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."-L-John Beattie Crosier,
L.G.O.C. Figures for 1923.
The report of the directors of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., for the year ended December 31st last shows that the traffic receipts, after the operation of the common fund applic able to the concerns forming part of tho Underground system, amounted to £7,655,413 as against £7,501,425, showing an increase for the year of £153,988. Expenditure, on the other hand, reached a total of £7,145,582, an increase of not less than £185,010, so that the net receipts from traffic (£509,851) are lower than those of the previous year by £31,022. At the same time, miscellaneous receipts from rent, advertising and interest reached a total of £295,677 and are better by the sum of £60,060, so that the net income of £805,508 shows an improvement of £29,038 over the previous year. After deducting interest, recitals and other fixed charges and appropriating to reserve the sum of 4375,000 there remains available for dividend on the ordinary shares £322,258, which is only £3,119 lower than the previous year. An interim dividend of 41 per cent. free of income tax has already been paid on the ordinary shares, and a final dividend at a like rate, also free of income tax, is now recommended by the directors, making 9 per cent, free of income tax for the year, and leaving to he carried forward the substantial sum of £64,641, which is about £7,000 less than was carried forward last year (when, by the way, a dividend of 4 per cent. free of income tax was paid). The total amount expended on capital account for the year amounted to £1,048,001.
Freeing a Lincolnshire Bridge.
.To the satisfaction of owners of motor vehicles who have had reason for complaint regarding the inordinately high tolls exacted for crossing rine of the Main bridges in Lincolnshire—at Gainaborough—arrangements -continue to progress by which it is hoped the freeing of the structure may be ultimately secured. This bridge affords the only means for many miles in that part of the county for negotiating the passage of the river with heavy loads. At a meeting of the Gainsborough Urban Council, it has been reported that representatives of the shareholders, when interviewed, had expressed their unwillingness to name any definite price, their desire being to sell by arbitration. The various authorities concerned are to be asked to apply to the Ministry of Trans'ert, to provide a substantial amount of the sum required, it being recommended that the balance shall be paid as to 371per cent.; each by the Lindsey County Council and the Gainsborough Urban Connell, and as to 25 per cent. by the Notts County Council.
A Link with the Past.
The Colne Tramways Committee has approached the Cowling Parish Council with regard to arrangements being made for a motorbus service between Cowling and Colne, and the parish council has B20
intimated its willingness to receive a deputation on the stibject. A bus service already runs between Cowling and the railway at Kildwick, and a service is roil through to Cobs at week-ends. This was one of the earliest, if not the earliest, petrol bus service in the North of England, a Milnes-Daimler vehicle being put into commission in 1905, when the owner, Mr. Ezra Laycock, of Cowling, went to London to procure a
motorbus and bad the greatest difficulty in getting into touch with anyone who knew anything about the new petrol buses.
The service between Kildwick and Collie provides a link between West Yorkshire and East Lancashire passenger transport undertakings, and by this route it is possible to travel considerable distances without being dependent upon the railways.
The Needs of Asia.
We would particularly direct our readers' attention this week to an informative article which appears on pages 25-27 concerning "The Commercial Motor Needs of Asia."
We are sere that British manufacturers generally will obtain much useful knowledge by closely penning this article, which deals in a clear and concise manner with the requirements of the various countries which comprise the Continent of Asia. The extent of the ad valorem duty which has to be -paid onvehiclea imported into the various countries is contained in the article, but • for the purpose of giving these facts in a succinct form we have extracted the figures, and these are reproduced below: Annual London Parade.
The 18th annual parade of commercial motor vehicles organized by the Corn. merciat Motor Users Association will take place in Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WO., on April 12th under the patronage of H.111. The King. We believe that there was some doubt as to whether the parade would he hoed this year, it being considered that such events in London had fulfilled their purpose, but we are sure that many drivers and users will learn with interest that the. event is ones again to take place, for there is little doubt that a parade of this description does much to encourage drivers to take a personal interest in the mechanical condition of their vehicles.
The silver challenge cup which was
presented in 1910 by the proprietors of The Commercial Motor will again be awarded to the owner whose team of vehicles is, in the opinion of the judges' committee, considered to be in the best condition. The drivers of the winning team will be presented with the Shrapnell-Smith challenge cup, and each driver will receive a cash award and souvenir medal. Other awards will be made to drivers of the vehicles in the runners-up team, as well as to others in order of merit.
