The Wheels of Industry.
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" The wheel 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.
>roceedings of Local Authorities.
The Electricity Committee of the Vinchester Corporation is inquirrig for a, small battery-equipped ran.
Barrow-in-Furness Town Council s endeavouring to arrange the mrchase of a new motor fire The Staffordshire County Counil is demanding 2d. per motorbusnile in respect of certain new notorbus routes.
The East Sussex County Council Las sanctioned the purchase of four raction engines, at an estimated ost of 23500.
The Caerphilly and the Mynydlislwyn U.D.C.s will promote Bills, a the ensuing Session of Parliaaent, to enable them to run motor,uses.
The Electricity Committee of the Lberdeen Town Council is considerng the purchase of a batteryquipped motor wagon, at a cost of It was reported, at the last meetrig of the Bognor U.D.C., that louthdown Motors, Ltd., had withrawn its local motorbus service, wing to the suggested prohibitive )cal charge of 3d. per motorbus Municipal authorities will no oubt now be more interested in fritish motor-sweepers, seeing that certain French make, which had ecured much popularity in this ountry, can no longer be imported, he French Government having etoed further manufacture and exort.
The Works Committee of the slington Borough Council has had efore it a report from the Borough :ngineer, Mr. J. Patten Barber, !Inst. C.E., in which the adoption f motor-sweepers is recommended ) the exclusion of horse-drawn weepers. 'The Borough Engineer ;, of opinion that three motorweepers should replace 21 horserawn sweepers, and that the anual saving will be 2525. The Cornlittee has decided to begin by pur[lasing one motor-sweeper.
The Highways Committee of the urrey County Council has sugested a payment, as a condition ir the sanctioning of new motorus routes, of id. per motorbusdie, the payments to be made eekly, or at longer agreed eriods ; furthermore, the Commit requires that any such service iall be provided in a manner satis"dory to the Council, and that msent shall be given for only, say, x months. The scheme is to be iewed as an experimental one. The Southampton County Council, through its Finance Committee, recently declined to make any recommendation in respect of the. further taxation of heavy motor ye hides, and the Council has now confirmed that decision after a further report from its Main Roads and Bridges Committee. This is distinctly encouraging.
Higher Taxicab Fares Proposed for London.
The necessity for a higher scale of taxicab fares in London has been urged by us for several years. We have, in that connection, traced the bearing of the 8d.-a-mile scale upon the financial collapse of practically every taxi-owning joint-stock company, and upon the present difficulties not a few owner-drivers who operate more than two or three cabs.
A meeting of London motorcab proprietors and owner-drivers was held in London, on the 15th inst., when various proposals in respect of the raising of fares were debated. The proposals were (1) 8d. for the first four-fifths of a mile, and 2d. for every subsequent onefifth of a mile ; (2) Is. for the first hiring, up to one mile, and 3d. for every subsequent one-third of a mile ; (3) ls. for the first hiring, and 2d. for each subsequent quarter of a mile (as now). The third proposal was adopted by a considerable majority. Taxi-drivers in London do not favour the abandonment of the initial fare of 8d., owing to the fact that they almost invariably themselves benefit by a 4d. gratuity. They take the view, very strongly, that passengers will not give a. gratuity, over and above a fixed fare of is. for a short distance. A possible solution, in our judgment, is to allow the drivers to take one third of the receipts which are recorded on the taximeter, instead of the present quarter, in consideration of their agreeing to the scale in favour of which the majority of the owners have voted. The allocation of the receipts, in-respect of short fares will undoubtedly remain the crux of the whole difficulty.
Dennis Bros. (1913), Ltd.
The directors • of Dennis. Bros. (1913), Ltd., state that, for the year ended the 30th September last, profits amounted to 2120,186, to which the carry-forward of 211,349 from the previous year has to be added, making a total of 2131,535. General reserve is. increased by 270,000, and the dividend for the year is brought up to 15 per cent., less tax, leaving 216,535 to be carried forward. The company's meeting will take place to-day (Thursday) at the Cannon Street Hotel, B.C., at 2.15 p.m.
