WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• "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."-L-John Beattie Crozier.
The Commercial Motor Show at Olympia.
As stated in another part of-this issue, the S.M.M. and T. have fixed the date of this year's Commercial Vehicle Show as from Thursday, November 22nd, to Saturday, December 1st. This is later than usual, and it has been decided that, not only shall the Exhibition, as heretofore, embrace commercial motor vehicles and their accessories and components, but that space shall also be allocated for the display of plant, machinery, and material used in the construction, maintenance, and development of roads. For this reason a much more comprehensive title, viz., The Commercial Motor Transport and Roads Development Exhibition, is given to the Show.
The whole of Olympia, including the recently completed extension, will be available for the Exhibition, which will be divided into four sections these being (a) commercial motor vehicles and
bodywork ;• accessories and components; (e) tyres ; (d) road plant, machinery, and materials.
Applications for space must -be made on forme supplied by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and these can be obtained from the Exhibition manager at. 83, Pall Mall, London, S.W. 1.
Albion Report.
The report of the directors of the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., for the year ended December 31st last shows a profit of £10,945, after making provision for depreciation on buildings, plant, and stock, estimated liability for Corporation Profits tax, and income tax, etc. From this sum interest on debenture stock, amounting to £9,598, has to be deducted. By adding •to the sum of £1,347, which remains, the balance of £2,392 brought forward from last year and £5,000 transferred from the reserve fund, a total credit balance of £8,739 is available. As mentioned in our last issue, a dividend at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum is to be paid on the preference shares, and this will absorb £8,032 and leave £707 to be carried forward.
A Helpful Advertising Service.
It is singular in these enlightened days, when most people realize the value of direct advertising methods, that so many owners should omit to use the bodies of their commercial vehicles for bringing their products to the notice of the public. The Associated Equipment Co.' Ltd., of Walthamstow, London, E. 17,. have not failed to notice this seeming neglect, and they realize that it is not only a matter of concern for the user, but also for the manufacturer of the vehicle. They have accordingly inaugurated a scheme which is deserving of commendation.
The company invite any user to send brief particulars of his chassis (type and number) with rough outline tracings or the body sides and back, with their dimensions. The user is also asked to send a copy of his trade mark, or a,
c20 sample of any distinct style of lettering which is employed, together with an in dication of his own ideas as to the layout of an effective moving advertisement. With the aid of any information which the user can thus impart, the company will prepare, free" of cost, complete colour designs for the treatment of the
body sides and back and, in rhany cases, the top of the vehicle.
In conjunction with the scheme the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., have prepared a folder gieing some idea of the uses to which the body can be put for advertising purposes.
The Taxation Inquiry.
A further public meeting of the Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles will be 'held at the Middlesex Guildhall, Westminster, S.W. 1, to-day (Tuesday, April 17th), at 2.30 p.m., for the purpose of hearing evidence relativeto the suggested reversion to a motor spirit duty for the taxation of mechanically propelled road vehicles.
Eastbourne Bus Profits.
As a result of the reduction in fares, the Eastbourne Corporation carried 70,000 additional passengers during the financial year ended March, and a profit of £7,000 is recorded. The profits from the Sunday services alone reached 2500.
Special Lamps for Country Buses.
For many years past. the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., have been endeavouring to discover a means whereby the drivers engaged on their countryservice buses could secure some better driving light on the roads. After 18 months of tests and investigation in conjunction with the licensing authorities of Scotland Yard. the company have decided to adopt the National Lens on the headlamp of these vehicles. These lamps give five or six times more driving light on the road, with no dazzling effect.
Opposition to Private Bill Proposals.
Acting on behalf of the Automobile Association, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and its other constituent, bodies, the Motor Legislation Committee, is opposing various Private Bills in Parliament this Session. In several notable cases success has already been achieved.
Tests for Drivers.—A petition in opposition to the Bill promoted by Ve Stokeon-Trent Corporation was deposited on behalf of the Automobile Association and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and negotiations ensued. As a result, the application .of the proposed tests, which in the original Bill applied to drivers of all classes of vehicles seeking licences from the corporation, is limited to drivers of hackney vehicles and the traffic regulation clause to omnibuses. Satisfactory undertakings having been given to this effect, the petition has been withdrawn.
