WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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wheel of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, a.s a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier. The
The Question of Imports.
A question which has been agitating manufacturers and users is that of the continuance of the prohibition upon Motor-vehicle imports, and the President of the Board of Trade has now appointed a council to examine the existing law on prohibited imports, to consider the revision of that law, to consider what percentage of normal imports should be admitted up to September let, and to make recommendations to the President of the Board of Trade.
The council consists of Sir Samuel base, Bt., C.M.G., M.P., chairman; 11 gentlemen appointed by the President of the Board of Trade, including Mr. A. F. Bird, M.P., and Mr. E. Manville, M.P., both of them au fait with matters of motoring interest; a representative of the Treasury; five nominees of the Association of Chambers of Commerce; four nominees of the Federation of British Industries; two nominees of the National Union of Manufacturers; four representatives of employers and work people, nominated by the Ministry of Labour; two nominees of the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress; and one nominee from each of the following: the. Association of Trade Protection Societie,s, the National Chamber of Trade, and the Parliamentary Committee of the Co-operative Congress.
From the full council are being appointed five sub-committees, No, 3 sub-committee embracing motorcars and the manufactures of wood. These sub-cornmittebs will meet two or three times a week, and will deal primarily with their particular group of commodities, and the conclusions of the sub-committees of each particular commodity will be reviewed by the whole council which will make final recommendations to the Government, the council meeting weekly. The members of the sub-committee consist of Mr. A. Berkeley (chairman), Mr. E. Manville, M.P., Mr. F. G. Dorizzi, Mr. Thomas Pratt, Mr. G. A. Moore, Col. Will Thorne, M.P., and Mr. A. F. .Bird, M.P.
Tractor Sales.
A number of motor tractors, ploughs, and other agricultural implements were recently solid by direction of the West Suffolk Agricultural Executive Committee. Clayton tractors ; sold as • foie lows :—£340, £330 (2), £310 (2), £240, £300, £250, £200, £210, and £180 (2); two Fordson tractors with Oliver ploughs made £190 and £170 respectively, and Titan tractors realized £150 £180, £175, £160 (2), and £135 (2). Tractor ploughs fetched even prices according to the number of furrows, while tractor trailers s6ld from £6 to £7 10s.
Rubber Roads.—
An experiment in the rubber paving of roadways, which is attracting interest . amongst municipal engineers and others, is being carried out in High Street, Southwark. It is being laid at, the suggestion of Rubber Roadways, Ltd., a company formed by members of the Rubber Growers Association, and the Borough Council are merely providing the labour costs. This company claims an important economical process in 028
rubber paving blocks. The area to be treated will be 400 sq. yards, and the composition used will be similar to that used in the construction of motorbus tyres. It is claimed that rubber paving blocks lessen the risk of skidding, are more hygienic in use than the present sett'
s and, whilst reducing noise, will also tend to eliminate the vibration to buildings caused by heavy traffic.
Petrol Licences.
The approximate number of motor spirit licences current at the end of February was 294,000. The numbers of. the different classes of licences making u,p this total are: Full-duty, 163,000; half-duty, 10,000; free of duty, 121,000.
Local Taxation Licence Returns.
Mr. Illingworth replying to a question from Mr. Jeynson-Hicks in the House of Commons last week stated that the local taxation licence _returns for motor vehicles will not be finally tabulated until the end of June.
Mails by Tramcar.
Johannesburg Municipal Concil has arranged with the Postmaster-General for the conveyance of mails on the tramways. The Postmaster has agreed to exempt the Municipal Council from liability should a mail bag be lost in the course of tranemission.
Countryside Transport.
Replyingto complaints that disabled soldiers who have become allotment holders in remote districts cannot market their produce Sir Arthur Boscawen stated Last wale that the Boaxcl of Agriculture hoped to put into operation some experimental schemes of transport at an early date.
Manchester Mails.
Following hard upon the heels of the order ly Messrs. Carter, Paterson and Co. for a fleet of the new W. and G. commercial vehicles, comes the news that Messrs. J. Blake and Co., of Manchester and Liverpool, have ordered a fleet of W. and G.s for their poet office contract in Manchester and Liverpool.
