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WHEELS of INDJSTRY "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.

Road-vehicle Taxation Returns.

The Ministry of Transport has recently issued a return showing the gross receipts from the taxation of road vehicles for the period from December 1st, 1930, to February 28th, 1931. The amount received in payment for licences issued during that period was £16,993,368, all but £136,486 being in respect of motor vehicles. An analysis of the receipts from different classes of vehicle shows that internal-combustion-eng,ined and steam goods vehicles contributed £5,936,116 of the total, motor hackneys £2,044,395 and electrically propelled vehicles £25,887.

The approximate number of motorvehicle licences (exclusive of limited and general trade licences) current on February 28th last was 1,572,600, the total for goods vehicles being 335,524 (1,330 electrics) and for hackney vehicles 74,847, the respective figures for a year earlier being 324,263 and 78,808.

The same return, which is priced at 2s. 6d. and can be obtained from His Majesty's 'Stationery Officer Adastral House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2, also gives details of the number of mechanically propelled road vehicles registered for the first time in February, 1931, The total was 15,757., as against 20,694 in February, 1930, the former being made up as follows, the figures for the previous year being given in parentheses: Care taxed on horse-power, 8,707 (11,331) ; goods vehicles, 3,583 (3,833) ; inotercycles, 2,570 . (4,456) ; hackney vehicles, 517 (676) ; other vehicles, 380 ,(398).

Stabilizing Rates for Short-distance Haulage.

Following the reference in our issue for last week to the formation of an association to improve rates for shortdistance haulage, particularly in the sand, ballast and allied trades, we are now able to announce that another general meeting will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6th, at the Council Offices, Treaty Road, Hounslow. It has now been decided to give the new association the title of Hauliers' and Sand and Ballast Merchants' Alliance.

The agenda for the forthcoming meeting includes confirmation of minutes of the meeting held on April 8th, the reading and confirmation of the proposed rules, objects and constitution of the body, the election of members, confirmation of the appointment of the committee and officers, and the discussion of haulage rates.

It is hoped that all interested in the haulage of sand, ballast, etc., and in similar transport business will attend this important meeting.

There are at last definite signs of a realization amongst short-distance haulage contractors of the dire need for cooperation to stabilize rates. The indication comes from a number of important concerns, many of which are engaged in the transport of sand, ballast, etc., in the Thames Valley.

Importance attaches to the new movec20 ment because of the scope for development outside of the gravel-pit trade. A strong and well-run association, given loyalty amongst its members, can improve rates and conditions for other branches of short-distance haulage, and may well develop as the recognized spokesman of its own section of the transport industry. It has long been hoped that a counterpart of the Longdistance Road Haulage Association, now in process of formation, would come into existence.

Tilling's New Acquisition.

We understand that a controlling interest in the United Counties Omnibus and Road Transport co., Ltd., has been acquired by Thomas Tilling,' Ltd. The existing directors will 'remain on the board and will be joined by two nominees of the purchasing company.

The New Hillman Wizard.

There is quite a flutter in the motor world to-day as the result -of the unveiling of the new Hillman Wizard, a car remarkable for its features, dimensions, equipment and price. To-day's issue of The Afofór contains a fully illustrated description of the car with a report of a road test extending over 2,000 miles; and a four-page coloured supplement.

Police on Traffic Duty.

The Minister of Health recently stated that the number of constables on traffic duty in the London streets varies to some extent, but it is approximately 400 in excess of the 1,100 authorized for permanent point duty. The average annual cost of a .constable is approximately £320, without allowing for reliefs for leave, sickness, etc. He could not say, without further investigation, how many constables could be replaced by traffic signals, but he had no doubt that the number and saving in cost would be big.

Surveys of Important Industries:

The Board of Trade announces that the second part of the compilation dealin with Statistical Tables Relating to British and Foreign Trade and Indus

y, which contains surveys of the i portant industries in this and Corgi eting countries, is on sale to-day i,Tuesday). Part 1 of this publication as issued. in December. last, and -its urposo was to supply information Which woult enable a general review to be made of the state of industry at home and abroad during the past seven years. The second part has been prepared with a view to a more detailed survey of the condition of particular industries, and in this connection important facts regarding productien, 1 rade, employment and prices are given nder 21 different headings, one of them ealing with inotors and cycles and ubber tyres. , The statistics embodied .have, so far s possible, been taken-from publica'one of the countries concerned, but the ague of Nations and other sources have been used. The trade statistics have been compiled so as to show what . are the leading markets of the principal manufacturing countries and, conversely, the main sources front which they obtain their supplies of particular 'lasses of goods.

