WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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." The wheel of wealth will be slowed by all dieioultieNof transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over Which it runs. "—John Beattie Crosier. * • The Spanish Trials.
The International Trials which were organized by the Automobile Club of Barcelona were concluded at Madrid on June 30th. At the end of the trials the vehicles paraded in front of the Royal Palace, and were inspected from the balcony by the King and Queen of Spain. The following were the awards:— Gold medal, 1st category.—G.M.C. (American). Gold medals, 2nd category.—Arbenz (Swiss.), Federal (American), Standard (American), Borth (German), Unic (French). Gold medals, 3rd category.—Commer Car (British). &timer (Swiss), 13erliet (French), Delahaye (French), Caledon (British), I:sotto Fraschini (Italian), G.M.C. (American). In the omnibus class the Coanmer Car again secured a gold medal, so that both the Commer Cars entered in the trials gained the highestawards. In addition, the fallowing also gained gold. medals in this class: Clydesdale (American), Arbenz (French). The /French vehicle Dewald secured with the Opel honourable mention.
Machine Tools on Show.
The Machine Tool and Engineering Exhibition, which will be held at Olympia in September next, was to have been held in 1916, but, on account of the war, it was found necessary to postpone it until this yeas. • The first exhibition was held in 1912, ancl-the fact that eight years have elapsed since the last exhibition of machine tools in this country will mean that more new models and new types will be on view than have ever been shown at any previous exhibition.
The whole of the space at Olympia has been booked up for some months past, and the number of separate exhibitors will exceed 200.
It is anticipated that the public interest in the exhibition this year will be greater than that shown in any previous exhibition of machine tools. The exhibition is being organized by the Machine Tool Trades Asseciaticm, of which nearly all British machine. tool manufacturers and merchants are members, and it will be held from September 4th to 25th next.
Reconditioned W.D. Leyland Lorries,
Leyland Meters, Ltd., report that their newly-acquired Earn works are new • in full operation, and that already a large output of reconditioned W.D. returned Leyland lorries is being effected as the result. So well has progress been made in this connection that the company can offer prompt delivery of this type of machine at the present time. It, is desired that it should be clearly understood that the company have acquired the balance of the Leyland. vehicles, which thas decided are surplus to its peabe time requirements, and that the commercial world ' should* be given the opportunity to purchase these machines which have been through the company's own hands and reconditioned in their own factories. Only machines which have been so treated are sold to the public with the company's guarantee. In the event of any Leylatid vehicles being offered to .prospective customers which have been acquired by other parties than the Leyland Co., an invitation is issued for such customers to make inquiry from the Sales Records Department, Headquarters, Leyland, Lancashire, giving the chassis number-of the. machine so offered, when any particulars that are required with regard to that machine will he Willingly furnished in order that it may be properly identified.
Instances have been reported to the company in which second-hand Leyland machines have been offered by uuauthbrized parties as new.
A well-known concern of bodybuilders wish to get into touch with manufacturers of cheap quadrant fittings for light commercial windscreens. If makers of these. w,ill communicate 'with us we will forward their letters to the concern in question, Mr. H. C. B. Thidendewn, elacirman and managing director of Commercial Cars, Ltd., has been re-elected. rresident, and Mr. E. M. C. Inatones of the Daimler Co., Ltd., has been elected vicepresident of the Association of British Motor Manufacturers; Ltd.
An electric air compressor for the inflation of large size pneumatic tyres, made by the Black and Deccer Manufacturing Co., of Towsen Heights, Baltimore, U.S.A., is being marketed in this conntry by Gerrard and Go., Ltd., 15-19, Great Titchfield Street, W.
We have just received a ecurimunication from Pearson and Sopwith, rtd., 8 and 9, Long Acre, W.C., regarding the paragraph: entitled "Fiats for Disposal," contained in our iZsile of last week. It is pointed out that the Fiats mentioned in this paragraph are probably of the reconditioned type, similar to those sold by them in England, and they also state that the vehicles are 30 cwt., not 35 cwt., as stated by our Italian correspondent. Both the Fiat company, of Turin, and the English concern trading under the same name, have also notified us that they will refuse to supply spare parts for any of, these vehicles.
