WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"1'he wheel of wealth will be slowed by all digiculties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriade is by Ow roughness Of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
Motors in Parliament.
The question of the roads and road transport forms one of the most important items in the general scheme of reconstruction, in order to safeguard the interests of users of mechanical vehicles and to ensure that development id road transport • which is admittedly essential for the proper development of the country, the Royal Automobile Club has estabhshed a Parliamentary Committee, to consider legislation affecting roads and road transport with power to take action when considered desirable.
The Club is strongly of opinion that the control of the roads should remain separate and distinct from the control of other means of communication, as heretofore, as it considers that any fusion of such interests, which would necessarily be more or less conflicting, might handicap the development of mechanical traction on the' roads.
The members of theiR.A.C. Parliamentary Committee are :—Mr. A. R; Ailey, M.P., Mr. W. Worby Beaumont, Sir T. H. D. Berridge, Mr. Alfred F. Bird, M.P., Mr. H. Percy aBoulnois, Col. Sir Arthur P. du Cros, Bart., M.P., Mr. W. Roes Jeffreys, Mr. E. Manville, M.P., Brig.-Gen. the Rt. Hon. Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, C.S.I., Lieut.-Col. J. T. C. Moore-Brabazon, D.S.O., M.C., M.P., Major the Rt. Hon. Sir Henry Norman Bart., P.C., .M.P., Mr. E. S. Sh'rapnell-Smith, C.B.E., the Hon. Sir Arthur Stanley, G.B.E., C.B.,, Sir William Sutherland, K.B.E., M.P., and Mr. J. Cathcart Wason, M.P. The existence of a body of men in Parliament, includ'ng such as Sir Arthur du Cros, Bt., Sir Herbert Austin,
K.B.E., Mr. Edward Manville, Mr.. A. R. _Atkey, Mr. Marshall Stevens, Mr. Douglas Vickers, Mr. Alfred F. Bird, Col. Moore-Brabazon, the Hon. Sir Arthur Stanley,`G.B.E., with close personal acquaintance with the needs of the motoring movement means that, if they are provided with the necessary informatiori, they can be a live and active force for good. The removal of absurd and unnecessary restrict'ons, the prevention of extortion by those in command of the fuel supplies, the encouragement of home-fuel production, the pre-, vention of the conversion of the roads into light railways,lthe disposal of Government lorr'es, the removal of the necessity of a priority certificate for the purchase of 'new vehicles, and many other matters, 'call for urgent attention on the part of the Government. Temple Press is playing its part in this effort to secure reform in the attitude of Puhament towards the motor vehicle movement and road transport by the issue of a Bulletin at, close intervals to the members of the motor party in Parliament, which singles out from the news of the week those items of information which bear upon the situation. This will certainty be a most useful move.
In addition to the Parliamentary Motoring. Committee established by the Royal Automobile Club and referred to in another paragraph on this page, the Automobile Association and Motor Union has been moving in the same direction. It is sincerely to be,,,hoped that there will be no conflict of ibterests in this matter, but that the whole of the motoring M.P.s will be brought together into one strong and useful body.
Wasting Vehicles. .
"The Motor" has performed a national service by calling attention (as it first did) to the crying waste of motor vehicles that ha.s been going on at Cumberland Market, in the north-west of London, and at Kempton Park, and we observe that the daily Press hat at once taken up the matter and emphasized the need fur someone's hanging. We do deprecate, however, the flabby criticisms, the white-washing karts and the "these things are, in the circumstances, inevitable" attitude which have been adopted in some quarters. The sooner these vehicles are taken under cover and distributed all over the country for instant atteation, the better. Each day means a further loss, by rot, rust, and -deterioration, of thousands of pounds, so that more money will be rasted by waiting for ppsible better schemes to be devisedthan can possibly be saved when effect has been given to them.
Congratulations to Major T. B. Browne, who has, we learn, been promoted tc the rank of Lieut.-Colonel.
General H. P. Mayburv, M.I.C.E.. who was formerly the road surveyorfor the county of Kent and the chief engineer of the Road Board; will, after a short holiday, take up the post of acting secretary of the Road Board, filling the place left vacant by the retirement of Mr. W. Rees Jeffreys.
The Italian Ministry of Publ'e Works will spend L40,000,00b on land reclamation, the construction of harbours, roads, bridges, etc.
Motorbuses for Portsmouth.
