Passing Comments
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Advances with WirepERMISSION to equip 100 less Communication inter-city buses with twoon Chicago Buses. . way wireless transmission and
to operate a central-control transmitter in Chicago has been requested by a division of the National Association of Motor Bus Operators of that city. It is hoped that the complete system will be in operation within three months of the request. This is the first step which may lead to the development of a nation-wide scheme for such communications.
The Problem of A PLEDGE that the U.S. Unifying Engineering rA War Production Board or
Standards its successor agencies, would continue the good work of standardization which had been developed in wartime, was given recently by the vice-chairman for International Supplies of the W.P.B., when speaking at the third Conference on Unification of Engineering Standards, held in Ottawa. He urged that Britain, Canada and America should resolve that there be no repetition of previous failures, and if unification of
engineering standards were not reached at the Ottawa Conference, he hoped that the. members would reassemble in the UtS.A. in 1946. He was firmly convinced that economic friction underlies most wars, whilst by eliminating it trade would be facilitated. For, example, different standards for screw threads would always obstruct trade. Other speakers gave instances of the difficulties which Britain had encountered in manufacturing armaments developed abroad; this applies just as fully to the products of peace-time.
‘—' HANGES are occurring in various countries concerning the rule of the road. The tendency appears to be for several which have hitherto kept to the left to alter to the' right. This has happened in the case of the Philippine Islands and Paraguay, whilst Monte Video in Uruguay is making the change soon, as is the Argentine. In the last-named, it is a reversion to 'the condition eXisting 40 years ago. It appears that Sweden also proposes to change over next year. Countries which are Changing the Rule of the Road
Should Bulk of TaxWE wonder • how many ation be on the vY operators in the cornmer Vehicle) cial road trar4ort sphere
appreciate the much-public. ized opinion of Mr. G. W. Lucas: president of the M.A.A., that if there must be motor taxation, it should be mainly on the fuel, with only a nominal registration fee on the vehicle. Mr. Lucas claims that the only vehicles which would be additionally burdened would be those which run abnormal mileages, and,. according to him, it is unfair that these should be virtually subsidized by others which are not used to such an extent. At the same time. he does call for a reduction in the total burden of some R.90,000,000, which indUstry cannot carry and be efficient. Except in the case of the car used for purely private purposes, it is obvious that trade and industry must virtually shoulder the taxation, either through the rates which it has to pay for road haul• age or the expenses involved in operating C-licensed vehicles. This huge annount of money finally means more expensive commodities and higher prices for exports.
Why Gardner Engines WHILST some makers ernHave White-metal TV ploy lead-bronze for the
Bearings bearings of oil engines, the Gardner concern adheres exclusively to white metal working in conjunction with an unharclened cra.nkahaft. This maker claims that the least possible wear is obtained with this combination, and an important point is that it facilitates repair work. We have examined white-metal bearings which have run 140,001, miles in a 6LW engine without having been taken up once. No cracks were visible except that one half bearing had a piece out of it the size of a match head. This is certainly a splendid performance.