NEWS of the WEEK
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WAR OFFICE RATES FOR HIRED VEHICLES.
SOME queries have arisen as to the scales of payment for hired vehicles paid, or to he paid, by the authorities. Those we gave last week on page 283 were arranged in the Eastern Area early in the war. Various suggestions have been put forward by different Commands, but the War Office is endeavouring to bring some measure of co-ordination into the rates. It has asked, however, for an alteration in the downward direction from the rates•we gave.
All inquiries in connection with the matter should be sent to Major Simpson (Room 246) at the War Office.
Government Garage Census.
l'A A SCHEME is said to be under waY
whereby the Government is conducting a survey of garages throughout the country, with a view to setting up a nation-wide system of repair and maintenance centres for Government transport.
Makers Should Preserve Their Go&twill,
I N a letter to The Times dated October 26, Mr. A. F. Sidgreaves, managing director, Rolls-Royce, Ltd„ said that at the end of the war of 1914-18, it was impossible for the public to buy new British cars, and the result was that foreign makers stepped in and monopolized the British market. It took a " Buy British " publicity campaign to regain the home market. This was largely due to the fact that the buying public of 1918 had become unfamiliar with the prominent makes of English car.
Although Rolls-Royce is now entirely • A22
engaged upon aero-engines and will not make motor vehicles during wartime, it :intends to continue to advertise. to keep the public informed of its activities and thus preserve. its _good-. will for the future.
Mr.-Sidgreaves believes that it would be in the interests of all Makers of British cart to do the same, irrespective of whether they continue to turn out private vehicles. By doing so they would retain an invaluable asset— namely, their goodwill with the public —which will surely stand them in good stead when they return to normal working conditions. .
Precisely the same position is likely to occur with commercial vehicles.
Beet Haulage Rates Up.
AN increase in the rates for the haulage of sugar-beet from farm to railhead was agreed at a Meeting of hauliers, railway officials and a representative of the National Farmers' Union at Shrewsbury, last week.
It may be recalleZI that rates for this .work were settled on September 21, at a similar meeting. Experience has shown that, for the shortest leads, there is an insufficient margin of profit in these rates. The old and new figures are set out below. HIRE OR REWARD UNDER C LICENCE.
MANY operators believe that under the provisions of an Emergency Powers Order, they are fully entitled to use C-licensed vehicles for any form of transport, including that for hire or
reward. At first, during the initial rush on every means for transport, this view Was accepted. Now, however, there is a tightening up of the conditions, and C-licensed vehicles may not be used as Aor B-licensed vehicles, unless the latter be not available, and only if the work be of an essential nature which requires to be carried out immediately.
Regional Transport Commissioners may now serve notices stating that, in their opinion, it is inexpedient that particular operators §hould continue to use C-licensed vehicles under the relaxation permitted by the Order, and fuel supplies to them. will he strictly scrutinized
Mr. Bernays Sees for Himself.
THE Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of. Transport, Mr. R. H. Bernays, last week visited Newcastleon-Tyne and discussed with road and rail representatives the working of emergency transport schemes in the district. Mr. Bernays had discussions with Sir John Maxwell, chairman of the Northern Traffic Commissioners, and Sir A. Lambert, Regional Commissioner for Civil Defence. He is making a tour of the -regional areas.
Concession on Fuel Supplies in Bulk.
ITis pointed out by the Commercial Motor Users' Association that operators not in receipt of sufficient fuel coupons to enable them to secure bulk consignments for delivery into their own tanks can have delivered to them by the Pool Board loads of 200 gallons in the following manner :—
The consumer must provide coupons ior 75 per cent, of the quantity, on the understanding that he will let the Board have coupons for the balance of 56 gallons before asking for a further delivery to be made; if necessary two or more users may join together for such deliveries.
Increased Rates for Yorkshire Coal Hauliers.
AN increase of id. per lead mile, from loading point to destination, is charge put on industrial coal and coke in Yorkshire to meet road haulage costs. It has been authorized by the Minister for Mines, under emergency powers. The increase is primarily due to reduced operation, -owing to blackout conditions. It applies from November 1 to February 28, 1940. Yorkshire coal traders' organizations have notified members who employ hauliers to pay full increase to them.