Bus Competition with Trams.—ti clause in the Potteries and North Staffordshire Tramways and Light Railways Bill proposed to prohibit independent omnibus competition with the companies' trains or buses in certain circumstances. A petition in opposition was deposited on behalf of the A.A. and the S.M.M. and T., and, as a result of the subsequent, negotiations, the clause has been withdrawn..
Proposed Road Mts.—The Commercial Motor Users Association is associated with the A.A. and the S.M.M. and T. in the petition against the London and South Western Railway Bill, in which power is sought, inter also, to Charge a toll of is. per ton, where consolidated rates are not paid, on goods conveyed in road vehicles to or from Southampton Docks. An undertaking has been obtained that touring cars carrying passengers and luggage shall be exempt from the proposed tax, and further negotiations are in progress.
In respect of a number of other Bills, acion is being taken with regard to proposals relating to -water charges for washing cars, kerbside pump installations, regulation of private hire and other vehicles, market tolls, etc.
Grantham and Road Expenditure.
The Grantham Rural Council decided at. its last, meeting, owing to the extensive amount of motor traffic from industrial centres using roads repairable in that area, to appeal to the Ministry of Transport to make a substantial grant towards their upkeep. The increase of mechanically propelled traffic has, it was pointod out, been remarkable in the Grantham district during the past decade, and the appeal for assistance towards meeting the increased expenditure was based upon the argument that the charge involved ought now to be made of a national character.
It was also suggested that, having regard to the large sums now being collected by the Ministry from motor owners, it was time the Government contributed more towards the upkeep of the main highways.
Swansea Bus Traffic.
The Swansea Highways Committee has decided to appeal to the watch committee riot to :rant additional motorbus licences without first consulting the high ways department. The committee, however, has explained • that this does not suggest any desire on its part to curtail road-carrying facilities, but points out that it is desirous of ensuring that on the routes selected the road surfaces are suited to such traffic.
Preparing for the Summer Season.
It is about this time of the year that many changes are made in the services of the various motorbus companies in all parts of the country, and we notice that amongst. those recorded by the April issue of the " T.R.B. Guide" (published by lieu, Wiley and Co., Ltd., 123, Pall Mall, London, S.W., monthly, at 6d. net.) are listed a number of the Bummer services of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd. The direct services from Croydon to Guildfo.rd maintained by the East Surrey Traction Co., Ltd., and the extension to Enfield of the National service, which is run from Watford to Barnet, also deserve mention. Holidaymakers in the_ Isle of Wight are provided with a welcome alternative to the railway in the form of the Vectis services, which extend over the greater part of the island.
The April "T.B.R. Guide" contains a number of new road maps of companies operating in various parts of the country. There is also much matter in the Guide relating to motor coach services, and quite a number of holiday excursions are announced.
Lincoln Passenger-vehicle Services.
Although a. strung opinion has been expressed at Lincoln in favour of run.ning municipal trams and motorbusek in the Cathedral City on Sundays, opposition upon the score of the heavy losses already entailed by' these services has proved effective. A. determination had, however, been manifested not to allow this view to go unchallenged, and at the lest meeting of the council it was proposed by Mr. Fordham that a referendum should be taken of the municipal
voters upon the question, but the resolution was ,deleated. As an alternative it has been suggested that a slight lowering of the present rates and a rearrangement. of the distances allowed to be travelled might lead to a. (onside:able increase of traffic on the ordinary days of the-week. But _ both the bus and tram services have been experiencing the effects 'ef a period of unwonted depression in the local engineering industries, and little doubt is entertained that with a return to normal conditions bath undertakings will reap a larger measure of prosperity. For the first time since the institution of tramways in Lincoln, the corporation has this year had to provide something towards liquidating the losses incurred upon their working, £1,000 'being voted at the last meeting in aid of the accumulated deficiency of the past three annual periods, whilst £3,000 was granted to meet the loss ora the motorbuses.
Mr. E. Harry Lancaster asks us to state that his address is Devon House, 173 to 175, Great Portland Street, London, W. 1. He has accepted the representation in London for Edrnonds's Motors, builders of all types of coachwork, of Thetford, Norfolk, and, although his name was given in the firm's recent advertisements, by mischance his address was omitted.
A Rubber Rear Lamp.