A new feature of this .year's parade will be the section for advertising merit in bodywork, in which originality will count in the marking. The judging in this section will be undertaken by four of the country's chief authorities on advertising.
Full particulars and entry forms concerning the parade may be obtained from Mr. F. G. Bristow, general secretary of the Association, 50, Pall Mali, London, S.W.1.
New Gas Producer UsingCharcoal Fuel.
The increase in the price of petrol in France has been enhanced by the concurrent depreciation of the franc, so that it is not surprising to find that increasing attention is being given to the utilization of other fuels. Numerous gas producers are on the market, and the latest device of this-kind is suitable for charcoal as a fuel. This producer has been evolved by the Berliet concern, and is placed at the rear end of the chassis. It is known as the ImbertBerliet, and is said to he very compact and easy to operate,' but we have not received a sufficiently detailed description of the apparatus to offer an opinion on the claims made.
The gas passes through a cooler, dust extractor and purifier to a three-way cock placed near the engine. An ordinary petrol carburetter is also connected to this cock, which enables the engine to run on petrol, part petrol and part gas, or gas alone. It is said that after starting on petrol and then running for a short time on the mixture, suction gas alone can be used. When. running on gas the cost of fuel is claimed to be 25 per cent of that which obtains when petrol is used.
London's Passenger Traffic.
The Underground authorities of London --created new traffic records during the year 1921 For the 12 months to December last, 1,354,000,000 passengers were carried by the trains on the Underground mid themotorbusee of the London General Omnibus Co. If the passengers carried on motorbuses and tramcars of the Landon and suburban traction companies be added to the figure, the total becomes 1,625,000,000. During the year the vehicles of the L.G.O.C. ran 118,000,030 car-miles, an increase of 24,006,000 miles over the 'corresponding period of the previous year.
The number of miles of roadway now .covered by • the " General" motorbus services stands at 753, being an increase of .31 miles over the figure at the end of 1922.
The figures giving details of the remarkable growth in passenger traffic during the year 1923 reveal the fact that
414 journeys per head of population were made during the period as against 390 in the year 1922. The latest corresponding figures for New York and Paris are 511 and 326 -per head of population respectively.
Traffic Congestion Road Map,
The Royal Automobile Club has compiled a very clear map which shows the routes which the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis suggests should be used by drivers of vehicles desirous of avoiding busy traffic centres, and thereby relieving congestion. A copy of the map should be in the possession of all those who use the streets of London, and it can be obtained on application to the secretary of the Club at Pall Mall, London, S.W.1.
From Carlisle to Bowness.
Further additions to the comprehensive network of motor omnibus services in the Carlisle neighbourhood have been ,madel-by Messrs. Hodgson, who have re
ceutly instituted a useful service operating between Carlisle and Bowness. Places touched en route include Port Carlisle, Drumburgh, Dykesfield, Burgh, Monkhill, Icirkandrews and. Brinsdale Bridge. Additional facilities are pro-, vided at week-ends.
Light Railway and Trolley-bus Statistics.
The Ministry. of Transport has just issued a return giving particulars of the accounte and statistical information relating to the tramways and-light rail. way undertakings in Great Britain for the year ended December 31st, 1922, for companies, and to March 23rd, 1923, for local authorities. The tables show that the total route mileage opened for traffic at the end of the year was 2.594, of whieh 1,788 miles were worked by local authorities and 806 by private companies.
The return, which is priced at 15s., and can be obtained from H.M. Stationery Offices, also gives informative par ticulars relating to the activities of trolley-bus undertakings in Great Britain.
Opposition to Motor Roads.
At a meeting of the Urban District Councils Association a letter was read from the Wilmslow Urban Council referring to the proposals in connection with the construction of the north-western road.
The secretary drew attention to a private Member's Bill which was introduced at the end of . last, session, to authorize the Minister of Transport, during the continuance of the Unemployment Relief Works Act, . 1920, to make Orders authorizing the construction of motor roads and regulating the management and authorizing the imposition of tolls and also authorizing the compulsory acquisition of lands for the purpose of a, motor road described in the schedule to the Bill from Coventry through Newcastle-under-Lyme to Salford. The executive council strongly disapproved of this principle and the Association adopted the report.
Personal Pars.
The Minister of Transport has appointed Mr. F. Gordon Tucker, 0.B.E., T.D., to be his private secretary, and Mr. R. C. Morrison, M.P., to be his parliamentary private secretary (unpaid).
