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NEWS of the WEEK

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 otier which it runt."—John Beattie Crozier.

HALLEY GOODWILL ACQUIRED FROM ALBION CONCERN.

We have already intimated in our columns that the works of Halley Motors, Ltd., at Yoker, Glasgow, have been, acquired by Albion Motors, Ltd. We are now advised that the latter concern has, in turn, sold the goodwill of the former business to George Cohen, Sons and Co., Ltd., the well-known concern of engineers and machinery merchants, 600, Commercial • Road, London, E.14. We understand that the transaction involves the whole of the 'plant and machinery, stocks and vehicles in course of manufacture, in fact, all the former assetS of the Halley concern, with the exception of the land and buildings, have 'been acquired from Albion Motors, Ltd.

Austin to Build Heavy Vehicles?

It is reported that complete Austin chassis frames for light commercial vehicles and cars are to be produced, in 1936, at the extensive Ebbw Vale Steel and Tinplate works, recently acquired by Richard Thomas and Co., Ltd. It isalso reported that the Austin company intends to launch out into the production of heavy vehicles, but no official confirmation has been made.

Sir Herbert Austin (chairman). Mr. E. L. Payton (vice-chairman), and Mr. C. R. Engelhach (production director), visited the Ebbw Vale works on Monday, being accompanied by Sir William Firth (chairman, Richard Thomas and Co., Ltd.). It was admitted that negotiations between the two companies for motor manufacture at Ebbw Vale were taking place.

Vehicles Changed Without Permission.

, A case raising the question of changing vehicles was before the Bolton Borough Court, on Monday, when Mr. John Albert Petty, Upbolland Road, Orrell, was fined 10s, and costs for carrying goods without an A licence.

Prosecuting, Mr. E. Fielding said that the defendant's vehicle was stopped on October 9, but it was not until November 9 that application was made for a licence. Mr. Petty, he said, was changing over from heavy to light vehicles and under the regulations at least eight weeks' notice of the change must be given. As a licence was not in existence, there was no necessity to keep records, and the owner could not be prosecuted for failing to do so.

u20 Mr. Petty confirmed his intention to replace his lorries, and said that he had made three applications for transfer forms, on each occasion being given the wrong kind.

Tractor Trials Again?

The Implement Committee of the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of England is at present considering the possibility of again organIzing trials of agricultural tractors, and it hopes to make a recommendation to the Council on the question and as to the date and place of such trials, if decided upon, early in the New Year.

A.E.C. Shows a Higher Profit.

During the year ended September 30, 1935, the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., made a net profit of £129,198, after transferring £30,000 to incometax reserve and allowing £48,074 for depreciation, the total contrasting with a profit of £102,007 in the -previous year. After deducting the interim dividend already distributed, which amounted to £31,250, there remains a balance of £331,932 (£233,984 representing the balance from the previous year was brought into the accounts). A sum of £25,000 has been transferred to the general reserve, and a final dividend of 10d. per unit of £1 stock, free of tax, will absorb £62,500, leaving £244,432 to be carried forward.

In the balance-sheet current assets are shown at £1,190,929, and current liabilities and provisions at £318,3S14.

Official Orders in October.

A fair number of orders for motor vehicles was given out by Government Departments during October last. The Admiralty ordered Talbot ambulances, a Merryweather fire-engine and Scammell tractor-trailer outfits.

The War Office divided a contract for bodies of 3-ton lorries between Chas. Roberts and Co., Ltd.. Mceris Commercial Cars, Ltd., and the Benson Motor Body Co„ Ltd. The same department gave contracts for sixwheeled chassis to Leyland Motris, Ltd., Rootes, Ltd., and the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., and ordered Yorkshire tipping lorries, Morris-Commercial lorries and 15-cwt. chassis, Aveling-Barford road -oilers, and Ransomes and Rapier mobile cranes.

The G.P.O. authorities gave orders for bodies to John Chalmers and Sons, Ltd., Thomas Harrington, Ltd., and Wm. and Thos. Robson, Ltd., as well as buying Albion, Morris-Commercial and Morris chassis, and Brockhouse trailers.

