WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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Scottish Motor Show.
The balloting for space in the forthcoming Scottish Motor Show was held last -week, and the disposition of the space will be seen from the plaie of the commercial-vehicle section, which appears on page 294 of this issue. The exhibition is being held in the Kelvin Hall of Industries, Kelvingrove, Glasgow' from January -23rd toi31st, 1920. The amount of space is about double that of the Wayerley Market, Edinburgh, and the Exhibition will therefore be the largest ever hid in Scotland.
The secretary for the Show is Mr. David A. Fairley, C.A., 2, Castle Street, Edinburgh, and the list of exhibitors in the commercial-vehicle section with their stand numbers is as follows :-Stand No.
1, John Thornycroft and Co.,. Ltd. ; No. 2, Halley's Industrial Motors, Ltd.; No.
3, Robert Anderson; No. -4, D. " Ce'erlaw
• and Sons, Ltd. ; No. 5, Albion Motor Car Co. Ltd.; No. 6, D. Napier and Sons, Ltd.; No. 7, Peebles Motor Co., Ltd.; No 8, Alexander and Co.; No. 9, ROMleigh, Ltd. ; No. 10, The Daintier Co., Ltd.; No. 11, William Beardmore and Co. . Ltd.; No. 12, Claud Hamilton, Ltd..; No. 13, Glasgow and Paris Motor Co., Ltd. ; No. 14, Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd. ;No. 15, Maudslay Motor Co., Ltd.; No. 16, Rennie Motors, Ltd.; No. 17, Western Motor Co., Ltd.; No. 18, Leyland Motors, Ltd. ; No. 20, General Motors (Glasgow), Ltd.; No. 21, Pilling-Stevens; Ltd.; • No. 22, Caledon Motors, Ltd.; No. 24, Hendry and Co.; No. 25, Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co., Ltd. ; No. 26, Bryson Rroe; No. 28, Apex Motor Engineering Co., Ltd.; No. 30, Thomas Shaw (Dundee), Ltd.; No. 31, Harry Prosser ; No. 32, Mackay and Jardine; No. 35, Pear: Motor Co., Ltd.
Advisory Committee on London Traffic.
The Minister of -Transport has appointed an Advisory Committee to advise him and to assist the Ministry in dealing mil& those matters connected with London traffic which come within its province.
Mr. Kennedy Jones, M.P., has accepted the Chairmanship of the Committee, which is being constituted as follows: M. Will Thorne, M.P.; Sir Chas. de Bartolnm6, Director General of Development Dept., Ministry of Transport; Sir Henry Maybury, Directer General of Roads Dept., Ministry of Transport ; Mr.. Frank L. D. Elliott, representing the Home Office; Mr. E. S. Underwood,. representing the City Corporation;
H. Hume,representing the London County Council; Alderman F. Dent, of the Essex County. Council, representieg the five County Councils inside the Metropolitan • area but • outeide the County of Landon; Seorestary, MT. J. A.' C. Chapman, 'Development Department, Ministry of Trarispert.
To Help Buses in Fogs. •
Besidesinstituting a -system. of link. boys in order to lead omnibuses across. the busy road junctions in the heart of London during foggy weather, the buses themselves are being equipped with a
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lamp bracket bolted teethe near-side dumbiron, and supporting an electric lamp wired up in circuit to-a switch over the driver's head, this switch being protected by a box, the door of which is panelledin glass.
The idea is that the lamp should not be. used except in foggy weather, and that the driver should have to break the glass in order to be able to switch on the current. •The;lamp is so arranged that the light is thrown on to the near-side kerb, which is always the point to which light should be directed in order to cope with foggy weather.
A.B.M.A.M. Dinner.
At the dinner to be given to the Imperial Motor Transport Council in London to-merrow night by the Aseociation of British Motor and Allied Manufacturers, Ltd., M. H. C. B. Underdown and Mr. Edward Manville (present and past presidents of the Aesociation) will speak for the motor industry, whilseethe replies will be in the capable hands of H.R.H. Prince Arthur of Connaught, K.G.,elle' Col. Sir Ha.mar Greenwood, *art., the head of the Overseas Trade Department of the Board of Trade.
