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News and Comment.

This journal is extensively read by the heads of many wealthy commercial houses.

Great strides are being made, in respect of high yields per ton of coal, with new motor spirits from mineral sources. All of these will soon help users of internal-combustion engines as we know them.

Topical Subjects.I

Our leading articles this week deal with the following topical subjects: (1) "A Reunion of Horseowners ;" (2) "Welcome Cost Sheets : Arrangements, for Further Supplies ; "(3) "Four-Wheel-Drive Systems ; " and (4) " Motor-Borne Petrol."

Alcohol Fuel.

The Imperial Motor Transport Council has issued a memorandum, in the shape of a preliminary report, in respect of the steps which it is taking to investigate the problem of alcohol supply at commercial prices for use in motor vehicles. It is claimed that, in the great majority of the Dominions and Colonies, alcohol affords the only feasible relief from abnormally-high prices and shortage of supplies.

Burford v. Edge.

Mr. Justice Scrutton and a special jury were engaged throughout last week in two actions between Mr. H. G. Burford and Mr. S. F. Edge. Judgment in the first of these was entered against Mr. Edge for .23350, and the judge intimated, in the course of further pleadings, that he would also decide the second action against Mr. Edge, who claims that he should be indemnified by S. F. Edge, Ltd. This point was unsettled at the time of our going to press. An Itala Agency.

We learn that Samuel Walker and Sons, Ltd., of Eagle Works, Radcliffe, near Manchester, has taken up the solo representation in the North of England and North Wales for Itala commercial motors.

New Registrations.

Argenfine Traction Co., Ltd., with an authorized capital of £20.000 in .21 shares, by F. Voules and Co., 65, Bishopsgate, E.C., to carry on the business of motor-omnibus, van and cab proprietors, etc.

Trelawny Tours, Ltd., with an authorized capital of 22000 in El shares (500 preferred), and with its office at the Central Hotel; Penzance, Cornwall, to carry on the business of licensed passenger motor -carriers, and taxicab pro

prietors, etc. First directors, J. Harding and Mary E. Harding. Ward Bros. (Crewe), Ltd., with an authorized capital of 212.000 in 21 shares, and with its office at Westminster Buildings, Mill Street, Crewe, to acquire the business of motor and omnibus proprietors, ete., now carried on by J. A. Ward and J. Ward, at Crewe. First directors. J. A. Ward, J. Ward and E. G. If. Tomkinson.

Bifuel Carburetters, Ltd., with an authorized capital of £11,000 (10,000 Preference shares of 21 each and 20,000 deferred shares of is. each), and with its office at Ruston Buildings, George Street, Euston Road, N.W., to acquire patents for improvements in carburetters, for internal-combustion engines, and to carry on the business indicated by the title. Signatories, A. Parkes and K. Kreitmayer.

Commercial Transports, Ltd., with an authorized capital of 210,000 in 21 shares, with its office at No. 17, Shaftesbury Avenue, W., to carry on the business of transport contractors and agents, for motor vehicles, etc. ; also, to enter into an agneement with Leyland Motors, Ltd, C. Hancock, and C. Mackintosh. First directors, Lord Tenterden and G. S. Fort. Co-operative Delivery.

A committee of Lewisham tradesmen, of which Mr. C. H. Dodd is secretary, is seeking to take action to organize a co-operative motor service.

Keep to the Left.

Replyinga question in the

House of Commonslast week, as to whether under the proposed new L.C.C. by-law for regulating slow traffic in London a regulation should be added that the roads should be sanded up to the kerbs with a view to assisting horses drawing heavy loads, and if the reason that heavy traffic keeps to the middle of the roads is that the drivers find it better going, Mr. McKenna said that the first point on the question would not come within the by-law making powers. He was aware that the structure of certain roads and their condition in certain classes of the weather sometimes offer an inducement to drivers of heavy vehicles to keep in the middle, but the requirement of the by-law is qualified by the works " so far as practie,able," and the experience of places where the by-law already exists shows that it can generally be enforced with great advantage to the traffic.

A New Issue.

The London and Suburban Traction Co., Ltd., has offered, the lists closing on the 19th inst. (today), 2350,000 of its five per cent. " A " debenture stock, at the price of 92 per cent. This issue, which ranks after an authorized issue of £550,000 of first mortgage debenture stock (2180,373 issued), is a specific charge on £350,000 of the aforementioned first mortgage debenture stock, upon the fullypaid shares in the South Metropolitan Electric Tramways and Lighting Co., Ltd., and in the Gearless Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., and. a floating charge upon the undertaking and assets of the company generally. The London and Suburban Traction Co., Ltd., which was incorporated in November, 1912, is an amalgamation of the interests of the Metropolitan Electric Tramways, Ltd., the Tramways (M.E.T.) Omnibus Co., Ltd., and the London United Tramways, Ltd. The security appears to be ample, and Parr's Bank, Ltd., is the company's banker. We understand that it is probable that much of the new capital will be expended upon motorbus developments. Horse Owners Dine.

The annual dinner of the t-nited Horse Owners and Allied Trades Protection Association was held, at the Trocadero Restaurant, London, on the evening of the 10th inst., when the president of the Association, Mr. Henry J. Selby, occupied the chair. A company of close upon 200 sat down.