'I he Meaning of "Motor Spirit."
The C.M.U.A. undertook the defence of a char-a-bancs proprietor, Mr. Herbert Camplejohn, of Darfielcl, who was summoned at Pontefract, on the lath inst, for using motor spirit.
Mr_ T. E. Catterall, prosecuting on behalf of the police; stated that the defendant conveyed 25 passengers in a motor char-6,-bancs, from Darfield to Knaresborough, on the 11th September. He was questioned at Pontefract by the police, when he stated that be was running on shale oil and paraffin. These fuels were without question "mixtures of hydrocarbon which can be used for providing reasonably efficient motive power," and the police therefore contended that the fuels were motor spirit within the meaning of the Finance Act of 1910. The police in the West Riding of York had, however, recently received an intimation from the Secretary of State that the term "motor spirit" should be interpreted as being only such spirit as was liable to duty under the Finance Act The prosecution was, therefore, prepared to withdraw the case. This was done.
The foregoing report is based upon that in "The Nottingham Guardian" of the 14th inst., but we may remark that other journals which reported the case intimated that the statement of the solicitor was that the police had been notified to " take no action in respect of any fuel unless duty was levied on it.
We deal with the situation editorially on page 263, and we print the exchange of letters between the Home Office and the C.M.U.A. on page 279.
Brig.-General Maybury.
We note,with interest, that Mr. H. P. Maybury, M.Inst.C.E., was recently .gazetted Brigadier-General. He is rebuilding roads in France, as one of the chiefs of staff under Major-General Sir Eric Geddes (late N.E. Ry.), who is Inspector-General of Transportation and Director-General of Military Railways. • Mr. J. C. Mitchell, Pres., C.I.S. The new president of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries is Mr. J. C. Mitchell, formerly secretary of the London Road Car Co., Ltd., and now treasurer of the Underground Electric Railways Co. of London. lie succeeds Mr. J. F. Barthorpe, joint general manager of the London County and Westminster Bank.
Recent Registrations.
Accuratact Magnetos, Ltd. (25000), with its registered office at Suffolk House, Laurence Pountney Hill, E.C.; to adopt an agreement with A. P. Mann and H. D. Grant.
Co-Operative Engineers, Ltd. (21000), with its registered office at 1, Newhall Chambers, Newhall Street, Birmingham, to carry on business in general engineering, in tool-making, gear-cutting, etc.
West Penwith Motor Co., Ltd., (3000), to take over a Motor-transport and repairing business, now carried on by W. Colenso, Junr., and F. J. Allen. Registered office at 32, Nancherrow Terrace, St. Just, Cornwall.
All British Touring Exhibitions, Ltd. (25000), with its registered office at 1, Albemarle Street, W. to carry on the business of exhibition organizers, providers and fur
nishers, in London, the Provinces, and elsewhere. The first subscribers are F. C. Barker, G. A. Kayne and J. Brett.
War Office Tenders.
Tenders have recently been accepted by the War Office, as .follows—Traction engines.—Clayton and Shuttleworth, Ltd. ; J. Fowler and Co. (Leeds), Ltd. Motor rolJers.—Barford and Perkins, Ltd. Steam rollers and .parts.—Aveling and Porter, Ltd. ; J. Fowler and Co. (Leeds), Ltd. ; T. Green and Son, Ltd. ; Wallis and Steevens, Ltd. Petrol tractors and parts.— Motor Rail and Tram Car Co., Ltd.
The British Petroleum Co., Ltd.
The Secretary of the British Petroleum Co. Ltd., writing to us under date the 18th inst., draws attention to a letter which he addressed to the Editor of our sister journal "The Motor" under date the 10th inst., and which letter appeared in "Tie Motor" of the 14th ideal. We had already carefully noted the contents of that letter, but, as our sister journal pointed out, this communication carefully avoids the important point of where the company is obtaining supplies.
As to the suggestion that there is no justification for the belief that the British Petroleum Co., *Ltd., will be controlled by Germans after the war, we deal editorially with the admission that in any event German interests have a controlling holding, whilst it is only claimed that a minority holding belongs to French, Belgian and Russian interests.