MOBILE CINEMAS FOR THE TROOPS.
TWO of the first mobile-cinema units I have recently left for France, where it is hoped that film supplies will enable weekly programmes of the latest releases to be shown to the troops. The equipment will normally be installed in convenient huts or halls, but, for open-air shows, the films can be projected from the vehicles. To meet the case when electric-current supplies are not available, each vehicle carries a self-contained generator, driven by a Morris four-cylindered industrial engine.
Coal Council Taken Over.
THE Coal Utilization Council is to be wound up, and its functions taken over by the Coal Utilization Joint Council, which, in addition to colliery owners and coal traders, will represent the coal-burning-appliance manufacturers and distributors. The secretary is Mr. J. S. Williams, Grosvenor Gardens House, Victoria, London, S. W.1.
Aid to Aircraft Indentification.
ANEW book, Aircraft Identification, has been issued by Temple Press Ltd., Bowling Green Lane, London, E.(.1, publishers of The Aeroplane. The book is intended to assist in the rapid identification of approaching aircraft, covering, in silhouette and photographic form, leading types of German and British aircraft, together with some machines in service with our French allies. The book is priced at Is. net,
Huge British Tractor Production.
PRODUCTION of British agricultural 1 tractors, which had already reached 'impressive figures before the war, has ..oared to record heights since the outbreak of hostilities. The Ford works,
Dagenham, are the chief centre of British tractor production and comprise one of the largest tractor-manufacturing establishments in Europe.
An official of the company recently stated that, in the first months of the war, more tractors were delivered to British farmers than in any other month during the history of the concern. Production capacity has recently been stepped up by 25 per cent, and still larger figures will be attained.
East Anglian Hauliers and the Rates Question.
A FURTFIER meeting of East An
glian hauliers was held last week, at Bury St. Edmunds, under the auspices of the Road Panel, Eastern Regional Committee of the Road-Rail Central Conference, to give further consideration to increases in rates which had been decided at an earlier meeting in September. It was decided that, for the time being, the 20 per cent, general increase should stand for the month of November, but rates for delivery to and from railhead were adjusted to bring them into line with rates applicable to traffic to and from farms, mills, etc.
Road rates will be reviewed from
time to time by the Road Panel of the Road-Rail Conference in the light of increased costs and difficulties of operation which may be experienced.
Higher Rates for Brick Haulage.
BRICK-HAULAGE contractors in St. Helens and district have, we learn, succeeded in' having their agreement varied to their advantage. All rates per 1,000 bricks are now 2s. per 1,000 higher.
Pooling Scheme for Northern Ireland.
PLANS are said to be nearing completion for a working arrangement between members of the Private Lorry Owners' Association of Northern Ireland and the Road Transport Board. Under its provisions, the former can negotiate from day to day for the transport of loads by special contract. The scheme applies only to Association members, and it would restilt in the pooling of transport.
LORRIES TAKEN BY ARMY: VALUE TEST CASE.
FURTHER reference was made at Hamilton Sheriff Court, on Friday of last week, to a test case arising out of the commandeering by the Army authorities of two lorries belonging to a Wishaw contractor. Mr. David Baird, who appeared for Sir Norman M'Pherson, agent for the Army authorities, said that Mr. John Binnie, of Cambusnethan Street, was dissatisfied with the valuation by the requisitioning officer. The appeal (as reported in The Commercial Motor) had been adjourned for a fortnight, in order that Sir Norman M'Pherson might have an opportunity of considering the position.
Mr. Baird stated that Sir Norman had informed him that the officers had impressed the lorries under the old
Army Act. They could have commandeered them under the Defence Regulations of 1939, whereupon the valuation could have been fixed by a tribunal.
As the Army authorities, however, had elected to impress the lorries under the Army Act, Sir Norman agreed that Mr. Binnie had followed the appropriate procedure in appealing to the Sheriff Court for decision. The issue was clearly fixed. The Army authorities had stated their valuation for the lorries, and the owner had contested them and submitted his figure. .