Army Postal Service.
When our armies were at full strength 12,000,000 letters and 1,000,000 parcels were -sent out to the troops weekly from the Home Depot, R.E. Postal Section, in Regent's Park, London. To cope with this postal Niagara, 120 lorries and a company of 500 motor transport drivers were employed. For the increased work at Christmastide 120 additional lorries were requisitioned.
Tractor Trial.
In response to many requests, the Alldays and Onions Pneumatic Engineering Co., Ltd., is arranging for another practical demonstration of tractor ploughing by the Alldays, General Purpose tractor, on April 10th and 11th, between the boors of 10.30 ft.m. and 4.30 p.m., at Mr. Tomlinson's farm, Washwood Heath, near Birmingham. The field is situated near the Fox and G0060 Hotel, within two minutes walk from Washwood tram terminus. and within five minutes walk from Stetchford Station.
Oil Scrubbing for Benzole.
In the House of Commons last week Mr. Joynson Hicks asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether, having regard to the importance of home-produced fuel as a means of rendering motor transport independent of imported petrol he will give every encouragement to gas companies to continue and expand the practice of oil-scrubbing for benztede ; (2) whether he is aware that the quality of gas supplied in London during the war is due to the presence of incombustibles in the -gas, and not to the extraction of benzole as suggested by certain authorities, and that many provincial gas undertakings who have fully extracted benzole during the war have nevertheless kept above The statutory 'standard of 500 B.T.U.; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter!
Mr. Bridgeman: Some time ago my right hon. friend asked the Fuel Research Board to advise upon the question of what is the most suitable quality and composition of gas and the minimum pre. sure at which it should generally be supplied, having regard to the desirability of economy in the use of coal, the adequate recovery of by-products, and the purposes for which goa is now used. Their report has been received withinthe last day or two, but until the Bdard of Trade and other Departments concerned have had an opportunity of considering it, I am not prepared to express an opinion upon the matters referred to.
Ambulance Work in Sheffield.
The Sheffield voluntary ambulance workers are about to be demobilized after a prolonged period of meritorious service during the war. The task of conveying the -wounded men from the railway 'stations to the respective hos. pitals has been no light one. This will be readily realized when it is pointed out that no fewer than 422 convoys were attended, and 65,859 men conveyed to hospitals. Mr. F. M. Tindall was the director of transport, and the arrangements for raising the funds to purchase motor ambulances were all in his hands. As a result of public generosity 50 motor ambulances were purchased.
Commercial Drivers' Hours.
An agreement between the Transport Workers' Federation and the National Alliance of Commercial Road Transport Associations and Federations, the National Union of Horse and Motor Vehicle Owners' Associations (Incorporated), and the Motor Transport Employers' Federation, which came into operation in the City and Metropolitan district on Monday last, provides that the workiet week for commercial drivers (horse and mechanical), stable and garage hands, and mates and trailermen in the carting indttstry in Great Britain shall be 48. hours, exclusive of meal times, but inclusive of stable and garage duties; that overtime shall be calculated and paid on the same basis as now applies in the respective localities, bat shall be operative in respect of any time in excess of 48 hours weekly or the agreed daily basis.
A Noteworthy Napier.
The driver of a Napiex 25-cwt. van employed by John Richardson and-Co., of Leieester, forwards us a few particularsconcerning the running of the vehicle which afford commendable testimony to the construction and design of vehicles of this make. The vehicle in question, chassis No. 1134N, was purchased in April, 1913, and since that date has covered a distance of 78,800 miles, and the engine, clutch and gearbox have not been out for overhaul yet. He states that the gears look as good as new, and that the engine pulls as well as it did when delivery was first taken. The manufacturers overhauled the back axle when one of the axle tubes broke, and the cylinders have been ground and new pistons and rings fitted, but other slight repairs have been carried out by the driver himself. The record is certainly a good one and should need some beating.
Tyre Testimony.
