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WHEELS of INDUSTRY

"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport, at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.

R.H.A. AND C.M..U.A. AGAIN CONSIDER MERGER.

The Com)ne-rcial Motor understands that, on Wednesday, the Road Haulage Association and the Commercial Motor Users Association again considered the question of amalgamation. It appears that no conclusion was reached, for late on Wednesday, Mr. C. H. Gale, secretary of the R.ILA., informed us that no announcement would be made this year. Mr. F. G. Bristow, general secretary of the C.M.U.A., also thought it unlikely that a statement would be made until the New Year.

Import and Export Returns for November.

The Board of Trade returns for November show that the value of commercial vehicles, cars, chassis and accessories imported amounted to £277,716, which compares with £213,024 in November, 1933, and £244,144 in November. 1932.

The exports of comrfiercial vehicles were slightly lower, the figure of 174 contrasting with 188 a year earlier, and 102 in November, 1932, although their value was higher, the total values for the three years being £.52,925, £47,698 and £12,727 respeetivele. In the 11 months ended November 30, 1934, 2,198 commercial vehicles were exported, having a value of £598,372.

The exports of commercial chassis were once again materially higher than those for the two preceding years, the figure of 1,334 (£182,709) comparing with 731 (£103,795) for November, 1933, and 556 (75,968) for November, 3932. The 10,011 commercial chassis exported in the 1l months ended November 30, had an aggregate value of £1,468,196..

Means for Promoting Road Safety.

Lieut.-Col. J. A. Pickard gave an address on "Road Accidents—Some Causes and Cures" to members of the Manchester, Liverpool and District Section of the Institute of Transport, at Manchester, on Friday. Ile said that three-quarters of the casualties occur in built-up areas and 50 per cent. of all vehicle collisions happen at junctions.

Official and unofficial statistics attribute 5 per cent. of fatalities to road defects ; 5 per cent. to vehicle defects ; 5 per cent, to weather, etc.; and 85 per

Cent, to human failure. In the lastnamed class, 32 per cent, of mishaps are attributed to drivers ; 13 per cent. cyclists and 90 per cent. pedestrians.

Amongst his suggestions for improvements were :—Vehicles : Minimum interference with drivers' vision and attention ; anti-dazzle lighting; fume exclusion ; brake efficiency. Roads : Construction of new motor ways and improvement of existing roads; pedesthan crossings; improved junctions ; £10 non-skid surfaces ; traffic lanes; banking; better lighting and visibility ; parking facilities; restriction of ribbon development.

There was also, he said, the danger of distracting drivers' attention from the traffic by multiplying signs, restrictions, etc. Road users needed a revised and simplified code.

Britain's Poor Share of Indian Trade.

During the six months from April 1September 30, 1934, a marked expansion took place in the imports of motorbuses, vans and lorries into India, a total of 5,068 vehicles, valued at Rs. 58i lakhs, comparing with 2,068 vehicles and Rs. 30 lakhs in the previous year. In spite of this increase, however, the United Kingdom share of the trade showed a material fall, the 283 vehicles (Rs. 8,1lakhs) which were imported comparing with 448 vehicles; (Rs. 10 lakhs) in the previous year.

These figures provide much food for thought, especially when it is borne in mind that the United States portion of the trade rose from 1,058 vehicles (Rs. lle lakhs) to 3,525 vehicles (Rs. 34i lakhs), whilst that of Canada advanced from 544 to 1,242 vehicles and, in value, from Rs. 8 lakhs to Rs. 15e lakhs. Of the total munber of vehicles imported 4,946 entered the country as chassis.

Commercial and Private Users in One Big Association.

The advantage of the amalgamation of associations representing both users of commercial vehicles and private ears was referred to by Mr. A. H. Butterwick, chairman of the Yorkshire Regional Area of the Road Haulage Association, when addressing members of the Sheffield sub-area, at Sheffield. He said it was possible that, in the near future, something tangible would result from the negotiations between the leading road-transport associations.

