WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"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. •
Petrol Impoxts.
The quantity of motor spirit imported during the month of November was 20,635,732 gallons, which shows a substantial increase on the figures for November, 1921, When the quantity brought in was 17,036,547 gallons. Up to November 30th there had been imported in 1022 287,563,943 gallons, valued at £19,271,968, the figures for the like period of 1921 being : 233,113,971 gallons, valued at, £22,529,542, while the quantities have been rising, the values have been falling.
Thornycroft Report.
The report of the directors which was submitted to the shareholders at the 21st annual general meeting of John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., on Thursday last, shows that for the year eirded July 31st the company made a profit, after deduction of debenture interest and interim dividend, of £85,449. A final dividend of 3 per cent, on the preference shares, making 6 per cent, for the year, will absorb £5,940, and the payment of a dividend of 71 per cent, on the .partielpating preferred ordinary shares will dispose of .£18,750, leaving a balance of £60,759 to be carried forward. In the report the directors state that the business in motor vehicles during the period -under review was adversely affected by the sale of War Department vehicles and by the heavy depression in trade, but, on the other hand, a satisfactory business has been done in the sale of vehicle spare parts.
New System of Motor Trade Licences.
New patterns of trade plates in substitution for the existing pattern of G.I.M. plates, will be issuable to motor traders by licensing authorities on and after January 1st, 1923, in connection with the now system of trade licences under Section 15 of the Finance Act, 1922.
An official specification, Circular, R.F. 160, of the new patterns of plates has been prepared by the Ministry of Transport, and copies may be obtained by plate manufacturers free of charge on application to the Assistant Secretary, Roads Department, Ministry of Transport, 7, Whitehall Gardens, London, S.W. 1.
Orders for the plates will be placed by the licensing authorities, and not by the Ministry of Transport.
Bradford's Trolley-bus Scheme.
A conference of local authorities in the West Riding which are interested in the proposals of the Bradford Corporation to operate trolley-buses outside the city boundaries was recently held, at which representatives of the district councils of Shipley, Baildon, Hipperholm°, Spenborough, Yearlon and Raw. donand 'Brighouse Corporation were present. The general consensus of opinion. amongst them was that there is not, sufficient demand for t-he services suggested by tire cooperation and that the majority was opposed to them.
BI8 A further conference of the local authorities will be called in the event of the corporation proceeding with its application to the Ministry of Transport for the necessary Provisional Order.
American Exports.
The number of motor lorries and buses (electric vehicles excepted) exported from America in September was 1,295, valued at 763,819 dollars. Canada imported 106 of these vehicles Japan 253, Cuba 62, Mexico 55 and Great Britain 57.
Warrington Bus Profits.
The Warrington Corporation motor omnibus department in its operations for the last half-year has converted a deficit into profit. The deficit in the corresponding period of last year was £209, but this time-there is a net profit of £107. The bus mileage was 36,124 against 36,373, and the expenditure averaged 21.394d. per bus mile.
Asking for Bus Service.
At a meeting of the Llandovery Council a proposal was made that the G.W.R. -Co. should be asked to inaugurate a road motorbus service between Llandovery and Brecon. A member suggested that other companies than the G.W.R. would like the opportunity of doing so, but the chairman ruled the proposal out of order..
No Closure of Classified Roads.
Ilford Urban District alined recently made representations to the EsseX County Council to secure the prohibition of a motorbus service along Green Lane.
The county council now informs the district council that., having regard to the fact that the road is at present a second-class main road, towards which the Ministry of Transport makes a, grant of 25 per cent, under the classification scheme' and to the fast that the county council is about to spend.£12,000 upon widening and reconstructing the road with a view to its first-classclassi• fication, it cannot see how it can. reasonably expect the Ministry of Transport to make an Order closing it to heavy motor traffic.
Coaches as Buses in the Winter.
Although one hears of motor coach owners converting their vehicles into motor haulage wagons during the winter months—a procedure which is not to be commended—it is somewhat rare to hear of coach owners utilizing their machines for omnibus service during the off season.