The following experience related by an important firm of motor dealers in Lancashire affords proof positive of the inherent qualities of reliability and durability of St. Helens solid band tyres. The communication runs as follows :—
" Along with two of our drivers I was delivering three new wagons to Scotland, each of which was fitted with a different make of solid hand tyres, one of them being St. Helens. On arriving at Shap Fell we encountered very frosty weather, and the long incline was almost as smooth as glass. We experienced great trouble with skidding and slipping on two of the wagons, but the one fitted with St. Helens tyres made the aScent, quite easily, and we had eventually to uee it to help up the others. At Beattock we found similar weather conditions, and had the same experience' and-I think the fact that we had no trouble with the wagon on which your tyres were fitted is a great proof of the quality of the rubber
used in the manufacture of St. Helens band tyres."
Mr. J. H, a Brooking, of the St. Helens Cable and Rubber Co., Ltd., who forwarded us a copy of the letter, does not attribute the useful work to the quality of the rubber. We leave oar readers to suggest a reason for the euperior performance of the tyres.
Amalgamation of Fuel Companies.
Mr. Bridgenian in reply to Mr. Sexton last week in the House of Commons said: My attention has been called to a report of the amalgamation of two of the large companies which deal in motor spirit, but I do not understand that there is a danger of a corner in petrol. The petrol importing companies have been marketing certain quantities of benzole, but there is no corner in this product, and it is hoped that a large proportion of the output will eventually be distributed by the producers. A scheme for carrying out such distribution is under consideration.
The motor transport section of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce has removed its offices to 35 and 36, Corn and Produce Exchange, Fennel Street, Manchester.
We understand that the Dreadnought Motor Policies at Lloyd's, the North and South Insurance Corporation and the British Oak Insurance Co. are making substantial concessions on vehicles fitted with Triplex safety glass.
Outliner Car lorries are in great demand at the present time, and the sales department of the company at Luton is as a result being kept very busy. Extensions are being carried out in the works in order to keep pace with the growing popularity of this make of vehicle.
Guy Goodwill.
During the war the whole of the energies of Guy Motors, Ltd., Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, have been devoted to the fulfilment of Government contracts, with the result that only sparse attention has been given to customers and their vehicles during this period. Now that the company is being gradually released from these contracts, they are again turning their attention to Were interests.
In this connection, users of Guy vehicles will be pleased to hear that the company's repair and inspection departments are now being thoroughly reorganized, and to meet this end Captain W. Ewart Guy, who has spent four and a half years on active service in the R.A.S.C., M.T., is taking over the management of the repair department. The company's free periodical inspection, which is very much appreciated by users, is being taken charge of by Captain Stuart Johnson, who has also seen Army eervice, and he will shortly be calling upon Guy users to offer any assistance or advice which. may be required upon the subject of running and upkeep. Users in need of replacements or repairs should not hesitate to communicate with the company, who will give inquirers prompt attention.
Mobile Searchlights.
The huge searchlights which were used by the Italian Army during the war for the purposes of revealing movements in the enemy lines, probably several miles away on an opposite hill, were carried on specially-built trailers hauled by Italian lorries. The hauling vehicle also received the electric generating set from which the current was conducted to the lamps. The lorries very often had to negotiate dangerous mountain roads with their frequent twists and turns in order to secure a commanding position' from which to operate the equipment.
Horseless Manchester.
Alderinan Johnston is proposing to the Manchester City Council that a Transport Department be constituted to control all the vehicular traffic of the corporation (except tramways) and to substitute mechanically-propelled vehicles for horse-drawn in the corporation service, and ultimately to extend this substitution to all the street traffic of the city. Preventing the spread of infectious diseases is one of the objects mentioned in favour of the proposal.
Dennis Developments.
A recent visit to the Dennis works at Guildford reveals, some important ,clevelopmente -which are taking place in that business, the drawing office being all agog with designs of a new 2-ton lorry to be named the Dennis Portland, and long before the close of this year this lorry will be offered for sale. A syndicate has been formed of prominent agents, the directors being as follow :— Mr. Raymond Dennis; Mr. A. R. Atkey, M.P., Nottingham; Mr. Sydney Norris, Manchester; Mr. G. N. C. Mann,
Norwich; Mr. Tom Norton, Llandrindod Wells ; Mr. Noel Mobbs, Northampton ; and Mr. W. L. Sleigh, Edinburgh. Agencies are already fixed in most parts of the country, mainly, it may be said, amongst Ford distributers, and the organization seems to be quite a sound one. The output for the first year, we are told, is to be 1,000 chassis.