Rear lamps on commercial vehicles are often located in such exposed positions that, in the ordinary course of hard service, they are liable to become bent and battered. Their damaged condition may be due to carelessness or neglect on the part of the driver, or the result of inefficient brakes on following vehicles preventing the drivers from pulling up before a collision has taken place. Apart from the expense which may be involved in the repair or replacement of lamps which are badly damaged, there are certain riskscontingent upon the use of inefficient lamps which fail to illuminate the rear number elate in a proper manner.
Any accessory which minimizes these risks and is not readily liable to damage is of more than passing interest. Many of our readers will, therefore, be pleased to learn that the Motor Lamp and .
Radiator Co. of 30, Oldbury Place, Marylebone Road, London, W. 1, are marketing a new type of lamp which is constructed entirely of rubber, suitable grooves being provided for receiving the necessary white and ruby lenses.
It will readily be appreciated that the greatest damage that could be suffered by a lamp of this description would result from the glasses beine7 broken in collision,
13 13 and since these can e replaced at a more or less trilling cost, the lamp is for all practical purposes everlasting.
This new rubber lamp, which sells at 10s. 6d.' is very efficient in use, and provides both an effective red light to the rear and a white light to the side for the illumination of the registration plate.
Death of Mr. W. H. Willcox.
It is with great regret that we learn ef the death of Mr. Walter Henry Willcox, the governing director of W. H. Willcox and Co., Ltd. Mr. Willcox possessed a great personality, and had much .enterprise and ability in everything relating to engineering on business lines. Apart from his business activi-. ties, Mr. Willcox found time to take part in local public affairs in Southwark, and he paid considerable attention to the general welfare of the numerous employees of the company of which he was head. A Tyneside Transport Agency.
The Transport Agency and General Services of Newcastle-on-Tyne have just opened new offices at 102, Percy Street, on the main road north. Mr. T. S. Dixon the proprietor was a pioneer in the work, and the warehouses at the rear of the new offices are well-known to all the traders of Tyneside. He has a fleet of Alaions and Fords, and is doing big business in the conveyance of holiday-makers' luggage to the seaside resorts of Durham and Northumberland. On his vehicles he has a registered design showing two sand spades crossed—an attractive advertisement for this section of the business which,' of course, fits in with ths regular daily service he has organized for the transit of small parcels.
The scheme is worked to a time-table, and there are two deliveries daily to Gateshead and other near towns i while a daily service runs to other towns within a 30-mile radius of Newcastle. Many retail tradespeople who attend the Newcastle produce and grocery exchanges and those who buy from the many manufacturing and wholesale firms in the dry goods trades at the Tyne centre have their stosks collected 'by Mr. Dixon's agency and sent to their doors. Stocks which are required in a hurry are thu,s to hand -vith a giester certainty than is possible by using the railway, By starting work at 7.30 a.m. Mr. bixon's vehicles enable traders from a distance to have their purchases picked up and ensure delivery of them at their shops so soon as the trader arrives by train. Thus they secure the advantage of delivery direct from warehouse to shop.
A Four-stall Horse-box.
The difficulty of transporting delicate animals over long distances, often necessitating double handling from road to rail or vice versa, is one that breeders, trainers and racehorse owners realize as costly and often unsatisfactory and dangerous For this reason powerful vans have of late years been developed for the safe and rapid delivery of horses. A number of British vehicles of this type is available; on this page we illustrate a similar type of van which is of French design and manufacture. Special attention has been paid to the comfort of the animals, and the roomy
van interior is suitably padded, ventilated and lit. It will be noted that all four wheels are shod with pneumatic tyres, those at the rear being twins: There is accommodation for four horses in the van interior, and one of the chief features is the remarkably, low floor level which, with the hinged side lowered, as shown in the pictures enables easy entry andegresa to ant:II:from the stalls. The low loading line is made possible by the specially designed chassis frame, which, besides being built unusually close to the axle, has its side members deeply dropped., The bodywork .of the vehicle was produced by MM. Breteau Freres, of Paris.
Birmingham Bus Receipts.
On Easter Monday approximately 61,400 passengers were carried on the Birmingham Corporation buses and the total receipts were about £620, which is over £200 more than the receipts on the corresponding day last year.
Leylands for Birkenhead.