The new volume (Cmd. 3849) is priced at 7s. 6d., and may be obtained from IT.M. Stationery Office or through any bookseller.

R.I.A. Activities.

The annual general meeting of the Roads Improvement Association will be held on April 29th at the Central Hall, Westminster, London, S.W.1, when Sir Arthur Stanley will occupy the chair, In the report it is clearly pointed out that, although road improvement and development and the control and regulation of traffic have received widespread attention from the Government • uriug the phut year, the fact remains hat, although the carriageways of most ritish roads are well surfaced and aintained, much improvement is ceded in their width, alignment noel ' ettg,e. It is mentioned that there re more vehicles per mile of road in 's country than in any other.

The Association feels that the carriageways of all arterial roads should be widened to 40 ft. so soon as possible to allow the free and safe circulation of one RIM and one slow line of traffic in each direction.

In connection with Parliamentary ad political work, attention has been airily directed towards urging the overnment and local authorities ctually to commence road work upon n extensive scale commensurate with the grants that have been authorized. A proposal is now under considera tion for the formation of a Road Re search Committee to cover all phases of the construction, maintenance and de velopment of roads and the free, rapid end safe circulation of traffic thereon.

Personal Pars.

Mr. D. T. Morrison, the manager of Dundee Corporation's tramways, has been appointed general manager ot Hull's tram and bus undertaking.

Our congratulations to Mr. E. B. Hutchinson, M.Inst.T., on his election as chairman for the winter session of the Leeds and District centre of the Institute of Transport.

Out of 150 applicants, Mr. F. T. Goode, of Llanbradaeh, has been appointed manager of the services operated by the West Mon. Joint Omnibus Board. He has for the past five years been chairman of the bus committee of the Caerphilly Urban District Council.

Mr. C. B. Wardman, Into chairman of the Vulcan and Lea-Francis concerns, has joined the Chevrolet sales organizations of Messrs. Hamilton Motors. Edgware Road, London, W2. Mr. Wardmall has had long experience in dealing with fleet owners and large commercial users and will confine his efforts to the sale of the new General Motors product, the Bedford 2-ton chassis, which was fully described in our issue dated April 7th.

At the annual meeting of the Birmingham and district section of the Institute of Transport, Mr. 0. C. Power, the traffic manager of the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., was re-elected chairman, Mr. J. F. Bradford, Mr. .T. H. Stirk and Mr. J. McDonnell being elected vice-chairmen. Mr. W. H. Watson was elected honorary secretary, Mr. A. A. Logan, assistant honorary secretary, and Mr. L. W. GupwelL honorary treasurer.

Mr. Power has been chairman of the section for four years, prior to which he was vice-chairman for a period of three years. Amongst his many activities he is also chairman of the Birmingham Horse and Motor Vehicle Owners' Association for the 20th year in succession.

Mr. W. J. Lake, manager of the coaching department of the Merseyside Touring Co., Ltd., Liverpool, whose por

trait is published on this page, has been appointed general manager of It. Barr and Co. (Leeds), Ltd., a haulage contracting and coach-operating concern, of Leeds. Mr. Lake, who takes over his new duties on May 1st, joined Merseyside Touring Co. in 1928, when the company was formed, and inaugurated the long-distance services to Scarborough, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. He was previously manager at Leeds for Garlick, Burrell and Edwards. Ltd., by which the Merseyside Touring Co., Ltd., was controlled before Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., of Preston, took over the company.

On this page are reproduced portraits of Mr. Frank F. Fowler and Mr. H. Janes, who arc engaged in the shortdistance-haulage business, especially of sand, ballast, gravel, etc., and who have been prominent in the recent formation of an association which aims at stabilizing transport rates—especially in the sand-pit trade. An article dealing with the matter appeared on page 328 of our issue dated April 21st.

Mr. F. F. Fowler, who has been elected chairman of the new association, is the manager of Murrell's Wharf, Ltd., Blackfriars, London, S.E.1, which company he joined about 30 years ago. This concern has, in the past four decades, built up a remarkable Thames-side business; it controls many river and coastal -barges and has about 25 steam wagons, which) operate mainly with trailers. The haulage side of the business deals yearly with a little under 250,000 tons of material.