' On page 517 of our issue for Jane. 29th, in our report of the Royal Show, we illustrated three p'oden steamers as being shown. on stand No. 320. This was not the case, as the foremost wagon in the illustration was shown hy the Forth Engine and Motor Works (Newcastle-onTyne), Ltd. This company's stand (No. 321) was situated between Fodens. Ltd. and Walker Bros. (Wigan), Ltd., and of the seven vehicles shown together on the three stands, five of them were to the order of the Newcastle concern, who are the local agents for both these companies.
New Tax Passes Committee.
The outcome of all the opposition organized by the Motor Legislation Cernreittee age-met Clause 11 (Repeal of Customs Duty on Motor Spirit and Motor Dealers' Licence Duties) of the Finance Bill came to, naught when the clause was considered in Committee on. Tuesday last The opposition was led by Sir William Joynson-Hicks, Bt., but it cannot be said that he received any material support, and the Minister cf Transport was able to meet his arguments, mainly, DO doubt, because of the extreme absence of unity in the ranks of the motorists. We should be sorry if it were felt that the commercial-vehicle interests had, in any way, let down the private-car side of the movement, but Sir Eric Gedclea made great play of the letter which he had received, in support of the proposed vehicle tax basis, from the Chairman of the Standing Joint Committee of Mechanical Road Trani-port Associations, and he also made full use of the curious fact that, whilst the S.M.M. and T. is supposed to be against the new form of taxation, its own representative on the Departmental Committee, Mr. Rees Jeffreys, was the one who aCtually proposed it. Of course, the real truth of the matter is to be found, on harking back to the statement of the • Chancellor of the Exchequer a year ago that a new basis of motor taxaticm must be found where actual Possession would be taxed and not mere use. On every side, it has been agreed that taxation in proportion to use of roads is the fairest method; and the consumPtion of fuel shows this proportion, whereas any sort of tax on possession •does not show the same fairness. The pity is that some scheme was not agreed to universally throughout the Motoring community and put forward, which would have enabled a tax to be collected from every road vehicle prsportionate to the fuel used, whatever that fuel might be, and if, for instance, paraffin had to be declared a dutiable article, thus affecting its domestic uses, that matter_could, perhaps, have been levelled up, so far as the working classes are Concerned, by a reduction of the import duty on tea. The Minister of Transport was able to male out, therefore, a good case for the retention of the • new motor taxation basis (on h.p. in the case of private cars, on unladen weight in the case of commercial vehicles, and . on category in the case a agricultural machines). The extentof the organization of the.opposition is shown by the fact that Sir William Joynson-Hicks had the support of 92 members With him in his views, but only 43 of these went into the lobby in sueport of the amendment, the clause 'being carried by 228 votes to 43.
The 23rd edition of "The Motor Manualr which we review on page 590, is now in the press. sod will be published very shortly. As the demand will certainly be great, readers should order their copies from booksellers at once.
Liverpool Motor Parade.
Li September, the Commercial Motor Users Association intends to hold a parade of motor vehicles (steam and petrol) at Liverpool. Preliminary steps have already been taken, but it has not yet been decided whether the event, shall take the form of an assembly for the purpose of judging only, or a procession through the streets as well.
Prizes • are to be awarded for the best turned out fleets, and for best single machines, as well as 'cash prizes for drivers and assistants.
Petrol ,Production in America.
The report of the U.S. Bureau of Mines shows a decided improvement in stocks of petrol in America during the first quarter a the year compared with similar periods of 1§18 and 1919. Increase in domestic consumption in the first three months of this year over first quarter of last year was -approximately
30 per cent. Exports also increased. The following statistics show the production, consumption, and state of stocks for the first quarter of each of the past three years.
Production, over this period, amounted in 1920 to 1,026,445,500 gallons, in 1919 to 898,535,500gallons, and in 1918 to 746,584,600 gallons.
Consumption ardomestie) 'amounted in 1920 to 734,044,800 gallons, in 1919 to 550,112,500 gallons, and in 1918 to 505,599,300 gallons, whilst' oonaumption (e • irts) amounted in 1920 to 112,701,1f gallons, in 1919 to 99687,000 gallons and in 1919 to 126;859';800. gal.