An initial step which had already been taken was the affiliation of the Scottish Carriers and Haulage Contractors Association with the R.H.A. So long as provision was made to safeguard the interests of the different sections of road users, he saw no reason why an amalgamation of road users' associations should not include those representing the private motorist.

CONCILIATION AGREEMENT REACHED AT LAST.

At a meeting of the National Joint Conciliation Board, on Tuesday, presided over by Sir Richard Redmayne, detailed consideration was given to the reports of the Area Boards, and other matters connected with the report of the Joint Board. An agreement was reached which will enable the main features of the report to become operative on January 1, subject to certain modifications and an interim arrangement regarding wages. Details of these will be issued when the drafting is completed.

As reported in last week's issue, the Board met en December 12, but it could not reach final conclusions. In view of this fact, a national conference to have been called by the Transport and General Workers Union, on Sunday last, has been postponed until December 30.

In last week's issue we published an exclusive photograph of the National Board, taken by a staff photographer of The Commercial Motor.

Driving-licence Regulations to be Amended.

The Minister of Transport has given notice of his intention th issue new Regulations concerning driving licences, which will include. provision for the testing of drivers. Application forms for licences will be simplified, and in the case of renewal without alteration of circumstances, nothing will he reqffired beyond the applicant's name and

address and licence number. In a paragraph under "Passing Comments" in this issue, we suggest that the larger concerns should test their own personnel. This is now to be the case. Any concern regularly employing mote than 250 drivers and which has a satisfactory examining organization, may be empowered to conduct tests of its drivers.

In the event of failure to pass a test, the period for the next test has been reduced from two months in the first Draft Regulations to one month . in those just about to be issued. The exemption of foreigners is limited to those holding international driving per-. mits or driving licences issued in their own countries.

The. Motor World Annual.

A copy of the Motor World Annual, edited by Mr. G. a Cutbush,

M.I.E.S., 73, Dunlop Street, Glasgow, has just reached us. This year book of Scottish motoring, which is the 5th to be published, is sold at 2s. The 1935 edition is more complete than ever, and although written essentially for Scotland it contains much Of value. to the general reader.

THE GUY SCHEME.

Farther to our refeilenee, last week, to the capital reorganization of Guy Motors, Ltd., we would point out that since the date of the last balance-sheet arrangements have been made whereby a iy liability under the company's guarantee for £40,000 (which appears there as a contingent liability) has been extinguished. Thus the total liabilities disposed of are: on the overdraft, approximately £65,000; on the guarantee, £40,000; total, £105,000. To he deducted from this is the consideration of the issue of ordinary shares to the hank to the extent of £10,000, giving a total of £95,000.

keeping Records " ... a Waste of Time."

The Manchester district committee of the Federation of British Industries recently passed a resolution, asking its headquarters to take steps for approaching the Minister of Transport, with a view to obtaining modification of the drivers' records regulations. The committee thinks that the keeping of records by drivers of vehicles, other than those operating under A and B licences, is an unnecessary expense, a waste of time, and serves no useful purpose."

Appeal Court Reverses Taxation Decision.

At Edinburgh Justiciary Appeal Court, judgment was given in a staled case in which Mr. R. G. Stewart, local taxation officer for Aberdeen, appealed against a decision of Sheriff-Substitute Dallas, who found Mr. D. MeCowan, Aberdeen manager for Wordie and Co., a concern of hauliers, not guilty of contravening the Finance Act, 1922.

The company had a lorry weighing 4 tons 04 cwt. unladen, for which a fluty of £70 had been paid. It was occasionally used for transporting cattle, when a float was used, bringing the total neladen weight to just over 5 tons 1-1 cwt. The complainer's case was that the goat brought the vehicle into the £90-tax class. The Sheriff-Substitute held that the float was not an alternative body and did not form part of the lorry for the purpose of calculating its unladen weight. The Appeal Court held that there were no facts before the SheriffSubstitute on which to reach this conclusion and that he ought to have convicted. Mr. Stewart was awarded seven guineas modified expenses.

May One Vehicle be Replaced by Two?

