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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

The wheel of wealth will be slowed by all fileiculties of transport at whatever points cuising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier,

The Motor Spirit Super-tax

In reply to strong representations by the Automobile Association for the immediate removal of the super-tax of sa. per gallon on petrol, the Secretary of theTreasury states :—

(I) That while their lordships have refrained from extending the Excise duty to benzole, they have no power to wave the statutory requirements of the Finance Act, 1916, covering the issue of fuel licences and the payment of duty for ordinary motor spirit.

(2) That they are unable to deal with the matter in advance of the general consideration of the Budget requirements of the year.

The Automobile Association, howes r, is not satiafieclIwith this reply, and continue to agitate for the abolition of

"control" of motor fuel, the ne ty for which no_ longer obtains, and he. super-tax Of 6d., Which . Was ifity10 ed

purely as a war-time expedient. _

• Leyland Capital Increased. . .

On Tuesday, at an estrEtordinary general meeting . of. Leyland Motors, Ltd., the resolutions passed on February 11th Were confirmed. (1) to adopt new articles of association; (0 to increase the capital to £500,000 by the creation of 100,000 orejjnx. shores.; and (3)ite capitalize £ of the undivided profits and to authopize its distribution by the allots eat ef the new shares pro rata to -the holders of the existing

aordinary shares. • •

Olympia Show and Enemy Products.

In connection with the Noyembe,r Motor Show at Olympia, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Ltd.; has decided that, whilst the exhibition will be fully international, no goods of enemy origin will be-allowed to be shown. Tbis decision is comprehensive and means not only idiots nos-German or Austrian cars will be allowed to be exhibited, but that no tyres, parts, accessories, or fittings of any kind from enemy countries will be permitted. Good progress is being made with the scheme of nniform stands for this exhibition. The scheme applies not only to the car stands, but also to the stands for other exhibits.

The Overseas Commissioner.

An important appointment of . the Association of British Motor and Allied Manufacturers, Ltd., is that of Major R. E. Goddard, as its Overseas Commissioner for the purpose of conducting a tour of investigation of the markets of Australasia, India and the East. Major Goddard left this country on February 25th, and his tour will embrace Ceylon, the Dutch East Indies, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Malaya, Burma, and India, in the order named. He will reach Ceylon about the middle of March, and the whole tour will occupy about a year. From this it will be possible to gauge roughly the dates of his arrival at other points, though it is not, under present eircum r24 stances possible .to state those dates • accurately in advance.

Major Goddard has been appointed, after consideration of the claims of applicants numbering wellover a luludred. He has made a special study of overseas commerce, with regard to which he has a wide and varied experience, especially in connection with the motor industry. Many of his conclusions have already been published in his book "General Cargo,'' a volume dealing with the organization and political economy of the esport tradesancl with

the Cultivation of foreign markets. He is, moreover, a trained engineer.. Although Australasia and the Far East form the objective of the immediate campaign, it is quite probable that operations will be. . extended to other territories in the event of the results of the first tour being as satisfactory as are anticipated. In this matter the Association is acting in conjunction with the Overseas Trade Department of the British Government. The Government is assist• ing in every way, partly as regards finance and partly as regards official introductions and shipping arrangements.

Two new bridges are proposed for Scotland, one across the River Tay and the other across the River Forth.

The personnel of the Parliamentary Road Transport Committee of which Mr. Joynson-Hicks is chairman, had, by Monday, totalled 296 members of the House.

Farther gushes of gas and flows of oil have occurred at Hardstoft, near Chesterfield, where Lord Cowdray's representatives are sinking a shaft in the search for a home supply of mineral oil. The outlook, in the opinion of those concerned and qualified to pass an opinion, is very favourable. The First Aerobus.

The exhibition on the ground floor of Selfridge's store in Oxford • Street, London, of the fuselage of a Handley. Page twiriengined aeroplane. is a corollary to the announmment of thu. formation of Handley-Page Transport, Ltd. (or some similar designation). This company has the machines and a number of pilots swim have had experience under war conditions' end is intended to provide the service from aerodrome to aerodrome for the carrying of passengers,. and freight, which will be beaked up by existing organizations now dealing in passenger traffic and by freight booking agencies; The fuselage on view at Selfridge's has seen active service over the enemy lines and the Rhine towns in night bombing. A floor has been provided and armchair seats arranged down either side of a narrow central gangway, accommodation for 17 passengers ,being thus provided,. well justifying the description given it of the "first nem. bus." Mr. • E. J. Bray has been appointed traffic manager to the company.