We learn that Mr. Edgar Stafford, A.M.I.A.E., has resigned the general managership of the British Motor Trading Corporation, -Mr. Stafford has been associated with the corporation almost from its inception, and has held successively the positions of outside representative, sales manager, wholesale sales rnsinager and general manager.
We are advised that Mr. H. E. Pitcher has now joined the sales organization of the Birmingham laranch of the Dominion Rubber Co., Ltd. In view of the fact that Mr. Pitcher has been associated with the Dunlop Co. for more than 20 years, he, is, perhaps, one of the most widely knewn representative!
in the trade. Mr. Pitcher will confine his activities to territory comprising the Midland Counties.
Mr. Charles J. Webb, A.I.A.E., who has been Editor of The Motor Cycle and Cycle Trader for the past six years, has resigned this position. Mr. Webb has been interested in motor journalism. for many years past, having been associated with the t-rade since 1896. Fen the time being he tan be communicated with at Bentley Lodge, Rosehill Road, London, S.W.18.
Benzole from Acetylene.
In France a ehemiet has shown that. benzole can be produced from acetylene by polymerization, By mixing a proportion of three molecules of acetylene to one molecule of benzole, and passing it through hot, powdered charcoal, it is said that an efficient petrol substitute can be produced. Enough is not yet known about the experiments, however, to state whether this fuel can be made a commercial proposition.
Commer Car Activities,
Users and potential buyers of Commer Car vehicles will be interested to learn that the company are making very favourable progress and are receiving an increasing number of orders. For instance, a repeat order for three saloon buses el the 30-seater rear-entrance type on 3P-type chassis has just been received from a Scottish firm who already have 1,5 vehicles of Commer Car make. In addition, they have just received a second order from Scotland for a 5-ton model, and one for a 25-cwt. tilt, van from one of the big rubber manufacturing concerns.
An impression exists in some quarters that the company are either out or going out of business, and we have been asked. to point out that they have absolutely no intention of so doing, and every effort is being made to stimulate Sales and production, and steady progress is resulting from these endeavours.
Bus Services at Oldham.
At a meeting, of the Oldham Watch Committee the town clerk submitted a letter from the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., Macclesfield, applying for licences in. respect of motor omnibuses running on services between Oldham Market/ Ground and Delph via Hu:cidersfield Road, and from Oldham through Lees and Uppermill to Delph and alternatively to Diggle, but the consideration thereof was adjourned.
German Petrol Railcars in Holland.
Three motor railcars have been delivered recently by the N.A.G., Berlin, to operate in Holland over the KampenZwolle line. Each of these cars has a 75 hp. six-cylinder petrol engine at each end of the car. Gear-changes, forward and reverse, and a throttle are controlled by compressed air. Controls are situated at both ends of the cars, and the motors may be regulated either indi vidually or together. The cars have automatic stopping apparatus and Westinghouse brakes. Each of the railcars has an all-steel body, which is so built that the vehicle can be controlled by one man.
From figures which have been secured of the running of one of these ears it was found that fuel consumption works out at 6 litres per 10 km., equivalent to a
cost of about 31d. per km. Each car, B22
provides seating accommodation for 25 second-class and 40 third-class passcaera, and standing space for 20 persons. The maximum speed of the cars is 75 km. per hour.
B.A.T. Traffic Receipts. The traffic receipts during the month of January on the passenger-carrying vehicles constituting the group con
trolled by the British Automobile Traction Co., Ltd., amounted to 297,939, this figure representing an increase of 227,337 oyer the receipts for .the corresponding period of last it year. The highest weekly figure touched .was that for theweek ended January 27th, when 230,225 was received by way of traffic receipts.
Oil in Uganda. Petroleum has been struck near Kibero, close to Lake Albert, in Uganda, three barrels of crude oil being
obtained before the prospectors had dug down 12 ft. It is sanguinely expected that borings will result in the discovery of extensive deposits.
Henley's Dividend.
W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co., Ltd., are paying a final dividend on the ordinary shares of the company at the rate of 2s, per share, less income tax, making, with the interim dividend of is. per share paid on September hat last, ,i3a. per share for the year
Hebridean Roads.