Both Mr. Fowler and Mr. Janes, of Janes, Brothers (Contractors), Ltd. Slough, have had long experience of the transport industry and intimate knowledge of the troubles which it has suffered in tin past few years.

For the time being Mr. Janes is act lug as honorary secretary of the association, and the address of his company is 2c, Buckingham Avcime, Trading Estate, Slough.

Limiting Leads During Wet Months. A provision of the Highway Traffic Act, of Ontario, temporarily reduces, during March and April in each year, the load limits for commercial vehicles, the object being to protect the roads from possible damage during this period, when road beds are soft.

Allen-Liversidge Report.

The report of Allen-Liversidge, Ltd., for the eight months ended December 31st last shows a net profit of 134,167, the sum available being 148,281, after adding the balance brought forward from the previous year. Provision for taxation reduces this sum to 143,281 and from this sum an interim dividend of 3 per cent, on the ordinary shares has absorbed 19,000 and the preference dividends 110,833, so that the unappropriated balance is 123,448. A final dividend of 2i per cent (less tax) is to be paid on the ordinary shares, being equivalent to a rate of 8 per cent. -per annum, and this will absorb 17,000 and leave 116,448 to be carried forward.

The fact that the report covers a period for only eight months is in accordance with the terms of the agreement entered into with the British Oxygen Co., Ltd., relating to the amalgamation of the two concerns.

Motor Trolleys for Platelayers.

With a view to effecting economies in the cost of track maintenance, the London and North Eastern Railway Co. is introducing petrol-driven rail trolleys on certain of its lines, the purchase of 30 machines having been authorized. Each trolley will be capable of carrying eight or ten men at 25 m.p.h.

Standardizing on Oil-engined Buses?

The Leicester municipality has resolved to place orders for six petrolengined buses and for an oil-driven bus.

If the experiment with oil-engined buses proves to be successful, it is proposed to equip the municipal fleet with this type of power unit, stated a member of the finance sub-committee.

Leeds Bus Profits Increased.

A preliminary statement of the working of the Leeds municipal transport system for the year ended March 31st, shows that tramway receipts fell by 113,602, as compared with the figure for the previous year, but that motorbus receipts, which totalled 1124.925, were 118,652 in excess of those of the previous 12 months. During the year 1,664,212 more bus passengers were carried and 2,597,171 fewer on the trams.

A Valuable Handbook on Oil Engines.

At the present time there are many persons in the road-transport industry who are keen students of the design and working of the oil engine ; they will welcome the book entitled "High-speed Diesel Engines," by Mr. A. H. GoIdinghans, M.I.Mech.E., who has written many other works on gas and oil engines. The book is priced at 108. 6d. and is published by E. and F. N. Spon, Ltd., 57, Haymarket, London, S.W.1.

The first chapter deals with the history of the development of the type of power unit and the second contains details of fuel-injection systems, nozzles and pumps. It also contains a summary of research work which has been

done upon spray penetration. Three other chapters describe many of the engines now on the market, both in this Country and abroad.

• The data given form a useful work of reference as to the principal features of the design of any particular engine and the diagrams, sectional drawings, half-tone illustrations and curves are of great value to the engineer concerned with road transport. Particulars are given of certain aircraft and marine engines, but these are also of importance to our readers because development of any engine may be to the direct advantage of users of another class, owing to the rapidity with which oil engines are, at the present time, being evolved. This book is a worthy addition to any engineer's bookshelf.

Popular With Co-operative Societies.

Dennis commercial vehicles, which have always been a favourite with co-operative societies, continue to maintain their popularity in this direction and quite recently Dennis Brothers, Ltd., of Guildford, supplied as many as 38 vehicles to 21. such users, the most important order being for 10 vehicles for the traffic department of the Co-operative Wholesale Society.

"Northern General" Results. During 1930 the total revenue of the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., was £594,431, expenses totalling £443,292, thus leaving a working surplus of 1151,139, the ;balance brought forward increasing this sum to £155,383. Renewals account for £68,581, whilst the reserve receives an allotment of £8,000. The preference dividend abc22 sorbs £9,000 and a dividend at the rate of 9 per cent, per annum on the ordinary shares absorbs £49,865. The amount to be carried forward is £13,614.

At the end of the year the company was operating a fleet of 367 buses.

Responsibility for Street Accidents.

