In Public Service.
Page 8
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Southwark Board of Guardians is about to buy motor ambulances.
Stretford U.D.C. is considering the purchase of a motor ambulance.
Stalybridge Corporation has ordered a second motor wagon from Fodens, Ltd., at a cost of 2521.
Ilford U.D.C. tramway authorities have ordered a motor tower wagon from the Edison Accumulator Co., at a cost of 2689 10s.
Warrington is greatly interested in its Leyland fire-engine. The vehicle, as was to be expected, is equipped with " St. Helens" tires.
We shall be pleased to hear of an opening for someone who has traffic, costs and accounts experience in motorbus and garage work. Letters marked "Gibraltar."
The military authorities in Antwerp (Arsenal de Construction, 316, Lorgue Rue d'Argile) are inviting tenders until the 25th inst. for the, supply of three motor ambulances.
The manager of the Manchester Corporation Tramways, Mr. 3. McElroy, has recommended the use of municipal motorbuses temporarily to replace tramcars during particular cases of track re-construction., lichen (Hants.) U.D.C. has received a petition from the superintendent and members of the local brigade for an overhaul of the existing organisation and equipment, inclusive of the supply of a motor fire-engine.
Instead of issuing separate licences in respect of the tramcars and motorbuses belonging to the Sheffield Tramways Committee, and of the drivers and conductors of such vehicles, it has been arranged that the Tramways Committee should pay the Watch Committee a yearly sum of 2125 in settlement of all fees for such licences.
We are in touch, as we go to press, with various happenings in the London motorbus world which are stated to be likely to bring about a strike. The wearing of a Union badge is in many senses undoubtedly open to real objection, apart from any ruling or the police on the subject. The motive, object and significance of that action, in relation to non-Union men, is but one of several considerations that arise. If there were any guarantees that non-Union men would be free from tyranny and victimization, it might be possible to look upon the proposal without disfavour, but experience in other branches of labour unfortunately points to the existence of ulterior motives about which the men are careful to say nothing when they discuss the alleged reasons for their wish to wear badges.
B12 " The Financial News" is responsible for the statement that 350 L.G,O.C. motorbuses will be running in Montreal by next spring.
The receipts of the National Steam Car Co., Ltd., for the week ended 14th September, 1913, were 13788. This shows an increase of £1728 over the corresponding week of 1912.
The receipts of the Tramways (MET.) Omnibus Co., Ltd., for the week ended 6th September, 1913, were 27395, and for the Gearless Omnibus Co., Ltd., 2537. This shows a decrease of 21218 and 268 respectively as against the previous week.
Croydon Trains in Extremis.
Croydon Town Council is still endeavouring to show that its tramcars are profitable, but people in the district are convinced that all is not well with the undertaking. Strenuous efforts to rouse a feeling of sympathy amongst ratepayers have been poorly received ; the average business man is more concerned to get good value for his penny, coupled with quick conveyance, than to help to bolster up a means of public service which has been left behind in competition. Croydon may soon provide an object-lesson to the country, in regard to the wisdom of abandoning a municipal tramway undertaking in favour of the up-to-date motorbus. The L.G.O.C. might possibly hasten that day if they made an offer to help the borough to "cut its loss."
Southport is pleased with its new Leyland fire-engine.
The Blackburn Taxicab Co., Ltd., is to be wound up, and Mr. William Hare, of Richmond Terrace, Blackburn, has been appointed liquidator.
Swansea Town Council has granted motorbus licences to Mr. Thomas Evans of Brynsiriol, Forestfach, and Messrs. J. Lewis and Co., of Swansea.
The appointment has to be noted, as Assistant Secretary to the Road Board, of Mr. K. R. Watling, the late Assistant Solicitor to the Corporation of Bradford.
The L.G.B. inquiry, at Oldham, amongst other matters with regard to the sanctioning of a loan of £2000 for the purchase of two motor fire-engines, was concluded last week.
Penmaemnawr Council is taking steps with a view to the adoption by local Rural District Councils of by-laws intended to prevent the overcrowding of public motor vehicles in the district, a practice which has been giving trouble.
The Guardians for the City of Westminster Union, Princes Row, Buckingham Palace Road, S.W., are desirous to receive tenders for a ten-passenger motor omnibus, convertible to a double-stretcher motor ambulance, on or before the 2,Ith inst. Full particulars can be obtained from Mr. W. J. Lickley, Clerk to the Guardians.
A motor fire engineis badly needed by the Hanley Brigade, as one centre in the Potteries. Other towns which are equally desirous to improve their equipment, and which may be classed as centres from north to south of the Potteries, are Tunstall, Burslem, Stoke, Fenton and Longton. Mr. Fred Bettany is now chief officer of all the 'brigades of the Potteries, and not a single one of his stations is equipped with a. self-propelled unit. This reproach is serious.