The Lancashire United Tramways, Ltd., of Atherton, who have very -extensive repair and body-building shops, and who control what is probably the largest fleet of motor coaahes and 'buses in the North of England, have this winter, we learn, resorted to this expedient. The vehicles serve an exceedingly thickly populated district, and the company's bus system has been considerably extended during the last few months. In this connection they have found the converted coaches a useful adjunct.
Renewal of Licences.
The Ministry of Transport in a recent announcement state that it is estimated that over 800,000 licences for mechanically propelled vehicles will expire on December 31st, most of which will -be renewed for the quarter or year commencing January 1st, 1923. The work of renewal, together with the issue of licences taken out for the first time, will throw a great strain upon the staffs at the local taxation offices, which have been kept down to the lowest, limit in order that as much money as possible should be available for the construction and maintenance of roads.
In order that, the work of renewing licences may proceed expeditiously and smoothly, the co-operation of motor vehicle users is sought, and, they can materially assist:—(i) By ensuring that their applications for renewal are in order, thus saving much correspondence-; and (ii) by applying for renewals so soon as possible after December 16th and thus avoiding congestion at the last moment. Renewals can be effected at a principal post office except in the following cases :—If there has been a change of ownership since the last licence was taken out' if the old licence expired more than 14 days previously; and if it is desired to change the classification of a vehicle, e.g., from commercial goods to hackney.
A postmaster can only issue an annual licence for 1923 in renewal of a grey licence for 1922, and a quarterly licence for March quarter, 1923, in renewal of a brown (December quarter) licence.
The following must accompany an application for renewal :--- (a) A renewal form, duly filled in •
(b) The registration book for the vehicle;
(c) The old license (in the case of Post Office renewals only); (d) The amount of du. The new licensee, where there has been change of ownership since the last licence has been taken out., or where he desires to register under a new class, should ask the postmaster of the nearest money.order post office for the appropriate declaration form. The declaration forms of specific interest' to commercial vehicle users are R.F.4 for goods vehicles, R.F.5, for road locomotives, tractors, agricultural engines, etc., and R.F.8 for motor hackneys.
The Liverpool-Manchester Road.
Lancashire members of Parliament have discussed the scheme for constructing a road from Liverpool to Manchester, 28 miles long, but, as there are Alight, differences of opinion between the local authorities concernool and the Government as to who should ,accept financial responsibility, it has been decided to await events.
The issue of The Commercial Motor dated December 26th will be on sale throughout the country on Wednesday morning, December 27th—a day later than usual.
Roadless Vehicles.
A very idteresting paper, entitled Improvements in the Efficiency of Roadless Vehicles," was read last Thursday before the Institution of Automobile Engineers by Lt.-Col. P. IL Johnson, C.B.E., D.S.O.
Much of the originai material front which the subject-matter of the paper was drawn has already appeared in 2'lie Commercial Motor, together with drawings which illustrated the improvements which have been embodied. We will, .therefore, confine ourselves to a résumé of the points in the discussion which followed the paper.
Mr. L. A. Legsos was the first speaker, and he pointed out that more Renault Tanks had been produced than the total of all the types made in this country, and that the weak point of the Renault Tank is that it cannot be operated successfully over snow. The most difficult combination is that of tracks which are dusty in summer and covered with snow in winter, Ile mentioned that the mails in Alaska are carried by vehicles provided with two long belts adapted to the width of dug trails.
Mr. H. G. Burford stated that he did not believe there would be any commercial future for the roadless vehicle and that it would only be useful for military purposes, where efficiency and cost do not matter to the Same extent. The idea that the seedless vehicle can choose its own path did not appeal to him, as he could not imagine roads being replaced by mud tracks, and people would certainly not build houses along these as they did along roads.
Mr. Evans, of the Lifeboat Institution, gave interesting particulars of tests carried out with roadless vehicles in the hauling of lifeboats, and mentioned that, although satisfactory on sand, such vehicles were useless in shingle, which was merely scooped up until it almost buried the tractor.