Carriers and the .Transport Bill.

While the. opposition of road ttansport interests generally to the proposal for Putting roads • and vehicles under the control of the Ministry of Ways and Communications has . become clearly focussed and well organized, it is rather surprising to see no definite signs, of independent action particularly on behalf of the carriers of the country. The great danger to the carrying trade resulting from.what might well amount to railway control of road traffic and roads will be made clear by two 'brief quotations from the text of the Ways and Communications Bill.

"His Majesty in Council may at any time after the passing of this Act by order antherize the Minister to establish, maintain, and work transport services by land or water,"

"The Minister shall be entitled to fix such rates, fares, tolls, dues, and other charges as he thinks fit, notwithstanding any statutory provision limiting the amount of such charges."

It is clear that, unless important amendments are accepted, the Minister, will, if lie be so inclined, be able to establish motor cervices in direct cornpetition with the motor or horsed services at. present provided by public carriers or by haulage contractors. He will, moreover, be Ale 'to regulate and change the fares and rates charged in such a way that if he wishes to do so he can in the first instance supply a service at such a low rate that the public-carrier, unsupported by the public parse, is absolutely unable to hold his own. The carrier so treated will sooner or later be driven out of business' after which.the fares or rates of the Government controlled services could be changed, so as to put them on a directly profitable basis. If opposition is not successful in modifying the Bill, a watchful organizations of carrying ,interests will have to keep a jealous eye upon the operations of the Ministry from now onwards.

Parliament and Petrol.

In the House of Commons last week Mr. Thomas Griffiths asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to remove the present restrictions on the supply of petrol, and, if not, will he state the reason why? Major Steel asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state when the Government control of the consumption of petrol will be withdrawn, and if, when that is done, the present licence duty will be withdrawn? Mr. Bridgman: As already stated, the limitations as regards the amount of petrol allowed to applicants for motor spirit licences were removed at the end of last year. Legislation would be required to remove the existing obligation on petrol users to take out the licences. The whole question as to the future taxation of petrol is under consideration, but it will not be possible to make any an' nouneement thereon in anticipation of the Budget statement. •

Derbyshire Bus Services.

The -directors of the Loughborough Road Car Co. have accepted the tender of the Trent Motor Traction Co., of Derby, for the purchase of the stock and goodwill of the concern, and the transfer recently took place. A valiant effort had been made to raise sufficient capital locally to re-start the company, but the requisite amount of support was not forthcoming. The company which hastaken over the concern operates a number of services in the Derby district, and its resourCes are such as no small local 'company could hope to provide.

Petrol v. Electric.

Members of the Scarborough Corporation are divided in opinion as to the ss. relative advantages to be obtained front the use of eleetricallyedriven vehicles as compared with petrol-driven motors. They will, however, have the advantage this summer of judging the merits of the two forms of traction. The cleans

lug sub-committee has adopted a proposal to pureliase an electric vehicle which will be used for road sprinkling in the summer months and for general haulage in the winter, whilst the streets • committee is purchasing a petrol-driven vehicle for general haulage. The cost of the electric is £1,625 as compared with £858 for the petrol machine.

Efficiency Meetings.

The fifth meeting of the fourth series of efficiency meetings was recently held at the L.G.O.C. training school, Chelsea, Mr. R. E. Blain, operating manager, presiding over an attendance of over 200 niembers of the central staff of the associated undertakings.

A paper—" Railway Maintenance— Civil Engineering "—was read by Mr. Arthur R. Cooper, ALInst.C.E., engineer to the Underground Railways, and dealt. in an exceedingly interesting and practical manner with the general organization of the Civil Engineering Department.

Allocation of Red Cross Ambulances.

