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WHEELS of INDUSTRY . 11 . The wheels of wealth will be

slowed by all difficulties of transport, at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.'

THE HARROGATE CONFERENCE: DETAILS OF ARRANGEMENTS.

The Transport Conference at Harmgate is open to all interested in the operation of commercial-motor vehicles. Delegates must, however, register with Mr. F. G. Bristow, C.B.E., general secretary, the Commercial Motor Users Association, 50, Pall Mall, London, S.W.I, from whom forms of application are obtainable. They will be guests, except in respect of the official banquet.

The following programme has been arranged :—Wednesday, December 5, 10 a.m., -civic welcome; 10.30 a.m., general session: subject, Operators' Licensing Difficulties—Goods and Passenger Vehicles "; 2 p.m.: subject, " Wages, Hours and . Conditions of Employment in the Road-transport Industry." Thursday, December 6, 10 a.m.; subject, "The Taxation and Regulation of Commercial Motor Vehicles "; 2 p.m.: subject, " Transport Conditions upon the Highway in Relation to Road Safety."

Social arrangements; Tuesday, December 4, 8 p.m., civic reception and dance in Winter Gardens. Wednesday, December 5, 10.30 a.m., ladies' tour of district and visit to Rowntrees' works at York; 7.15 p.m., reception at Hotel Majestic by Mr. James France, president, C.M.U.A.; 7.45 p.m., conference banquet of C.M.U.A. at Hotel Majestic. Thursday, December 6, 5 p.m., conducted tour of the Royal Baths; 8 p.m., invitation dance and cabaret for delegates and ladies.

Berlin Show Dates: Germany Discouraging Oilers.

The Berlin International Motor Show will be held from February 14-24 next, and will again comprise all types of motor vehicle, We are informed that the Show will he much extended.

As considerable propaganda is now being conducted in Germany for the employment of home fuels, it is expected that a large number of gasproducer vehicles will be exhibited. We are informed that a movement is on foot in Germany to discourage the employment of oil engines, the fuel for which has to be imported, whereas petrol will shortly be supplied almost entirely from German sources.

The Road Fund Report.

The Report on the Administration of the Road Fund for the year ended March 31, 1934, shows that the total payments into the motor-tax account were £31,577,716. Refunds totalled £859,755.

One-third of the net proceeds on motorcycles and vehicles taxed on the h.p. basis is retained by the Treasury;

this amounted to £5,200,000. The amount paid into the Road Fund was £25,512,000. Further receipts made a total of £25,755,366.

Payments of £13,221,458 were made to highway authorities, and £6,458,556 made available through the general exchequer contribution to local revenues as block grants.

The deficit at the end of the year stood at £2,084,236, compared with £6,825,233 at March 31, 1933.

The number of driving licences issued was 2,947,000. The figures represent one motor vehicle for every 20 persons and a driving licence for every 15 persons.

Another Bid for Varied Hours.

The Scottish Federation of Grocers and Provision Mercfrants Associations has applied to the Minister of Transport for the variation. on Saturdays, one other (variable) day of the week and on the day before a public holiday, of drivers boars. The Minister has referred the matter to the Industrial Court for advice, and the parties will be 'heard on November 28, at 10.30 a.m., at 5, Old Palace Yard, London, SAVA..

Unlicensed Vehicles! First South • Wales Prosecutions.

The first summonses in South Wales for using goods vehicles without licences were heard at Swansea, on Tuesday. The defendants, a haulage contractor, a wireless dealer and a van owner, pleaded ignorance of the law and, dismissing the summonses on payment of costs, the stipendiary issued a general warning to vehicle owners. INSURANCE AGAINST THIRDPARTY RISKS.

The Minister has decided to bring into operation, On January 1, the provisions of Part 2 of the Road Traffic Act, 1934, and to make the necessary alterations to the Motor Vehicles (Third Party Risks) Regulations, 1933.

The Act provides that certain classes of limitation on a policy shall have no effect so far as concerns third-party personal-injury claims.

The Act also imposes a liability to pay a fee of 12s. 6d., together with a mileage payment in certain cases, to a doctor or hospital in respect of emergency treatment to a person injured in a motor accident.

Existing policies and certificates need not be returned nor insurers communicated with. They will be held to provide the necessary insmance until they expire, except where the insurer gives individual notice to the holder.

Policy holders are reminded that if an accident occurs when a vehicle is used in contravention of the terms of the policy, the insurers may exercise their right to recover compensation.

Charge of Unfair Methods of Railways.

A charge of adopting unfair methods was made against the railway companies before the Yorkshire Licensing Authority. A BoIsover haulier, applying for a licence, stated that the colliery company concerned required an undertaking from him that he would not operate for them beyond a 7-mile limit. Mr. F. A. Bibbings, of the Yorkshire Stage Carriage Operators Association, said that there was evidence of an attempt to usurp the Licensing Authority's responsibility.