Birkenhead Corporation Tramways Committee recommends acceptance of the tender of the Mersey Motor Co., Ltd., for the supply of six single-deck 36-40 h.p. Leyland motor omnibuses at a cost of £1,343 each.
Slow Pace in Muddy Weather.
At a meeting of the South Shields Watch Committee it was suggested that the speed of motors should be reduced to 5 miles an hour through Slake Terrace when the street is in a dirty condition, in order to prevent the mud-splashbig nuisance. The committee decided to ask the Highways Committee to erect signs instructing drivers to proceed at a slow pace.
No Clayton and Shuttleworth Dividend.
Notices have been issued by the directors of Clayton and Shuttleworth, Ltd., the well-known Lincoln engineers, expressing regret that, having regard to the salverse effects of the trade depression in agriculture and general engineering during the past year, it is not proposed to make a distribution of dividend in respect of the 5 per cent. cumulative preference shares ordinarily payable this month.
Fish Transport in Scotland.
'Fish transport by motor vehicles from Moray Firth ports in the North-East of Scotland to the country 'districts is a comparatively recent development. The trade came into existence more through force of circumstances than anything else.
. A number of ex-Service men saw no reason why they should not transport fresh and smoked fish to the country dis tricts for sale, and eventually two Os three cars 'were secured by several men, in the village of Hopeman, and in a short time they met with success. In less than two years several other vehicles were added to the fleet, and DOW there are no fewer than seven or eight vehicles which make a daily round of the country.
One car is in use at Burghead, one at Lossiemouth, while two, and sometimes three, come almost daily, in the early morning, from the town of Forces to Hopeman for supplies, a. distance of about 13 miles.
A few of the vehicles at Hopeman cover comparatively long distances. Occasionally they proceed from Hopeman to Inverness, a single journey of about 40 miles. Others sometimes go to Portgord and Buckle, a distance of over 20 miles.
A Popular Oil.
Alexander Duckhani and Co., Ltd., 6, Broad Street Place, London, E.C. 2, have just issued a new price list for their motor oils and greases. It is interesting to learn that the company's "new process' oil, which has only been on
i
the market for six months, s gaining considerable popularity, and has already secured the recommendation of 14 wellknown motor vehicle manufacturers.
Bus Control at Plymouth,
The Plymouth Watch Committee is considering the question of the control of omnibus traffic through the central streets of the borough. A deputation,. consisting of the chairman and vicechairman of the Tramways Committee and the engineer and manager, has waited on the Watch Committee, which referred the matter to the General Subcommittee for further consideration.
Municipal Purchasing.
. The Hull section of the Motor Agents' Association has sent a. letter to the Hull City Council expressing disapproval of the action of the corporation in not advertising for tenders, to a given specification, when purchasing motor vehicles anti supplies, such as cars, vans, lorries, buses, tyres, ails, etc., in accordance with the corporation custom when making other purchases.
The letter draws particular attention to the fact that. the Tramways Committee has in the past three years bought a very large number of motorbuses, and has, within the past few weeks, placed a considerable order for further new vehicles. It is urged that the 'committee should have advertised for tenders, so that local traders could have had an opportunity for obtaining business. Theee were several firms in Hull fully equipped for the building of any type of bus body.
The Tramways Committee has promised to discuss the matter with a deputation from the association.
Fares at Plymouth.
Plymouth Watch Committee has considered the question of reducing the fares on carriages propelled by mechanical power and recommended that the by-law authorizing the driver to make a charge of is. per mile for the return journey, if the point at which the hirer is set down is distant by the mostdirect available route more than one mile from the point at which he was taken up, be rescinded.
A deputation from the proprietors and drivers of hackney motors has asked the committee not to approve the proposal to allow the existing by-laws to remain in force.
The matter has been referred to the Traffic Sub-committee for further consideration and report.
A Canvas-top Van.
An illustration on this page shows a useful canvas-top van supplied by Henry Garner, Ltd., Moseley Motor Works, Birmingham, to Messrs. A. J. Homer and Son, of Birmingham, for the conveyance of sheet-metal goods. The van, the inside dimasione of which are 11 ft. by -6 ft. by 5 ft. 6 ins, high, is lined with matchboarding and the top is supported by hoop sticks. All corners are protected by sheet iron and a full-length curtain covers the rear opening. The provision of a low loading line with fiat wheel boxes is a very, commendable feature.