The Lewis District Committee, with the assistance of the Government, has put in hand schemes for the resurfacing and repair of roads representing an expenditure of 222,000. It is intimated by Lord Provost Sleigh, of Edinburgh, that, in order to provide relief work for unemployed Mennen, sanction haz now been obtained to a further disbursement of 210,000 for the same purpose. In addition, the parish councils have put forward a scheme for the repair of side roads at a cost of 26,600.
With respect to the island of Skye, Mr. 'Duncan Macleod, Glasgow, has given 21,000 to the local authorities for the dualpurpose of relieving destitution and improving the main roads so that they may be better. able to bear the heavy motor traffic to which they are now subjected. For this object also Sir Reginald Macleod, of Macleod, recently obtained from the Government a special grant of 2,16,000, and this amount is in course of being used for resurfacing and other necessary operations The motorbus ad motor lorry have almost wholly displaced horse haulage on the more populous islands of the Hebiidean group.
Garrett's Sales Department Moves.
The sales department of Richard Garrett and Sons, Ltd., whose works are at Leiston, is now located in their London offices at Aldwych House, Aldwych, W.C.2,-and all matters relating to the purchase of new machinery will be dealt with from this address. The change involves no alteration whatever in the staff and has been effected solely to give better service to customers. Matters relating to spare parts or repairs will continue to be dealt with direct from the company's works.
Darlington's Profitable Ambulance Service.
Darlington Corporation has every reason to be satisfied with the performance of its motor ambulance, for in the fourth minim' report of the fire brigade department which Has just been issued, the captain, J. R. Porritt, shows that besides proving of extreme utility, the working of the vehicle has given good financial results. During the 12 months it .covered 1,131 miles, conveying 119 patients, the receipts being 270 2s. 6d. Against this the total running cost was 250 1.8s. 11d., made up as follows :— Petrol 213 I6s. 2d,, oil 22 16s. 6d., sundries. 29 2s. 11d., headquarters administration 25, insurance 28 10s. ad., and driver's.tirne 11 13s. 2d.
Atkinson s for Yorkshire.
If the sales of the new Atkinson uniflow steam wagon can be taken as a useful guide, there appears to be a live awakening in road-transport matters in Yorkshire. In the month of January the company booked orders for five 8-toe standard wagons, two 6-tonners, ohs 4-tenner and a 6-ton tipping wagon, whilst a number of new inquiries have also been received, from which it is confidently expected that orders will eventually mature.
Orders for Lacres.
The Lacre Motor Car Co., Ltd., 78, York Road, King's Cross, London, N.1, inform us that the year 1924 opened with a verystrung demand for Lacre commercial vehicles, the company having received many orders from both old users and new clients.
Repeat orders are a.eure indication of satisfactory service which has been given by the vehicles in use,. and in this connection we may mention 'that the Glasgow Corporation has recently placed an
order for a Lacre sweeper, which. will brag its fleet of motors of this class -up to 10, the whole of the fleet being composed of Lacre vehicle& Other municipalites which have recently ordered two Lucre sweepers each are the Birmingham and Leeds Corporations, whilst the Manchester Corporation has ordered three similar vehicles. Another municipal order has come from the Burtonon-Trent Council for a tipping wagon, whilst another -machine of the same type is destined for service in the Highlands.
Amongst civilian orders for 1924, a Model 0 2-tomier for the Croxley Cooperative Socitey, who are the owners of a 1910 type 2-ton machine of this make, may be mentioned.
The' Laces Co. certainly have season to be satisfied with the business which they, have secured so early in the year, and, it unquestionably augurs -well for the future.
Charges for " Hackneys" in Swansea. A new scale of charges for taxicabs and for motorcars hired out from garages has been decided upon by the Swansea Watch Committee, which also insists that the former class of vehicle shall be ,fitted with meters. The new schedule
is to be applied so soon as the assent of the Ministry of Health is received.
The charges fixed for taxicabs are as follow :—A minimum of is. 44. a mile and 4d. for each succeeding quarter of a mile for two passengers ; additional passengers to be charged 6d. each without regard to distance.
For private hire cars the charge will bee 6s. an hour, with a minimum of is. 6d. and a similar charge for each succeeding quarter of an hour for the outward journey only.
The scale is similar to that applied at Cardiff and in towns in South 'Wales generally:
A Service to Blackburn.
