The Motor Omnibus World.
Page 2
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Proceedings of the Society of Motor Omnibus Engineers.
The seventh meeting of council for the first year was held at the registered office, Hotel Cecil Chambers, 86, Strand, W.C., on the 8th instant. Mr. R. Bell (London Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd.), vice-chairman, presided, and there were also present Messrs. V. Spiller (London General Omnibus Co., Ltd.), P. Frost Smith (Thomas Tilling, Ltd.), and W. M. Hodges (late engineer to the London and District Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd.); also, in attendance, the secretary, Mr. Charles E. Esse, Mr. F. C. A. Coventry (Great 'Western Railway Co.) arrived during the course of the meeting, at which the business transacted included the following :— Associnies.--The following were enrolled as associates, each having completed the application form and retnitted-i the annual contribution of ,L-3 :—Mr. W. J. Crampton? London ' • Price's Patent Candle Co., Ltd., Battersea ; the Dunlop Rubber Co„ Ltd., Birmingham ; New London and Suburban Omnibus Co., Ltd., Kingston-on-Thatnes; and the Polack Tyre Co., Ltd., London. The secretary re.. ported that he had recently issued the following letter, draw
ing attention to the work and programme of the Society to various omnibus manufacturers and others :—
" T am instructed by the Council of this Society to acquaint you with some of its principal objects, and to express the hope that you will make use of the enclosed form of application for enrolment as an Associate. A list of the Associates who have been enrolled prior to December 31st, 1905, is given on the third page of this letter.
"The Society was formed in July last, by toe operating engineers of the principal motor omnibus companies in the country. The present constitution of the Council, upon which a number of seats are now held in reserve for additional provincial representatives, is as follows :—Messrs. E. C. A. COVENTRY (Great Western Railway), Chairman; R. BELL (London Motor Omnibus Company), Vice-chairman; H. P. G. BRACKENRIDGE (London Road Car Company); W. FLEXMAN FRENCH (Sussex Motor Road Car Company) • E. L. GREEN/WI:GM (London and North-Western Railway); W. M. HODGES (late London and District Motor Bus Company); GEORGE POLLARD (late Birmingham Motor Express Company); P. FROST Sulam (Thomas Tilling, Limited; ; and W. SP/LLER (London General Omnibus Company).
" The Memorandum of Association provides, inter alia, that thc Society shall -Promote, encourage, and facilitate the growth of the carriage of passengers, and of mails or goods if carried in conjunction with passengers, by means of motor vehi. ries other than on permanent ways, for profit (herein referred to in general as the said motor traffic), and to promote the science and practice of motor omnibus engineering and all branches thereof.
Promote the consideration and discussion of all questions affecting directly asindirectly the said motor traffic. and generally to watch over and protect the interests, as far as possible, of persons engaged in such traffic. Enable persons interested in the profession and practice of the said motor traffic to meet and discuss and to correspond and generally to facilitate the interchange of ideas respecting improvements in the various branches ef the science of motor omnibus traction, and the publication and intercommunication of ideas respecting improvements in the said science.
Give to the Legislature, and to public bodies and others, facilities for conferring with and ascertaining the views of persons engaged or interested in the said motor traffic as regards matters directly or indirectly affectin,i; that traffic or trades allied to it.
Promote excellence and perfection in the construction of that class of motor vehicles as are or might be commendable and serviceable in the said motor omnibus traffic or manufacturing. trades.
Promote just and honourable practice in the conduct of business, and to suppress malpractice.
"Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday in each month, from October to March inclusive, at which discussions ire conducted on various matters of importance connected with the construction and use of public service vehicles. In order to insure that these discussions shall be thorough and without reserve, no Press representatives are allowed to attend, and no report of the speeches is published. It is, accordingly, neces
sary for members of the industry who may wish to keep in touch with the work of the Society, to be Associates and thereby enabled to attend such meetings. "The Council has decided to support a programme of summer visits to works and running depots, and it is hoped that this will provide a suitable series of fixtures for some time to come.
" In directing your attention to Article No. 8 (vide Application Form), under which members of the motor and allied industries. are eligible for enrolment as Associates, I am instructed by the Council to point out that provision for the withholding of voting power from Associates is solely to keep in the hands of ben-s. fide operating engineers any formal expression of opinion recorded in the name of the Society; were it not for this proviso. the control of the Society might very well pass into the hands. of manufacturers instead of users, which, I am sure you will agree, would defeat its objects."
Police Regulations.—It was agreed that the secretary. should represent the society at the conference which had been convened by the Chief Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, to be held at New Scotland Yard, S.W., on Thursday, the iith instant.
Paper by Dr. Ortnandy.—It was agreed that the paper on the subject of " Flame Propagation, and its influence on cylinder design and ignition," by Dr. W. R. Ormandy, of Warrington, should be taken at the next open meeting of members and associates, to be held on February izth_