• Ions.
Addition to stocks in 1920 was 179,599,600 gallons,. 248.735,400 gallons in 1919, and 114,325,600,gallons in. 1918. The actual stacks;onsMarch 31st of each year were 626,393,000 pitons in 1920; 546,062,400 gallons in 1919; and 526,382,400 gallons in 1918.
Gainshorougli MOtor Firs 'Appliances.
Demands for more expeditious means of thialing with the outbreak of 'fire have led the Gainsiaorough authorities to decide upon the purchase of•• a.. motor fireengine for use in that busy Lincolnshire centre of engineering operations. A very serious fire which occurred two Years ago led to a steam engine being obtained, but this has been found to be quite inadequate, the irony of the situation being illustrated by the fact that, upon the occasion of a receht call upon the services of the brigade, juveniles were to be observed running in tratat of the engine shouting "Come on ; tnere's fire," The steamer is to be sold and a motor acquired.
Left-hand Drive Vehicles.
The Ministry of Transport state that the Departmental Committee -on thp Regulation of Road Vehicles has been considering the question of the use in this country of meohanically propelled road vehicles with left-han(j drive. • Whilst no decision has yet been, arrived at, and. further evidence has still to be taken, the Committee are impressed by the rapid increase in the number of these vehicles and the danger to the safety of all road users which is caused by them, especially in congested and narrow thoroughfares, and it as most probable that their use will be at least restricted at an early date.
Three Counties Bus Scheme.
The Middlesex C.C. has approved a joint scheme for the running of motorbuses' by the London, Middlesex, and Hertfordshire County Councils, The ananint to he paid by the Middlesex C.C. is £100,000, and in the ease • of London and Hertfordshire the amounts are £400,000 and £200,000, respectively. The Middlesex Council stipulates that profits and losses on the undertaking shall be shared in proportion to the amount of capital invested.
Vulcan Service. . •
The illustration which we publish on this page shows a 30 cwt.. Vulcan lorry, which is used by the Birmingham depot of the British Motor Trading Corporatism for demonstration purposes. The Vulcan Co. have decided to supply all their agents with similar vehicles, at a special discount, the idea being that each dealer shall have one for use in his own business for ;senora], delivery purposes, towing,
and inn other work. — •
Professor Sir John Cadman; K.C.MG., D.Sc.,' University of Biracinghain; Mr. W. B. Hardy, Soc. KS., Gonville and Cai,ue College, Carobridge ; and Professor Sydney Young, D.Sc.., F.R.S., Trinity College Dublin; have been appointed by an Order in Council datedJune 24th to be members of the Advisory Council to the Ctnnmiftee of the Privy Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.
COMMERCIAL MOTOR Personal Pars.
Mr. MacEwan, of MacEwan,. Pratt and Co., the well-known makers of internal• combustion-angined locomotives, tram. cars, etc.,' is one of those manufacturers 'who believe in finding out for themselves the conditions with which their product will have to contend. As the demand. for machines of this type is world-wide and the greatest need is, generally, in out-of-the-way places, the desire to study conditions .ast first hand has led him into many odd corners of the world.
Mr. MacEwan is an engineer of very wide experience, and in his earlier days spent some time as an engineer at sea, and it was during this period .that he 'underwent one 'of the most terrible experiences that anyone coold possibly encounter. • Wrecked in a heavy snowstorm, which -prevented all possibility of distress signals being seen, his ship foundered so rapidly that there was not even time to provision the boats. Mi. -MacEwan was thrawui into, the water, and succeeded in climbing on to a raft, from which he was picked up unconscious by one of the ship's boats after some hours. On regaining consciousness in the boat, he had immediately to start rowing, until, eventually, an -Italian vessel sighted the boat and rescued all the occupants.. By that time they had spent 36 hours, practically unclad, in the. bitterest weather, and ivith no food or• water, their only salvation being the snow, by which they quenched their thirst. Some of theis died in the boat, and the health of the remainder was very badly affected. Mr. MacEwan spent six months in hospital after this unpleasant experience, from which he eventually completely recovered.
The latest production of the Burton works of Means. MacEwan, Pratt and Co. is a 40-45 h.p. tramcar for the Nasik tramways, which will be described shortly.