Mr. W. It. Spaven, tramway manager, reports to the Portsmouth Corporation Tramways Committee upon the need of further travelling facilities, but points out that there is no possibility of obtaining new tramcars for sometime to come, and hence he urges the committee to consider the.desire.bility of obtaining, if possible, some motorbuses which could be run from outlying districts to the centre of the town through thoroughfares quite clear of the tramway ronte. These buses, he adds, would also be useful when the reconstruction of the tramway track is in hand for comieying passengers and when the car services are disorganized.
The Industrial Reconstruction Council.
A. conference on "The Workers' Interest in Costing : A Factor of Industrial Reconstruction," will be held under the auspices of the Industrial Reconstruction Council on Tuesday, 28th January, at 6 p.m., in the hall of the Institute of Journalists, 2 and 4, Tudor Street, E.C. 4. The chair will be taken by Mr. Jack Joseph, of J. Lyons and Co., Ltd., and the opening address given by Mr. M. Webster Jenkinson; C.B.E. F.C.A., Controller of Factory Audit and Costs at the Ministry of Munitions.
Rural Services and Village Prosperity.
Four years ago Sykesville was a drowsy little village nestling cosly among the green hills of Maryland, America. Trade was desultory ; the railway station was too far from the village to contribute much to its welfare, and the local freight brought only such merchandize as was absolutely indispensable to the inhabitants. Sykesville was much the same as hundreds of other villages isolated from commercial centres, with its pulse and prosperity directly in proportion to the condition of the local crops. Then came the awakening: An enterprising young farmer, impatient with the limitations of horse cartage, established a rural motor service with a.Packard lorry. The vii lagers and, farmers, formerly-dependent upon four-horse teams over the steep hills, at once patronized the new and rapid means of transport. The express line prospered; a second lorry, a third, and a fourth were added by the alert proprietor.
Sykesville merchants began to sit up and take notice. Prosperity set in; property values increased rapidly ; a competing transport service line—also with two Packard vehicles—was established, and all six running out of Baltimqre make Sykesville their terminus.
Mud By-laws (Wanted.
Bradford Watch Committee has requested the town clerk to communicate again with the Government department concerned, with a view to steps being taken, by the making of by-laws or Government regulation or otherwise, to require that motor vehicles shall be fitted with means for preventing them from splashing mud.
Silent Gears.
"Silent Gears" is the title of a little booklet, a copy of which we have recently received from Sterns Ltd., Royal London House, Finsbury' Square, London, E.C. Its contents lucidly explain what Sternol Ambrolenm is, o and how its special properties cling to the teeth and make gear-changing silent.. Testimonials galore are included from satisfied users, all of which speak in glowing terms of the efficiency of Ambroleum for gearboxes. Information is also given concerning Universaline, jointing preservative and .rust preventive for all metal surfaces.
New Road from London.
The Road Board schemes for the improvement of traffic facilities from London to the country include a new road from Paddington through Acton, Greenford, Northolt, to the Oxford road. It will be completed this year.
Resolutions approving the sale of the Associated Omnibus Co., to the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., have been approved.
Suggested Legislation.
Poplar Borough Council has decided to press the following suggestions by the Borough Surveyor upon the proper authorities :—(1) That all motorcars should have elastic or resilient tyres. (2) That the only mechanically-propelled vehicle which shall be permitted to be iron-shod should be the locomotive travelling at the rate of 2 m.p.h. in London. (3) That the speed of heavy motorcars in the Metropolis (axle weight not exceeding 6 tons and resilient tyres) should be reduced from 12 m.p.h. to 8 m.p.h. (4) That the speed of heavy motorcars in the Metropolis (axle exceeding 6 tons and resilient tyres) should be reduced from 8 m.p.h. to 5 m.p.h. (5) That the speed of heavy motorcars in the Metropolis should be reduced from. 12 m.p.h. to 10 m.p.h. (6) That trailers exceeding 3 tons in total weight should have resilient tyres.
Wigtownshire,and Road Trans port.
Comniunication between Stranraer and the Rhinns of Galloway leaves much to be desired. Dr i
ummo re s about 17 miles distant from this borough, and the whole district is of a rich agricultural character.
Every farmer used to cat all his own goods from Stranraer until 10 or 11 years ago, when a local railway company placed a couple of steam buses on the route. In the course of a year or two these vehicles were withdrawn, and since then the country has been served by privately owned motor vehicles.