Organization of the Ministry.
The Ministry of Transport has been dividedeinto nine separate departments. The heads of these departments are:Chief mechanical engineer, Colonel L. Simpson; director-general of civil engineering, Sir Alexander Gibb; director-general of development, Sir C. de Bartolome; director-general of traffic, Sir Phillip Nash; secretary and solicitor, Sir Y. 1Dunnell; director-general of finance and statistics, Sir George Beharrell; director-general of public safety and general purposes Sir Wm. Marwood; director-general of roads, Sir Henry May-bury; director-general of transport (Ireland), Mr. B. G. 'Burgess. The head of each of the Departments will be directly responsible to the Minister of Transport for the . work, under his control.
David Brown and Sons' Dinner.
Members of the technical and semitechnical Press were recently entertained at the Holborn Restaurant by David Brown and Sons (Hudd.), Ltd. The purpose of the dinner was toafford an opportunity for bringing forward some most interesting results of tests by the National Physical Laboratory of the new worm gear. This gear was brought out just before the war, but its production was interfered with in consequence of the ware
Captain S. Bramley-Moore, M.C., A.M.I.M.E., received the guests on behalf of the company. He gave, a most interesting and explicit description of the new-gear, and compared it with the older type. A most. interesting point about the new gear is that there is never less than two-line contact, whereas in the older type at -certain points of the revolution of the worm, one-line contact is found. 'The efficiency-figures obtained by the National Physical Taborgtory are certainly remarkable, and asteragedkwer 97 per cent, efficiency at normal running speeds and loads.
Wrong Impressions.
The reports of Sir Eric Geddes's speech which we have seen in the daily Press, strangely enough, convey quite a wrong note. This is largely a result of 'cutting' in Order to accommodate -the matter to the limited space available. One moderately long (for a daily paper) account gave quite a distorted aspect!to the speech, andethe baleful note wee emphasised by the extraordinary selection of a point. from Mr. Lanchester'e reply. In our summary of the Minister's speech the greatest. care has been taken to preserve the true atmosphere, aqd virtually little.condensation has occurrel, space having been saved on those little repetitions and unimportant,side reinarks that arise in the spoken effort, and that are of interest only to those who are the immediate hearers.
Roads and Transport Congress.
The prograstme of the Roads and Transport Congress and Exhibition which is being inaugurated lw the County Councils' Association, awl which will be held in the Royal Agricultural Hall, London, N., from November 20th to 27th, includes seven conferences on subjects dealing with road.eonetruction (concrete and asphaltic macadam); the consolidation and amendment .of the Highways Law; the conditions under which the heavier types of vehicles may use the roads with special reference to -.their. liability for extraordinary traffic damages; tle weight, construction and speed of mechanically-propelled vehicles in relation to the construction and maintenance of roads; and provisions for and development of traffic in the future with special reference to provision of new roads, road finance, and provision of new transport services. .
National Buses Leave London.
At the beginning of last week the whole of the fleet of motorbases run by the National Steam Car Co., Ltd.,. ih London was withdrawn from the streets of the Metropolis, the reason given by the company being that they intend to confine their operations to the provinces. This means the withdrawal of about 150 vehicles from ,,Lendon's omnibus service. The directors stated that operations in London could not be continued except by incurring heavy losses, especially since the recent increase in wages and the additlartal causes, such as the high cost. dl fuel and the greater tendency towards traffic congestion, which in the long run reduces mileage, and-also to what they describe .as the in. adequate fares. The L.G.O.Co., Ltd., have, taken over the whole of the service run by thie company, so that the tra_veiling public will not stiffer any inconvenience as a result of the withdrawal of these vehicles.
Slough Depot Permanent.
