National Service by Retail Motor Industry A Nimportant report has been
Page 109

If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
issued by the recently formed National Service Committee of the Retail Motor Industry, which represents the entire motor trade, and has Lord Austin as its chairman, setting out in detail suggestions made to the Government for the immediate utilization of the resources of the industry in the event of a national emergency.
In peace time the nation's road transport is serviced by 16,000 garages and service stations employing more than 150,000 men. Their efforts will be no less required in war, but to he used efficiently there must be coordination between all departments concerned and the industry.
It is not considered that the proposals will be materially affected by conscription, as skilled technicians cannot be found in great quantity amongst men of 18 to 21. Technical units must still be recruited from the older, skilled and experienced tradesmen, for whom it must he assumed that the Territorial Army and Supplementary Reserve will continue.
The scheme embraces every likely war-time requirement of the fighting
and home-defence services. It is intended to promote the maximum efficiency and economy in maintaining the nation's road-transport system in war-time, and to prevent the great wastage of public funds which would result from duplication by Government Departments and local authorities of facilities which already exist within the industry and could be called upon at short notice.
Fuller details of this report, which is now in the hands of the Government, will be published in our next issue.