Petrol Pump Conditions.
Kendal Watch Committee has granted permission to Mr. T. O'Loughlin to erect a swing delivery arm over the footpath. from a petrol pump at his premises in "Stricklandgate, subject to the execution of a memorandum acknowledging the encroachment and undertaking to pay an annual acknowledgment ,rent, to be
fixed by the borough surveyor, and to remove the arm on six months' notice, Oxford Watch Committee has granted an application from Mr. W. L. Carter to erect a swing arm delivery hose in connection with a petrol .pump to be installed on his premises at .the corner of Western Road and Abingdon Road, on the following conditions :—(i) The arm to be 8 ft. above the footway and not to be over the footway when not in use; (ii) an annual quit rent to be paid to the council of Is.
C.A.V. Batteries.
C. A. Vandervell and Co., Ltd., announce a reduction in the price of the standard model Ford battery from 5 guineas to £4 10s. (wood separators), and the model de luxe with Willard patent-threaded-rubber separators from
£5 13s. 6d. to £4 18s. 641. The high standard of workmanship that has made this battery so popular with Ford owners is still maintained.
A Weight Limit.
The annual report of the Adelaide Town Council mentions the introduction in the House of Assembly of a Bill to consolidate and amend: the Width of Tyres Act. This alters the load of 9 cwt. to the inch now allowed to 7 cwt. The higher load was fixed 50 years ago, when overloading was not so rampant.
For 4-cwt. Loads.
In addition to their two Dunelt motorcycle sidecar commercial carriers—an open frac for the conveyance, of milk churns, etc., and a boxvan for carrying, loads up to 3 cwt..--Dunford and Elliot (Sheffield), Ltd., Bath Street, Birmingham, have recently 'introduced another sidecar commercial modelof large: proportions This, as will be seen from the illustration, is most capacious, and is mounted 4,on a specially ,,strengthened chassis and sprung by coil and leaf springs. The dimensions of the van are as follows,-4 ft. 9 ins, long by 2 ft. 8 ins, wide by 3 ft. deep ; goods up to 4 cwt. may be carried with safety. Less lamps, the price of this commercial carrier is .£100 with final-belt drive, or with all-chain drive £105.
New Darlington Service.
Darlington, a centre already provided with adequate motor omnibus facilities to surrounding districts, is to have a new service in the near future which will skirt the residential areas of the town, and which should prove of great value to the inhabitants. This service is being commenced by Mr. P. K. Chapman, of Croft Spa, who already maintains a useful service between the town lind Croft Spa, some four miles distant, with comfortable small capacity saloon buses on pneumatic tyres. The new service, which has secured the approval of the town council, will cover a four miles circular route from the centre of the town, at 13ondgate, and will be run half hourly.
A Scottish Stores Delivery Fleet.
The Kilmarnock Co-operative Society, which had sales of .£181,322 last quarter, and has branches at Ayr and Prestwich, has a fleet of 20 motor vehicles, ipeluding four Garford delivery vans, a Star delivery van, three Overland vans, an Albion lorry and Ford delivery vans and one-ton vans. By allowing depreciation at the rate of 15 per cent, on the eriginal cost six. vehicles have been cleared from the balance-sheet, and -the remainder stand at £4,729. The original cost of the vehicles was £10,336.
Competition and Congestion.
Hull Corporation Tramways Committee is suggesting to the Watch Committee that, as a reasonable tram service is being provided along the Holderness Road route, no additional facilities are necessary, and, in order to prevent any congestion along that route, any further applications for licences to run buses into the city should tie'.refused, and, if licences are granted, they should be only so granted for vehicles to run to the tram terminus.
Local Proceedings.
Peterborough Corporation has decided
to purchase a new motor ambulance. '
Finchley Urban District Council isin. viting tenders for the supply of a motor ambulance.
Worthing Corporation has decided to purchase a Dennis 24-in. lawn-mowing machine at the price of £75.
Birkenhead corporation has allocated. £8,400 in the annual estimates for Hie purchase of motor omnibuses;
Rochdale Corporation has referred tenders for the supply of motor vehicles to the Transport Committee to deal with.