Lt.-Col. Johnson, in his reply, said•that he did not, intend that his paper
should be treated as an argument in favour of the adoption of roadless vehicles for commercial purposes, and that. he did not believe this would happen except in, certain instances. Mention of the Kegresse-Cirtro6n machine had been made in the discussion, arid he peiuted. oat that meat power was absorbed by rubber bands, and if these were strong enough to bear heavy vehicles, lateral displacement for steering would be almost impossible owing to the stiffness of the bands, and that, in 'actual fact, with increased weight, the load of such bands was not well distributed. He em phasizecl that the roadless vehicle was not a substitute for the wheeled vehicle
Fittings in Birmingham's Railless Buses.
In our issue for December 5th we pub lished full particulars and illustrations of the new type of trolley-bus which is being put into service by the Birmingham Corporation, and we made particular reference to the interior fittings of the vehicles. These fittings are carried out in Clarus metal—not Clarice,as was stated--which is a patent aluminium alloy made by Messrs. Gabriel and Co., 4 and 5 A.B. Row, Birmingham. The electric light fittings, stanchions, bracket supports, headlights, seat legs, ventilators and other equipment were all carried out in this metal, which is unly one-third of the weight of brass, takes a polish equal to silver, and only requires a dry duster to keep spotlessly clean. We have examined examples of Clams fittings, and can endorse these claims.
The incorporation of such fittings in the interior of the lower and upper decks of the new Birmingham railless vehicles must certainly add to the comfort and convenience of passengers, for their bright and clean appearance undoubtedly improves the surroundings.
Messrs. Gabriel and Co. supply largo quantities of fittings in Clams metal for use in motorbuses, seinen cars and tramcars, where lightness and strength are essentials.
Manchester, Birmingham and London Cab Fares.
Although in many provincial towns there is a. tendency to lower taxicab fares, there appears no likelihood that these reductions will extend to Loudon.
A reduced scale of fares will come into operation in Manchester on January 1st as the result of an agreement arrived at recently between the representetives of the Manchester Taxi Owner-drivers' Association and the Manchestei; Watch Committee. The new scale is as fol lews .3d. for the first mile or part of a mile, and 3d. for each additional onefifth of a mile; 4s, per hour waiting fine, 3d. for outside luggage, 9d. for cycles or perambulators, and 3d. for each additional passenger for the whole journey. -Members of the Birmingham Horse and Vehicle Owners' Association recently considered the question of the proposed new cab fares for the city, and on behalf of local owners the association has secured a promise from the Ministry of Health that a deputation shall be heard when the corporation's revised scale of fares is submitted to the Ministry. The association opposes the watch committee's suggestion of half fares for return journeys, and will ask for a minimum faro of Is. 6d. for the first mile.
it is considered impracticable, by those who should be in a position to judge, to lower the rate of cab charges in London. It is stated that the running expenses of a " double shift" cab (a cab driven by both day and night drivers for approximately 20 hours a day), covering, say, 25,000 miles per year; amount to 8.151 per mile. In considering income it must be mentioned that approximately 18,000 of the total number of miles run can be considered as " engaged" mileage.
Road Upkeep Controversy.
In the matter of the Cardiff-BarryPenarth road maintenance controversy,previously dealt with in The Commercial Motor, a proposal was recently made at a meeting of the Cardiff City Council that, failing joint action by all three municipalities for the repair of the Penarth Road, the city council should undertake the temporary repair of the road up to the toll-gate, pending negotiations with the owner for its acquisition by the council or councils.
The clerk explained that the powers of compulsory purchase of the road by the Cardiff authority in no way depended on joint action by the other urban councils referred to. It was decided speedily to confer with the..Barry and Penarth councils on the repair arid purchase of the road. The Penarth council has already expressed the opinion that the Glamorgan County Council should acquire the road, but has assented to be represented at the conference. The road is largely under private ownership, and toll is -exacted from all vehicles for its use. The responsibility for upkeep by the owher is a contested psint.
