WHEELS of INDUSTRY 1 ' The wheels of wealth writ be
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slowed by ail difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads DV!, which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
Hours of Driving Passenger Vehicles.
The Minister of Transport has received a joint application from the Transport and General Workers' Union and certain trade associations requesting a variation, in certain circumstances, of the periods of time laid down in Section 19 of the Road Traffic Act.
The variations in hours are to the effect that in the case of a stage carriage where, in any period of 24 hours, only one continuous period of duty is worked, then for, such period the limit of 81 hours should be substituted for 51 hours, if the driver be allowed time for signing on and off and looking over the vehicle, also for lay-over aggregating not less than 45 minutes. If the continuous period does not exceed eight hours, allowed intervals need not exceed 30 minutes.
This would permit a straight-through duty of 81hours (7ihours' actual driving time or eight hours (71 hours' driving time).
If between two periods of driving an express or contract carriage, interval is not less than four hours at destination, period of eight consecutive hours suggested instead of 10. This to apply not more frequently than two days in any sevdn, or three days if seven includes a Bank Holiday.
The London Coach Ban.
On Wednesday last, February 11th, Lord Hewett was asked in a King's Bench Divisional Court if an early date could be fixed for the hearing of the case in which a rule nisi has been obtained against the Minister of Transport to show cause why a writ should not be issued to prohibit him from making regulations for the banning of coaches from central London* Lord liewart fixed the date for the hearing as Wednesday, February 25th.
A Cheaper Morris Van.
Recently Morris Motors, Ltd. Cowley, Oxford, introduced the £100 car; the chassis is similar to that of the wellknown Minor car but the engine is of the side-valve type. Now the inexpensive model is being produced as it delivery van for 5-cwt. pay loads. The body dimensions (internal) are 3 ft. 6 ins. high, 3 ft. 41. ins. wide and 3 ft. 4 ins. long (behind the driving seat) ; the capacity is 38 cubic ft. There are two rear .doors, two side doors with sliding windows, and a hinged Triplex windscreen. The price complete is £110.
Ford Sales and Servicing in London.
A few weeks ago we referred to the formation of Dagenham Motors, Ltd., to act as a wholesale distributive organization for Ford commercial vehicles and touring cars, and although the company only commenced operations at the beginning of the year, it has already appointed sub-dealers, retail subdealers and limited dealers, the operations of which are gradually covering the county of London, and it is still n20
open to make further appointments within the territory allotted to it by the Ford Motor Co., Ltd.
The company possesses excellent facilities at its premises in Balderton Street, Orford Street, W. On the ground floor is the reception showroom, whilst the first floor is given over entirely to the servicing of Ford commercial vehicles. In addition to a line of offices, there are spare-parts stores in which replacements for old or new types of vehicle are kept. The second floor is devoted to the servicing of pleasure cars.
Owners of fleets will be interested to learn that the company is maintaining ii 24-hour day service. Important General Motors Announcement.
Following the announcement made in The Commercial Motor on January 27th, in connection with the Bedford 10-cwt., 30-cwt., and 2-ton models produced by Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., Luton, primarily for the export markets, a rumour has spread about that the Chevrolet 12-cwt. and 30-cwt, chassis are to be discontinued in this country.
General Motors, Ltd., and Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., ask us emphatically to contradict this rumour. The Bedford models that will be marketed here will be only the 2-ton short and long-wheelbase chassis, and these will be introduced about the end of March. They will naturally be sold at higher prices than the Chevrolet machines. Full details of them will be published in due course in this journal.
Sentinel's Trading in 1930.
During the year ended December 31st last the profit made by the Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd., after meeting interest, directors' fees, etc., was £48,474, the amount available being increased to £50,756 by the balance brought forward. A sum of £12,829 has been provided for depreciation and £3,500 has been absorbed in writing off amounts for patents and experimental and development work, so that the sum available for distribution is £34,427.
The reserve receives an allotment of £5,000, whilst a dividend at the rate of 71 per cent, per annum on the preference shares for the half-year ended June last absorbed £11,250. The payment of a dividend at the same rate on these shares for the second half of the year accounts for a further 111,250, whilst a dividend for the year on the ordinary shares at the rate of 3 per cent. disposes of £4,500. The amount to be carried forward is £2,427.
Death of Sir Alfred Mays-Smith.
• We learn with deep regret of the death of Sir Alfred Mays-Smith, K.B.E.. which occurred suddenly last week in is London nursing home after an operation. He had been for many years one of the outstanding figures in the councils of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and was President of the Society in 1920-21. At the time of his death, Sir Alfred Mays-Smith was a member of the council and of several important committees. He received the honour of knighthood in January, 1922.
Road Schemes Sanctioned.
During the month of January schemes for widening, reconstruction and other improvements of classified roads and bridges, and for the construction of new roads and bridges of classification value, involving a total estimated expenditure of i1,852,000, were formally approved for Road Fund grants. The total value of road and bridge schemes now definitely approved is £28,000,000, whilst further schemes to the value of £26,000,000 have been approved in principle.