SLUMP IN IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.
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The Board of Trade returns for July, 1938, show that the value of commercial vehicles, cars, chassis and accessories imported during that month was £161,417, a figure which represents an appreciable drop on the total of £468,705 for the comparable month of 1937.
There was another drop in the number of commercial -vehicles exported, although their value showed an
increase. The ° figures for foreign countries showed an excellent increase —£70,786, against £22,801 in July, 1937--but the figures for British countries staged a fall. The actual number of vehicles exported was 290, their value being £130,161, • the corresponding figures for the previous year being 329 and 2102,351.
Exports of 'commercial chassis showed a decrease, both in number and in value. There were large decreases in the figures for Eire, India, other British countes and foreign countries, although these were partly offset by an improvement in the figures for Australia and -New Zealand. The total number of chassis exported was 1,251, their value being £222,977; in July, 1997, the total was 1,549 vehicles, with a value of £259,839.
STRONG PROTEST AGAINST LICENCE INCREASES.
As a result of the Minister of Transport's inability to " see his way to amending the proposed new scale of licence fees," after representations by national associations, a strong protest has been registered over the joint signatures of the A.R.O., the C.M.U.A., and the NatiOnal Road Transport Employers' Federation.
The root of the protest is the sound suggestion that additional revenue should be provided . out of the £31,000,000 annually contributed in special taxes: by commercial-vehicle users.. Failing that, however, any necessary increase in licence fees "would• be less objectionable if the industry were satisfied that each section contributed in proportion to the expenses incurred in administering that section."
In other words, these Associations find it a matter for profound regret that A and B licence-holders are required to pay nearly three times as much in licence fees as C licenceholders, although the A and B-licensed operators employ little more than a third of the number of vehicles authorized under C licences.
The memorandum goes on to point out that the cost of examining an Alicensed vehicle is no more than that of examining a C-licensed one, "and the cogency of this fact will be appreciated when it is realized that no less than a quarter of the amount to be raised (i.e., £.80,000) is to be allocated to the cost of vehicle inspection. . . ."
It is mentioned, in addition, that the annual fee of 5s. payable in respect of a C-licensed vehicle does not even cover the cost of one inspection.
Orkney :Traffic Heavier.
It is revealed, in the Ministry of Transport road-traffic census taken on the mainland of Orkney, that there is a 38.8 per cent, increase over the 1935 returns. In 1935 there were fewer than 500 lorries on the Orkney mainland; there are now over 1,300.
GOLD MINING WITH AN ALBION IN SOUTH AFRICA.
The accompanying group of pictures shows an Albion vehicle in service in East Transvaal, and affords some idea of the conditions under which delivery of the vehicle was made by Messrs. Keay and Anderson, of Hectorspruit, East Trailsvaal, who are the maker's agents in Johannesburg. The vehicle has been supplied for use in connection with gold-mining operations.
Hectorspruit lies some 300 miles east of Johannesburg, on the border of Portuguese East Africa, and part of the road leading to it is, in fact, the old railway line to Lourenco Marques, originally operated in the Transvaal Republican days and sponsored by Paul Kruger. Whilst the road is quite saris
factory for the average private car, the Albion vehicle—a CX3 6-71-ton fourwheeler—was substantially bigger than anything normally using the road and, as a result, clearances were reduced to inches on a number of occasions. '
One of the pictures shows a tunnel through which the vehicle had to pass en route, and we understand the cab only cleared the roof by a matter of two or three inches. Another photo-. graph also illustrates the small clearance, in this case the lorry being seen negotiating an old railway bridge; as there is a drop of 165 ft. at one point, the driver's task of steering a straight course between the parapets could not have been a particularly easy one.
Germany's Rising). Sales.
June last proved an active month as regards the sales of new commercial vehicles in Germany, the first-time registrations reaching a total of 4,619 units as contrasted with 3,505 in the corresponding month a year ago. The aggregate 'sales and first-time registrations during the first half of the current year are returned at 23,331 •vehicles, as compared with 20,210 units in the similar six months of 1937, an(increase of nearly IS per cent. ..
. The June sales comprised .576 with a carrying capacity of under 1. too;, 1,067 between '1 and 2 tons; 1;509 between 2 and 3 tons; 1,029 between 3 and 3f tons; 129 between 3f and 4 tons; 155 between 4 and 5 tons; 141 between 5 and 71 tons; and 13 over 71 tons.
The most popuplar vehicles in. Germany at present, in the order of their numerical importance, are Opel, Ford, Daimler-Benz, 'Hansa-Lloyd, BussingN.A.G„ Magirus, Tempo and Krupp.
90,000 Miles Without a Rebore.