S.M.M. and T and Steam Vehicles.
The, S.M.M. and T. is being recommended by its Steam Vehicle Committee to advocate an increased overhang up to 9-24ths of the overall length in the cafe of steam tractors, when this matter comes before the Departmental Committee of the Ministry of Transport. Steam vehicle manufacturers are asking that four •agricultural shows shall during 1923 40 approved in relation to the exhibition of steam vehicles, in addition to the show at Olympia, one in Ireland and one in Seotland already approved under the S.M.M. and T. Bond.
Sydney Municipal Council has now appointed a sub-committee to go into the matter of the provision of motor bus services by private enterprise.
The Crossley chassis fitted with a smart van body and in the service of England and) Sons, Ltd., of Birmingham, which was illustrated on page 472 of our issue for December 5th, is a 2530 hp. model, and not as described.
Swansea Highways.
The widening of .Penygraig Road to crbviate traffic vibration was suggested by a citizens' deputation that waited on the Swansea Highways Committee. .
The borough engineer stated that the road was dangerous to traffic, because for some distance over its length vehicles could not pass each other. There was a scheme for making the road 45 ft. wide and to reduce the gradient from 1 in 5.7 to 1 in 8, but Until this scheme could be carried out a suggestion had been put forward to widen the road to 20 ft. at a cost of £5,002. A sub-committee was appointed to go into the matter.
Ormskirk By-pass Road.
The new by-pass road which is being constructed on the north-westerly side of Ormskirk by the Lancashire County Council is now rapidly approaching completion, and it is expected to be open for traffic early in the New Year. It is about a mile and a quarter in length, and with its bituminous surface is supposed to be the last word in road construction. Commercial motor users will rejoice at its opening, which will obviate the necessity for using the narrow Burscough Street—a regular death-trap— when travelling north or south.
Time-tables and Equality.
At a meeting of the Hull Watch Committee the chief constable-submitted an application from Mr. Stuart, the manager of the Newington Motor and Engineering Co., Ltd., for revision of the company's time-tables. Mr. Stuart and Mr. Wakefield appeared before the committee, and, after hearing statements from them, the matter -was left in the hands of the chairman, Councillors Locking and Stark, with the chief constable, to arrange the time-tables of the Newington Motor and Engineering Co., and Mr. Wakefield and Mr. Moxon, in order to give equality so fur as possible.
Knowing His Vehicle.
The Pontadawe Urben District Council recently appointed a special sub-committee to analyse the working costs of the lorry used_by the sanitary department. The report of the committee has now been presented, and contains an interesting observation on the curtail merit of working costs due to a driver getting to know his machine thoroughly, and thus gradually being able to reduce, for the same work, the expenditure on petrol and oil.
For an initial period of three months the committee found that the daily consumption of petrol and oil amounted, together, to 34 gallons per day, in a second period of three months 241-gallons per day, and salg later 2-4gallons per day, these seductions coinciding with an improvement in the general serviee of the lorry.
Bus Rivalry.
To prevent danger to the public, the Exmouth Corporation has made arrangements to prevent bus companies running vehicles which will arrive or depart at practically the same time.
A Bus Service Condition.
The Swansea Watch Committee has notified the highways committee that it will grant a licence to a motorbus service to Mount Pleasant so far as S. Jude's Church if the highways committee will first widen the road near the upper entrance to tbeGrammar School. A committee was appeinted to inspect the spot and take the necessary action.
National Report.
The report of the directors of the National Omnibus and Transport Co., Ltd., for the year ended October 31st shows a profit; before providing for depreciation of rolling stock, of £20,170, which, together with the sum brought forward from the previous year, viz., £19,612, makes a disposal balance of £39,782. Of this sum the directors recommend that £18,000 be transferred to the depreciation of rolling stook account and £1,926 to the writing-off of goodwill, leaving £19,856 to be carried forward.