Mr. Robert Bamford, who has recently launched out . as a consulting engineer, is a well-known personality in the cycle and motor trades, and was before the war considered a crack roadster, and, incidentally, he was a contributor to our contemporary OvrkingDuring the war
—
Mr. Bamford did .a great deal of useful work in the MT., R.A.S.C., and was, until his demobilization, stationed for seine considerable time at the 2nd Heavy Repair Shop, Rouen. His experience gained in this connection will now stand, him in good sytead. ,Previous to the war he was .also a partner in the concern known as Bamford and Hesse. `'.
New Manchester Showroom.
Tom Garner, Ltd., who are doing well with Manchester agencies, have just opened a new showroom at 60, Deans gate, Manchester. This is under the management of Mr. R. Rutherford, who is able to promise comparatively early delivery of Straker-Squire arid Guy vehicles.
Other productions that will be represented in the new 'showroom are the W. and G., and the-Selden. Mr. Rutherford is enthusiastic as to the merits of the Guy lorry which is on view.
The introduction of motorbuses into Singapore is under consideration. It is probable that private enterpriee, rather than municipal, will be encouraged in this direction.
The Antwerp Exhibition.
Continental city engineers have long held the opinion that London, the pre; mier city of the world for its nioterbes services, provides an excellent example of how a public transport service should be rim.
Many of these engineers have had the opportunity of studying the system in London itself, whilst others to whom such opportunities have been denied will be able to inspect a specimen chassis as well as a complete bus, which is being shown by the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., at the Antwerp Exhibition, which. remains open until July 25th.
With a view of promoting trade and goodwill between Continental cities, the Associated Equipment Co. have sent over to Antwerp several expert engineers who are in a position to discuss the probIems and difficulties of passengersseavice operation. The•rnotorlaus shown is of the single-deck type capable of seating 25 passengers, and it has room on the sear platform for 12 'additional passengers standing; this is a point which will, in all probability, appeal to European engineers where the system of carrying additional passengers on the platferm at the rear prevails. The body is fitted to a K-type chassis, which we have had occasion to describe in our pages at some length.
• York Motorbuses.
Accounts of the York City Council for the year ended March 31st give the subjoined statistics with regard to trolley buses and petrol buses :— Capital sanctioned for trolley vehicles. £9,800. For trolley equipment, £8.700 (of _which £1,200 has been borrowed). Capital sanctioned for petrol buses, £12.000; borrowed, £7,580; repaid, £4,751.
Total bus mileage, 85,522, an increase of 5,170 Total income from bus services, £4,085 (11.46d. per mile) compared with £3,135 (9.36d. per mile) for the previous year. Total working expenses, £5,882 (16.51d. per mile) compared with £3,772 (11,26d. per Mile) for the previdts year, an increase of 5.25d. per bus mile.
The net loss on the bus service was £1,798.
Details of the working expenses inciude wages of drivers, £1,366; cleaning and maintenance, £3,501. •
To Secure Good Drivers.
Birmingham, which is intred acing electric-vehicles for street cleaning work, etc., has organized kuition classes in order to afford means for the present employees to qualify to drive the new ;type avehicle. The men have readily responded, over 70 having already taken the course of instruction.
By this means a steady flow of trained drivers will be ensured, and the opper, tunities for promotion afforded to exist ing As the Salvage Com lace says, the advantage of the instruction classes Irons the department's point of view will be considerable, and will be' reflected in the more careful handling of the -electric vehicles and economy in working, thus promoting a maximum of efficiency.
Bradford Trsckless Losses.
In .announcing increases in the fares on the Bradford City Tramways, the Tramways Department state that the income, from the trackless trolley vehicles during the year ended March 31st last amounted to £18.500, being equivalent to Is. per -car mile. The expenditure was 427,000, equivalent to is. 51c1. per car mile. The income of the parcels department was £16,100, and the expenditure £18,500.
No Wholesale Speed Limits.
Asked by the Grimsby Corporation to preserihe a 10-mile speed limit for the borough, the Ministry of Transport points out that a limit cannot 'be applicable to the whole of n particular district or area, and that the Department would. be required to be satisfied that the safety of the public is endangered in the case of each road by a rate of speed in excess of 10 miles per hour
Native Farming in.Uganda.