In a later case, a railway representative produced a letter from a Sheffield firm, which stated that the applicant and other hauliers were delivering goods by road to the concern's customers, and suggested that the railways should immediately withdraw their opposition to the licence application. This, it was said, constituted a threat to the railways. There was a big difference, it was submitted, between asking the railway companies to withdraw an objection and the railways coming to reasonable terms with collieries.

Vulcan Show at Glasgove.

During the Scottish Show, which opens to-day at Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, a special display of Vulcan vehicles is being arranged by the maker's agents, Messrs. Darnley Garage, 40, Darnley Street, Glasgow, 3.1. There will be available for inspection 3-ton petrol, 5-ton petrol and 2k-ton Gardner oilengined vehicles. NEW GILFORD 26-SEATER.

In our description of the new Gilford 4-tonner published in the issue of The Commercial Motor dated November 2 last, we made reference to other new models about to be introduced by the Gilford Motor Co., Ltd., Park Royal, London, NW 10. One of these is the Hera 32-seater with a Dorman engine, end we are now able to announce that the other will be a 26-seater bus chassis designated the Hermes.

It will be available as model CF 140 with a petrol engine, and as mOdel. PF 140 with a compression-ignition power unit. The prices have been provisionally fixed at £525 and £695 for the two models respectively. In both cases the wheelbase length is 14 ft.

Glasgow's Municipal Bus Contract.

There is keen competition to secure the contract for the supply of 110 oilengined buses to Glasgow Corporation, and offers have been received from practically every manufacturer. The value of the contract has been estimated at £150,000. In view of alarmist reports arising from the speech made by a Member of Parliament, the sealed tenders have been opened by the Lord Provost and the convener of the transport committee, Bailie Alexander McLean.

Experts are now examining the tenders, and at an early meeting will report to the transport committee. No other member of the corporation has seen the tenders.

Manchester's New Tower Wagon.

We reproduce on this page a picture of an interesting tower wagon that has recently been supplied to the electricity department of Manchester Corporation. The superstructure is mounted on a Commer Centaur 2-ton short-wheelbase (10-ft. 6-in.) chassis. The height when the tower is lowered and the platform guard rails are down is 11 ft. 3 ins., and when fully extended the overall height is 26 ft.; it is possible to use

the tower in any intermediate position. The tower platform is of the swivelling ,type, being 4 ft. long and 2 ft. wide. At the rear of the body are winches with removable handles, whilst a power take-off, with a special reduction gear, is fitted to enable the tower to be servo-operated. With the tower extended and with two tyres on one side deflated, the vehicle is, we are told, perfectly stable. Four jacks are fitted to the chassis, and these are capable of being quickly lowered to the ground by means of hand wheels. The vehicle was supplied through Lookers, Ltd., of Manchester. PERSONAL PARS.

Mr. Edward Roberts, director of Castle Garages, Ltd., Llandovery, is the new Mayor of Llandovery.

Mr. R. W. Thomas, the new Mayor of Cowbridge (Glarn), is a bus inspector in the employ of the Western Welsh Omnibus Co., Ltd.

Alderman John Donovan, C.B.E„ J.P., chairman of the South Wales Conciliation Board and secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union for South Wales and Monmouthshire, has been elected Lord Mayor of Cardiff for 1934-35.

Mr. D. M. Denhohri, the director in charge of the overseas business of Norris. Henty and Gardners, Ltd., has just completed a 14 months' tour embracing the greater part of the British Empire. The purpose of his visit was to investigate the potentialities of each market and to make personal contact with the company's accredited representatives.

At the 13th annual general meeting of the Institute of the Motor Trade, Mr. H. A. Bennett, of Bennetts (Nottingham), Ltd., was unanimously elected president of the Institute for the ensuing year. He has been a member of the council since the formation of the Institute, and for many years has been chairman of the board of examiners and the education committee.

• Major the Hon. Eric Long, T.D., J.P., who has just been appointed honorary political adviser to the Metropolitan Area of the Road Haulage Association, is a son of Viscount Long of Wraxall, who was the First Lord of the Admiralty during the war, and who, as President of the Local Government Board, was responsible for the early Act under which the 20 m.p.h. speed restriction on motor vehicles was brought into operation; he was, however, never in agreement with this particular provision of the Act, but believed rather in more severe penalties for dangerous driving. An ancestor had a seat in the House of Commons when it was formed in tie 13th century, and members of the family have sat in Parliament practically ever since. Major Long represented West Wilts from 1927 to 1931, and was President of the West Wilts Conservative Association for 12 years. rwaigning only last year. He possesses an unrivalled knowledge of Parliamentary procedure, has friends amongst all parties, and is a sound organizer.

Bouts-Tillotson Appeal Withdrawn.

The appeal of Bouts-Tillotson Transport, Ltd., against the refusal of an " A " licence by the Eastern Licensing Authority was abandoned before the Appeal Tribunal's hearing was due to take place last Tuesday. This appeal replaced on the day's cause list another that had been withdrawn.