• Rotherham Corporation • Tramways Committee recommends obtaining tenders for three new 20-seater motorbuses. Burnley Corporation has authorized the cleansing superintendent ato . obtain tenders for the supply of a 1-ton Ford tipping wagon.
Bournemouth Corporation Fire Brigade Committee recommends the purchase of a Merryweather petrol-driven turntable ladder.
Salford Corporation Tramways Committee recommends the purchase of a Vulcan public-service 21-seater one-man motor ,omnibus at a cost of £741. .
Bolto-n Corporation Parks Committee has accepted the quotation of Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, Ltd., for the supply of 24-in. and 30-in, motor lawn mowers.
Shoreham Council Fire Brigade Committee recommends the purchase of a Dennis turbine trailer pump at a cost of £450, and a Ford chassis at a cast of £125.
The cleansing department of the Sheffield Corporation haS accepted the tender of the Sentinel Waggon 'Works (1920), Ltd., for two 5-ton hydraulic tipping wagons.
Salford Corporation Cleansing Committee recommends the purchase of four hydraulic end-tipping Vulcan petrol motor Wagons, capable of carrying 2-2i tons of refuse, at a cost of £525 each. Taxicab faies in ISIariate have been reduced from 2s. to 1s. fid. mile.
Manchester Corporation Electricity Committee recommends the purchase of two Sentinel steam wagons.
Bridlington Corpoiation has arranged to go into the matter of mechanical transport for refuse collection.
Halifax Corporation has autherized its Transport Committee to purchase a•Vulcan motor ambulance at a cost of £728.
Woodbridge Rural District Council is, considering the desirability of purchasing a motor. fireen,gine in association with other authorities.
Burnley Watch Committee has decided to invite tenders for the supply of a trailer pump and a first-turnout petrol engine for the fire brigade. • Bournemouth Corporation has received sanction to borrow £1,950 for the intr. chase of steam wagons and trailers, the loan to be repayable Within seven years.
Wimbledon Corporation . Highways Committee recommends the purchase of a three-way tipping trailer from Carrosserie, Latomer, Ltd., at. a cost of £173.
Bradford Watch Committee, promises favourable consideration of a proposal by UniversaIMetor Omeibuses, Ltd., to establish a motorbus service between Clayton and Bradford.
Beckenham Urban District Council invites tenders for the supply Of a 1-ton motor lorry for the use of its highways department. Tenders have to be delivered on or before April 19tn.
Darlington Town Council has adopted a recommendation of its Electricity and Light Railways Committee to purchase a light motoryan for the purpose of conveying workmen and materials to different parts of the town.
In view of the feet that the Redcar Corporation is withdrawing the option on the services of its fire brigade; allowed to the Saltburn district,the Saltbern -Urban District Council is considering the purchase of a motor fire-engine.
Bournemouth Cab Fares.
The Bournemouth Town Council has recently considered, along with representatives of the district taxi-owners' association, the question of taxicab rates. After full consideration of the question, and having regard to the information submitted by the deputation, the committee has recommended that the by-laws be amended so that the 'charge for both taxicabs and horsed carriages shall be Is. 4d.. for the first mile and 4d. for each quarter or less distance ebove the first mile.
Saving by Lorry.
The -borough surveyor of Haverfordwest has reported a large saving to pis council by the adoption, *during the 12 months ended March 31st, 1923, of a motor lorry for refuse collection and haulage of road sweepings instead of, as in previous yeare, carrying out the work by contracted team labour. Including . the wages of driver and two assistants, the cost of the haulage by the use of the Motor vehicle has resulted in a saving.of £338 16s. lid. on the year, or approximately one-third of the total cost. Moreover, this sum more than covered the capital and loan charge of £272 per annum.
Apart from the actual monetary gain, a much better service of house-to-house ' refuse collection has been secured. , Repairs on the Brighton Road.
A start has been made on the fivemile stretch of the London-to-Brighton road between Croydon and Purley, and the tram track and roadway are to be reconstructed. The wood paving of which the road is at present constructed is to be replaced by bituminous grouted_ macadam. The work, which will take about a year to complete, will cost about £175,000, and of this sum £1212/,000 will be -expended on the tram track. Half of the coat of thework on the rest of the road will be borne by the Ministry of Transport, the remainder falling on the Croydon ratepayers.