The North Western Licensing Authority's powers were questioned by the railway companies when A. F. Holden and Co., Ltd., Manchester. applied for a variation of its licence, by the replacement of two Small vehicles for one large machine. The applicant admitted that the Change would permit a larger area to be covered.

For the railways, it was submitted that the relevant sub-section of the Road and Rail Traffic Act referred to the substitution of one vehicle of the same or less unladen weight, but not of two vehicles for one. Trailers were not " specified vehicles," as described in this section. Competition and traffic congestion would, it was argued, be increased if the Licensing Authority took the view that the applicant was in order in replacing one vehicle by two units.

Mr. W. Chamberlain, the Authority, would not give a ruling on the point, but would deal with each case on its merits, and he agreed to take as the attitude of the railway companies the case outlined by them on this occasion.

U.A.S. Increased Profit.

During the year ended September 30, 1934, United Automobile Service.s, Ltd., made a profit of £84,500, as against £61,507 a year earlier. The preference dividend absorbs £10,500, whilst an 8 per cent. dividend on the ordinary shares accounts for £70,000. The -amount to be carried forward is £32,148, as against £31,389 brought into the accounts. A NEW LONDON CAB ORDER.

Oil January 1, 1935, a new London Cab Order, which has been made by the Home Secretary, will come into force. In the main, it codifies the existing arrangements for the licensing of cabs and their drivers, although minor changes are made. No alterations are made in the fares chargeable by time or distance, or for lug= gage carried on the platform or roof, but a new charge is introduced fen luggage carried inside the cab. If more than two articles of luggage be carried inside, a charge of 3d. will be payable in respect of each of the additional articles. The new scheme is of an experimental character.

Death of Mr. R. W. Maudslay.

We regret to announce the death of Mr. R. W. Maudslay, chairman of the Standard Motor Co., Ltd., which he founded in 1903, and of which he was chairman and managing director up to the time of his death. He was president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and TraderS in the period from 1926-27.

Railway Orders for Karriers.

In addition to the order for 100 CobMajor tractors, which has been received by Ranier Motors Successors, Ltd., from the London Midland and Scottish Railway, the London and North Eastern Railway has indented for 35 tractors of a similar type. The tractors are to be employed in conjunction with a, number of quickly detachable trailers, each built for carrying 4 tons, on localized collection and delivery work, and their acquisition is in furtherance of the companies' policy of mechanization.

Big New Zealand Purchases of British Vehicles.

The purchases of British goods by _New Zealand amount to £6 13s. 4d. per head of the • population—the highest average in the world. New Zealand has increased its imports from the United Kingdom during the first 11 months of this year by £2,312,000, as compared with last year, this being higher by 29 per cent. The main increases have taken place in the classes for motor vehicles (497,000) and machinery (£640,000).

Legislation to Control Ribbon Development.

last Monday evening the Prime Minister received a deputation from the Amenities Group of the House of Commons, when a resolution Was presented, asking that the Government Bill on ribbon development should be brought at once to the House of Lords and that, in the interim, some means should be sought to stop any progress of the evil.

The problem and its difficulties were discussed at some length, and the Prime Minister said that the Government was giving active and sympathetic consideration to the whole subject, with a view to the early introduction of legislation. 71-CWT. VAN AFFECTS RAILWAY TRAFFIC 1 That the Southern Railway Co. was "making rather a lot of a small matter," was the opinion expressed by Mr. A. F. Nicholson, Western Licensing Authority, when, last Friday, the company opposed an application by Messrs. R. Lee and Son, of North Tawton.

The applicants, it was stated, had been in business since 1931, and, during the first six months of the present year, their turnover had increased nearly 100 per 'cent., as compared with that for the preceding six months. A recently purchased 7i-cwt. vehicle was used for carrying grain and apples.

Mr. H. F. Sturge (for the SR.): "I suppose you know that the railway grain traffic in the district has considerably diminished since you started operating? " Mr. Lee: "I should not have thought so: " The application was granted.

A New 2.2-litre Oil Engine.