The reduced profit for the year its chiefly due, the directors mention, to the abnormally bad weather experienced daring the summer season, and, in view of the necessity for conserving the cash resources of the company, they recommend that no dividend he paid.
No new depots have been. opened up by the company during the period covered by the-report, but their services in the areas in which the depots are situated have been extended.
Salford •Corporation Motorbus Results.
The accounts of the Salford Corporation dealing with the muncipal bus service for the year ended March 31st last show an income of £14,276. The total expenditure was £13,124, equivalent to 15.791d. per bus-mile the chief items under this heading being as follow :Motor spirit, £4,022; traffic expenses, £7,096 (wages, £5,246; cleaning, £868; fuel for depots, 267; ticket checking, £249; clothing, licences, etc., £666); general expenses, £653; and repairs, £1,353. Other interesting statistics -in connection with the service include busmiles run, 199,451; passengers carried, 1,628,948, average number of buses in use per day, 6; percentage of working expenses to receipts, 92 per cent. ; average traffic revenue per bus-mile, 17.1786.; average bus-miles per day per bus, 101; average speed per hour, 6.53; average bus-hours per day, 16; aveertee working expenses per bus-mile, 15.791417; average fare paid per passenger, 2.1046.; average number of Passengers per busmile, 8; number of buses in stock, 8.
Bradford's Taxation Yield.
A report which has been submitted to the Bradford Taiation Committee shows that. the taxation receipts for motor vehicles in use in the city amounted to £89,000 for the year ended November 30th—an increase of £8,000 on the figures for the previous year. The estimated revenue from this source when the Finance Act and the Road Act, 1920, were introduced was £66,000.
The number of vehicle licences issued in the past year has been over 10,000, of which 6,000 were annual licences and the remainder quarterly licences. The number of commercial vehicles registered shows an increase, and it is e.etimated that there are about 8,000 mechanically propelled vehicles now in use in Bradford, as compared with less than 1,000 in 1908.
The Progress of the Ransome Tractor-lorry.
Considerable progress is being made in the development of the Ransom° sixwheeled tractor-lorry conversion, set, which can be used in coniunction with any commercial vehicle of suitable power, whether it be propelled by steam or petrol. Thus the trailer portions are made suitable for vehicles of 14-2 tons, 3-4 tons, 5-6 tons (petrol), or 5-6 tons (steam).
The company have received numerous inquiries for trailer portions suitable for Fords, both for home and export, but they have not yet developed this side of the business. Up to the present successful combinations have been made with Dennis, Daimler, Republic, HaIlford and Leyland petrol vehicles and the Ransome steam wagon. One of the machines is running in Poland on very bad ground, where it is employed by the IndoEuropean Telegraph Co. for the trans port of telegraph poles. Another set has just been prepared for despatch to South Africa, and many other inquiries have been received from abroad. At present the company are looking into the 'question of carrying aeroplanes in cases. Another development is an arrange-. ment whereby the body of the trailer can be rapidly uncoupled and supported that the motive unit can deal with several bodies as required. If this method prove successful it will certainly be a considerable step in the right direction, for it will mean a great conservation of energy, as one or more bodies can be loaded or unloaded while the tractor portion is otherwise employed with another body.
Petrol Fires.
South Shields Watch Committee has authorized the purchase of two FireFoam extinguishers, the chief constable having reported that these are necessary to control fires in which petrol and oils are involved.
Oxford and Sidecar Taxis.
Asked by Mr. C. Avery, of Coventry Road, Birmingham, whether licences will be issued for sidecar taxis, the Oxford Watch Committee has requested the, chief constable to inspect and report on one of these vehicles.
Driving Tests.
In Its new Parliamentary Bill the Stoke-on-Trent Corporation seeks power to impose tests on motor drivers. The Bill provides that no person shall be entitled to a driving licence from the corporation unless he shall be able to prove his ability to drive a motor vehicle.
Improving Welsh Roads.