A Guy vacuum tanker supplied to the Borough of Colwyn Bay in October, 1925, has covered 90,000 miles witbout a rebore. In fact, the Only Major work carried out on the engine has been, we are informed, di taking up the main and big-end bear
ings. Aceording to the -136rough
engineer, little expenditure has been incurred on repairs to the chassis, although the vehicle has been operating continuously for nearly 13 years in a hilly district.
The vehicle is still in good working order and is engaged on cleaning out gullies and cesspools and conveying water to farm fires. • Canadian Export Value Up.
A return lately to hand shows that whilst the number of commercial vehicles and chassis exported from Canada during the six months ended June last amounted to 19,859 units, as contrasted with 11,302 in the corresponding 'half of 1937, the gross value of the ship. meats advanced from £8334747. to A870,965.. ' POLICE INTERVIEW OF DRIVER CONDEMNED.
" I have never heard any facts, of the kind presented in this case,. to rival the proceedings taken by the prosecution." This was part of the strong comment which a solicitor, Mr. W. H. Lill, felt impelled to make on Monday when defending Edward Rydeherd, of Heaton Park, 'Manchester, a lorry driver employed by the Co-operative VVholesale, Society.
• The case. ,which was before the Altrinchain magistrates, was based on a police allegation that the driver -failed to conform to an indication given by a traffic sign, which was produced in court, and read:' "Stop. Road Traffic Officer. Cheshire C.C."
The driver asserted that he received a summons on July 9, and on July 20 he rejected the proposition of two policeman, who called to interview him, that if he made a statement admitting the offence he would not need to attend court, and only a nominal fine would be imposed. Besides declining to make such a statement, he explained that he had already sent two letters denying the alleged offence.
The evidence of the prosecution was that the driver ignored the sign, which was shown by a Cheshire County Council officer authorised to stop vehicles to ascertain the weight. When a fine of 30s., plus 30s. costs, was announced, Mr. Lill said an appeal would be considered.
A joint Fire Brigade's Purchases.
Placing its initial order for firefighting Machines, the newly formed Stretford and Urmston Joint Fire Brigade has specified three Leyland models--a turntable escape, a fireengine and a fire tender. The firstnamed incorporates a 100-ft. fivesection all-steel ladder, whilst the fire-engine is a 500-700 g.p.m. outfit with transverse seating and a 35-ft. two-stage ladder. The tender comprises a general, utility machine, with an enclosed van-type body, living accommodation for eight men.
' PERSONAL PARS.
• MR. ALEXANDER EVANS, transport manager to the Stirling Co-operative Society, has been awarded the Royal Society of Arts certificate in elements of law relating to road transport. He has been employed with the society for 18 years.
MR. CHARLES WATLING, Lord Mayor of Norwich and head of the well-known Norwich concern of haulage contractors of that name, is to broadcast on October.29, the evening of the Royal opening of the new city hall. He will talk about modern Norwich.
MR. LEO TOLSTOY LITTLE
appointed Lowestoft and district organizer of the Transport and General Workers' Union, Holland House, Beach Road, Lowestoft, to succeed Mr. F. C. Germaney. At Croydon, Mr. Little was delegate in the London bus section of the T. and G.W.U.
MR. M. H. Form has been appointed factory representative for the Daimler Co., Ltd., for buses and cars, in India, Burma and Ceylon; his headquarters will be in Bombay. He is already well known in India, having spent a number of years there in connection with motor-trade activities.
MR. WILLIAM FODEN paid £5 for a sandwich last Saturday! It was made with the first slice of beef cut from an ox which was roasted whole at the sports of Foclens, Ltd., Sandbach, of which he is managing director. Nine hours were needed to roast the huge carcase, and Mr. Foden gave the lead to a few expensive purchases of tasty bits, MR. G. BesibrioN-Bgowtni breaks an association of 13 years with Simms Motor Units, Ltd., in joining the Manchester staff of the Skefko Ball
n20 Bearing Co., Ltd. Mr. BennionBrowne is known to many passengervehicle operators in this country and Australia, and particularly in the Lancashire area. Aberdeen's New Southward Highway.
The new Aberdeen road, from Holburn Street to Whinhill Road, which will link up the city with the new satellite town St. Kincorth and will be carried to meet the AberdeenStonehaven road, will be named Great Southern Road. When completed, the new road will be Aberdeen's main thoroughfare to the south. It has a dual carriageway and cost £19,000.
Linked up with the new road will be the new £140,000 bridge across the River Dee, the foundation stone of which is to be laid shortly by the Lord Provost of Aberdeen. This bridge will he a means for communication right into the heart of St. Kincorth. -JUNE .31 " ON_RECORD SHEET!
