.
Some months later we became impressed by the small amount of attention which was, at that time, being given to the problem of the reinstatement in our industry of Servicemen as they eventually become demobilized. We therefore founded what we termed "The'CM.' League, of Servicemen," which is steadily gaining in membership by entrants from technically trained men in the Forces, not only in this country, but in OUT various contingents abroad.
In brief, the main function ot this organization is to establish an index of officers and men, together with their qualifications and the classes of work for which they regard themselves to be best fitted. Its success will, naturally, depend largely upon the enthusiastic co-operation of employers in our industry when the time comes to put the scheme into active operation. Of coirrse, any legislation which the Government may devise with the same object in view may have some effect upon the activities of the League, but if a Serviceman is to be, guaranteed only six months' employment, as appears to be the case, then the League should eventually fulfil an extremely useful purpose. It may even prove of considerable assistance to many officers and other ranks before that time elapses.
Incidentally, the general secretary of the British Legion has given the scheme his blessing and promised every assistance which lies within the power of the Legion.
The Controversy Concerning M.T.80 Fuel At present, we are in the throes of a leaded-fuel controversy. Many interesting arid varied suggestions on this have already been put forward, and as recently as our issue dated December 17, we suggested that if Mr. Churchill and Mr. Roosevelt realized the terrible consequences of the use of the M.T.80 fuel, they would quickly force the action necessary to revert to a more suitable quality, which would not result in this amazing sabotage of our road transport.
There have been many other interesting subjects covered during the past year, which has seen the putting into operation of the M.O.W.T. Long Distance Road Haulage Scheme. This alone has resulted in an enormous amount of correspondence and the expression of a large variety of views, which have, at least, served to indicate that bureancratic control of transport is not all plain sailing, but exposes many snags and imperfections, most of which need not have arisen if a scheme to meet the needs had been organized by the industry itself.
Latterly the major number of complaints regarding the Scheme has been from those operators who were not taken over as conti?olled undertakings, but who have had their vehicles hired. Practically all these have found that they are operating at a loss and many are convinced that they are heading for bankruptcy. They, and we, hope that, as a result of the agitation that has arisen, a move will be made to ameliorate their conditions and place the hire rates upon a sounder basis.
Road Transport's Potential Strength We do not feel qualified to make prophecies concerning what may happen in the year which starts to-morrow. There are, however, so far as our industry is concerned, signs of a great awakening. Road transport is gradually becoming convinced of its tremendous potential strength, ii that power can be brought together and concentrated upon the main problems which confront so many thousands of operators, and upon those prospective difficulties that are certain to face them in the post-war era.
At least there is a reasonable prospect of the representative associations forming a unified body, and of this beginning to get into its stride within the first quarter of the year. The industry will await with great interest the coming announcement of the policy of this joint organization. Upon that much will depend. It must display no inferiority complex, but present the progressive and, it necessary, combative views of an industry which, in pre-war days, was considered as the third in importance in this country. For too long have we suffered the slings and arrows of our competitors, and from an official policy having an almost disastrous effect, to all of which we have merely turned the other cheek. Now road. transport must adopt a fighting policy, in addition to winning, by good service, the favour of the public and an increasing number of protagonists in Parliament,