The Ministry of Transport has agreed to extensive local communication improvements by the Swansea Conned. The Mumbles Road from Brynwill to 131ackpill wilt he improved at a. cost of £35,825, Carmarthen Road at £10,890, and the Sketty Road from Knoll Avenue to Brynwill Lane at a cost of 219,665.
Converted Electrics.
The city surveyor of Sydney, N.S.W., reports with regard tothe conversion of electric lorries into petrol lorries. Two vehicles have been so converted, but he does not recommend the conversion of a third vehicle, and suggests replacement of that and other lorries by up-to-date petrol or steam vehicles.
so Objection to Trolley-buses. A totally unexpected and surprising obstacle has been placed in the way of the installation of trackless trolleybuses over one of the tramway routes operated by the West Hartlepool Corporation, by the Ministry of Health. When the authority held its meeting a few days ago, it was reported, in connection with the council's application for, sanction to borrow £9,000 for use in
conjunction . with the substitution scheme, that the Ministry had declined to give powers for the work by a provisional order, and it was stated that it, would be necessary to proceed by Bill, and that a "late Bill" would incur a coat of something like £500 to £600. The council resolved to seek the support of the local M.P. in making representations to the Ministry for the pur
se of obtaining a provisional order, but, if necessary, a petition for leave to deposit a late Bill will be presented.
Sheffield Bus Expectations.
The folloWing tabulation shows the revised estimates in 'connection with the Sheffield corporation bus services :— Year endidg Year ending Mar. 31st, '23. Income. Mar. 31st, '24.
91,042 Traffic revenue 88,853 331 General receipts 350 45 Bank interest 50 £91,418 Total receipts £89,253
A Scottish Enterprise.
Mr. F. W. Hopper, who was at one timeemana.ging director of Ospers, Ltd., has now set up in business in Glasgow, the company with ,which his activities are associated being Frank Hopper and Sons, Ltd., 36, Smith Street, Kinning Park, Glasgow. Apart from the usual engineering work undertaken, the company are also acting as a W. and G. spare-part and service depot, whilst they are also agents for the W. and G. lorries, taxicabs and gravity-tipping bodies. Reconstructed .1(..rries of all makes, bearing a guarantee, are held in stock, as well as a range of solid band and pneumatic tyres.
Film Transport.
" Road transport service is the real goods ' to gat out films quickly," said a Staffordshire cinema manager at the meeting of the North Staffordshire Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association, in the course of a discussion on the high cost of ffim carriage by rail.
Another exhibitor said that a railway official had called upon him to ask why he was now sending his films by road transport instead of by rail. Similar inquiries had been made of other cinema managers. He gathered from the official that there was likely to be a reduction in charges.
The chairman said that in that district the railway companies were realizing that, with the competition of road transport services, they would have to reduce their charges or lose the business. He mentioned that during the past two weeks exhibitors in the Potteries had received their films much earlier by road transport service from Birmingham.
Bourneroouth Wants Runabouts.
The Bournemouth Corporation invites tenders, accompanied by designs and full specifications, for two or, alternatively, three motor vehicles. These are required to ply on the Undercliffe Drive. Chassis )are Ito be of 16-20 h.p., low geared, with adequate cooling arrangementa ; steps to be low for easy mounting, for which purpose the wheels should be of small diameter ; seating to be on the toast-rack system, and to provide accommodation for 15 persons.No upholstering is required for the vehicles, but a canopy must cover the whole length of each car. Normal speed of the vehicles to be eight miles per hour. Further information can be obtained from Mr. F. P. Dolamore, F.S.I., borough engineer, Town Hall, Bournemouth. Sealed tenders to be endorsed " Runabouts," and sent to the town clerk by January 14th, 1923.
Bradford Haulage Charges.
