* Passing Comments Small Two-stroke IN its 1939 Bulletin, the
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Oilers for Light 'Diesel Engine Users' Associ Vehicles ation, referring to the employment of oil engines on road vehicles, states that experimental work which has been carried out on the high-speed two-strokecycle type may, in the future, materially influence the position concerning the use of such engines on
the lighter range of commercial vehicles. It is believed, also, that supercharging of the smaller engines is a good method of increasing power.
S.T.R. Has Been StudyL'OLLOWING the publica-, Libel ing the Economics of Commercial Motor dated July
tion, on page 527 of The
27, of an illustration from the Commer concern depicting a number of people undergoing physical training, we have received a letter from Mr. H. Scott Hall (S.T.R., the well-known costs expert) reading: " With reference to the scurrilous libel embodied in the illustration and caption on page 527 of The Commercial Motor, this is to. advise you that I have now placed the matter in the hands of my solicitors, Messrs. Benskin, Benskin, Allsopp and Wallop. Kindly address any further communications to them at their address, 1909, Old Brewery, Little Maltster. In order that I may have in my hands all the available evidence, please pass to me the other copy of that issue of the journal." We understand from Mr. Hall that action against the artist and the company issuing the poster is not contemplated. It appears that the complainant has actually been undergoing considerable training with the Home Guard, and that the main cause of his grievance is that his waistline is not now such as was depicted, and on this we offer him our congratulations.
Lorries Do Not A POWERFUL refutation Damage Roads, Says of railway accusations that Authority . heavy vehicles cause large
increases in road costs was made recently by the State Commissioner of Highways in Vermont, U.S.A. He said that highways and bridges must be built to minimum specifications to withstand weather changes, whether the facilities are to be used by light or heavy traffic. In fact, frost does much more damage than traffic. Foundations strong enough to resist frost would carry any of the normal traffic, and he had never seen any surfaced roads in Vermont broken or cracked by lorries. Blown-out Windows NOTHING that impedes the May Obstruct Civil "free use of the main traffic Defence arteries as part of the intricate civil-defence system should be countenanced under present conditions of national emergency. Denied the elasticity in transport arrangements made possible by a highway system that is quickly adaptable to the needs of the moment, vital defence serviaes might easily be thrown out of gear. For this reason, all windows of premises which front important roads should be protected from splintering. It has been found in some areas that glass splinters, when showered upon a road during hostile air attacks, have proved a serious hindrance to civil-defence transport, because of punctured tyres. Owners of shops should be compelled to take steps to remove the dangerous risk to the flow of traffic which would result from blown-out plate-glass windows. Women Taxi Drivers, QOME parts of the country Yes—But Not After L-imay find that taxicabs are, Dark before long, in the hands of women and, at Stoke-onTrent, the employment of such drivers has been sanctioned, subject to certain conditions. One of these is that they must not be employed during the hours of darkness. This seems like a bit of Mother Grundy on the part of the Watch Committee, and the town's interests might be better served by the appointment of a selection committee equipped ta see that applicants come up to a high physical standard and are well able to look after themselves. Failing a relaxation of the conditions, it seems tgat, in the winter months, with their short period of daylight, women taxidrivers will have a very lean time. In fact, one questions whether they will take enough in fares to pay for their keep!