News and Comment.
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
This journal is extensively read by the heads of many wealthy commercial homes.
. Our leading articles this week cieal with the following topical subjects: (1) "Ready for the Parade ; " (2) " Increasing Safety of Motorbuses and Unexplained Hostility of some M.P.s ;" (3) " Trunk-road Traffic :" and (4) "The Two July Shows."
The railway companies of the United Kingdom have given formal notice that practically all goods rates will be advanced, as from the 1st July, by a minimum of 4 per cent. on the goods-traffic rates now ruling. Coal and coke freights are, for the time being, excluded from the operation of this advance.
Owing to the Whitsun holiday, the advertisement pages of this journal will be printed earlier than usual. Will advertisers be good enough to send instructions or alterations on " copy" to reach these offices not later than first post Saturday morning? It is only for special " Parade " announcements that anything later can be considered.
We have received particulars of the certificate which has: been issued by the R.A.C. in respect of an observed trial of one of the new " Favorit " carburetters. The trial was rim on a 28-35 h.p. Benz car over good roads for a distance of 106 miles. The fuel used was benzole. The consumption worked out at the rate of 54.9 ton-miles to the gallon.
For the Inventor.
" A.B.C. Guide to Patents," by Robert E. Phillips and A. Millward Flack, published by Butterworth and Co.—There have been several attempts recently to place before the would-be patentee a concise résumé of the law in regard to patents for inventions. We must admit that, in several cases, such publications, whilst they have been voluminous and most informative, have failed to yield ready access to biformation which, in the very nature of things, should be easily come by. When a' patentee or would-be patentee desires information on some point of procedure, he does not as a rule want to do more than consider that particular aspect. The little book which bears the title inscribed at the commencement of this paragraph appeals to us as an excellent attempt to render available information such as patentees so frequently require. It is split into .a number of paragraphs, all concisely headed and alphabetically arranged in sub3ect At the Royal Show Overseas Section.
"The Commercial Motor" has been invited by the Overseas Section Committee of the Royal Show at Bristol to organize an exhibit in the Overseas Produce Section, to illustrate the progress in motor transport and agricultural motor development for overseas use. This will be Stand No. 50$ in the Overseas Section, adjoining the exhibit of the Bristol Dock and Port Authorities. The exhibit will include the following :— (1) Collection of photographs, literature and statistics relative to motor vehicles and tractors suitable for use, in connection with over.seas produce; (2) collection of photographs, literature and statistics relative to agricultural motors (" Agrimntors ") suitable for use in the Colonies and Overseas Dominions; (3) the Overseas Annual (1913) of " The Commercial Motor "; (4) suitable issues of " The Commercial Motor " ; (5) reprints of articles and papers bearing upon motor transport and agricultural operations by means of motor power.
matter sequence. At 2s. 6d. net., its published price, it. should be in the hands of all those who have anything to do with patents.
Roads : Deputation to the Premier.
The Prime Minister received adeputation from the County Councils Association, at the House of Commons, on the 29th ult. This concerned some of the effects that follow the creation of new county
boroughs. It is within the competence of the Local Government Board to issue a Provisional Order creating a county borough, where any urban district has a population of 50,000, if desirable. This was pointed out by Sir W. Ryland Adkins, M.P., who introduced the deputation, and who cited the recent cases of Cambridge and Luton.
Mr. H. G. Fordham suggested that the minimum population
should be 100,000, but, in reply to Mr. Asquith, said that the deputation did not wish to " dis-countyborough " those already in existence. It was thought that between 30 and 40 areas might soon become qualified under the. old population test of 50,000.
Mr. S. H. Whitbread made particular reference to heavy-motor traffic. In reply to Mr. Asquith, he maintained that a great deal of this traffic did come from London and various boroughs. He thought that the national exchequer ought to provide more help.
Mr. Harcourt Clare stated that the Local Government Board never paid the slightest heed to County Council representations in regard to such Provisional Orders. Mr.
Asquith asked Mr. Clare why all the considerations that ought to be presented before a Committee of the House of Commons could not be so presented as matters stood. Mr. Harcourt Clare's reply to this ques tion was, that the County Councils could do so up to 1908, but that they were now told that they had got their "compensation clauses," and could not want anything more. The L.G.B. regarded the position of the County Councils in these inquiries
as a nuisance. Lancashire had contested three such Bills, and
they had beaten the county boroughs on the merits of the case. On 100 Lancashire main roads,
from 45 per cent. to 89 per cent.
of the traffic exclusively began and ended in a county borough, and yet the whole expense was on a county
ratepayer. Mr. W. Regester and Mr. Mark Sykes, M.P., also spoke. Mr. Asquith, who intimated that he had requests to receive deputa
tions on the other side from the Borough of Cambridge and from the Association of Municipal Corporations, replied to the effect that, whilst. sympathetic, he could not be expected to give a definite answer at the moment. He thought every consideration should be given to the view that the money of the ratepayers of the impoverished part of a county had to be spent in endeavouring to maintain their position when the presumption was against them. He would put all their arguments to the representatives of the Boroughs and the Municipal Corporations when they came, and in the meantime a position of judicial suspense must be accepted. Late Public-service Advices.