The Treasnry has einctiatted;a'scheme pueltforwerel by the Ministry of Munitions .f or the purchase -outright tof the Slough depot rsite, which hitherto has Only been occupied ternporarily.under the Defence of the Realm Act. The valuation of the land has already been made.
For Ex-Service Men.
An association, known as the ExService Owner-Drivers' Association, based on the co-ordination of Maintenance depots and a clearing house with ownerdrivers on a profit-sharing basis, is in process: of formation.
The attraction of being an ownerdriver is said to wear elf when it is found that repairs, traffic correspondence and accounts have to be attended to on the top of a hard day's work, if' the earning capacity of the vehicle is to be main
tained. It will, therefore, be readily conceded that these three factors are equally indispensable to the success of an owner'-driver's undertaking. To attain this end the association is being formed. Therein, by, mutual service on a profitsharing basis the owner-driver will have the status of a proprietor in that, over and lbove his other receipts, lie will receive monthly the share of-the profits due to his own efforts, so that he can meet his obligations without running the risk of their being minimized in a pool. At the same time, it will eliminate clerical work by providing him with traffic, collecting all accounts and undertaking his vehicle's maintenance. But it will distribute the remainder of the profits to the clearing house, maintenance depots and shareholders who have helped him to succeed.
On request, we will forward the address of the association.
C.M.U.A. Successful Appeal.
-The C.M.U.A. at. the Salford Hundred Quarter Sessions appealed on October 22nd against a conviction at Rochdale on July 15th last of one of its members (The Nelson Transport Co.) for emission of smoke from a steam wagon.
The appeal was allowed with costs, and it is felt that a precedent has now beep set with regard to these convictions; which will be of great benefit to all those concernsarunning steam wagons.
Mr. Wingate -Saul, K.C., represented, the Association, and he was assisted by Mr. Prootor. Major Arthur Ellis gave evidence as to an Order being made in 1917 prohibiting the export of Welsh smekeless coal to Lancashire. The Order has never been revoxed, but was modified on dilly 8th, 1918, but no supplies were yet available. Mr. Thomas Davies, consulting engineer to Fodens, Ltd., gave evidence of the ability of the mechanism of the Foden wagon to consume. its OW n smoke. Evidence was also given by Mr. G. W, Watson.
Roumanian Transport.
With a view to carrying on the business of haulage and transport contractors, the Roumanian Road Transport Go., Ltd., has been registered with a capital of £105,000 in 100,080 preferred ordinary shares of £1, and 100,000 ordinary shares of 1s. each. The first directors are A.. Rutherford; G, R. Bloxcidge, J.P.; P. C. Quitter, M.P.; R. W. Barrett, and Sir William. W. Rutherford. The riNistered office is at 48, Gannon Street, E.C.
33,201 Government Lorries Sold.
In the House of Commons last week, Major D. Davies asked the Secretary of State for War how many motor lorries were in the possession of the War Department at the date of the Artnistice, and how many have since been sold? Mr. Churchill: The number of motor lorries in possession of the War Department at, the time of the Armistice was 51,950. The number of lorries reported to the Ministry of Munitions for disposal to date is 33,201.
Ferrying Lorries.
The change from horsed to motor transport is well shown by the traffic . convoyed on the ferrk boats operating on the River Clyde. At one time the ferry was almost solely occupied in conveying horsed transport; now the tables are turned, and few horsed vehicles are to be seen crossing, whereas the traffic in motor vehicles has greatly increased. The ferry charge for a motor wagon ancl trailer is sixpence loaded or fourpence
empty. In one of the photographs which we reproduce, the ferry boat is shown in midstream conveying a Foden stkm wagon, the other shows the same wagon about to disembark.
. The Wilkinson Sword Co., Lt4., Oakley Works, Southfield Road, Acton, W. 4, have a large and up-to-date plant for dealing with all kinds of repair work. They are prepared to deal witi. all types of motor vans, lorries, etc., and have accommodation for 60 vehicles.
Personal Pars.
The Minister ofTransport has appointed Sir Philip Sassoon, Bart., C.M.G., M.P. to be his Parliamentary Private Secretary (unpaid).
