SPEECHES AT THE SHOW LUNCHEON.

22nd November 1927, Page 132

22nd November 1927

Page 132

Page 132, 22nd November 1927 — SPEECHES AT THE SHOW LUNCHEON.

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Encouraging Remarks from the Minister of Transport. The Optimism of a Distinguished Gathering.

(AN Thursday last a luncheon was held at the Addison Restaurant, Olympia, to inaugurate the 1927 Commercial Motor Show, . which, incidentally, is the fourth to be held since the Armistice. The chairman of the Commercial Vehicle Section of-the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Mr. S. S. Guy, occupied the presidential chair, supported by the Minister of Transport as thu chief guest, and there were many distinguished visitors present, together with the leaders of the two associated industries— road . transport and commercial-motor production--and members of the Fourth Estate.

The hall was packed almost to overflowing, but, in addition tothe Hon. Wilfrid Ashley, the Sheriffs of London (Mr. El. E. Davenport and Mr. F. D. Green) and Lord Ashfield, we recognized the following representatives of overseas Dominions and Colonies :—The Hon Sir J. Parr, High Commissioner for New Zealand; the Hon. John Efuxhain, Agent-General for Queensland; the Hon. W. C. Angwin,. Agent-General for West Australia ; Sir Granville Ryrie, K.C.M.G., C.B., High Commissioner for Australia ; the Hon. J. L. Price, Agent-General for South Australia.

There were also present Lord Gainford, Lord Fermoy, Sir Herbert A. Walker, Sir john E. Thornycroft, Sir EL Raymond Dennis, Sir Josiah Stamp, Mr. Tom Thornycroft, Mr. G. J. Shave, Mr. R. S. Tilling, Mr. H. Morley Lawson, Brig.-Gen. Sir W. Horwood, Mr. F. L. B. Elliott, Col. C. H.. Bressey, Mr. V. R. Garrett, Mr. A. W. Windsor, Sir G. Beharrell, Sit' W. M. Letts, Mr. B. H. Gladstone, Mr. H. Spurrier, Capt. J. R. Maidens, Sir W. H. Clark, Mr. Edmund Dangerfield, Mr. Roland Dangerfield, Mr. Reginald F. Clayton, Capt. Kuhne, Mr. Norman A. Hardie, Mr. Clive Leese, Lt.-Col. Prescott, Mr. W. H. Stradling, Mr. H. Hattersley,. Mr. E. H. Blake, Mr. E. S. Shrapnell-Smith, C.B.E., Mr. F. G. Bristow, Mr. F. C. A. Coventry', Mr. R. H. •Selbie, Mr. L. A.-Oldfield and Mr. Rees Jeffreys.

After the company had honoured the customary toast to U.M. The King,,the Minister of Transport rose to propose the toast of "The Commercial Motor Industry," which he did in a particularly -happy and entertaining speech. He said that the commercial-motor industry was fast becoming of basic importance and that its members could congratulate themselves on having got together a most wonderful exhibition of vehicles which could probably not be rivalled anywhere in the world. He said that it showed the British nation to be by no means down and Out, and that, on the contrary, in commercial-vehicle production we led the world., .

Commenting on the large sizes in which commercial vehicles were now being built, the Minister of Transport said that this development would, he felt sure, be provided for by the Directer-General of Roads, Sir 'Henry Maybury, and by Sir William Horwood, ivlio would no doubt see to it that none of the 72-seaters exceeded 40-50 mph.-!

Col. Ashley then gave some facts showing the steady and rapid increase in the use of commercial vehicles in Britain, the number licensed having increased from 151,000 in 1922 to 275,000 in 1927. He then proceeded to refer to the much-discussed M. of T. Heavy Motor Car Order and the circular to licensing authorities which accompanied that Order, and which, he said, had been criticised as contradictory. This remark was received with applause, which Col. Ashley received with a smile and proceeded to argue mildly that unless the Ministry set some reasonable limits to the sizes in which vehicles could be built, the untrantmelled manufacturers might build their vehicles on so excessively large a scale as to produce a harmful outcry and reaction from local authorities and the general public.

Col. Ashley made some interesting statements concerning experiments which he hoped to institute in connection with the wear of the roads under the, powers conferred by the Act of 1925. lie said he aimed at building a by pass adjacent to a main traffic.a.rtery through which vehicles could he diverted at will, so as to provide accurate data' for the effects which they produced upon experimental types of road surfaces and foundations. Ile said that at present road-makers were working in the dark and that experbilents of this hind, by providing accurate information, would L.

eventually save the country millions of pounds. .

A notable speech was concluded by an interesting reference to the progress made by transport through the ages, but, particularly during the past 150 years. Col. Ashley pointed out that in 1734 a fast coaching service from Newcastle to London was inaugtirated, which cut the journey down to a time of nine days. At present, he said, many motor coaches could convey a traveller the same distance for a small sum in luxurious comfort in a time not far in excess of nine hours.

In responding to the toast, Mr. S. S. Guy referred to the assembly as being representative of every phase of transport, both in Great Britain and overseas, and pointed out that the Exhibition was very comprehensive in character, including vehicles ofthe petrol, steam and electric types. He went On to emphasize the potent influence which the kinds of vehicle available 'exert upon economic conditions and the development of countries overseas, mentioning that the cost of almost every commodity included a charge for transport, which had an important influence on the price at which it could be sold. After briefly reviewing the vehicles in the Exhibition, Mr. Gay referred to the Steam Vehicle Demonstration, and to the fact that the steamers which had taken part could he inspected in the Hammersmith Road.

. Continuing, Mr. Guy said the outstanding feature of the Show was the "six," by which he meant six-cylindered engines and six-wheeled chassis, both factors tending to economy, reliability and comfort. He then voiced the appreciation of the industry for the initiative of the War Department in the development of vehicles suitable for rclugh ground and overseas usage.

Mr. Guy went on to point out the very • heavy taxation to Which British vehicles are subjected, and gave the. following figures for the annual : tax on a 4-ton lorry :—Great Britain, £54; Germany, £44; France, £22;. Italy, £10.. He urged that a rebate in tax should be granted in the case of vehirles running on pneumatic 'tyres—a subject with which we deal editorially ekewhere in this issue--in view of the experiments which, definitely shOw how pneumatic tyres save the roads.

Referring to railways, Mr. Guy suggested that they should be regarded as supplementary to road transport and ridt as conflicting therewith. He then made reference to the recent Heavy Motor Car Order, and said that its provisions were completely nullified by the circular by which it was accompanied. He concluded by claiming that the Ministry of Transport should give further consideration to the whole question, in view of the continual improvements to the roads and the satisfactory performance of the' larger types of commercial vehicle. His reference, of course, was to the recommendation of the 'Minister to the local authorities only to permit the use of public-service vehicles over 243 ft. in length when the character of,the roads justified it. Sir George Beharrel made a graceful speech in proposing the toast of the guests, referring particularly to the presence of some oft,the railway chiefs, anti the reply was in the hands of Sir J. Parr, who created some amusement by his references to the possibility of making use of a fuel which New Zealand could' produce in quantities and which is now only used on the land. We suspect the chairman of giving a cue to Sir 'John in, this matter!'

After the lunch, _Mr. Sheriff Davenport, Me.. -Victor Garrett, Mr. Stewart Gaul, Mr. Bristow and a large party of giiests inspected the wagons which had taken; -Part .in ,.•.'" the steam wagon demonstration.