At a meeting of the Blackburn Watch Committee a letter was read from the clerk to the Urban District Council of Oswaldtwistle, asking the committee to receive a deputation from that council with respect to the application by the • Richton and Antley Motor Co., Ltd., to run a motor omnibus service between Ma-el.:burn and Oswaldtwistie via Stan hill. It was agreed that the deputation he received at. the next meeting, and that the minutes of the sub-committee dealing with this and other applications be laid before the council after the committee has arrived at a decision.
Merthyr's Bus Scheme.
The Merthyr Tydfil General Purposes Committee recommends that the council, in instituting its proposed municipal bus service, should make use of vehicles of the single-deck type. The committee has already decided to seek tenders for these. buses ; the number of vehicles to be purchased has not yet been fixed.
A Reasonable Council.
The Griffin Motor Co., Brynmawr, have been authorized by the Abergavenny Town Council to institute a bus service between Brynmawr and Abergavenny to connect with the bus services run from the former place to the western valleys of Monmouthshire. The only stipulation of the council is that fare and time schedules shall be submitted to the council for approval.
The company intend to-run four buses en this route.
Glasgow's Concession.
At a meeting of the Glasgow Corporation Garage Committee the manager subnutted an interim report as to. the income and expenditure of the department during the six months to November last, and in the light of the information contained therein the committee agreed to recommend that 'the charges made for cars from the garage should in future be asfollow :--8d, per mile, and 4s. per hour, being a reduction of 1d. per mile and 5d. per hour on the present rates.
Salop Road Proposals.
Salop County Council has decided to spend £24,000 on road improvement. work, providing the. Ministry of Transport -will contribute half of the cost. The schemes of the council provide for tlab widening and improving of sections on the Holyhead main road, the Shrewsbury and Hereford main roads and on certn other main roads, as well as the rounding off of a number of dangerous corners.
Mexico Adopting Railcars.
The company who operate the railway between Mexico City and Antizapan havq ordered 10 motor railcars, with trailers, to displace trains drawn by locomotives. Similar vehicles are to operate from .Toluca to Tenango and San Juan. to well as over a stretch of line in the State of Puebla. Railcars are now being used for transporting milk to Mexico City from Pedregal.
Lorries Running on Charcoal Gazogene.
The Regia des Mines, a gold mining concern in the Belgian Congo, have ordered Six motor lorries, which will be driven by charcoal gazogene. The recent invention of two Belgians, Messrs, Anthoine and Warnant, lorries designed for running on this class of fuel have been put to very severe tests over hilly parts of the Belgian Congo, from which
they have emerged successfully. The operation of these vehicles will, it is said, result in greatly reduced transport costs, for charcoal can be obtained anywhere within the colony at a very low cost, whilst. petrol is most expensive.
• B.A.T: Dividends.
The directors of the British Automobile Traction Co., Ltd., have recommended for payment a dividend of 10 per cent. on the ordinary shares, .and the payment of an additional dividend at the rate of 2 per cent, on the cumulative 8 per cent. participating preference shares for the past year.
Sentinel Progress.
In a letter to their shareholders, Sentinel Waggons (1920), Ltd., draw attention to the fact that the -final negotiations concerning the question of the company's liability to excess-profit duty have been most protracted, although they have now entered upon what is hoped to be the last stage. In view of this possibility of an early agreement, the board of directors has thought it advisable to postpone the annual meet
ins., which will be held on some date before May 10th, when it is hoped that the company's accounts may be put forward for consideration.
In the meantime, the directors point out that the company continue to make profits, and intimate that warrants for the preference dividend for the six months ended December 31st. last, at the fixed rate of 7i per cent., will be issued on the last day of this month.
Buses Preferred to Railway.
The growing preference for travel-byroad rather than by railway was instanced at a meeting of the MerthyrTydfil General Purposes Committee when the proposed new municipal bus service was under debate.
A member mentioned that whereas the number of local trains on the Rhymney Railway -had been increased to ,32 per day, there was no falling off in the number of passengers using the local intertewn bus services. The number of bus services and the passengers carried on them had recently increased despite better railway facilities.
Folkestone Seivices.
At a meeting of the Folkestone Watch Committee a letter was Tead from the local manager of the Cambrian Coaching 'and Goods Transport, Ltd., asking for the removal of the condition attached to their licences which prohibits their on, uibuses from plying for hire for ordin.zry street traffic; the company also sought licences for eight additional omnibuses. The committee resolved :—That in view of the conference of representatives from Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate and Cheriton on the subject of omnibus traffic, the consideration of the application of the Cambrian Coaching Co. be deferred.
