Motorbus World.
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There are no Elettrobusas at win k in London. It appears that overhauls for relicensing are troublesome.
Fire Statistics.
According to an L.C.C. return recently issued, there were only 26 fires in motor omnibuses in London in 1909, as against 50 in 1908. On the other hand, fires in electric tramcars showed an increase of from 9 in 1908 to 19 in 1909. The causes of the 26 motoromnibus fires in 1909 were : Friction of machinery, 3; overflow of mineral oil, 2; overflow of petrol, 20; petrol vapour coining into contact with flame, 1.
Round Tunbridge Wells.
Mr. W. Oscar Pritchard, lately general manager of the Autocar Co., Ltd., of 'Woodbury Park Road, Tunbridge Wells, advises us that his company is about to take delivery of three new 40 h.p. Leyland chars-a-banes. each with a seating capacity for 32 passengers. The company has earned a good reputation in respect of its maintenance of the Pernhury-Tunbridge Wells service, and several extensions are contemplated. Mr. Pritchard has now been appointed managing director of the same company enlarged, and he will inaugurate an express parcel-delivery service in conjunction with the South-Eastern and Chatham Railway. Popularity at Bristol.
Motor chars-a-banes are proving exceedingly popular at Bristol : we recently had occasion to draw attention to Sir George White's opinion of the profitable nature of road-motor services, in comparison with the decadence of electric tramcars. Mr. Charles Challenger, the manager of the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., tells its that, during the recent Easter holidays, the local charsii-bancs routes were well patronized.
Underground Overcrowding.
In consequence of the public interest. evinced in the maner of excessive overcrowding in the carriages of underground and tube trains, and more particularly the conveyance of passengers upon the platform spaces between the carriages, an investigation into the whole question is occupying the close attention of Messrs. JoynsouHicks, Hunt, Moore and Cardew, solicitors, of Lennox House, Norfolk Street, Strand, W.C. The Editor of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR, who has given instructions to this firm, finds himself quite unable to cope with the mass of correspondence that has arisen with regard to certain aspects of the overcrowding difficulty. The opinions of leading counsel are to be taken upon, inter aiia, the alleged disregard by the underground and tube railways of their obligations to the public, with a view to early and definite action. [See, also, pages 81 and 82.]
Staff Dinner of the L.G.O.C.
The second annual dinner of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., was held, in the King's Hall of the Holborn Resturant, last Saturday. Over 300 members of the staff were present, and amongst the visitors were : Capt. Behrens, Messrs. J. I. Day, P. Frost-Smith, A. Grey, IL Hit)Nortli, Maxwell Hicks, G. Pollard, H. Greig, A. L., S. C., and A. Searle, E. Shrapnel! Smith and A. W. Windsor.
The gathering was a memorable one, from the point of view of the renewed confidence expressed by all concerned in the future prospects of the now-consolidated company. Mr. Henry Hicks, the chairman of the company, who was immediately supported by the joint managers, Mr. D. Duff and Captain W. Dumble, presided. After an excellent dinner, the usual loyal and personal toasts were honoured.
Mr. W. Joynson-Hicks proposed "The Army, Navy and Auxiliary Forces " with his customary oratorical brilliance, He presumed it was because he was the solicitor to the company that he had been asked to propose " The Spending Departments." Col. Colville replied.
Mr. Henry Hicks, whose enthusiastic reception furnished incontrovertible testimony to the esteem and respect whivh is entertained by the whole staff for its veteran leader, proposed the toast of "The Company." He could not but regret the passing of the horse, which had been such a good friend to them, and with it that of many old and trusted employees and members of the staff. The ugly it useful motorbus was inevitable. At. the last annual dinner, he had been glad to tell them that the prospects were brighter than they had previonsly been ; he was Dow a tile to tell lug andienve, for what it was worth, that events had so shaped themselves during the past twelvemonth that. the prospects of ultimate success were 'righter than ever, and that a time of prosperity was actually within reasonable distance. Spade work was not yet done, but past efforts were bearillg satisfactory results.
Mr. D. Duff replied for the joint managers, confirming the Chairman's optimistic remarks, but warning the staff that its efforts must not, be relaxed .
Mr. J. Lulham Pound, submitting the toast of " The Staff," to which Mr. 3. C. Mitchell replied, said that last veer the three companies, the General, the Road Car and the Vanguard, were in the process of welding; this year, they could report that the welding was complete. There were no " Vanntlard.," " Road Car " and "old General " men now-they were all '• new General ' men. During the last 'eoliths, the amalgamation bad resuited in a reduction of the combined staff to the extent of 2,000 men.
Mr. V. Searle gave the toast of " The Visitors." He reminded his hearers that last rear it had been claimel for the directors that they had a most-difficult course to steer, as they had the reins in one hand and the steering wheel in the other. He thought it was assured, now, that the directors were taking the steering wheel in both hands.
Perhaps the most-breezy speech of the evening was made by Mr. A, C. Church. the popular chief of the old horse-bus department. It was regrettable, he said, that so many of his old employees had had to go. He considered that everyone associated with the metorbus world should take off his hat every time he met an omnibus horse, although he did not say whether dead or alive. It was the horse that had earned the only dividends the company had paid. In proposing the health of the Chairman, he paid an eloquent tribute to Mr. Henry Hicks, who, he said, had been honourably associated with the directorship of the compile for 27 years. Interspersed with the speechmaking, there were items cf an excellent musical programme, for which, in addition to all the other details of organization, the following committee was respon sible :-Messrs. E. Ash by , Bestow, A. C. Church, A. Crane, G. Schmidt, F. Searle, H. Talbot, and Tyre, Mr, H. E,ansdown was indefatigable in Ins duties as honorary secretary. Amongst the artistes who contributed to a programme, whose quality was well above the average for this class of entertainment, were Miss Carrie Tubb, fresh from her Covent Garden Opera ih'ibut, Miss Haithie Hamilton, Mr. Fred. Milner, Mr. Stuart Debnam, and Mr. T. Tiainger.