The thought will occur how these are to be turned, out, considering the enormous increase in demand for the original Dennis lorries and fire engines. It may be said here that an amalgamation has taken place between Dennis Bros., Ltd., and White and Poppe, Ltd., of Coventry. Two separate directorates will exist, but the directors are intermingled, and the great White and Poppe factory at Coventry will be engaged solely on Dennis pro dnctions.
On every hand at Guildford one sees signs of advancement, the works are splendidly organized, and the administration building is one of the finest in the country, so that the Dennis claim that shortly they will be turning out WO chassis ner week, and will thus be c28 the largest producers of commercial vehicles in this country, would appear to have much to justify it. The value of export business is not lost sight of, and Mr. Raymond Dennis will start later in the year for a business tour round the world, taking in South Africa, India, Malay Peninsula, China, Japan, Australasia and South America.
Race Meetings and Char-a-bancs Trips.
Those users Who are fortunate enough to be in possession of complete chars-abanes are beginning to turn them to good account. The illustration on this page shows two Leyland chars-i-bancs starting for the Grand National race meeting held in Liverpool on Friday last. The machines are the " G " type 4-tonner, and one of them belongs to Mr. Pickburn, of Leyland; each has a fixed canopy top, glass screen behind driver and back of body, and has a seating capacity of 32. The inclusive return fare for the trip was 7s. Large numbers of chassis and bodies are going through the Leyland works at the present time in readiness for the oncoming char-a-hancs season which promises to be a bumper one.
Tractor Sales in Yorkshire.
Two sales of agricultural machinery have just taken place under the auspices of the Yorkshire North Riding War Agricultural Committee at NorthaLlerton and York. Both sales were very well attended, and the prices paid for all classes of implements gave an indication of the manner in which farmers are eagerly taking the opportunity for purchasing labour-saving appliances which -the war has taught them to use. In most cases the lots offered had been in the use of the committee for three years.
At Northallerton Titan tractors made from £150 to £205, and Vordsons from £185 to £210. At York seven Titans made from £170 to £206, averaging £185, while a similar number of Fordsons realized from £190 to £230, and averaged £202 10s.
Book up your hotel atcommodation for the Royal Show week.
C.M.U.A. Northern Division.
At a representative meeting of heavy motor transport users held at the County Had, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on Mach 27th, and presided over by Mr. F. Nicholson, of Sunderland, it was decided to form a Northern Division of the Commercial Motor Users Association. After the meeting had been addressed by Mr. F. G. Bristow, general secretary of the C.M.U.A. and the Motor Transport Employers' Federation, it was decided to form a Northern Branch of the Motor Transport Employers' Federation, and to take part in the formation of a Joint Industrial Council for the transport industry. A strong committee was elected, and an active propaganda will at once be set on foot amongst local transport users.
Oxford's Gas Buses.
The use of gas-driven buses apparently possesses disadvantages so far as it limits the carrying capacity of the vehicles, This is strikingly in evidence at Oxford. where gas-driven buses have proved to be economical in running. The upper deck has been used for housing the gas bag, with the result that the passengercarrying capacity has suffered, and overcrowding has been the rule. Local opinion is pressing the company to dispense with the gasbags and run the buses on petrol to avoid inconvenience and crushing.
Albion Gift.
The Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., ad. vise us that they have presented to the University Collage, London, a 25 h.p. A.12 four-cylinder Albion engine for the use of the students.
Provincial bus users who ran their vehicles on gas during the period of petrol shortage are now turning over to the latter fuel, and dispensing with their gasbags now that more petrol is available.
A firm of automobile engineers in the Midlands, with great facilities for dealing with commercial vehicles, would like to take up the agency for a reliable 1-ton and a. 30-cwt. commercial lorry Apply, H. S., care of this journal.
Freedom from Accidents.