When Mr. David Sutherland, a salesman, admitted at Cupar Sheriff Court, last week, that he failed, on July 2, to produce to a police officer the current record sheets for a motorvan for the period from January 3 to July 1, and teat on the same date he failed to keep a current record, it was stated that he had included in his sheets the imaginary date of June SI! Accused admitted two previous convictions for having failed to keep current records. He was fined E2 on the first charge and £3 on the second.
Publicizing the Electric Vehicle.
Starting in the autumn and continuing for 12 months, a special publicity and sales campaign is to be carried out in the North-west England and North Wales areas of the Electric Vehicle Association. This will have the co-operation of municipal and other electricity-supply authorities, also of the Electrical Development Association.
Meanwhile, a correspondent naively adds, it may fairly be mentioned that, within the area, there are municipal electricity departments using petrol vehicles, with boards bearing slogans about the merits of electricity!
Official Orders in July.
Among the orders for motor vehicles and allied material given out by Government Departments during July last were the following:—By the Admiralty, lorries and vans from Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd.; by the War Office, trailers from Reliance Trucks, Ltd., and Taskers of Andover (1932), Ltd., and lorries from Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd.; by the Air Ministry, bodies and cabs from Mulliners, Ltd., tractors from the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., platform bodies from Brockhouse Engineering (Southport), Ltd., trailer bodies from British Pressed Panels, Ltd., and Carbodies, Ltd., trailer chassis from J. Brockhouse and Co., Ltd., trailers from the Eagle Engineering Co., Ltd., and lorry-bodies from Rootes, Ltd.,' and Vauichall Motors, Ltd.; by the Crown Agents for the Colonies, refuse-carrying lorries from Morris Industries Exports, Ltd., and road rollers from Aveling-Barford, I td.
Another Scottish Oil Discovery. During the past few weeks over 60 gallons of oil have been taken from a hole in the garden of Viewfield,
Quarter, Lanarkshire, the residence of Mr. James Homal. SaMples of the oil have been sent for analysis to experts, who say that, from their first impressions, the oil is of fine quality. The United Collieries Co., Ltd., holds the mineral rights for the site.
Latils in Poland.
It is reported that arrangements have lately been completed between the Lath Co., of Paris, and a locomotive building works at Chrza.now. Poland, for the assembly of Latil vehicles in Poland.
IMPORTANCE OF TYRE-HEATING TESTS.
It is recognized by all who are familiar with tyre problems that heat is one of the most destructive factors to contend with. Its generation is inevitable, because of the flexing of the tyre, but the maker, to achieve success, must take all possible precautions to minimize the internal temperature rise.
The use of materials having a low thermal factor, ensuring even tension and lay of the cords, reduction of movement between plys, etc., are methods of keeping the tyre cool. An accompanying illustration shows one of the special machines installed by Henley's Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., Finsbury Square, London, E.C.2, to enable intensive surveys to be made of the means for eliminating heat build-up in tyres, a problem to which much study is devoted by this company.
By means of this device, tyres can be run against the revolving drum, at various speeds, contact and inflation pressures, etc., and accurate observations made.
Shipping Guide for Hauliers.
The following is the number of ships arriving at Old London .docks;wharves and jetties named,-from,September z to 7 inclusive:—DocKs: KingGeorge V. 3; Royal Albert, 5:. Royal Victoria, .4; Surrey Commercial, 7; East India, 1; West India, 3; South West India, 1; Tilbury, 3 ; Tilbury Stage, 2'; Alillwall, 6; Royal, 2; London, 1. _
Hays, 6; Butler's, 1.. Tilbury jetty, 1. Regent's Canal, 1.
Guessing No Use for Records.
• That there were practically 100 discrepancies in his drivers' log books for March, April and May was admitted by a Hemsby. Norfolk, haulage contractor, when he, Mr. B. W. Dyble, appeared recently at the Flegg Petty Sessions, at Rollesby; on various summonses.
It was stated that his drivers did not have watches and had, to a great extent, to go by _guesswork. The offences had occurred since his 14-yearold daughter had started checking the records. Mr. Dyble was fined 10s. in each of four cases and was given the benefit of the doubt in four others. He was ordered to pay £2 Is: 3d. costs.
Wilson Electric at Bakers' Show.
Of interest to many of our readers, an exhibit at the Bakers' and Corifecboners' Exhibition, which opens to-morrow at the Royal Agricultural Hall, ISlington, London, remaining open until September 8, will be a Wilson Electric 25-cwt. 'c ha ssi s, mounted between pedestals at each end and slowly revolving to display its constructional features. This model is representative of a range of delivery vehicles of from 5 cwt. to 25 cwt made by Partridge Wilson and Co., Ltd., Davenset Works, Leicester.
The concern is also showing a variety of components, including the Wilson constant-delay-action speed controller, and the latest Davenset battery charger.