Some idea as to the manner in which the motor ambulances belonging to the British Red Cross Society are to be distribated is indicated by the Hon. A. Holland Hibbert, who, in a letter to the St. Albans C.C., states that the idea is to give an ambulance if a locality will maintain it,

S. Smith and Sons Capital.

S. Smith and Sons (Motor Accessories), Ltd., have increased their capital from £300,000 to £500,000 by the creation of an additional 200,000 shares of £1 each. The increase is due to the expansion of the company's business, larger 8tocks having to be carried for private trading and for Government work; and for the formation of subsidiary companies in Continental countries.

The Paris salon will open on October 5th wires our Paris correspondent.

Halifax Motorbuses.

The accounts of the Halifax Corporation motorbus service for the year ended March 31st, 1918, shows a deficiency of £477, or 2.381d. per mile. run. The total revenue was £2,613, or 13.05d. per bus mile, and the total expenses were £3,090, or 15.431d. per bus mile. Some a the most important items included in the detailed expenses per bus mile are wages 4.383d., insurance .565d., body maintenance .501d., tyres 1.089(1., gas service and container repairs 1.136d., gas .505d. and petrol 3.4144. A very interesting comparison of the cost of running on each fuel is thus afforded by these last two items.

Canadian Figures. .

Lorry transportation in the Dominions is gradually growing and the latest example of the extended use of motor lor ries comes from Canada. In Ontario alone there are 7,400 motor lorries in service. In same publicity matter circulated by the Imperial Oil Co.,he fol. Aff lowing figures are given :—ore than 260,000 automobiles and motor lorries are in service in Canada, and they need 4,160,000 gallons of lubiicants; there are 15,000 tractors also at work, and for. every tractor at least fs3 gallons of oil and grease are needed annually.

A Trustworthy Mann.

The illustration on page 29 shows a Mann five-ton steamer with steel tipping body supplied recently to Messrs, P. W. Spencer, lime merchants and quarry owners, Giggleswick, Yorkshire. The vehicle is shown descending Buckah Brow, a hill well known to Yorkshire and Lancashire motorists as one of the worst main read 'bills in the north of England. The Mann has often to face this hill twice a day with a full lead of limestone. Messrs. Spencer were one of the first users of Mann engines, and the fact that they have continued to use them on the heavy work they are called npon to do is splendid testimony to the popular engine.

MaudslAy Merit.

For the construction of an overhead travelling crane, 30 ft. stanchions were required to be conveyed to a distance of

about 26 miles. These stanchions, a load of eight tons, were fixed on a Maudslay subsidy-type lorry, and carried from the works of Messrs. Musgrave and Co., engineers, Belfast, to the Larne Foundry Co.'s Works, Larne, over heavy and indifferently-made roads, in the good time of 214 hours. The vehicle was supplied by r. A. Stringer, the Belfast agent for Mateislay, and this is only another instance added to the ever-accumulating proof of the reliability of Maudslay

vehicles on heavy transport service. .

Canada and Tractor Importa tion.

• The Canadian Government has pub lished an order in council extending "until otherwise provided for," the free importation of petrol tractors costing less than £280. A further order grants drawback of 99 per cent, of the duty paid on imported materials used in the manufacture of tractors for farm purposes and repairs thereof, and in the manufacture of tractor attachments.

Glasgow and Street Maintenance.

The question of street Maintenance is . receiving nmeli,anxious atteistien from the Glasgow .CorpOration.a The eirciunstances 'created by the war have rendered efficientsformatien and upkeep -extremely difficult, 'arid it is disappaint7 big to find that little or no Government

help is likely to he available. .

It was recently announced that, to meet the additional cost, the State is prepared to supplement the expenditure of local authorities for addititinal work to an aggregate ainount of '£10;000,000. -It is clearly stipulated, however, that no authority will be entitled to share in the rew grants unless it submits a statement showing that it is "arranging to execute out of its own resources at, least as large a programme of road work as it carried out in the year ended March 31st, 1914," and making the " maximum possible

provision to deal with works of 'deferred maintenance." It is, also, pointed out that the amount available for borough councils in Scotland will "necessarily be very small." The Glasgow Corporation finds that its activities will be greatly hampered by these restrictions. In the year 1913-14 it spent on ordinary upkeep and repair of streets a sum exceeding £172,000. With. the inordinate rise in the cost of labour and material, an equal amount of work could not now be executed at less than double that figure and a consequent addition of 6d. per Ll to the rates. The Corporation naturally hesitates to decide on this increase, and there is a possibility that it cannot qualify for Government grants.