To stimulate their staff -to greater efforts in the direction of freedom from accidents, it is the practice of the London General Omnibus Co. to award a shield each year to the garage whose • drivers have had the fewest number of accidents per 10,000 miles run. For the year 1918, although closely contested by Mortlake and Turnham Green, the shield has been won by Streatham. The continued improvement in the direction of safety by all garages, will be apparent when a comparison of the 1918 figures against each garage is made with the corresponding figures for 1917 on the chart reproduced on this page.
• Taxidrivers and Income Tax.
In the House of Commons last week Major Ward-Jackson asked the Home 'Secretary whether he had any information as to how many taxicab drivers in the Metropolitan area are paying income tax; and whether, seeing the rich harvest they are gleaning from the London public, he can see his way to take off the surcharge of 6d. which is now allowed to be imposed over the ordinary fare?
Mr. Shortt: I have no information as to how many taxicab drivers pay income tax. The surcharge of 6d. was granted to meet the general increase in the cost of commodities, and there is no evidence pointing to such a reduction in prices as would warrant the withdrawal ef the surcharge.
Larnps for Government Use.
J. and R. Oldfield Ltd. of of Dependence lamp fame, desire it to be known among their clients that they are still very extensively engaged on Govern ment contracts. On the cessation of hostilities it was naturally expected that something approaching normal trade conditions would return, but so far from this being the condition of affairs, so far as Messrs. Oldfield are concerned, they are, as a matter of fact, supplying more of their particular productions to the Government than at any time during the past two years. While this state of affairs is very complimentary to the good qualities of Dependence Iampa, winch have proved their absolute dependability under the most exacting conditions, it is, at the same time disappointing to the manufacturers that a certain amount of delay is being experienced in fulfilling customers' requirements.
More Walsall Bus Difficulties.
The Main Road and Bridges Committee have recommended to the Staffordshire County Council that consent should not be given to the Walsall Corporation to run motorbuses on several routes in the county area without first being satisfied that there wac a substantial demand in the county for the buses, and then only when satisfactory terms were agreed upon. It was argued that it was not equitable to take profits from the county without the bus company substantially contribute towards the maintenance of the roads which they use. Another phase of the argument was instanced by another member of the Committee who pointed out that owing to house shortage many men were compelled to live long distancesfrom their .work, and that it was necessary that some facilities should be provided for their convenience, and if the Walsall Corporation was more progressive than the County Council or
the Urban and Rural Councils they ought to be commended for their enterprise. Between the two schools of thought no definite decision was reached, and the matter was referred to a special committee on transport. Walsall always appears to be up against difficulties surrounding the operation of buses.
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The Industrial Reconstruction Council.
The Rt. Hon. J. H. Whitley, M.P., has accepted the office of president, and. Lieut.-Col. C. L'Estrange Malone, M.P., the office of Chairman of the Executive Committee of the above body. The Industrial Reconstruction Council, which was founded by Mr. Ernest J. P. Benn, is a propagandist body having for its object the awakening of national interest to the need for a complete system of industrial self-government, based on the principles of the Whitley Report.
Leyland Motors, Ltd. have a few of their tear-off calendars left over, and will be pleased to despatch one to any interested applicant. Applications to Mr. A. W. Windsor at the Publicity Department, Leyland.
Local Proceedings. _
Vewton Abbot (Devon) R.D.C. is to consider the purchase of steam lorries.
Bromyard (Hereford) U.D.C. is to pitchase haulage plant at a cost not to exceed £2,000.
Londonderry (Ireland) T.C. is to purchase six single-decked motorbuses at about £1,530 each.
The purchase of a :motor ambulance for the Cheam Hospital is to be brought. before the Surrey C.C.
Barnes U.D.C. has accepted the tender of Edison's Accumulators, Ltd., for four electric dust vans at £1,317 each.
Amersham R.D.C. has given permission to Messrs. E. C. Miles and Co., of Amersham, to run a motorbus between Amersham, Ohesham and Wycombe.
Heston and Isleworth U.D.C. has accepted the following tenders :—Sentinel Wagon Works, Ltd., one 5-ton tipping wagon, £1,295; Mann's Patent Steam Cart and Wagon Co., Ltd. one 3-ton tipping wagon, £985; Clayton and Shuttleworth, Ltd., one 5-ton tipping wagon, £1,105.