Some time ago the District Committee made representations to the Rural Transport Committee with the view of a light railway ibeing constructed from Stranraer to 'Drummore. It is now stated that the Transport Committee are prepared to recommend that the scheme should be proceeded with.
It is interesting to recall that, so far back as 1878, the formation of a standard-gauge railway in this region would have been carried out were it not for the failure of the City of Glasgow Bank, in which had been invested a large proportion of the 240,000 subscribed for the Purpose.
Scottish Motor Traction Results.
After providing kr excess profits duty and depreciation, and again placing 24000 to the reserve, making the fund £22,000, the accounts of the Scottish Motor Traction Co. for the year to 30th September exhibit an available balance of £10,535, or slightly less than that for the previous twelve months. The ordinary dividend will be 7i per cent., free of tax, for the seventh, consecutive year, and the carry-forward will be £3141, in contrast with £3308.
"Safety First."
The latest poster (No. 15) issued by the London " Safety First" Council has been designed to illustrate, and suggest a remedy fur, a prolific source of accidents resulting ^ from pedestrians either 'walking into the carriageway without having first. looked around for approaching vehicles: or having stepped off the kerb with their backs to on-coming traffic. The advice tendered in the poster is rendered necessary partly by the existing difference between the "rule .of the road," and that -of the footpath.
" Glico " Benzole.
At present there are not in the country a great number of benzoic suppliers, but the market is rapidly expanding and newcomers are already entering the fold. Before the war large quantities of bensole were supplied to commercial vehicle users by the -Gas Lighting Improvement Co., Ltd. of Salisbury House, London Wall, E.C. 2. During the war the whole of the company's output of this invaluable motor fuel was taken over for national purposes, but now that restrice
tions are slowly but surely being relaxed the company is once again in a position to meet civilian requirements. It, is claimed that "Glioo " benzoic is a clean and economical fuel, haying a much lower total evaporating point than petrol. It is, as is well known, produced in this country. " Glico " benzole is supplied to users of commercial vehicles in galvanized) c2.6 steel barrels of about 50 gallons capacity or in road tank wagons, which ever method may be preferred by the buyer. When industrial conditions assume a, more normal aspect there is little doubt that " Glico " benaole will find a big selling market.
Industrial Reconstruction.
A copy of the annual report for 1918 of the Industrial Reconstruction Council is to hand. It deals with the first year's work of the Council. The Council was founded in December, 1917, as a propagandist body for 'the encouragement of the Trade Parliament movement, and for the education of the business and general community to a new conception of industry and to a true appreciation of the industrial situation. The success which has attended the efforts put forth, the crowded audiences at the meetings, held, and the eager request for the Council's speakers, are but a few signs of the universal interest now taken in industrial reconstruction.
E: R. Strickland and Son, general motor engineers, High Street, Gillingham, Dorset, inform UB that they are the solo representatives for the county of Dorsetshire for Austin productions.
It is estimated that Italy had one million men engaged on purely war work. In the automobile factories 50,000 men were engaged on war work, of which number 40,000 were in the employ of the Fiat Co.
The Transport Committee of the Buckie T.C. has considered the feasibility of a motor service along the coast from Cullen to Fochabers, via Portgordon, and decided to keep this in view for future action.
The Midland Counties Motor Garage Co., Ltd., Granby Street, Leicester, inform us that they have been successful in obtaining the sole wholesale and retail agency for Straker-Squire commercial vehicles for the counties of Warwick, Stafford and Worcester, for their Birmingham branch at 33-34, Paradise Street, Birmingham.
Underground Income Bondholders.
The Income Bondholders. Protection Committee of the Underground Electric Railweys Co, of London has issued an interesting report 48 a result of its interviews with' the board respecting the failure of the company to meet the full 6 per cent, interest on the bonds. Only 4 per cent. was paid for 1917 and 2 per cent. so far for 1918, As the company relies for the bulk of its revenue on the dividends declared by the associated undertakings, it follows that it is' the policy pursued by the directors of these concerns that must be examined to discover wherein the available resources of the Underground are deficient in amount to meet bond .charges. The committee asserts that it 'is not because the subsidiaries do not earn enough to justify larger dividends, but because excessive allocations are made to reserve.