East London Rubber Co.'s Activities.

The East London, Rubber Co. (Sheffield branch) have appointed Mr. B. J. Murrin, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, to represent them in the area in which they were formerly represented by the late Mr. E. Teesdale (killed in the. war). The area in question is constituted, of • the fallowing counties ;— Northumberland, Durham Cumberland, Westmorland, North Lancashire, East Riding of Yorkshire. The company have also appointed Mr. W. R. , Watson, of Sheffield; to represent them in the plate of the late Mr. E. B. Brettel. This ground includes the following :—South. Lancashire, Cheshire; Shropshire, Stafford' shire, North Wales.. _

• The Hoyt Metal Co.'s new address is at 105, Deodar Road, Vutney, S.W. 15. Now that metal restrictions have been largely, 'removed, the company is in a position to supply promptly any of their anti-friction alloys at materially lower prices than those which obtained during the. war.

Petrol Control Upkeep.

In the House of Commons last week Captain Ganzoni asked the President of the Board of Trade how many officers and aervants there are in the Petrol Control Department; what was the total amount of their salaries; and what were the total receipts from petrol licences during the year 1918.

Mr. Bridgernan: The number of persons employed by the Petrol Control Department is 438, including messengers and charwomen. The total amount of salaries and wages paid during the year 1918 was £39,620. This figure does not include the cost of 10 Civil servants lent by other Departments, whose salaries fotal about £4;000 per annum. The total -receipts from Motor Spirit Licence Duty during the year 1918 were £278,091. I may add that, until the beginning of the present year, the principal function of the Department was to control the consumption of petrol, but now that it exists only for the purpose of collecting the Licence Duty, its procedure has been simplified, and it is anticipated that the cost of the Department will now decrease, while the revenue collected will increase.

The Industrial Reconstruction Council. • A conference on "Labour conditions • in relation to future industrial prosperity " will be held under the auspices of the Industrial ReconstructiOn Council on Tuesday, March 11th, at 6 p.m., in the hall of the Institute of Journalists, 2 and 4, Tudor Street; E.C. 4. The chair will be taken by Major the Hon. Waldorf Astor, M.P., and the opening , address delivered by Captain James O'Grady, M.P., secretary. ed. the National Federation of General Workers., Questions and discussion will follow. No tickets are necessary.

Ways and Communications..

The Standing Joint Committee of Mechanical Road Transport Associations met on February 28th, under the chairmanship of Mr. E. S. Shrapnell-Sraith, 0.B.E„ to consider the terms of the Bill for the establishtnent of 'a Ministry of Ways and Communications. Delegates were present from the Commercial Motor Users Association, theNational Traction Engine Owners and Users Association, the Royal Agricultural Society of England, the Steam Cultivation Development Association, the National Motor Cyclists Fuel Union, and the London and Provincial Omnibus Owners Association.' The attendance included .Mr. W. Joynson-Hicks, M.P., chairman of the Parliamentary Road Transport Committee.

The following resolution . was unanimously adopted and steps agreed to give effect to it:— "This Conference, being satisfied that there is cause for general opposition to the present Bill for the establishment of a Ministry of Ways and Communica tions owing to the unprecedented character of its drafting, which is such in

form and matter that amendments of

value cannot, be moved so as to define Or qualify any policy or intentions, decides to sunort opposition to the Bill on the 'general ground of objection to the autocratic powers which are sought underit, but not on any sectional ground of objection to the principle of legislation for the improvement of Ways and Cornmun icatiens." A very similar resolution has been adopted by the Motor Legislation Committee, of which Mr. Joynson-Hicks, M.P., is also chairman.

Scientific Products Exhibitior.

The King has consented to act, as President of the British Scientific Produets Exhibition, which will be held at the Central Hall, Westminster, during the Month of July. The president a the exhibition is the Marquess of Crewe, E.G., and Profezsor R. A. Gregory is chairman of the Organizing Committee. The British Science -Guild has been encouraged to Organize this exhibition by the success :which attended that

• held at King's College last summer, and the more recent exhibition held at Man chester. .