In his annual report to the standing joint committee, the chief constable of Carmarthenshire made the following statement with regard to road accidents :— " AR examination of the causes of the many accidents, deaths and serious personal injuries, confirms thefact that it was the non-motoring road users who were chiefly responsible." It was emphasized that a conspicuous feature of road accidents was the small number of innocent pedestrian victims.

The Empire a Good Customer.

During last January four out of the first five best markets for Canadian lorries and buses were Empire countries, India taking 332 units ($140,321). Spain 172 ($70,464), British East

Africa 156 ($61,856), South Africa 118 ($49,450), and New Zealand 98 ($41,273). Canada's total exports for the month were 1,256 units ($518,791), against 1,452 units ($589,153) in December, 1930. Of the January shipments 212 units ($77,202) were of 1-ton capacity or less.

A Blue-tinted Petrol.

A blue-tinted petrol is being placed on the market by the British Petroleum Co., Ltd. It has characteristics that meet the needs of the high-compression engine, but will sell at the normal price. The new fuel is known as " B.P. Plus" and contains a compound of lead.

A New Road Guide.

A particularly useful and interesting road guide in the form of a book containing 19 maps, drawn to a scale of 16 miles per inch and covering in sections the whole of Great Britain and Ireland, has been produced by the maker of Don brake friction material, Small and Parkes, Ltd., Hendham Vale Works, Manchester, It is sold at is. per copy and may he obtained from garages or direct from the maker at the above address. Facing each section are the names and addresses of places in that area which should be visited, together with brief details of their historical associations. A New London-Ilfracombe Service.

Highways, Ltd., of London, announces that the new week-end service which it commenced on April 3rd between London and Ilfracombe will be augmented on May 15th and still further improved on July 3rd. Until May 10th it will operate on Fridays and Saturdays from Ilfracombe, and on Satur. days and Sundays from Londou. From May 15th to June 28th the service will be run on Fridays, Saturdays and Stindays in both directions. From July 3rd to September 20th it will be run in both directions daily. It is not yet decided what arrangements will be made after September 20th.

Coaches leave the Central London Coach Station at Crescent Place, London, W.C.1, at 8.30 a.m., and Wilder Road, Ilfracombe, at 9 a.m., the route being via Salisbury, Yeovil, Exeter and Barnstaple. The fares for the full journey are 20s. single and 37s. 6d. return, the fares between London and Salisbury being 8s. single and 12s. 6d. return, and those between London and Exeter 17s. t3d. single and 30s. return. Gilford 28-seater coaches with toilet accommodation are being employed on this new service.

Milling Motor Units Profits.

The net profit of Simms Motor Units, Ltd., for the year 1930 amounted to £16,140, which is a reductiOn of £28,511 compared with -1929. The preference dividend, which .bas been increased from 6 per cent. to 7i per cent, accounts for £6,799, whilst the interim dividend on the ordinary shares required £6,250. It is recommended that no further payment be made on the ordinary shares. The balance to be carried forward is £31,049, as against £27,958.

A Big Seller.

If all the • copies of "The Motor Manual" that have been sold to motorists were laid end to end, the resulting trail would be over 80 miles in length, or as far as the distance from London to Southampton! Over three-quarters of a million copies of this popular handbook have to date been sold, and the figure is steadily growing. The latest edition of "The. Motor Manual" is said to contain more practical information on motors and motoring than any other single book. New Road and Bridge Schemes Approved.

During the month of March schemes for widening, reconstruction and other improvements of classified roads and bridges, and for the construction of new roads and bridges of classification value, involving a total estimated expenditure of about £5,782,000, were formally approved for Road Fund grants. The total value of schemes for improving classified roads and bridges definitely approved for commencement by the present Government is now £36,000.000, whilst other schemes to the value of £20,000,000 have been approved in principle.

Financial assistance has also been indicated towards work on unclassified roads and bridges in various counties and county boroughs, the total estimated expenditure. being £122,000.

An Important £500,000 Road.

A proposal is on hand for the construction of a new road in the Neath area, from Briton Perry across the marshes to Louisa, to connect with the main highway at Morriston, or, alternatively, across Crumlyn burrows to connect with the Swansea road at Jersey Marine. These works, including the construction of a bridge over the River Neath, will, it is estimated, cost from £453,000 to £500,000.

Sir Frederick Palmer, the prominent engineer, has prepared a report to be sent to the Government departments concerned.

New Features in a Dennis 2-tonner.