We ask the Secretary of the British Petroleum Co., Ltd., to deal effectively, and without evasion, with the points which we raise in the course of our leading article this week. Gazette.
The Peterborough City Garage Co. (1912), Ltd. is to be voluntarily liquidated by kr. Joseph Stevenson, Incorporated Accountant, Queen Street, Peterborough. Mr. Albert Burt, of Herald Chambers, Martineau Street, Birmingham, has been appointed liquidator in the voluntary liquidation of the Universal Motor body Builders (Birmingham), Ltd.
Concerning G.M.C.'s.
A copy of an instruction leaflet produced for the benefit of users of G.M.C. lorry model 15 is to hand. It contains much helpful information concerning the attention which the chassis requires, whilst the plan and side elevation illustrations which are included should prove useful. A few " dont's " which are embodied are also worthy of note. The Anzac Motor Co., Ltd., 78-82, Bronapton Road, S.W., the concessionnaire for G.M.C. lorries, will be pleased to forward a copy of the leaflet to those interested.
Another Taxi-driver Ignores the
Law.
A taxi-driver was summoned at Marlborough Street Police Court, on the 15th inst., for refusing one " fare " and for taking another who desired to go a shorter distance. The man pleaded that he was short of petrol, when refusing the first "fare." The magistrate, Mr. Denman, remarked that if a taxidriver were short of petrol, he should not continue to ply for hire, but should go straight home. No hackney-carriage driver, when plying for hire, was allowed to pick and choose his " fares " on his own terms ; a licensed driver must at all times ply for hire for the benefit of the public at large ; he must not say that he would go one way and not another.
The driver-was fined 10s.
Belsize and Sunbeam Reports.
The directors of Belsize Motors, Ltd., are to be congratulated on the results which are disclosed in their tenth annual report. Whilst the usual accounts cannot be presented, due to matters in abeyance between the company and the Munitions Department, owing to various adjustments of accounts, as has been the case with many other companies, the directors feel justified in bringing up the distribution for the year ended the 30th September last to 15 per cent, for the year, less income tax at 4s. in the pound.
The accounts of the Sunbeam Co. are similarly unavailable. The directors are none the less able to complete the distribution for the past financial year, amounting to 15 per cent, free of tax, to which is added a bonus of 3s. per share, free of tax: Position Available.
An important and large firm of dealers and agents in motor vehicles of all kinds requires a manager for the commercial side of the business. No specific salary • is named ; stress is laid rather on the importance of obtaining the services a a really good man. Only those qualified and holding at present similar positions should apply to "Commercial Manager," care of The Editor.
Palladium Sales.
It will no doubt interest many readers to know that Palladium Autocars, Ltd., of Felsham Road, Putney, London, S.W., has recently taken orders for three four-ton Palladium vehicles from the following buyers :—The Whitehead Aircraft Co., Ltd., Richmond (repeat order) ; the Wells Aviation Co., Ltd., Chelsea and Chichester ; Messrs. Standen and Sons, Contractors, Sittingbourne (repeat order); the Wey Engineering Co., Ltd., Weybridge (two); the Cardiff Tramway Co., Ltd. ; and Messrs. Brown and Co., Birmingham.
General Vehicle Co.'s Electric,.
The General Vehicle Co., Ltd., of Imperial House, Kingsway, London, W.C., is distributing an illustrated leaflet dealing with its electric vehicles. It is interesting to note that the company's range now includes no fewer than six different models. There are two for loads of 10 cwt., one being wormdriven, the other chain-driven. The other sizes are for loads of 1, 2, 31, and 5 tons, respectively, all of which are chain driven.
Our readers will no doubt recollect that we dealt very fully with the performance of one of these vehicles in a "One Day's Work" article, which appeared in our issue of the 28th January, 1915, in which we reported upon a G.V. electric chassis in the hands of the Hay's Wharf Cartage Co., Ltd.
Companies Dissolved.