Finally, the Crown Agents for the Colonies ordered an Aveling-Barford road roller, and Albion lorries. VEHICLE TAXATION BY INSTALMENTS.

Some time ago the United Dominions Trust introduced a scheme for paying by instalments the taxation on commercial vehicles, Under this service a years tax, paid in 12 instalments, actually costs less than if the tax were paid quarterly in the usual way. It applies only to the clients of motor trader's, but is financed as a transaction apart from the hire-purcha.se agreement already in force.

In all cases concerning heavy vehicles accepted by the Trust in 1936, it will be prepared to include the tax for the year, and would undertake that, where instalments have been promptly paid, the Trust. will, When the time comes, finance the' 1937 'tax over 12 months as a separate transaction.. .

A New Fordson Cattle Carrier.

At this year's Smithfield .show., which takes place at the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, London, .frorn December 9-13, the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., will display a new-type cattle truck having as its basis the latest Fordson 2-ton forward-control chassis with a heavy-duty eight-cylindered engine. The body is of the double.. deck type and, by reason of the fact that full advantage has been taken of the forward-control position, it is distinctly roomy. The top deck is eaSily fitted and removed. and an easy-loading ramp, with side rails, is included. Special attention has been given to the ventilation of the driver's cab.

A similar body is available on :the Fordson-Sussex six-wheeler. At the Show, the Fordson agricultural tractor will be shown in standard form, and equipped with low-pressure tyres.

Alleged False Statement on Driver's Record.

A lorry driver was acquitted, at Leeds Assizes, on Monday, on a charge of having made a false statement in his daily record. The driver was Mr. John William Levitt, of Bankfoot, Bradford.

Mr. C. Paley Scott, K.C., for the Crown, said that Mr. Levitt was employed by Mr. A. Peel, of Greetland, Halifax. In his daily record he stated that he left Norwich at 11 a.m. for Halifax, but it was alleged that he left Norwich about 7.15 a.m., and that at 9 a.m. he had a slight collision with another vehicle. " We allege that this is one of the lesser forms of perjury, although the statement was not made on oath," remarked Mr. Paley Scott.

An emphatic denial to the charge was given by Mr. Levitt, who, defended by Mr. H. B. H. Shepherd, said that the record sheet was filled in by his mate. He denied that he dictated the particulars to the mate.

APPEAL WHETHER APPLICATION SUCCEEDS OR FAILS.

Notice of appeal against the decision of the South Eastern Deputy Licensing Authority (Col. Tangye), in refusing a B licence to enable him to remove his customers' purchases and other goods, was given by a Chichester house furnisher, Mr. Alfred James Cuddington, of St. Pancras, on hearing the result of his application.

Mr. Cuddington said that he had a C licence and, as a result of many requests from his customers to carry goods for them, and to remove house furniture for them, he desired a B licence. The work was, he agreed, being done at his request by other persons, but they were competitors in the furnishing line and, as a result, he was losing customers.

" You are a newcomer to this industry," said Col. Tangye, " and if I granted you this licence, an appeal would probably be made, and you would probably lose.

There is a prospect that, if proceeded with, the appeal may bring out important new principles.

Scottish Milk Producers Want More Haulage Centres.

The Committee of Investigation for Scotland met in Edinburgh, last week, to bear evidence of a complaint by the East of Scotland Milk Producers Federation regarding the operation of the Scottish Milk Marketing Scheme. In December, 1934, the Secretary of State made ..certain amendments to the scheme, and these expire at the end of this month.

The South-West of Scotland Milk Producers Federation objected to the continuation of the amendments, and contended that, if they were to be continued, certain additional haulage centres should be established, Representatives of the National Farmers Union claimed that Falkirk should be stibitituted for Alloa as a haulage centre, and that Dinnfries, Gastle-Douglas and Bathgate should be cstablished as additional centres.

Licence Refused for Breach of Conditions.

A haulier who was granted a licence only last August, permitting -him to carry horsgs over a distance of 75 miles, admitted to Col. Tangye, . the South Eastern Deputy Licensing Authority,

• that he had infringed the conditions. The operatm applied for a licence to carry horses anywheie in the catintrY1 lie transported a number of .horses, be said, tO racec.ourses tot the Master of Graves, and required a licence to enable him to carry them to Folkestone, atatoxeter and other places outside his present radius. In reply to Col. Tangye, lie admitted that he had already conveyed horses to Folkestone and Uttoxeter.