A Special Leyland for Sheffield.
We reproduce on this page an itlustration of a special Leyland chassis which has been constructed to the order of the Sheffield Corporation, and, in so far as it possesses certain features which are a departure from standard practice, we propose to refer to its construction very briefly.
The chassis in question is a 4-ton pas. B24 senger model. The engine is one of 40 h.p., and it is provided with an impulse starter, Zenith carburetter, allsteel valves and a governor. The fan is mounted on the front cylinder block instead of an extension of the timing cover, a clip from the bracket serving to support the bent part of the ignitionwire tube. The undershield is so shaped as to form an adequate protection for the dynamo, which is—as usual— mounted on the off side of the chassis below the frame and driven from the clutch cover by a belt. The rear axle of the chassis has a rather higher ,gear ratio than the standard production, being 6.63 to 1 as against 7.86 to 1.
It is eertainly not usual for the Company to construct a vehicle of this weight to run on pneumatic tyres. but the chassis for the Sheffield Corporation is so equipped, the tyres on the front wheels being 38-in. by 7-in. straightsided single, twins of similar dimensions being fitted on the rear wheels.
Spring Seats for China's Buses.
The • Bowden Brake Co., Ltd., of Tyseley, Birmingham, inform us that they have recently received instructions to supply Bowden spring seats for use on the first 30 buses which are being manufactured for the China General Omnibus Co., Ltd. The particular seats chosen for these vehicles are the company's B505 model with bucket-shaped backs.
The Bowden spring seat is now being used on many buses and motor coaches in this country, and is giving satisfaction.
Local Proceedings.
Southport Corporation has decided on an experimental bus service to Cressens.
Twickenham Urban District Council has decided to purchase two motor vans.
Cheltenham Corporation has decided to invite tenders for the supply of a 1-ton motor lorry.
Falmouth Tiswn Council has promised to. consider the question of the provision of a motor fire-engine.
Barnet Urban District Council has asked a committee to report as to the purchase of a motor fire-engine.
Burnley Corporation Cleansing Committee has decided to obtain tenders for the supply of a motor sweeper.
Darlington Town Council has asked a committee to report as to the provision of transport facilities in the town.
Felixstowe Urban District Council proposes the purchase of a first-aid motor vehicle at a cost of £1,100 or £1,200.
Folkestone Fire Brigade Committee recommends. the purchase of a 30-cwt. motor tender at a cost of about £600.
The Derby Town Council proposes to purchase a one-man-controlled 20-seater Tilling-Stevens bus at a cost of 21,162.
Burnley Watch Committee has had six tenders for the supply of a new motor ambulance and referred them to a subcommittee.
Wolverhampton Corporation has accepted the tender of Light Vehicles, Ltd., for the supply of a 20 h.p. motor lorry at a cost of £399.
Glasgow Corporation has agreed to purchase a Fond 1-top motor truck, with oversize pneumatic tyres, at a cost of 2150, for use on the farms.
Burton-on-Trent Corporation Tramways Committee recommends the establishment of a passenger-carrying service by one-man-controlled motorbuses, and the purchase of two vehicles at a cost of .£914 each.
Cheltenhain Corporation has arranged for the parking of motors outside the Winter Gardens at ,a charge of is. car. An attersient is paid is. 6d. an hour and the arrangement is working satisfactorily and profitably.
Fees for Licences.
At a meeting of the Burton-on-Trent Watch Committee the borough treasures submitted correspondence which he had had with the Ministry of Transport with regard to the fees in respect of motor hackney carriages, motor omnibuses and other vehicles plying for hire in the borough. Under the various provisions of the Roads Act, 1920, the fees could not now
be charged, but the corporation would be able to obtain compensation for the loss of these fees if a definite resolution were passed that the fees sh,ould be charged. The committee resolved that a fee of bs. each per annum be charged for the issue of the before-mentioned licences to ply for hire, such feesshowever, not to be charged so long as Section 14 of the Roads Act, 1920, remains in force.
Tilling-Stevens Orders.
Tilling-Stevens Motors, Ltd., of Maidstone, have recently received an order from the South African Government for a T.S.G. model light motor fire-engine, and also from the Hong Kong Fire Brigade for a special first-aid tender hiving a first-aid tank of 145 gallons capacity. For this machine the T.S,F.3 model chassis is employed, and it is equipped with pneumatic tyres.