Mr. G. J. Shave arrived in New York ten days ago, and is new busy looking for anything that he can be taught about buses, their cOnstruction, their running, and their maintenance. We doubt whether Mr. Shave has much to learn: We are glad to see Mr. S. A. Wallace of the Associated Equipment Co., getting aboua again witheut the aid of crutches or even of a stick. His fractured ankle and dislocated knee are righting themselves satisfactorily. He had so oVerworked himself at Slough and Walthamstow that in all probability the month's enforced rest did him a power of good.
The Lord Provost of Edinburgh, .Sir John Lorne MacLeod, with the approval of his Majesty the King, has signed a commission, as Deputy Lieutenant for Edinburgh, in favour of Mr. W. Lowrie Sleigh. This will be interesting news to many of Mr. Sleigh's friends in Scotland and elsewhere. He is managing director of the well-known company, Rossleigh, Ltd., Edinburgh, who are motor agents and engineers. • •
Sir Eric Geddes, the first Minister of Transport, made a remarkable impression upon his audience at the banquet of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders lad week. It was undoubtedly a great speech, and it earned with it•the conviction that he meant all that he said. There was, we are sure, no mere adoption of a pose, and that the kindliness and sympathy with motor transport, and even enthusiatan for its work and great value to the community, were not assumed out of courtesy from guest -to hosts: He spoke as if, at last, he was free to say exactly how much be appreciated the value of road transport ; he showed that he had looked deeply into it —see what he said about, the high labour cost of moving only three-ton loads: he demonstrated his complete understanding of the problems and difficulties still facing the motor industry and motor users, and asserted his full intention of using his influence to. secure the removal of absurd restrictions. We can see that speed limit (with its tremendous waste of man power ;n traps and police courtsi going by the. board very soon !
Saunderson Tractors.
Owing to the great demand for the post-war model G tractor having taxed
their works to its utmost. capacity, the Saunderson Tractor and Implement Co., Ltd. Elstow Works, •Bedford, have recendy madte arrangements with Crossley Bros., Ltd., Openshaw, Manchester, who are connected with this firm, to manufacture 5,000 of their model J 15 b.h.p. tractors for delivery next year. This tractor compares most favourably, both in regard to weight and price, with any other light tractor at present on the market, and we understand that delivery ()fame of these tractors will be made iti the course of the ii eat few Months: The company are building new shops, and daily increasing their output of the model. G type tractor.
The Finance of Haulage.
Reporting to the Durham County Council, the county surveyor recommends the purchase of ten more steam wagons. A -very large tonnage of ma. teriaI in connection with road works is required to be transported, and it is rapidly becoming futile to rely on horse transport for this work, as the number of vehicles available is quite inadequate. He has carefully investigated the matter and finds that the total material to be hauled is about 190,000 tons. Assuming that 150,000 will be. hauled by motor transport an average distance of two miles, the total haulage required is for 500,000 ton-miles. The average work of a steam wagon may be taken at 12,000 ton-miles a year, and the number of wagons required is therefore. 25. The council now has nine steam engines and three steam tractors, though one of each is worn out.
Manufacturers' Identification Marks. • •
A report of the Middlesex County Council. states that under the Motor Car Act, 1903, the County Council may grant to manufacturers of, and dealers • in, motor vehicles, general identification marks for temporary use while care are out on test or on trial by intending purchasers.
Hitherto the •marks allocated by the County •Council have beeri in alphabetical series, with the use of the County index mark " H," with the letters of the alpha. bet in rotation.
Owing to the large increase in the number of applications for these marks this method has become impracticable; and it has been necessary to introduce a system to enable the County Council to cope with the increase in the number of. applications.
The avstern, used by the London County Council, has been adopted as follows (a) In addiiion to the county index mark "H " and the consecutive number which has to be recorded by the -user, the applicant is requested to state on his application form the additional letters required. to form the mark, not . more than three letters to be -used, prefera,bly` the initials of the firm ; and ,
(b) The plates to be oblong in shape instead of eejuare, the letters and numbers being painted red on a white ground.