Sir Norman suggested, went on Mr. Baird, that in order to expedite matters and save further expense, a remit to a man of skill " to determine the price should be ordered. .
Mr. Alfred M'Naughton, for Mr. Binnie, objected to the course. The lorries, he said, had already been eight weeks in the possession of the Army, and " a man of skill " could not determine what was a fair price when they were requisitioned.
The case will again be heard on November 10.
North Midland Region Using Too Much Petrol.
BECAUSE the consumption of petrol by goods vehicles in his area is too great, Mr. J. H. Stirk, Regional Transport Commissioner, is being pressed to effect further reductions in theamount of supplementary fuel issued. Mr. Stirk has issued a statement which reads:—
" I am again being pressed by the Department to effect further reductions in the amount of supplementary petrol issued . . . the percentage Of extra petrol to basic ration in this Region is 93, against an average for the country of 76 . . . we are at least 10 per cent. higher than our neighbours on each side and 25 per cent, higher than Yorkshire.
" . . . . in the early stages of the war it was more important that road transport should be kept moving than that any predetermined policy should be followed, particularly as the railways were not then in a position to deal with extrp, traffic.
" The railways are now in a much better position to deal with extra traffic, and for this reason no extra petrol should be allowed for the carriage of A24 any traffic which can be conveyed by rail, unless, owing to its urgency, it is necessary in the national interest that it should be sent by road."
Extending Privileges of Farmers' 5s. Licence.
THE War Committee of the National Farmers Union and Chambers of Agriculture for Scotland is making representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, suggesting an extension to the provisions of Section 10 of the Finance Act, 1939. This Section, at present, allows farmers to use tractors under the 5s. licence to carry agri
cultural produce and requisites on the public roads between different parts of their farms.
The War Committee asks that farmers should be allowed to use tractors to haul loads to the nearest railway station under the 5s. licence. This, it is pointed out, would make farmers less dependent upon carriers.
France Buys American Lorries.
THE French Government has, according to a message from New York, placed an order with the White Motor Co. for between 1,500 and 2,000 lorries, this being the second big order placed by the French authorities with American makers. COMMISSIONER SUPPORTS RATES STABILIZATION.
THE Ministry of Transport's North Regional Commissioner, Major F. S. Eastwood, has indicated his support for a new rates stabilization move which is likely to develop nationally.
The move has been initiated by the Hull Area of the C.M.U.A.'s North Eastern Division, as a result of the rationing of petrol and oil fuel, whereby it is said to be impossible for the majority of hauliers to work more than a maximum of 75 per cent, of pre-war capacity. Feeling that, generally speaking, haulage rates prevailing im mediately prior to the outbreak of war are too low to be applicable to existing circumstances, the committee of the Hall Area has put forward a scheme for the standardization of minimum haulage rates, which it has submitted to the Commissioner. In welcoming the scheme, Major Eastwood has indicated his desire that some such scheme should be put into operation in all parts of the North Eastern Region, and in other regions.
The North Eastern Division of the C.M.U.A. has taken the matter up with a view to reaching agreement, on a general rates scheme applicable to the division as a whole. In the meantime, Yorkshire timber hauliers have given a lead by making a 25 per cent. increase. DRIVER LET OFF AFTER PLEADING GUILTY.
BECAUSE a lorry driver, summoned at Cockerrnouth, last week, for speeding, altered his plea to one of " guilty," when corroboration of a police officer's evidence was not available, the police superintendent said he would not ask for a penalty and the Bench dismissed the case under• the Probation of Offenders' Act.
Police evidence was that the driver, William Herbert Waite, Lowther Arms Inn, The Goat, Cockermouth, covered a measured mile at a speed of 38.7 m.p.h.
The Clerk of the Court said that as he had taken the driver's plea" guilty, unknowingly "—as one of " not guilty," the case could not stand in the absence of corroborative evidence. He could not accept the police officer's• stop watch as evidence of that kind,
After the clerk and the magistrates had conferred on the point, Waite said he would. alter his plea. The Bench accepted this decision and dismissed the case.
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