F. Oberhansli et Cie, of Bregenzam-Bodensee, Germany, which has recently introduced a 2.2-litre oil engine, claims that it is the smallest fourcyliedered compression-ignition unit that has so far been made. The engine has a bore and stroke of 75 mm. and 125 mm. respectively, and is stated to develop 40 b.h.p. at 2,600 r.p.m.

Big Membership of M.A.A.

About 150 persons attended the annual dinner of the Edinburgh and South-east Scotland Division of the Motor Agents Association and Motor Trade Association. Mr. John Taylor, chairman of the division, who presided, said that the membership of the M.A.A. was some 8,000, close on 1,000 persons being Scottish retail traders. Mr. George Gilbert, president of the M.A.A., spoke of the prospects of the national price-protection scheme corning into force. He had every hope that, before January 1, any difference of opinion between the retail side and the manufacturers would be amicably settled.

The Law Made Clear.

One of the most comprehensive and valuable legal works with which we are acquainted has just been published by the Solicitors Law Stationery Society, Ltd., 22, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.2 (30s. net), The volume, which comprises some 700 pages, comes from the experienced pens of Geraint Rees, B.A., LL.B.. and Arthur G. Dennis, LL.M., and is entitled "The Road Traffic Acts, 1930-34, and Orders."

The book contains a clearly written introduction, drawing attention to the substantial changes in the law brought about by the Road Traffic Act, 1934. The text of the 1930 and 1934 Acts is annotated, with the decided cases cited and discussed, the facts of all important cases being given in detail.

The text of all Orders, Rules and Regulations made under the Acts is pubfished, the Regulations being grouped under subject headings and cross-in B12 dexed, with references to the text of the various Acts. The comprehensive index greatly facilitates the task of tracing authorities for the innumerable points which arise under the law.

The Solicitors Law Stationery Society, Ltd., is prepared to supply purchasers of the book with all subsequent regulations, at a small charge.

A Carrier's Big Growth in Parcels Receipts.

When Messrs. Ripponden and District Motors applied to the Yorkshire Licensing Authority for A licences for vehicles to carry parcels between various towns and villages in Yorkshire and Lancashire, it was stated that, in the year ended October 31, 1932, the firm's receipts were £7,147. In the following year they were £16,059, whilst in the 12 months ended October 31, 1934, they had grown to £24,153. The rates charged were economic.

The London, Midland and Scottish Railway maintained that its rates for similar services were roughly twice as high as those of the applicants, and, because of this, the railways were losing much tonnage. The Authority reserved his decision.

The Morris-Commercial Taxicab.

In Table IV of The Commercial Motor Specifications of Chassis published on Friday last, the Morris-Commercial taxicab, model G2, appears against the make-name of Morris. Readers should correct their fale copies, the taxicab, Dictator, and Imperial all being of Morris-Commercial manufacture. LICENSING AUTHORITY SUPPORTS SMALL HAULIER.

The South Wales Licensing Authority, Mr. A. T. James, K.C., last week championed a small operator against the Great Western Railway Co. The applicant, who sought permission to operate an additional vehicle, said that he had used his one licensed lorry for transporting workmen's house coal, but had now to rely, to some extent, on the conveyance of grocery and furniture, The G.W.R. suggested that one lorry was sufficient for all this work, but Mr. James said that the applicant needed a lorry for use when his other vehicle was hauling coal. Granted freedom in arranging his business, the applicant could possibly manage with one machine, but he had to work at times suited to his customers. The case was comparable with that of milk transport in Carmarthen, where a concern had to employ about 10 lorries, each working only half the day. The application was granted.

The Authority agreed to make more elastic the classification of goods to be carried by a local B-licence-bolder, who was a part-time haulier, and to increase his radius of operation, because the applicant found that the terms of his licence made it impossible fully to employ his vehicle. Again the opposition of the G.W.R. was unsuccessful.