Broken Bridges.
The annual report of the County of Lancashire Bridgemaster mentions that several eases have occurred' of bridges haying been damaged by motor vehicles colliding with them. In spite .01 warnings, several drivers of locojnotives. and heavy motorcars have been fined for allowing their vehicles to stand on 'bridges for the purpose of taking water.
. More Smoke Nuisance:.
At the Executive Council of the Urban District Councils' Association a letter was received from the Chadderton Council drawing attention to the nuisance caused by the emission of black smoke from steam wagons, and urging the necessity for prohibitive nieasures being adopted. The matter was referred to the Parliamentary Committee for consideration and report. This paragraph will be. read with interest in view of the successful appetrl of the C.M.U.A. against the corivietien of one of its members for eausinhea suppeed nuisance in a similar fashion. The matter is reported on another page in this issue.
The Ministry of Health has arranged to hold an inquiry into the application of the Sheffield Corporation for 'permission to get a loan of 214,200 for the purchase of motors for refuse collection.
Buses at Bedford. •
Reporting to the Bedfordshire•County Council, the _Highways fOunnittee states that the National Steam Car Co., Ltd.; has taken over the service of motorbuses belonging to the General Omnibus Co., which are plying for hire over the earns routes as were followed by the General. Omnibus Co. before the war. But, in addition to this, the National Co. has taken over a new route from Bedford to Rushden, and it may be that other new routes may be opened up. The Local Government (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1916, provides that "it shall nothe lawful after the passing of the Act for any omnibus to ply for hire on, or use, any route which has not been regularly used by omnibuses plying for hire within two years prior to the 1st day of March, 1916, except with the consent of the Highway Authority." The managing director of the company is willing to pay a sum, to be agreed upon, not exceeding 3d. per bus mile on the new route.
The Committee is now negotiating with the company with regard to,new routes.
Triplex Goggles.
Goggles made of ordinary glass have been re.sponsibie in the past for dim, genius injuries, arid, in some eases, blinding of the wearers, when some accident hest occurred resulting in shattering of the glass lenses. In order to avoid this, the Triplex Safety Glass Co., Ltd., 1, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly, London, W. 1, make( a comprehensive range' of goggles, in which Triplex safety glees is substituted for the ordinary type. The glass used in these gaggles will star under a blow, but will not shatter.
Bribery and Corruption.
The Committee of the Bribery and Secret Commissions Prevention League, Inc., has issued a warning as to the grave danger of unscrupulous persensmreverting to their old methods of corruption in order to regain business. Comparatively few people know how common bribery was in this country before legislative power was. introduced to deal" with it. When there is any ground for suspicion the facts should be reported immediately, in confidence, to the Secretary of the League, 9, Queen Street Place; London, E.C. 4.
L.C.C. Tramway Proposals.
At last week's meeting of the London County Council, the adjourned qnestion of the extension and linking up of the London tramways came up for discussion and the whole programme of the Highways Committee, referred ao in our last issue, was agreed to with the exception of the proposal to take a tramway along the Upper Richmond Road from 'High St., Wandsworth, to Roehampton Lane. The cost of this particular proposal is estimated at £296,000. With this exception, the whole 90 miles of new lines involving a total outlay of Over eight millions has been 'approved by the Council. The opposition in the main took the line of advocacy for motor omnibuses, one speaker asserting that the time was coming when the London County Council would have power to run motor omnibuses, and then London would possess a great asset for the future, Wherea,s in 15 to 20 years time the tramways, he feared, would be a liability. Abother speaker suggested that, the Council should get on with the linking-up portions of the scheme, and should defer other works until it had seen whet de-. veloptuents would take place in the internal-combustion engine. Yet another speaker said that in 20 years even lines of rails might have gone to the limbo of things _long forgotten. Mr. Gordon, who is a keen ttamways advocate, said that there were reasons which made the stheme absolutely necessary. Fares had been raised to the limit, and-it was,not generally understood that the traffic agencies in London, including she motor omnibuses, were not paying their way. He did not explain that the ormarrantable price of fuel and the exces,sively high wages, coupled with the maintenance of low fares. were to blame for the present state of things. One curious admission was that ofthe chairman of the Highways Committee who said that he was not in • a position tostate whether for this year there would be a deficit or a surplus on the tramways.
