ULSTER BILL BECOMES LAW.
Page 35
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The Northern Ireland Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Bill, which was introduced at the end of April, this year, has now received the Royal Assent and is already law. Little detail concerning the licensing and regulation of goods vehicles is contained in the Act, it being left to the Minister of Home Affairs to issue comprehensive regulations. The report of Sir Felix Pole, who visited Northern Ireland, in May, to inquire, on behalf of the Government, into the conditions of transport, has not yet been received, and it is likely that the Minister will defer issuing licensing regulations until the report is to hand.
Road-accident Returns.
The Ministry of Transport returns of persons killed or injured in road accidents during the week ended June 30, 1934, show that, in England, 100 persons were killed and 4,294 injured. whilst 25 died as a result of previous accidents. The figures for Scotland were 7 killed and 489 injured, whilst in Wales 4 were killed and 178 injured.
New Road-Railer's First Trip.
The London and North-Eastern Railway Co. last week tried out for the first time its new Karrier road-rail vehicle, which was described in The Commercial Motor on June 8. The machine travelled from Glasgow to Fort-William by road, where it was transferred to the rail and continued to Mallaig.
"20 Per Cent. of Vehicles Prohibited."
" The condition of vehicles in this district leaves much to be desired. Twenty per cent, of them have had to be prohibited, because of their dangerous condition." Thus observed Mr, J. H. Stirk, East Midland Licensing Authority, at an inquiry held at Northampton. He also stressed_ the point that those who had been in the habit of cutting prices by using poor vehicles and paying low wages would have to mend their ways at once.
A welcome to Mr. Stirk was extended by the chairman of the Northampton branch of the Road Haulage Association, Mr. B. J. Bagshaw.
Pedestrian-crossing Experiment Extended.
One of the first official actions of Mr. Leslie Hore-Belisha, the new Minister of Transport, was to call a meeting of the Press, on July 5, to explain the
• new system of pedestrian crossing places, which was inaugurated, last Monday, at certain uncontrolled road junctions in Poplar, Stepney and St. Pancras, London. At present the Minister has fiower to make Orders for the operation of pedestrian crossings only 111 London. • When the Road Traffic Bill is passed, he will be able to provide for their inauguration all over the country.
Mr. Hore-Belisha, who nas an engaging personality and a facile manner of speaking, stated that the experiment with 145 pedestrian cross
ings at controlled points in London had proved to be successful.
At the uncontrolled crossings, motor drivers, who are warned of the crossings by means of large signs bearing the letter " C," must at all times give way to pedestrians.
Weymann's Results for 1933.
The accounts of Weymann's Motor Bodies (1925), Ltd., for 1933 show a loss, after deducting depreciation and debenture interest, of £18,660, which increases the debit balance carried for ward to £23,998. It is stated that the output of the factory since the beginning of the present year and orders in hand exceed the turnover of 1933.
Restrictions on Coal Haulage.
When a Bentley haulier applied to the Yorkshire Licensing Authority, at Doncaster, for a discretionary-tonnage licence, a request that a 10-mile limit should be imposed in respect of the haulage of coal was made on behalf of a Knaresborough coal merchant.
Knaresborough and Harrogate coal merchants complained that hauliers in the colliery districts obtained their coal straight from the-pits and were able to lake it by road to the Harrogate district and sell it at lower prices. Knaresborough and Harrogate dealers had their coal transported by rail, and were unable to compete.
In granting the licence, Mr. J. Ferndale restricted the haulage of coal to a radius of 10 miles from Bentley. Restrictions of 10-20 miles for coal haulage were imposed in other cases.
A Famous Oil-engined Racing Car on Exhibition.
We learn that Capt. G. E. T. Eyston's racing car, equipped with an A.E.C. six-cylindered oil engine, which has put up some splendid performances, will he osi exhibition at ShellMex House, Strand, London, from July 13-27. PERSONAL PARS.
Mr. R. J. Taynton has been appointed sales manager in charge of London distribution for Singer and Co., Ltd. He has been connected with the motor industry for 20 years, and was previously managing director of Lagonda Distributors (London), Ltd.
After a long and serious illness, we are pleased t hear that Mr. W. E. Guy, sales director of Guy Motors, Ltd., has made a splendid recovery and is once again back in harness. Ile asks us to thank his many friends in the trade who have made inquiries from time to time as to his progress, as, owing to their number, it his not been possible to reply to each one personally.
We publish on this page a portrait of Lt.-Col. C. M. Headlam, D.S.O., 0.B.E., T.D., M.P., who has recently resigned from the post of Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport. It was in September, 1932, that he succeeded Lord Plymouth to this position after having been Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions from the time that the National Govern. merit was formed in 1931. In Parliament he represents the Barnard Castle division of Durham.
It is not expected that the vacancy created by his resignation will be filled immediately.
More Employed in the Industry.
The unemployment returns for June 25 showed that there was an increase of 3,299 unemployed persons in the motor-vehicle, cycle and aircraft industry, compared with the figure for May 14, but a decrease of 16,354 compared with the return for June 26, 1933. Under the heading "Road Transport, Other than Tramway and Omnibus Services," the decrease of unemployment, compared with the figure for May 14, 1934, was 2,747.
Sales Representative Available.
We know of a man, with good qualifications, who has had many years' experience in the commercial-vehicle industry on the sales side, who is desirous of obtaining a similar position. For six years he was the London representative for one of the leading manufacturers, and he is known to a large number of buyers of transport vehicles. Letters addressed to "Sales," care of the Editor, will be forwarded.
The King to Open Important New Road.
On July 17 and 18, the King will visit Lancashire in connection with the opening of the arterial road from Liverpool to East Lancashire and drivers should note that on the former day a large portion of the new highway will be closed to general traffic from 2.30 p.m. to 6 p.m., and it is advised that the older routes be used, from Manchester, via Leigh and St. HOens to Liverpool, or by Altrincham and Warrington. On the second day there will be considerable restrictions on traffic in and about Salford.