" This applicant Was. so recently as August last, granted his, litence, and he has flagrantly broken the cenditions it. Your conduct has not been conducive to the success of your application,'' said Col. Tangye. AERO AND MOTOR TRAINING COLLEGES DINE.

The annual dinner and dance of the Automobile Engineering Training College and the College of Aeronautical Engineering took place on Tuesday at Grosvenor House, London, W. After the loyal toast, that of the automobile and aeronautical industries was proposed by the chairman, Mr. C. H. Roberts, A.I.A.E., F.I.1VI.T., principal of the two colleges, the response being made by Captain the Hon. F. E. Guest, who referred to the great value of the' training 6311eges, and by Mr. F. Handley Page.

After proposing the toast of "The Colleges," -Lord Sempill, A.F.C., referred to the importance of • thorough technical training and practical training over a 'period of years, and gave striking figures of the successes achieved by the two colleges. On the automobile side, since 1925, 328 students had obtained posts in the motor industry, and from the Aeronautical College 100 had entered the aero industry.

Thornycroft's Trading Loss.

The report of John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., for the year ended July 31, 1935, shows a loss of 286,360, , after providing for depreciation and bad debts, the total being increased to 2102,054 after adding debenture • interest (213,500), directors' fees (21,770), etc., which contrasts with a less of £66,874 in the previous year. The credit side of the profit-and-loss account shows that transfers from the reserve account (E16,017) and special reserve account (E50,000) have been made, so that the net debit balance for the year amounts to £36,037, which converts the credit balance of £2,574 at the end of the previous year's report to a debit balance of £33,463._ In the report the directors make mention of the fact that the loss has arisen in connection with the motorvehicle side of the business. The new designs exhibited at the recent Olympia. Show produced encouraging inquiries.'

A Mobile Laboratory for Egypt.

John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., has recently completed a mobile bacteriological laboratory to the order of the Director of Stores, Department of Public Health, Cairo. It is based upon the lines of those designed for use during the war, and is the second supplied to the Egyptian Government. The latest vehicle, the body and equipment of which are the speciality of Baird and Tatlock (London), Ltd., is fitted up with bacteriological and pathological apparatus for the production of media, the taking of samples and the carrying out on the spot of investigations into any epidemic, fever, or other tropical disease. The chassis is a Thornyeroft Tartar-class rigid sixwheeled petrol-engined model.

Chambers of Commerce to Consider Road Plan?

• At a meeting of the council of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, a discussion took place on the Government proposal to spend 2100,000,000 on n22 road construction. The road transport committee recommended that the council should make representations to the Ministry of Transport to appoint a special control board, with a view to roads being built to a uniform standard, the early improvement of weak bridges and better construction of bypass roads.

Eventually, it was agreed to withdraw the recommendation and ask the Associated Chambers of Commerce to consider the subject.

Death of Wordie Co.'s Secretary.

The death occurred, on November 29, of Mr. Alexander Brown, secretary of Wordie and Co., Ltd., the wellk.aown Glasgow haulage concern. Mr. Brown, who was 65 years of age, was in. the company's service for 51 years.

Leyland-G.E.C. Trolleybus Braking.

In the description of the LeylandG.E.C. trolleybus chassis published in our issue dated November 29, refer ence was made to an alternative braking system available. This comprises an electro-servo unit in conjunction with the Lockheed method of brake application. It was stated that master cylinders were provided for each axle; actually, one master cylinder is incorporated, separate telescopic wheel cylinders being used for the direct operation of the brakes.

Another Toll Bridge Goes.

The corporations of Wallasey and Birkenhead have made arrangements with Mersey Harbour Board for treeing the Wallasey Pool Bridge from tolls.

India Tyre Dividend.

The directors of the India Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., have declared the half-yearly dividend on the preference shares of the company, which falls due on December 31.

A Display of Leyland Cubs.