On this decision the Council will apply 10 Parliament next session for powers to carry out the most urgent portions of the scheme involving the construction of about 43 miles of single lines at an expenditure of 4k millions.
Every effort must now be put forth to secure the rejection of the scheme by Parliament.
The Greater London Traffic Authority Proposal.
Though generally in favour of the creation of & Greater London Traffic.Authoray on lines suggested by the. recent Select Committee, the Highways Commit.'" tee of the Middlesex County Council expresses the opinion that the members of mhe proposed • new authority should be experts, entirely independent and impartial men chosen-fOr their special abilities, and should beunconnected with . the Ministries or bodies they are to represent. The authority should be appointed for a fixed term of office not exceotling five years, in order that itspolicy -and administration can be reconsidered at the nnd of that period.
Regarding the power of the new authority to make by-laws for the regulation of traffic, the Committee considers that it. would .be a wise provision if opportunities were afforded to criticise, and sugs,tesits that by-laws should either lay on the table of the House of Commons for a prescribed period or that powers should be given to invoke a local inquiry in order that the authorities or persons affected may have an opportunity of making representations on the matter.
. American Army Vehicles.
According to American statistics, the U.S: Army now has on., hand 46,909 motor vehicles. The War Department has already transferred to other Government Departments 14,761 vehicles. According to tablea of organization, an army of 500,000 requires 23,026 motor vehicles including a 10 per cent. reserve.
Daily -,London to Birmingham Rod Transport Service.
The H.3 Transport Co. has organized a daily motor lorry service between London and Birmingham. As a result of investigations, it was ascertained that there was much tonnage to be carried from these two big centres, and as a consequence the service wiasanaugarated. An extension of the service from Birmingham to Manchester is likely to be affected ktier on.
Lorries for Manchester.
The Worthmore Motor Co. have opened a new branch at. Cathedral House, Long Millgate, Mancheater, as well as a garage in that vicinity. They are sending up to this branch a good selection of new and second-hand lorries, and those of our readers who are in the Manchester district, and who desire reliable vehicles, would do well to pay a visit te this well-known concern.
• Efficiency of the London Motorbus..
In spite of the arduous nature of their work, the number of involuntary stops made by motorbuses on the London streets -during the last, twelve months works out at the extremely low figure of one stop for every 10,000 miles. run. The broken-down London bus, is like the, proverbial. dead donkey—very rarely seen, and these statistics are a tribute to the efficiency of the present-day internalcombustion engines.
An Interesting Amalgamation.
Arraegement have been completed for the amalgamationof the business carried on by Mr. Robert. W. Paul, at New -Southgate, London, with the Cambridge Scientific Instrument Co. Ltd. Mr. Paul will join V the board sir/directors, and the. manufacture of instruments will be contineed both at Cambridge and at
ew Southgate. Until the end of the year the selling and manufacture arrangenteraz will be unchanged, but on January 1st, 1920, the name of the company will be altered to the Cambridge and Paul Instrument Co., Ltd., and as soon as possible the head effice and showrooms transferred to Ltandon.
New Birmingham Transport Co.
All the shares of the Birmingham and Midland -Counties Transport Co. Ltd., the London and Midland Transport Co., Ltd., and the Liverpool Road Traction Co., Ltd., have been acquired by Allied Road transports, Ltd., a 'new company which has been registered with a capital of £250,000 in £1shares. They are to carry on the business 'of motor-transport carriers.
The first directors are : 0. Rails, E. Mellor, G. E. D. Balls and L. A. Colmote. The registered office is at 312-314, Bradford Street., Birmingham.