At the conclusion of the usual loyal toasts, Mr. E. S. ShrapnellSmith submitted the toast of " The Association." Ile complimented it upon its useful work in legal defence, rate establishment, the securing of a subsidy of Li per horse from the War Office, and other matters. It was dear to him that a greater membership was merited. At no time, in his opinion, was there more occasion for an Association of the kind, riot beoause horses were likely to become extinct in all branches of use, but in order that owners might keep themselves on a level with the highlyspecialized organizations which looked after competing interests. He referred to the co-operation between that Association and the Roads Improvement Association in the matter of the Horse-shoe Competition for the 2100 prize which had been provided by the R.S.P.C.A. He also referred to the necessity for co-operation in respect of restrictive by-laws upon ordinary traffic by local authorities, such as those put forward by the L.C.C., whose activities, he asserted, were largely prompted by tramway considerations. His final advice to all present was that they should not ignore motors. Mr. C. Wimbush, who responded, commented upon the wonderful strides which motor transport had made in all branches of haulage work, and agreed with the proposer of the toast that the Society should have a much larger membership than it at present enjoyed. Mr. Richard Tilling, hi giving the toast of "The National Union of Horse and Vehicle Owners," dealt at some length with municipal trading and its evi!s. lie thought that London might take lessons from many Provincial cities, in which connection he expected one of the gentlemen who had to reply to say something. The reply was shared by Mr. 0. A Dutfield, L. C. C , and Isle.

L. C. Tipper, of Birmingham.

Mr. Duffield, as a member of the L.c.c., and a London haulage con

tractor as well, had to speak warily, but he expressed his sympathy with the difficulties by which

owners of ordinary wheeled vehi

cles were at present faced in tramway streets. Mr. 'ripper, in a char acteristic speech of great energy, urged that horse and motor interests should combine to use their votes, in order to turn out of any local council members who allowed 06 tramcar interests to outweigh all other considerations.

Mr. C. W. Scholes gave the toast of "The President," which was received with musical honours. Mr. Selby, in replying, stated how much pleasure it had given him to persuade the R.S.P.C.A. to put the ,C100 prize at the disposal of the R.I.A. The judges had now reduced upwards of 600 horse-shoes that were submitted to four, and

these four were to be put to prolonged tests in various parts of the country, on different classes of roads. The Association was prepared to co-operate with motoring bodies in arriving at a proper solution of the road question.

The toast of "The Visitors," submitted by Mr. Ball, was acknowledged by Lt.-Col. W. Campbell Hyslop, Alderman Lyon Thomson, Col. McMunii and Col. Jarvis. C.M.U. A.

Members of the C.A.1.15.A. are reminded that the annual general meeting will be held on the 1st of next month, at 3.30 p.m. .The usual meeting of the General Cornmittee will be held the same afternoon, at 2.15 p.m., and it is possible that the Committee will reassemble after the annual general meeting, if

the business before it has not been concluded by the time at which the general meeting opens.

1914 Agricultural Shows.

The Great Western Railway Co. has issued a concise and informative folding card, in respect of the principal agricultural shows that are to be held in 1914. We observe that the information applies to no fewer than 44 such shows. Mr. A. Maynard Rowland, who has been associated in the past with the Wolseley, Commercar and Maudslay factories, is severing his connection with the Coventry Chain Co., Ltd., to become works manager of Messrs. Werner, Pfleiderer and Perkins, of Peterborough.

The Late Mr. A. C. Baker.

We regret to learn that Mr. A. C. Baker, for many years general manager of the North British Rubber Co., Ltd., of Edinburgh, died on the 7th inst, at Thames Ditton, after a long illness.

Monkbretton Bridge.

We are indebted to subscribers, Messrs. Wright and Pankhurst, cartage contractors and ine.rchants, of Rye, for the advice that Monkbretton Bridge, Rye, is closed to traction-engine and heavy-motor traffic during reconstruction. Users whose vehicles are going to the district should so inform the drivers..

We shall appreciate the communi, cation of corresponding intimations.

South African Points.

Recent trials held by the Western Province Agricultural Society of South Africa., assisted by the Automobile Club of South Africa, have lonen won by the Dennis lorry which was entered by Messrs. Connoek's Motor Garage of Johannesburg. We also learn that the South African Motor Transport Co., Ltd., has placed a•n important contract with Chas. Macintosh and Co., Ltd., of London and Manchester.

The 1914 Parade.

Additional subscript.ions to the C.M.I.T.A. Parade, which is to be held in London on Whit-Monday next, include the following : North British Rubber Co., Ltd., £3 3s. ; Eastern Motor Wagon Co., Ltd., 22 2s. ; Brampton Bros., Ltd., 21 is. The Society of Motor Mann • facturers and Traders has made a preliminary contribution of The Editor, who is hon. treasurer of the Parade Fund, will be happy to receive and to acknowledge further contributions.

Wood..Milne Tires.

We have asked Wood-Milne, Ltd., to let us know when certain L.G.O.0 motorbus tires—concerning which certain striking records of mileages were published in our issue of last week (page 47 ante)run themselves out of service through running down to the minimum depth of rubber which the L.G.O.C. retains in use. We may incidentally mention that the WoodMilne Co. is on the point of issuing a new price list of its tires, and that this, owing to thecompany's extremely-favourable position as regards raw material, will be attractive to buyers. The company is very proud of its " still running " mileage figures.

An Inquiry from Valencia.

A subscriber in Valencia writes to us as follows :—" I am about to form a company, for which I have a fairly large amount of capital subscribed already, for the sole purpose of selling commercial motors of all kinds. I am desirous to receive catalogues from representative manufacturers, setting forth commission terms and approximate interval between date of order and date of delivery."

We shall be pleased to furnish the full name and address to bonaMe inquirers.

Road Tarring.

The importance of holding granite or other broken stone in place, in modern road construction, so that interstitial wear shall not occur, cannot be overstated. Every owner of a commercial motor should insist upon this point, when he sees such metal being laid in the old waterbound way. An interesting leaflet will he sent, free of charge, to any applicant who writes to the secretary of the Roads Improvement Association, 15, Dartmouth Street, Westminster, S.W. ; it is entitled " Notes upon Tar Treatment of Road Surfaces."