The undermentioned companies have been struck off the Register of joint-stock companies, and have been dissolved—Auto Supply Co., Ltd. ; Britannia Motor Manufacturing Co., Ltd. ; British " M " Tyres, Ltd. ; Chassis, Ltd. ; Cirencester Automobile Carriage Building Co., Ltd. ; Coventry Co-operative Motor Co., Ltd. ; Crompton-Darras Taximeter Co., Ltd. ; Dazin Tyres, Ltd. ; Duplex Motor Engine (France), Ltd. ; Earl's Court Motor Garage, Ltd. ; Empire Automobile Co., Ltd. ; Enterprise Motor Co., Ltd. ; Garrett Automatic Non-skid Co., Ltd. ; General Motor Service of Russia ; Kerosene Carburetters, Ltd. ; Lancashire and Yorkshire General Omnibus Co. and County
Borough Tramways, Ltd. ; Laurance Cars, Ltd. ; Manchester Motor Carrying Co., Ltd. ; Margetts International Sectional Tyre Co., Ltd..; Moscow Motor Cab Co., Ltd.. ; Motor Hiring Co. (Coventry), Ltd..; . Motor Waggons, Ltd. ; Motors and Accessories, Ltd. ; Northern Chauffeurs Club, Ltd."; Owner Drivers' Garages, Ltd. ; St. Petersburg Motor Cab CO., • Ltd. ; St. James's Motor Co., Ltd.; Scarsdale Cycle and Motor Co., Ltd. ; Theatre Garage, Ltd. ; Warsaw Motor Cab Co., Ltd. Some of the companies mentioned may be in course of construction.
Certified Occupations.
The Secretary of the Local Government Board has issued a new list of certified occupations. This is dated the 20th November, and is known as form "R 105." 'Copies can be obtained from Wyman and Sons, Ltd., 29, Breams Buildings, Fetter Lane, E.C., price 2d. post free.
It is important to note that motorvan and motor-lorry drivers (" power carters ") are generally exempted, no matter what their age, or whether they are married or single, if they are employed by carting contractors in connection with railways, docks, wharves, or warehouses ; for those drivers who are employed by public carriers of goods by road, the minimum ages, reckoned at the 4th April, 1916, are 30 for single men, and 25 for married men, for exemption to be obtainable ; if drivers are employed in the coal trade, the same minimum ages will apply, but if they are employed on farms, all married are entitled to exemption, as are single men above 25 years of age. For motorbus organizations, the minimum ages are now : head of department or foreman, 30 if single, and 25 if married.
Other drivers, provided the trades which they serve are named in the new list of certified occupations, and they are not engaged in collecting from, or delivering to private houses, are entitled to exernp lion, with the minimum ages of 30 for single men, and 25 for married men.
Exemption as a "stoker or boiler-firemati" .is now stated not to apply to inent"who are employed in connection with engines which do not require constant attention. A steam-wagon boiler does require constant attention, so we conclude that stokers will be exempted, provided they are married men above twenty-five years of age ; no exemption can be claimed under this category for a single man unless he has completed his forty-first year.
Even though a man may have exceeded the minimum age applicable to him, he is nevertheless entitled to be treated as covered by the new list, if he is found by a Recruiting Medical Board to be unfit for general service (Category A). In the next list, which it is announced will be issued early in 1917, this arrangement will be altered so as to make available for the Army men found fit for garrison duty abroad— Category B (1). ...Instructions to the Tribunals enforce upon them the necessity of their realizing that the only ground for making reservations is that the men who are protected are engaged on work of national importance. It is pointed out that a man following a certified occupation, and who is also a young man, is still employed in the national interest, because the age limits, where they are fixed low, are fixed solely from that point of view. As regards age limits, it must be pointed out that in respect of agriculture, the 1st May last is substituted for 4th April last, and in Scotland the 31st May for the 4th April. Men who on the 2nd November, 1915, were unmarried, or were widowers without any child dependent upon them at that date, are to be treated as single men for the purposes_ of the list.
We strongly recommend all readers of this journal who are directly interested in the matter to obtain their own copy of the list forthwith from Messrs. Wyman.