Canadian Tractor Trials.
The largest and most successful farm tractor demonstration that had been held in Canada took place at the Central Experimental and J. 11. Booth Farms, Ottawa., Ontario, on October 14th, 15th and Ifith, under the auspices-of the Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec Plow
omen's Associatien. It was estimated that 20,000 people visited the Ottawa demonstration on the second day and. despite a heavy rain, a crowd of 5,000 assembled for the proceedings on the thirol day.
Exactly 47 tractor models were on di. play or were demonstrated at the trials, Hutt these represented 27 ' different manufacturers or distributors. Theme was no arrangement for a conipetitiv-i trial between the various tractors, but many opportunities were given the agrimotors to show..their mechanical value
collectively and individually. On the final day, 18 tractors of various makes ploughed 40 acres of stubble field at the experimental farm in 1 hour and 50 mins. Individual results were not announced by the management, and there was no indication of the fuel consumption required for the test. It was staged as a speeial demonstration of speed on the part of tractors in general. The farmers could do the figuring for themselves.
Another spectacular feature of the trials was a tractor parade through. the main thoroughfares of the Canadian capital prior to the official .opening of the eveut. About 25 traotors took part in the march, which was headed by mounted police and a Kilties' Band. Those tractors, the wheels of which were: fitted with permanent cleats or spikes, were unable . to participate in the parade by order of the authorities.
The majority ot the demonstrating models were brought from the United States for the event, -and the meet brought together representatives from many tractor manufacturing and distributing concerns of the United States and Canada.
The demonstration attracted many rural and city'motorists, and on the second day of the trials upwards of 900 automobiles were parked at one time in the open-air garage at the experimental farm.
That the tractor industry in Canada is due to make a rapid advance -is indicated by announcements at the demonstration. The Cluff interests at Toronto, which have been engaged with munition -stork during the War, presented their first Toronto-made model—the Chase. The company organized to produce this model isk known as the Chase Tracter Corporation, Ltd., Toronto. Announcement was also made that the J. I. Case Co., of Wisconsio, had acquired a 'large site near Port Arthur, Ontario, for a Canadian plant. The George White and Sons Co., Ltd.;•••Londen, Ontario, -and the Renfrew Machinery Co. Ltd., Renfrew, Ontario, both annourmod.that they would soon be engaged in the assembly and production of farm motor vehicles. The Renfrew Co. distributes the Happy Farmer tractor; which is now madein the States.'
Among the Canadian tractors taking part were the Massey-Harris SawyerMa.ssey, the Beaver, and the detrac.
The trials were officially opened hy Sir George Foster, Federal Minister Of Trade and Commerce, and the official luncheons were attended by many prominent :citizens.
Inst. A. E. and Olympia
Advantage is to be taken of the presence of the motoring world in London during Olympia Show week to hold a reception of the, members of the Institution of Automobile Engineers. The idea is to afford members an opportunity of meeting the council and each ether in a more sociable manner than is generally possible at the monthly meetings.
The president. and council of the Institution will open the meeting by holding a reception, and the president will then makea short address pointing out the functions and privileges of the Institution. It had been hoped that this would be followed by a few Ii-ords of thanks to the automobile engineer for his part in the war, from x.R.B. The Prince of Wales, who would have undertaken this duty but for his absence in Canada, Sir Albert Stanley has, how, ever, kindly undertaken to do this, and it is hoped that members of the institution will attend in large numbers.
The reception takes place at the Kensington Town Hall on Thursday, November 13th, at 3.30 p.m., and invitation ' cards for members and lady friends should be applied for without -delay.,
Lodge Developments.
As a result of the demand for Lodge, sparking plugs, a new company is being formed with a capital of £300,000. This company will be formally registered this month. The opportunk is being takento shorten tne name, and the new company will be known simply as Lpdgo Plugs, Ltd. The general policy of the company will remain the same, and there will be no changes in management. Fortunately, the company has scope for practically unrestricted extensions.