The cleansing and team labour committee of the Bradford Corporation has appointed a special committee to consider the question of charges for motor haulage, For some years the vehicles in the service of the creaming department have carried out haulage work for other departments, the cleansing department being paid for the work carried out. Private haulage concerns have been employed by the gas, street and drainage departments and, it is said, have undercut the prices charged by the cleansing department, with the result that some of the latter's vehicles have been idle. The new committee is to consider the problem which has been created-by this action.
The R.A.C. Report on Mud .Splashguards.
The official report of the tests of mud splashguards which were held in October this year by the -R.A..C. has just been issued. The judges were Messrs.
G. H. Baillie, .0.11E., G. W. Watson, H. G. Burford and Col. T. C. Cochrane, RE., M.V.O.,. O.B.E. They report that the list of entries included 23 makes, the actual number of devices being 36, 14 for vehicles using pneumatic tyres and 22 for those using solids. .
It was hoped. that the test would reveal progress, but unfortunately this hope was not realiZed, and most of the
n22 devices conformed with one or other of the recognized types, and, in general, little or no advancement was shown.
Each entrant had to present a car equipped on all four wheels, and the test included driving the ear in contact with a kerb 41 ft. 6 ins, long and stepped in three sections-31 ins., 51 ins. and 9 ins. high. Following this was a road test' of about 17 miles, the surface being fair with no unreasonable characteristics.
The mud-splashing test came last, and was over a new concrete surface, in the middle of which was formed a pot-hale kept filled with mud. Suitable screens were situated 4 ft. to the off side of this pothole, and the vehicles were driven through the last-named at speeds of 20 m.p.h. for the pneumatic-tyred class and 12 m.p.h. for the vehicles en solid tyres.
The devices fell naturally into three categories :—(1) Of a flange-like nature close to the tyre, either carried on the felloe or rim of the wheel, or in the form of a disc attached to the hub; (2) suspended curtains hanging from the hub cap or projecting therefrom; (3) curtains suspended from, a supporting frame.
The .kerb tests were disappointing, and a number of devices were put out nf action. Poor performances were also put up by many of the devices on the road test, whilst, although the presence of the guards had some effect on the amount of mud splashed, in no case did they reduce the amount to a negligible quantity. The devices in category (1) proved the best all round, but threw mud tangentially from the wheel. After careful consideration the judgesdid not recommend an award in either the pneumatic or solid classes.
Sheffield Corporation Garage.
The Ministry of Health has held an official inquiry i,)to the proposal: of the Sheffield Corporation „to -erect a central garage at a cost of £30,000.
Vehicles. for Hove.
Hove Corporation Works Committee recommends the purchase of two electric wagons from Electricars, Ltd., for refuse collection, at a total cost of £2,708, and a petrol tipping lorry, of a make to be decided later, at a cost of about £700.
A Fortunate Coincidence.
It is a rare occurrence for a tramcar to catch fire, and more rare, perhaps, for a fire engine to be passing. at the time of such an-tmusual happening, but this .remarkable coincidence* enabled a Leyland fire-engine, destined for Lichfield, to extinguish in a few minutes a tramcar conflagration recently near Bolton.
S.K.F. Bearings.
The Skelko Ball Bearing Co., Ltd., have recently issued an abridged catalogue in pocket edition form in order to provide a more handy reference to those types of S.K.F. bearing in common demand. This book deals with ball bearings only, and is divided into seven.seclions, which deal with double row, single row, magneto and E.E. series, adapter, single-thrust and double-thrust bearings and steel balls. It contains tables of limits of bearings, shafts and housings, and tolerances for shaft diameters and housing bores in English and metric sizes, and much otheat valuable data.
LocalProceedings.
Meltham Urban District Council has decided to purchase a motor ambulance.
Stafford Town Council has decided to purchase a motoryan for the gas depart
rnent
Geilygaer Urban District Council has decided to purchase a modern motor fire-engine.
Dundee Town Council is considering the provision of another fire-engine for the brigade.
Blackpool Tramways Committee has purchased a second-hand Tilling-Stevens single-deck motor omnibus.
Raunds (Northamptonshire) Urban District Council is considering the purchase of a motor fire-engine.