From Monday next, December 9, until Saturday, December 14, the Arlington Motor Co., Ltd., is holding a display of a wide range of Leyland Cub goods vehicles at 25-27, Vauxhall Bridge Road, Victoria, London, S.W. HAULIERS COMPLAIN AGAINST L.N.E.R.

When Mr. Arthur A. Dubbins, coal dealer and general haulier, of Winn Street, Lincoln, applied for the renewal of his licence before Mr. J, H. Stirk, the East Midland Licensing Authority, on Monday, he claimed that it was unfair of the London and North Eastern Railway to oppose every application he made, in view of the fact that he carried 700 tons of coal each year from Lincoln stations, which the railway company had carried in the first place. A renewal was granted, with .a radius of fifty miles for furniture.

Another complaint against the railway company was made by Mr. W. H. Miller, farmer and haulier, of Normanby-by-Spital, who applied for a renewal of his licence to carry agricultural produce and coal from Thurscroft Colliery. Mr. Miller said the railway company ought to have carried agricultural produce in 1926, when the farmers had such difficulty in getting produce away from their farms. Owing to the fact that the company did not do this, the farmers had to buy their own vehicles. The application was granted.

Price Regulation Amongst Furniture Removers.

The Northampton and district centre of the Furniture Warehousemen and Removers Association held a meeting at Bedford on November 28, when' the president, Mr. H. V. Bishop, addressed the meeting, his subject being "Cooperation in the Furniture Removing and Warehousing Industry." He discussed the policy of the Association and referred to licensing, emphasizing, with the assistance of figures, the benefits that had been secured to members. The main point of his remarks centred around the Association's policy of regulation of prices and the betterment of working that was likely to result from its adoption.

Mr. E. A. Harris, the secretary of the Association, said that the new licensing system was not bearing hardly on furniture removers. The Association, he mentioned, had already considered the position with regard to the continuation of A licences. THREE APPEALS AT-YORK.

At York, this week, the Appeal Tribunal has heard the following appeals:--London and North Eastern Railway Co., against the Yorkshire Licensing Authority's decision to grant an A licence to Mr. T. Hagan, 63, St. James Street, Doncaster; Mrs. M. Storry, 23, Rothbury Street, Scarborough, against the Yorkshire Authority's refusal of an A licence, and the London, Midland and Scottish -Railway. Co.; against the Yorkshire Authority's decision to vary an A licence granted to Mr. T. Malthouse, Railway Terrace, Luddendenfoot.

Ransomes Electrically Applied Brake.

In the article •entitled "Olympian Technicalities," in our issue dated November 15, we referred to certain Ransomes-Garrett features and included in these an electrieally applied brake. We are asked to poifet out that this is purely a Ransomes patent product, made by Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, Ltd., of Ipswich.

A Fine Display of Morris-Commercial Products.

As from Monday next, December 9, and until the end of next week, Appleyard of Leeds, Ltd., is holding a comprehensive display, at. its North Street showroomseeof Morris-Commercial and Morris products,, ranging in capacity from 5 cwt. to 4 tons, with a widerarige of bodies to suit various trades. There will be approximately 30 different vehicles on view,

Hepworth and Grandage Increased • Profit.

In the year ended September 30, Hepworth 'and Grandage, Ltd., the maker of pistons, piston rings, etc., of St. John's Works, East Bowling, Bradford, made a net profit of £31,052, which compares with £28,373 for the previous year. It is proposed to pay a dividend of 10 per cent., which will 'absorb £17,500, whilst £5,000 is being transferred to the general reserve and £21,972 is being carried forward, as against £16,330 in -the previous year.

Transport by Rail Not Good Enough.

Railway transport was criticized by a witness in a licensing case at Ipswich, when Mr. H. M. Bryant, of Wickhambrook, applied for a B licence in respect of a third vehicle required to undertake work for Mr. J. Brooke, a local fruit grower.

Mr. Brooke explained that the work he could find for the applicant would greatly increase, and he complained that the railway company was not compelled to deliver goods to, or collect them from, him, and that it had refused to do so. Apart from his own vehicle, the applicant's lorries were the only means he had for transporting his produce to the station. He also made several other complaints regarding the railway company.

The application was granted by the Eastern Licensing Authority, the licence being restricted to work for Mr. Brooke.