Midland Road Transport.
Since the project was mooted by the Derby Chamber of Commerce, the idea of the establishment of a Road Tranaporji Clearing House for that part of the Midlands has been favourably discussed by several other, organizations representing considerable sections of the trading community whose interests are likely to be benefited by such a plan.
The experienae gained during the recent railway strike pointed to the possi
bility of adequate road arrahgments being made to serve the wants of a. widely-extended area, and in connection, with a scheme which has been foreshadowed for the East Midland territory it has been suggested that Nottingham. Derby and Leicester would admirably' serve, lite purposes of centres to and from which traffic might radiate. There is no reason why towns as far apart as Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Sheffield and Leeds might not be linked up in a chain of regnlar commercial intercammuideation, saving much valuable time which is lost under present-day confused railway arrangements, When raped transit is required.
The Nottingham Chamber of Commerce had the question under consideration at a meeting held last week, when it was de.. termined to appoint a special committee to deal with the extension of road transport. Seeing that the usefulness of such transport was amply demonstrated during the railway strike, it, was a question, said the Adiisory Committee, whether these means should not be continued, to the relief of, and substitution for, the railways. A scheme has been adopted by the Leicester Chamber for the establishment. of a clearing house for the interchange of traffic. This proposal is based upon a inutual agreement between those who requirre cartage and those who have the means of cartage, and the adoption of a scale of charges, but nothing in the nature of the establishment of a goods warehouse is contemplated. Obviously the success of the plan propounded by the Leicester Chamber must depend upon the active co-operation of members of similar organizations„ and the Nottingham Chamber has taken the necessary preliininaxy steps to secure consideration of the matter, which calls for prompt and adequate treatment.
.Bus Company to. Pay lid. Per Mile.
At a conference of Durham local authorities, through whose areas the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd. propose to '
run omnibuses it was agreed that permission should be granted on condition that the company shall, in respect of each bus mile pay thelocal authority not less than Ad., together with a sufficient sum towards the cost of adapting the roads for the bus traffic.
Local Proceedings.
Neath is seeking a loan of £1,027 for the purchase of a steam wagon.
Plymouth T.C. has obtained sanction to raise a loan for the purchase of four steam wagons.
Hoylalte and W. Kirby U.D.C. is borrowing £1,100 for the purchaSe of a motor fire-engine.
The surveyor of Oswestry. R.D.C. is to purchase a trailer for its tractor at it cost of about 00.
A loan of £2,400 is being asked for by the Tynemouth T:C. for the purchase of petrol motor wagons. Mitcham L.D..C. has obtained a permit to borrow £1,150 for the purchase of a motor fire-tender.
The pure/ram of two steam wagons to cost about £600 each, is being considered by Wirral.R.D.C.
Sevenoaks U,D.C. bas secnred a permit for a loan of 2900 for the purchase , of a steam wagon and trailers.
Altrinchain U.D.C. has decided to purchase a motor .tipping wagon and watering cart at a cost of £1,300.
Bournemouth Corp'oration Tramways Conunittee has arranged that its new buses shall be of the single-deck type. ; Southend-on-Sea haaccepted the.
tender of Dennis Bros. „Ltd„ for a motor fire-engine and ladder carrier at £1,490.
The question of the purchase of a motor fire-engine, estimated to cost £2,000, has been adjourned by Taunton R.D.C.
Wolstanton .(Stoke-on-Trent) U.D.C. have purchased a Clydesdale tipping wagon through Messrs. F. W. Berkeley and Co., 39, Victoria Street, .S.W. 1.
Edinburgh Corporation is to apply for. Parliamentary powers to run motor omnibuses beyond the existing city harmdaries for distances from 5 to 10 miles.
Manchester Corporation has accepted the tender of the Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd., for a wagon. The Cleansing Department of the Corporation has subject to the usual sanctiOn decided to spend 23.200 on a motor sweeping machine, a.tipping wagon, and a landa.ulet.