Salford wants tenders for a motor ambulance by the 21st inst., per its M.O.H.
The engineer of the Tottenham U.D.C. has been instructed to report upon the use of motor watering carts.
Macclesfield Town Council is in negotiation with the British Automobile Traction Co., Ltd., with regard to the motorbus services in the district.
Negotiations for the construction of tramways having fallen through, the Petone (New Zealand) Tram-way Co., Ltd., has decided to institute a service of motorbuses.
The Kelburne-Karori Motor Bus Co., Ltd., is the title of a new company recently registered in New Zealand. The offices are situated in Wellington, and the registered capital is put at £3,500.
Board of Trade advices state that a duty of 14 mks. 70 p. per 100 kilogs. has been placed upon all indiarubber tires containing a considerable quantity of steel or steel bands imported into Finland. (1 mk. = 9.6d. ; 100 kilogs. = 220.46 lb.).
Mr. J. B. Hesse has been appointed manager of the Thornycroft motor-vehicle repair department in Vauxhall Bridge Road, S.E. Mr. Hesse has had considerable appropriate experience with his old firm of Hesse and Savory, Teddington.
Avon in Paris.
A_ branch of the Avon India-Rubber Co., Ltd., has been opened at 88, Avenue des Terries, Paris, under the control of M. de Lalande-Joulin. The telegraphic address is " Pneuavon," Paris. It is interesting to note that this is the sixth branch to be opened by the company in question since the beginning of 1911.
Ceylon and its Roads.
The Government of Ceylon have granted permission to the Tea Planters Co. to run motor lorries over certain roads, subject to the estates concerned guaranteeing the amount required for placing the roads in a suitable condition. According to later advices, we understand that this condition has been agreed to, and the sums guaranteed.
Thornycroft Results.
The annual report of John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., for the year ended the 31st December last, shows a trading Profit of £64,970. The handsome share which this company is enjoying in commercialmotor trade in part accounts for this satisfactory position. A . dividend of 5 per cent. on the ordinary shares is paid, £10,000 is transferred to reserve account, and £5721 is carried forward.
News and Comment, etc.
The L.C.C. and the Motor Mowar.
We reproduce two interesting photographs below which are once again illustrative of the gradual displacement of the horse in so many spheres. The illustrations to which we refer are of the new 8 h.p. Ransomes motor mower working in Peckham Rye Park. This machine can do the work of at least two horsed outfits similar to that shown in the upper part of the composite illustration.
Gloucester Services.
The recent offer of the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., has aroused some of Gloucester's citizens, and they have now intimated their intention to provide a local service of taxicabs. It is evident that Bristol's euterprise, now poorly rewarded so far as Gloucester is concerned, has stirred up local hackney-carriage interests.
Fire Brigade Matters.
Various authorities in the Sport lVeaaldley are likely to follow Bingley's
A six-cylinder Merryweather fireengine has recently been shipped to Du rban.
Macclesfield Town Council has adjourned consideration of the purchase of a motor fire-engine sine Middlesbrough Town Council has applied to the L.G.B. for sanction to a loan of 25000 for firebrigade purposes.
Pudsey Town Council has appointed a committee to dra.w up a scheme for the modernizing of its fire brigade, inclusive of the purchase of motor equipment,.
Bolton has resolved to purchase a 400-gallon fire-engine, and a subcommittee consisting of Aldermen Nicholson and Brown, with Councillors Crook and Monks, will take the matter in hand.
L.C.C. Orders.
At the meeting of the L.C.C. on Tuesday, the Fire Brigade Committee recommended the acceptance of the tenders of Dennis Bros. (1913), Ltd., at 25490, for : six 50 h.p. petrol-driven motor fireengines ; 23250, for five petrol driven motor escape vans ; and at 2615 for a petrol-driven motor lorry. With regard to the fire-engines, four other makers submitted tenders, at prices ranging from £5040 if fitted with ordinary tires and two tire protectors, and 25190 if fitted with special tires and without protectors, to 26480 and 26603 respectively. One of these tendered at 2980 for one engine only, whilst another submitted alternative prices of 2.4710 and 24860 for engines of 40 h.p. The Dennis Co. also sent in alternative quotations, at 25250 and 25538, for iron instead of gunmetal pumps.
With regard to the escape-vans, there were three other tenderers, at prices ranging from that accepted to 24550. Seven other makers tendered for the lorry, the lowest quotation being at 2537, the Dennis offer coming next. The offer of the Cedes Electric Traction, Ltd., was also recommended for acceptance, at 2850, for supplying a petrol-electric chassis, etc., required for turning a horsedrawn turntable ladder into a selfpropelled unit.