H.M. Trade Commissioner for East Africa reports that _efforts are being made by the Protectorate Government to encourage the natives to .farm on a better scale and to use better implements. Success has resulted from this effort, and the plough is becoming much more generally used amongst the natives. The local cotton ginuers are being asked to keep a. stock of plough a.nd•spares and to undertake repairs, and the Goverinnent provides a European' ploughing instructor. There are districts, of course, where it is impossible to plough, but there would appear to be a. growing market in most parts of the Protectorate for the development of agriculture, and particularly with regard to the use of power for farming purposes.
Photographic Prizes. •
Commercial Cars, Ltd., of Ulster Chambers, 168, Regent Street., W., are running a small open competition during July, in which they are offering prizes of £10,_ £5, £3, £2, and several £1 for the best. 'photograph taken Clif a Cosnmer Car vehicle actually at work. The i;hotograph must bear the name and addit.ssof the sender, and.must ,reach the address of the company given above before July 30th. Entries should be addressed to the Sales Manager. Pointe which will be taken into consideration when judging the photographs will be their advertisement value, their ,clearness, general interest, attractiveness, and the prominence given to the vehicle.
Watch Your Speed in Rhyl.
Twenty:seven motor char-ii-banes drivers from -various parts of England were fined sums varying them £5 to .£15 at the Wrexham-Police Court for driving at a speed dangerous to the public. A police witness said "I have never teenso much motor traffic in soy life before. There was a continuous stream from five o'clock until eight o'clock in the even-. ing." Wrexham is the key to North Wales and is on the main road. to 12angollen, Corwen, llettws-y-Coed, etc. The Merits of Macintosh.
No better testimony as to the merits of Macintosh tyres can surely be forthcoming than that recently received by the company from their South African agents. The communication runs as follows:—
, We forward you photographs which we have had taken at the express wish of Captain Dutton, the chief transport officer of the South African railways, showing some of your old and some of your new tyres side by side. .The new tyres we heee jest had pressed on after the old tyres had been in continuous use for approximately five years on a Dennis tractor, during which time it is estimated that they -did 27,000 miles and transported over 45,000 tons, apart from, nine months' use on an experimental railway system where the front wheels of the vehicle were •provided with ordinary railway wheels to enable them to run on the rails, whilst the back wheels, with your tyres on, ran on a special. concrete track outside the rails—a new system of railway transport which has been patented by Captain Dutton and which is being taken up by the British Government. The illustration which we reproduce on
this page shows the comparative condi tion of the old and the new tyres. The record achieved by the Macintosh tyres was truly a remarkable one.
Buses for New Zealand.
Information has been received by the Department of Overseas Trade from
'Rade Commissioner in Wellington, New Zealand, to the effect that, the Nelson Town Council have recently had under consideration the esta.blis'hment either of a Mot-orb-us „service or.a tramcar system. It is stated that the Colincil have...decided in favour of a motorbus service as being cheaper as regards running and upkeep than a tramcar system. The matter will be finally brought up for consideration in the near future, and a poll will be held with a view to obtaining the necessary authority to raise a loan for the purchase of the vehicles.
This may be of interest to some British manufacturers, more particularly those represented "down under," Who may care to advise their agents to keep in close touch with the development.
Warrington Char-a-bancS R ords.
There was a unique char-e-banes trip from Warrington a few days ago. In the first place the party of 500 inmates of the Whitecross Institution in ten chers-bbanes was the largest that had ever left Warriegtone arid, secondly, the vehicles were the first thai have climbed to the top of Frodsharrt Hill. The outing had been arranged by the Warringtoa Char1-banes Owners Association, on behalf of whom Mr. Walter Sutton stated that to keep the slate open a number of Other orders had to be refused.
Return Loads and Clearing Houses. '
The Industrial Vehicle Section of the A.A. and M.U. has just completed a farreaching scheme for the benefit of its' members and the geberal public. It has made arrangements *hereby some -600 agents throughout the country will keep registers, both of goods requiringtransport and transport requiring leads. At present, large centres such as Manchester, Liverpool, etc., have begun to link up withone another, but intermediary
points and outlying districts are -entirely neglected.
