Road Transport Dying While Ministries Fiddle
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HERE we are at the start of a New Year. Let us hope that all those who can in any way be held responsible for the present dire condition, of road transport will have made resolutions that they will do all• that is possible to retrieve the drastic mistakes of the past few years and not allow any such resolutions to go the way of so many good intentions.
Investigations which we and some friends carried out a few days before Christmas showed to us conclusively that, however strong had been our comments upon the position of road transport, they were not only justified, but even something less than the situation demands.
We have been assured in knowledgeable quarters that, unless the most urgent steps be taken to improve the supply of spare parts and, soon, the production of a large number of suitable vehicles to meet vital transport needs, within a very few months an even graver state of affairs will develop.
We cannot believe that this is not within the knowledge of the Ministries of Transport and Supply. We have learnt that, for example, the Ministry of Supply has specifically brought to the attention of manufacturers "deserving" cases concerning operators whose needs in respect of vehicles have been considered especially pressing, but when the makers concerned have pointed out that they are strictly rationed in respect of materials and cannot possibly construct more for civilian requirements unless they receive -additional supplies, their comments and appeals are ignored.
Vehicle Builders Are Not Conjurers Vehicle manufacturers are not magicians; they 'cannot conjure chassis out of a hat, and the steel, light metals, etc., provided for vehicles ordered by the Government for the Services are so strictly controlled that there is no surplus.
It is most essential that this Ministry be brought to face the fact that the maintenance of an adequate system of road transport is as vital to our war effort as is the production of general supplies for the Services or the manufacture of munitions. Everywhete there is an increasing demand for vehicles, which becomes more and more pressing as the weeks go by and as the accumulation of goods at loading centres rises to such an extent as to constitute a positive danger. There are instances of vehicles travelling many' miles to convey urgent goods, and which have had to return to their starting points because the congestion has been so great that no space could be found for the disposal of their loads. Materials required by important industries are piling up out of reach and, in some cases, suffering serious depreciation. Not only must this accumulation of weeks, and even months, be reduced, but other supplies, continually arriving, must be handled so expeditiously as to prevent further accumulations.
Better Work for Britain Than Hitler Some of the troubles may lie with the labour employed and the system under which it is controlled. It is almost Incredible to learn that at a large port only one boat can be loaded or unloaded at a time, and that the tally system prevents any infiltration of outside labour. Where, may we ask, are the dockers' battalions of the war of 1914-18? Is it true that dockers are working at only 70 per cent. efficiency and that they adopt a ca'-canny policy so as to obtain higher overtime rates. at week-ends? If so, it is high time that they were mobilized. Hitler would have no -compunction in putting all manual workers into _ labour squads, and at much lower rates of pay than those which they are now obtaining. Upon their work now and in the next few months may' depend whether or not they shall be under his domination. However, we must not diverge into these side-tracks, important though they may be, but must return to the subject of road transport.
Recently the Minister of Transport issued an explanation 'of the method by which new vehicles are allocated and of the reasons for the delays which have occurred in so many instances. It is pointed out that there are a great many 'demands and but few vehicles, and whilst many of the applications are fully justified only those of exceptional merit can receive consideration, thus thoroughly to analyse them has involved a great deal of work.
Undoubtedly a proportion of our total fleet has been destroyed by bombing, although no official figures are available. Somehow this loss and the others resulting from the acquisition, the breaking down or the wearing out of vehicles must be made good. Pooling and other methods of utilizing vehicles to better advantage, however good they may be in themselves, are mere palliatives, staving off the .evil day when road transport will be in even direr straits.
Has the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders done anything to bring the true position before the Government? If not, why not? As the representative body of the manufacturing side of the industry it should appreciate that the position • of operators is one of the greatest importance to its members. The manufacturers may, at present, be replete with work of an official nature, but they must look to the future and theniselves press for facilities which will help those who are virtually in despair.