Wakefield Corporation has purchased for the waterworks department a Ford motor lorry at a cost of £272.
Felixstowe Urban District Council has decided -to consider the advisability of purchasing a motor fire-engine.
Chester Watch Committee recommends the purchase of a Fiat chassis for an ambulance at a cost of £390.
Seaham Urban District Council proposes to purchase a Ford one-ton chassis fitted with a steel tipping body.
Stretford Urban District Council has adjourned sine die the question of setting up a motor transport department.
Sydney Municipal Council, N.S.W., has decided to purchase a small runabout lorry for the surveyor's depart
rnent.
lIornsey Town Council has decided to purchase three 2A-ton electric vehicles for house refuse collection, at a total cost of £4,755.
Waltham Holy Cross Urban District Council is to apply for sanction to raise a loan of £650 for the purchase of a motor fire-engine.
Blackpool Corporation Tramways Committee recommends the purchase of three additional motorbuses in order to inaugurate new services.
Portishead Urban District Council is endeavouring to come to terms with neighbouring authorities for the purchase of a motor fire-engine.
Bla,ckburn Corporation Gas Committee has asked its chairman and vicechairman to deal with the purchase of a petrol lorry required by the depart' went.
The Bolton Union invite„ tenders for the supply of a motorbus .capable of seating about 12 passengers. The latest day for receiving tenders is to-day, December 19th.
York Corporation Tramways Committee have had tenders for the supply of three petrol buses, but before deciding propose to make an inspection of a completed vehicle.
The Manchester Union invite tenders for the supply of a chain-track-typo motor tractor for agricultural work. Tenders have to he delivered not later than to-day, December 19th.
Tenders are to be invited by the Sydney, N.S.W., Municipal Council for three steam motor WargQ/IS, two for the surveyor's department and one for the electricity, department.
The Ministry of Health has held an•inquiry into an application by the Lymm
Urban District Council for sanction to borrow £680 for the purchase of a motor lorry for scavenging purposes.
Indian Trade.
According to the trade returns issued by the Government of India, the number of motorbuses,. vans and lorries imported into the country between April 1st and September 3(Jth of this year fell from 252 for the same period in 1921 to 239, the actual decline in value being from 17 to 12 lakhs. During the same period the total imports of rubber tyres for motor vehicles -increased from 32 to 45; lakhs, the British share of this trade being nearly doubled—from six to ten lakhs. There was also an increase in the imports from France by 100 per cent. and from the United States, but Italian tyre imports decreased considerably.
Half-fares for "Return Empty Cabs.
At a meeting of the Aldershot Town Council recently. a letter from" the . Ministry of Health was read disapprov ing of the proposed new by-law of the council givin.g taxicab driver-s the right to charge half-fares on the return empty journey. As a result of the decision, cab owners are to be asked again to confer With the town council.
A Limit on Services.
Sculcoates Rural District Council refuses to entertain a proposal by Messrs. Lea and Beulah to tart a service of motorbuses from Welton to Hull on the ground that the existing s&vice is sufficient_
Street Garaging Difficulties.
As numerous fees for the right to garage chars-à-banes and motorcars are not collected, the Criccieth Urban District Council has been considering a proposal that the stands should be.. let annually to the highest bidder. The matter, however, is to be reconsidered by the highways committee.
British Buses for Holland.
A company who have their headquarters at The Hague propose to establish a number of motor omnibus services in several of the largest Dutch cities, and it is stated that they have concluded a contract with Tilling-Stevens Motors, Ltd., of Maidstone; for the supply of the inotorlanw required for these services.
Countisbury Hill Improvement.
The Lyntan -Urban District Council has decided to apply for a notice to lee placed at the dangerous part of Countisbury Hill, warning road users of the steepest parts of the gradient, and for electric light to be provieled on the hill.
On the recommendation of its Finance Committee the Lynton Urban District Council has decided to purchase a motor lorry and a new tar-sprayer.