We reproduce on this page an •illus2' tration. of one of the 108 Dennis 2-ton. forward-control vehicles ordered by the Great Western Railway Co. from Dennis Brothers, Ltd., Guildford. Amongst the special chassis details called for may be noted the grouped-nipple lubricating system, the positively driven odometer fixed to the off side of the frame, and the power-driven tyre pump at the near side. The spare wheel, which is usually carried amidships., is Bituated below the aft end of the frame.

Slight modifications have also been made in the engine oiling system, which incorporates a high-pressure filter and a special piston-lubricating device which operates only when the engine is cold. In most other respects the chassis conforms with the standard forward-control model having a wheelbase of 10 ft.

The lorry body, which has hinged sides and tailboard, was made in the railway company's shops at Swindon, but the two-seater driver's cab is another interesting product of the Guildford factory. This unit is made with separate top and bottom sections, nor many held together by a few nuts and bolts. When decarbonizing and any other maintenance jobs call for greater accessibility than is normally provided. the entire upper half of the cab, together with the windscreen, can be lifted after removing the nuts and bolts.

(Preparing for "Safety First" Week.

The Development Fund Committee of the National "Safety First" Association ha been constituted as follows :— Mr. Gordon Stewart (chairman): Sir Gerald Bellhouse, C.B.E. ; Mr. A, Hume Nicholl, C.B.E., J.P. ; Sir Charles Igglesden, j.P.; Sir Henry Maybury, G.B.E., C.B. ; Mr. W. B. Phillips and Lt.-Col. J. A. A. Pickard, 11.5.0. (general secretary).

The chief work of the committee is concerned with the organization of the association's competition to popularize the Highway Code, for which prizes to the value of 15,000 are being offered. The competition opens on the first day of "Safety Week," May 11th, and closes on July 15th.

Making the Borg and Beck Clutch in England.

A new English company, Borg and Beck Co., Ltd., has been registered, the capital being entirely subscribed by the, three partners of Automotive Products Co., Messrs. E. B. Boughton, W. Ernmott and D. T. Brock. As our readers will know, Automotive Products Co. has. for many years past, had the sales rights for Borg and Beck clutches for England and the Continent.

Under the new arrangement, the manufacture and sale of Borg and Beck clutches in England will be controlled by the new company from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, where the clutches will shortly be in production. The registered office of the new concern is Brock House, Langham Street, London, W.1.

Increase in German Imports.

An official return recently to hand shows that although the number of foreign commercial vehicles imported into Germany increased from 357 in 1929 to 386 last year, there was a decline in value from £105,250 to £102,100. During 1930, 20 buses, valued at £12,600, were also imported into Germany.

An Eight-wheeled Bus.

An eight-wheeled bus has recently been completed by the Maschinen mad Fahrzeugfabrik P. Stile, of Munster, Westphalia. The vehicle, which has accommodation for 44 sitting and a large number of standing passengers, is equipped with a !daybed' six-cylindered engine having a capacity of 7 litres.

The Thornycroft 4-toriner.

John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., has recently issued a specification leaflet dealing with its PC forward chassis, which is a goods model designed to carry a net load of 4 tons, with a body allowance not exceeding 18 cwt.

The engine is a four-cylindered unit, having a 4i-in. bore and 514n, stroke, its capacity being 331 cubic ins. The clutch is of the dry single-plate type and the gearbox provides four forward speeds and a reverse. The two-piece propeller shaft conveys the drive to an overhead worm-driven rear axle with a normal reduction ratio of 7.25 to 1. The wheelbase of this model is 14 ft.

The Latest Edition of an Authoritative Book.

A number of technical books has been written by Mr. Arthur W. Judge, Whitworth Scholar, A.R.C.S., A,M.I.A.E.; one of the best known is "Automobile and Aircraft Engines." This has recently been issued in its revised form, price £2 2s. and is published by Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, Ltd.; Parker Street, Kingsway, London, W.C.2.

An important addition takes the form of a chapter dealing with compressionignition engines ; the information contained therein is of great value and is enhanced by the appended bibliography.

Another chapter summarizes the latest research work upon the theories dealing with the process of combustion. The sections dealing with detonation, supercharging and fuels have been remodelled and extended.

The new edition is some 200 pages larger than the former one. The information is clearly indexed and should prove of considerable value to the tech

nielan. The industry's debt to the chemist is revealed in the statement that of the 40 per cent. increase in power obtained during the past decade some 15 per cent. has been due to the improvements in fuels employed.

011-engined Bus for the Philippines.