It instances the case of the London General Omnibus, which in 1914, with disclosed reserves of £435,000, paid an ordinary dividend amounting to £256,100, whereas in 1917,-with disclosed reserves of £1,116,600 and undisclosed reserves believed to be over 2750,000, it paid out only £112,000. The committee. argues that this piling up of reserves is not for reasonable purposes, but is really to meet capital requirements in the future. Tide course, it contends, is not fair to the holders of the ordinary shares, and in the case of the Underground. prevents it from meeting its -proper pror obligations. Since the directors of the Underground refuge to give effect to the representations of the committee and the latter does not think it advisable to institute legal proceedings, it recommends the income bondholders to take united action with the object of securing. nominees of their own on the directorate to replace members who retire at the annual meeting. As the bondholders have voting rights and are in the majority, they can, if they combine, easily secure th-s end.
Trouble in Australia for the "Heavies."
Having had a report from the city solicitor in respect of the damage to streets by reason of the enormous weight of vehicles, or the construction of the wheels, the Sydney (.N.S.W.) Municipal Council has instructed the. solicitor to proceed against the users of such vehicles for injunction by suit of equity. The solicitor and surveyor are to confer as to the persons to be proceeded against.
The British Commercial Lorry and Engineering Co., Ltd., of 66, Bridge Street, Manchester, have taken up the representation in the North of England of the A.E.C. lorry, Glasgow Corporation records the death of Mr. John L. MacLachlan, of the Glasgow Automobile Co., the motor expert appointed by the Corporation to examine all motor taxicabs and the drivers prior to their being licensed.
Edison Accumulators, Ltd., have informed the Gillingham Town Council that they are prepared to accept payment for electric dust lorries by instalments, with interest at the rate of 1 per cent. above bank rate on the sums from time , to time remaining unpaid.
City Accidents.
At an inquest held by the City Coroner on the 15th January, br. Waldo said "He had just made up h's figures for the annual return to the Home Secretary for 1918, and as regards traffic fatalities, he had held 63 inquests in such cases during the year under report. Of this number, 39 persons died in Southwark, and 24 in the City. The number (39) for Southwark was the highest figure he had yet recorded during the past 17 years for either of his two districts. The highest aggregate figure was that of 68 for de year 1917—when 31 of the deaths occurred in the City and 37 in Southwark.
"Among other factors leading to these deaths, he thought drivers, especially of commercial motor and motor cabs, often went at a pace not warranted by the conditions in the streets present at the time of the accident. Many of the drivers, too, lack the experience and skill of those taken from their former work by the exigencies of the war. "Side life guards were badly needel on heavy commercial and army motors, if lives were worth saving. Such guards were compulsory on motor omnibuses." I
Workshop Accidents.
The British Industrial "Safety First" Association point out as an evidence of the necessity which exists for immediate action, the latest published returns, which show that, in 1914, 969 persons were killed, and 147,045 were injured, by i
accidents n workshops and factories alone, a' large proportion of which would, undoubtedly, have been prevented had those Who became casualties been educated in matters pertaining to their own safety. Many of the largest firms and Trade Unions in the country are actively supporting the movement, and it is hoped to proceed at once with the preparation of " Safety " notices and literature specially su'ted for individual industries,
which will be supplied free to firms who become members of the association. The experience of those firms, both in this" country and in America, which have undertaken a scientific "Safety First" campaign proves that, from the financial standpoint alone, many hundreds of thousands of pounds are readily saved. The temporary offices of the Association are at 31, Westminster Broadway, S.W. 1., We 'are advised that the premises of S. Smith and Sons (M.A.), Ltd., at 122, Alma Street, Birmingham, were corn; pletely destroyed by fire on the morning of Friday, 10th January last. No arrangements have, at present, been made for the carrying on of business in the Midlands from another address in Birmingham, and, therefore, all inquiries and communications should be addressed to the company's head offices at 179-185, Great Portland Street, London, W. 1.
Local Proceedings.
Manchester C.C. has accepted the falter of Drake and Gorham, Ltd., for a 3i-ton electric tipping wagon.
Heywood T.C. has decided to apply to the L.G.B. for sanction to borrow £3,000 for a motor fire-engine, etc.
Southampton T.O. has before it a recommendation to apply to the L.G.B.
to acquire six motorbuses at a cost of • about £7000.
Gillingham (Kent) U.D.C. has accepted the tender of the General Electric Co., Ltd., at .£409 8s. for charging plant for dust carts.
Derbyshire C.C. is to consider -a recommendation from the Highways Committee to increase the haulage plant by purchasing additional rotor vehicles, etc., at a cost not exceeding £10,000.