The Automobile Association's scheme is to put all its members and the 600 agents
intouch with one another. A map has been prepared, showing every town and village where registers are kept, and a special list has been completed, giving the address and telephone number of every registration agent. Handy forms are issued, showing the information required, and giving spaces for replies.
Co-operation with existing transport clearing organizations has been welcomed, and the scheme has been most favourably received. The map and list will be available to members and agents by the end of July. The A.A. hats no financial interest in the scheme whatever, and no registers are kept at any of the A.A. offices, the sdneme being entirely carried out in its details by the registration agents.
Undesirable Rules for Drivers.
Regarding the suggestion of the Hull Watch Committee that drivers should he warned to stop in streets whilst persons, are alighting from tramease, the chief constable reports that after consultation with the town clerk, he is of opinion that it, was not desirable to lay down any rules for drivers, but to talee proceedings against any persons passing a tramcar id such a way or to be a danger. The Watch Committee has agreed with the chief constable.
Char-a-bancs Proprietors Organize. Air association. has bsen formed for char-a-banes proprietors in Liverpool and district, Cheshireand.North Wales, each of the three areas to have three .representatives on the imina,gerriefft committee. The springing into existence of so many new firms and the destructive effect of so much competition has brought to the front the need ,of more uniform coaditions of hire weep a view to the fixing of a fair minimum, rate and furthering the interests of owners generally.
Eine Motors, Ltd., inform usahat they have appointed Avery and Roberts, Ltd., of 148-154, Mount Pleasant, Liverpoo', as sole agents for Ernie prodeete in the counties of Lene.ashire and Cheshire,
Birmingham Parade.
The first parade of commercial motor vehicles to be held in the Midlandsis to take place in Birmingham on July 17th. As in the case of the London and other parades, this is mainly being held to errcourage drivers to take an. interest in their vehicles.
A very substantial number of prizes
are -offered exceeding in value, in addition to a valuable silver cup which is to be presented for The best team of
vehicles on parade. '
The parade is open only to members of the Western Midland Division of the , G.M.U.A. Prizes are to be awarded in 11 classes. Those a-remade up as follow : the champion team ; the best warn of three vehicles in any one class; es single vehicle; oldest vehicle; a special prize is offered by the Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd., for drivers and stokers of. wagons of this make; to the driver who . has drivena commercial-motor vehicle:
of any type the longest time : to the of any type the longest time : to the driver with the longest service with any one employer ; to those with tho longest driving experience in the petrol, steam, or electric classes; to the man who has 'driven longest without an accident ; to the man who has held his licence the longest without endorsements; and the final class in which specie' prizes will be awarded by Edison .Accumulators, Ltd-, for electrically-driven vehicles fitted with Edison batteries.
Shanghai Street Services. Attention 'is being given in the Chinese papers to the problem of traffic in the streets of Shanghai during the busy hours of the day. It is pointed out that the present tramcar system adds to the congestion by reason of its inflexibility. The opinion is expressed that the introductien of motorbuses Would he a great advantage to a large number of residents, and their substitution for tramcars is strongly advocated in certain-querters.
It wouldappear, however, that some objection was raised a few weeks ago to a proposal to ,.run a motorbus service in Shanghai on the ground of inconvenience to residents through noise. These Oriental folk are eseide.ntly not cognisant of the fact that the 'latest type of motor vehicle, particularly when it is fitted with -pneumatic tires, makes little more noise than any other form of road traffic.
•
Cambridge to London Road Transport.
A new transport service between Cambridge and Landon has recently been inaugiirated by the ex-Service Men's . Horticultural. School, of Cheieyhenton Road, Cambridge. Two definite routee are being worked, one .being via Saffron Walden, Itlelvieort and Dunreow' and the other, which is run on 'Wednesdays and Fridays; is via Fowlmere,. Breughing and Ware. There are two receiving offices in Cambridge, and a central one in Linden. A special feature of the service is that of apay-on-delivery system, whereby tradesmen and others may send goods to.• customers along either route' and the: cash .less a small percentage for collection will be returned to the senders.