Road-accident Returns,

The Ministry of Transport returns of persons killed or injured in road accidents during the week ended December 8, 1934, show that in England 105 persons were killed and 3,569 injured, whilst 31 died as a result of previous accidents. The figures for Scotland were 12 killed and 307 injured, and for Wales four killed and 146 injured.

Should Haulier Share New Traffic'?

An adjourned application by Mr. G. Alexander, an Aberdeen haulier, who sought licences for several additional vehicles, increasing his total fleet from 6 to 11 machines, by the replacement of heavier vehicles with lighter ones, was considered, last Friday, by Mr. Henry Riches, Nor Lhern Scotland Licensing Authority.

The railway companies objected and led evidence to show that fish landings in Aberdeen were greatly decreasing. The applicant wished to carry fish from Aberdeen to Liverpool, and it was stated that, in 1933, the railway had transported 1,689 tons to Liverpool from Aberdeen, whereas for the first 10 months of this year the figure was 800, the decline being attributed to roadtransport competition.

Mr. Riches said that this Inverness and Liverpool traffic, in which the applicant sought to engage, was new. He had given authority to obtain additional vehicles solely on the ground that the applicant needed them to discharge his duties on the AberdeenGlasgow and Aberdeen Manchester routes. He would adjourn the ease until January 7 for further evidence. .

DISPENSATION -TO CEASE.

For an experimental period of -three months from October 1 last, the Metropolitan Licensing Authority granted the works committee of Hammet-Smith Borough Council dispensation from the keeping of records under the headings " journey" and " goods carried." The Authority has, however, decided that there is no case for the continuation of dispensation and all the necessary records must be kept as from January 1.

The committee still maintains that records should not apply to goods vehicles in the service of local authorities, where only short journeys are undertaken from time to time. The matter is again being dealt with by the Association of Municipal Corporations and the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee, with a view to further representations being made to the Licensing Authority.

,A Motor Trade Convention.

From July 4-6, 1935, the first National Convention of the Institute of the Motor Trade will take place in Birmingham. As is generally known, this Institute is composed of motor traders and garage proprietors throughout the Kingdom, and, when its members forgather in July next, an educative programme will he arranged for them.

The reception officer for the Convention is Mr. Wki. Thorne, whilst works visits are in the hands of Lt.-Col. R. H. Collier and Messrs. H. A. Rollinson and D. S. Griffiths. The arrangements for transport are being dealt with by Messrs. A. Drysdale Wilson and E. D. Bowman. The honorary secretary of the Birmingham centre, which is responsible for the Convention, is Mr. J. Howell, whose address is R:A.C. Offices, County Chambers, Corporation Street, Birmingham.

Penalty for False Ambulance Alarms.

One of the problems with which the London County Council has to contend is that created by the increasing number of false calls for ambulances to attend street accidents. The public contrel committee recommends that legislation be promoted to render liable to a penalty any person who, without proper justification, makes or causes to be made to the council a false call for he services of an ambulance.

Amendment to Devon and Cornwall Conciliation Agreement.

That some amendment would be sought, in connection with the new hours and wages agreement reached by ihe Devon and Cornwall Joint Conciliation Board, regarding youths under 21 years of age who drive 30-cwt. lorries, was a statement made at a meeting of hauliers, at Torquay, last week. It was pointed out by a Torquay haulier that good employers in the neighbourhood paid a man £2 15s. a week for driving a 30-cwt, lorry, and if youths were to be allowed to drive these vehicles at a weekly wage of RI. Ss., it would undoubtedly increase the possibility of rate-cutting.

Mr. George A. Hotter, national organizing officer of the Road Haulage Associaton, said that road haulage, the fourth largest industry in the country, employed 75,000 direct and 65,000 indirect workers. If hauliers and ancillary users were combined in a large national body, they could command infinitely more attention from governmental authorities than could two Separate associations.

Mr. Hodgson, the R.11,A. Devon and Cornwall area chairman, who mentioned that he was the first member in Devon and Cornwall, said no area in the country had increased its membership more than had Devon and Cornwall.

Mr. J. Crews presided in the absence of Mr. P. Rossitcr.

Alter.ed Drivers' Hours for . Christmas.