The Manila Electric Railway ,,and Light Co., of Manila, Philippine Islands, is introducing an oil-engined bus on one of the suburban routes. The company first introduced motorbuses in 1927, and to-day operates 85 vehicles over 52 miles of route. In the immediate future the company will place in operation a Mercedes-Benz bus to carry 62 passengers. The vehicle ,.is said to be the first of its kind in the Far East.

Statistics of the French Industry.

In the course of a booklet recently issued by the Michelin Co., on the motor industry in France, an interesting estimate is given of the percentages of the different classes of commercial vehicle in use throughout that country.

Below we give a summary of the percentages, the first figures referring to those obtaining in cities and towns and the second to the percentages of the vehicles in country districts. For loads between 4 cwt. and 10 cwt., 16 per cent. and 33 per cent.; between 10 cwt. and 20 cwt., 21 per cent. and 24 per cent. ; between 1 ton and 2 tons, 22 per cent. and 17 per cent.; between 2 tons and 3 tons, 10 per cent. and 6 per cent ; from 3 tons to 4 tons, 12 per cent. and 8 per cent ; from 4 tons to 5 tons, 14 per cent. and 8 per cent. ; over 5 tons, 2 per cent, in both eases; tractors, 3 per cent. and 2 per cent.

It will be seen that nearly 60 per cent. of the vehicles in towns and 74 Per cent. of those in the country are for loads under 2 tons.

Agencies for the Cob.

Karrier Motors, Ltd., advises us that a number of agencies in various parts of the country has been fixed up to deal with the Karrier Cob three-wheeler, but certain districts are still uncovered. All correspondence relative to this model should be addressed to the company at Department "0," Karrier Works, Huriclerefield.

A Big Decline in Canadian Exports. The number of vans, lorries and commercial chassis shipped from Canada during the past 12 months was 15,712 units, valued at £1,212,300, as contrasted with 36,858 and 12,966,200 respectively in 1929. As will be seen from the accompanying table, during. 1930 the best customers for Canadian vehicles were India, New Zealand, Spain and Africa.

Orders Placed by the G.W.R.

R. Pratt and Co., Sutton, Surrey, has received an order from the Great Western Railway Co. for five Ford 30-cwt. tipping lorries for use at Theale, as well as for 12 Fordson tractors for general purposes.

Karrier Motors, Ltd., Huddersfield, has received from this railway company an order for five Karrier Cob tractors for experimental use at Paddington goods depot. .

French Railway Inaugurates Road Services.

Following the example of other French railways, the Paris-Orleans Co. has lately organised an affiliated concern to be known as the Societe des Transport Automobiles Paris-Orleans, to operate bus and lorry services in conjunction with its system. The new undertaking will combine the activities of the railways and tramways affiliated with the P.O. Co. and the road services of the Societe Paris Transports-Automobiles and of the Societe des Transports Automobiles Industriels et Commerciaux.

A F.B.I. Deputation to the Treasury.

One day last week a deputation from the Federation of British Industries, representing interests affected by the duty on oils, was received by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, the deputation being introduced by Sir Roland Nugent, the director of the Federation.

A particular aspect emphasized was the burden on industries using the dutiable oils as raw material and not as fuel for burning, or in engines. The petrol duty applies to a whole range of spirit, some of which is unsuitable for use in motor vehicles, but which is used as a solvent or as a raw material. The number of trades affected is quite large.

Mr. Pethick Lawrence undertook to convey to the Chancellor of the Exchequer the representations made by the deputation.

Belgium's Tractor Imports Lower.

Last year Belgium imported 979 tons of tractors, valued at £95,508, as compared with 1,401 tons and £156,766 respectively in 1929. Of the total the largest quantity is credited to Germany, followed by France, Great Britain, the United States, Italy and the Irish Free State.

After Fifty Years.

The horse-drawn coaches, brakes and wagonettes which, for over fifty years, formed the principal means for transport between Aberfoyle and the Tros sachs, have been withdrawn. It is understood that an arrangement has beau reached between the railway company serving the area and a bus firm to run 14-seaters over the route.

A Tyre Concern's Development.

We learn that premises have been opened at 19, Market Square, Northampton, by Mr. I. I. Smith, the proprietor of the Birmingham Moter Tyre Repository Co., which has premises at 84-85, Broad Street, Birmingham, and at Hartshill Road, Stoke-on-Trent A full range of tyres will be carried at the new branch, and the same serviee will be given as at the two existing ones.