Palladium Autocars, Ltd., have received a further order from Messrs. The. Great Grimsby Street Tramways Co. for a fleet of eight of their 4 ton chassis for motor omnibus arid char-e-bancs passeri. ger service in and around Grimsby.
Richborough Lorries.
Mr. Arthur Neal, in a written reply to Mr. Ronald McNeill, states that there has been no heavy transport by lorries from Richborough on the Government's behalf for some time past. The lorries belong to a private concern to which they have been sold by the Disposal Board, and the number of lorries still to be delivered to the concern is comparatively small.
So far as concerns the damage said to have been done to the roads, it rests with the highway authorities to take any action they consider desirable with the company concerned.
• The Imperative Motor.
Birmingham Corporation Salvage Committee, which has decided to reorganize the work of refuse collection, complains that delivery of new electric vehicles is disappointingly slow, owing mainly to the mouldersstrike early in the year. Nevertheless 11 electric vehicles out of the 25 required have been delivered, and are in full use.
The report adds that it is economically impossible with horse haulage alone and the institution of the 47 hours' week, to deal speedily and satisfactorily with the collection of refuse; but these difficulties are being overcome with the introduction of electric vehicles.
Fire-engine Hire.
• Crieff Town Council has been informed with reference to the provision of fire protection In the county that a. scheme whereby Perth Town Council will make one of their new motor fire-engines and appurtenances (with suitable detachment of Men) regularly available For fires in the county at a retaining fee of £400 per annum, with payment in addition for attendance at each fire in accordance with a scale of charges. The county coinmittee are considering the terms, and are to suggest certain modifications thereon.
Steam Wagon to Save £376 a
Year.
The Metropolitan Asylums Board proposes to purchase a steam wagon at a cost of about £1,400 so that haulage work can he done at asylums without the inter vention of cnntraotorti. A eaving of £376 per annum will thereby be effected.
American Output.
According to reports, last year waa.the best year in the history of the American automobile industry as a whole. From an output of slightly more than 1,000,000 passenger cars and lorries in 1918, production last year jumped to nearly 2,000,000 motor vehicles -exceeding by 105,000 the output of 1,868,247'cars and lorries in 1917, which was the best previous year.
Vulcan. Virtues.
The Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co., Ltd., claim to, be the originatorsi•of the enclosed driver's cab and electric dynamo lighting for commercial motor vehicles. These two fenture‘sare of great imports.nce, the dormeroproviding the driver with comfortable seatingaind
abonate protection from the elements.
These special features were in-ovidenco on the hydraulic tipping wagon and the farmers' and tradesmen's delivery wagons which were shown at the Royal Show, and they created considerable interest.
Asked to consider the desirability of .a motorbus service between Garston and Wootton, the Liverpool Corporation Tramways manager reports against the idea in view of the expenditure upon the maintenance of the macadam roads which will be involved. It is, he says, doubtful if such a service would be a financial success.
Local Proceedings.
£1,250 is to be spent by Colne T.C. on the purchase of a'petroi-driven tower tvagon.
The question' of purchasing a motor fire engine is being considered by Dudley T.0,
Grimsby. T.C. is applying for sanction to borrow £9.500,-for the purchase of six electrically driven 2 ton vehicles.
Manchester Corporation Paving Committee lute. _decided on the -purchase of three petoolaorries at a total £3,500.
Carnarvon Licensing Committee has granted a licence . to the Carnarvon Motors, Ltd., in respect of a motor omnibus.
The advisability of adopting motor transport. is being considered by Crewe Corporation. A 1 ton Ford lorry is required immediately: Burnley Tramways Department is considering the question of motorbuses, and in this. connection a sub-committee has instructions to report.
Hull City Engineer has been asked to get tenders, for the erection of a garage and to obtain quotations for the supply of machine tools and motors.
Leyland, Tatriell and Co., Ltd., are to supply the Hampstead Works Department with two second-hand 3& ton electric vehicles at a cost cif £950.
Grimsby Corporation Highways Committee recommends the purchase of six tava ton electric vehicles for scavenging and highway purposes at a total cost of £9,500.
In his annual report the Manager of the Burnley Corporation Tramways says that in View of the present COOL of new tramcars it has been decided to -defer proposals for tramway extension, and consider the use of motor omnibuses.