The Minister of Transport has made an Order varying the hours of drivers of goods vehicles during Christmas and the New Year. The Order was made on the application of the Joint Council for the Retail. Distributive Trades Section of the road-transport industry, and after reference to the Industrial Court.

The effect of the Order is that, in the case of drivers of vehicles operated under A, B or C licences, it will be lawful for them to drive for 12 hours in all on not more than two days in the week ending on December 22 and on December 24, 29 and 31 United Dominions Dividend.

The directors of United Dominions Trust, Ltd., have resolved that an interim dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum, less income tax, shall he paid on -the 'A" shares on January 1. FISH BY ROAD AT NIGHT.

When two applicants sought permission to take fish from Nairn to Aberdeen through the night, although their usual runs did not exceed 30 miles from Nairn, Mr. Henry Riches, the Northern Scotland Licensing Authority, said that the provision for fish transport was essential, especially when boats arrived after the last train had gone. He granted permission for journeys to be made between 6.30 p.m. and 6.30 a.m.

A Morris-Commercial Appointment.

Mr. S. Lewis, who has been with Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd., for nine years, was recently appointed one of the company's staff of special fleetowner representatives. The function of this staff is to maintain a close liaison with fleet owners. Mr. Lewis has gained all-round experience of MorrisCommercial products, having spent much time on work in connection with chassis erecting, engine testing, experimental designs, road testing, demonstrating, and the sale of special munici pal vehicles. The area covered by Mr. Lewis embraces that portion of England and Wales north of the Wash as far as Whitby.

Death of Supercharger Inventor.

We regret to learn of the death of Obering. Arnold Zoller, which occurred Last week after a short illness. In the period from 1906-8 he was concerned with the design of racing engines, but from 1917 onwards he concentrated on the development of the Zoller supercharger. He built up a large practice as a consultant, and was an expert on the design of two-cycle engines. The compressor business has for some time been in the hands of M. A. McEvoy (London), Ltd., of Derby, which will, we understand, continue it without alteration.

MAUDSLAY'S TRADING.

During the year ended August 31, the Maudslav Motor Co., Ltd., made a trading profit of £6,714, as against £5,933 a year earlier. After meeting maintenance and depreciation charges amounting to £7,153 and bank interest of £2,180, there was an adverse balance of £2,618. The debit balance to be carried forward is £2,365.

• Minister of Agriculture at Lister Dinner.

The Rt. Hon. Walter Elliot, M.P., the Minister of Agriculture, was the guest of honour at the fifth annual dinner of R. A. Lister and Co., Ltd., which took place in London, last week. He stated that, on the whole, great improvement had been shown in the conditions of agriculture and industry, whilst the standard of living was now 10 per cent, higher than at the boom period of 1925-29.

Mr. Percy Lister remarked that, during the recent world tour which he and his brother, Mr. Robert Lister, had undertaken and on which theyhad covered 22,000 miles, they had met many overseas Cabinet Ministers, who all agreed that the Ottawa agreements were working well. Mr. Lister added that his company had experienced a record year.

Cupro-nicIcel Gaskets.

The failure of gaskets in high-efficiency engines is by no means unknown, and in the endeavour to obviate this trouble the Corrugated Packing and Sheet Metal Co. has developed a range of upro-nickel gaskets, which are claimed to withstand high temperatures and pressures. that he is anxious to renew his activities in the trade, and would like to get into touch with any interested concern. Letters addressed to him, care of the Editor, will be forwarded.

To succeed Mr. C. H. Bressey, C.B.E., F.S.I., whose appointment as Engineer for the Survey of Highway Development in Greater London has already been announced, the Minister of Transport has appointed Mr. F. C. Cook, D.S.O., MC., M.Inst.C.E., F.S.I., at present deputy chief engineer, to be chief engineer of the Roads Department of the Ministry. Mr. A. J. Lyddon, 0.B.E., M.Inst.C.E., succeeds Mr. Cook as deputy chief engineer. He is at present divisional road engineer for the northern division.