Firms desirous of exhibiting are invited to communicate with the organizing secretary, Mt. F. S. Spiers, 82; Victoria Street, London, S.W. 1.• Ford Imports and the Wa.;., Office.

, In the House of Commons last .week Sir H. Nield asked the President of the Board of Trade if.he can state the number of Ford .motorcars which have been imported from . the United States of America since the signature. of the Armistice', and whether he is aware that these imports will seriously interfere with the 'British -motor trade and make it difficult for manlifacturers to give employment to their workpeople? Mr. Bridgeman: Any licences which have been or are being given byethe Board of . Trade have, been granted entirely' on the reerminienclatioa of Abe Ministry of Monitions on the understanding that the ears, or parts thereof, -were required to be imported solely for Government 'purposeS. I am now in. formed that there Was an arrangement between the Ministry and the Ford Company that the latter should hold a stock of chassis in this 'country against the sudden and urgent requirements reported by.-the War Office from time to time. It was part of tho arrangement that if any part of the stock of chassis were not required by Government, the company were to be at liberty to dispose of the balance as:they pleased after the cessation Of hostilities. There remain nearly ,1,000 chassis sets to be imported and so disposed of, but I am informed the importations constitute only. one-third of the value of the chassis, the remaining two-thirds being the product of British material and labour.

Institute of Metals Journal.

Though essentially a record of a series of meetings held in war-time, the 20th :volume of the Journal of the Institute. of Metals makes a post-war appearance,' and will be found; appi-bpriately enough,' to .. include valuable metallurgical information relatirg both to war and to peace periods. 'The volume includes' some hundreds of useful and concise summaries of the world's metallurgical publications during the past half,year, arid a complete index. The priee is 21s. net, the volume being nbtainablethrotigh ally bookseller or direct from the offices of the Institnte of Metals, 36, Victoria Street, London, S.W. 1.

Mr. Walter WolseY, Junr., and Capt. F. G. Bristow represented Motor trans-• port interests at the Industrial Conference last week.

The -directors of the Dunlop Rubber. Co.. Ltd., announce the declaration of an 'interim dividend on the • ordinary shares of is. 3d. per share free of income tax payable on March. 8th.

We are advised by. Alexander Duckham and Co:, Ltd.: Phcenix Wharf, Millwall, that Sir Arthur. Duckham, K.C.B.; Director-General of Aircraft Production and Member of the Air Council, has joined the Board of the

company.'_ . ,

Local Proceedings.

Featherstone (Pontefract) U.D.C. is to purchase's motor wagon to cost £1,150.

liet,on and Isleworth U.D.C. contemplates the purchase of four steam lorries at £1000 each.

Willesden U.D.C. is allocating £350 for overhauling the motor vehicles in pse by its Health Department.

Leyton U.D.C. is asking the L.G.B. for sanction to borrow £6,500 for the purchase of five additional motor dust -vans.

The local hospital has asked the Luton T.O. to provide a, motor ambulance, and inquiries are being made by the town clerk and surveyor.

Willesden Medical Officer of Health has reported that no financial gain will follow as a result of the council undertaking dust collection in South Kilburn by electric vehicles.

. Preston Corporation ordered a Merryweather fire-engine in September,1914, at an estimated cost of £1,200. Messrs.

Merryweather now point out that it is impossible to supply a machine at this figure, but that they are prepared to supply at in increased cost of £450. The Corporation has agreed td the additional expenditure.

New Companies.

Eros Engineers, Ltd., was registered on' February 20th as a private conapany with a capital of £20,000 in £1 shares to be motor and general .engineers. The first directors are F. J. Gerclon,-A. S. F. Morris, and A. W. Shillan.. Morris, Russell and Co., Ltd., may 'nominate three directors, including the chairman., North of. England Motor and Aircraft Industries, Ltd:, was registered on February 21st, with a capital of £25,000 in £1 shares, to be promoters of shows, exhibitions, competitions, races, etc., in Manchester and ,elsewhere, motor vehicle' manufacturers; carriers, etc. The first directors are 'J. Newton, T. Garner, R. Woodhead, J. G. Reece, and S. Norris. The, registered office is at 232, Deansgate, Manchester.