WHEELS of INDUSTRY
Page 38
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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 Crosier.
Officials of the Institute of Transport.
The following have been elected as officers of the Institute of Transport as from Octeber 1st 1931:-President, Mr. Frank Pick, managing director of the London Underground Railways and L.G.O.C. group. Past presidents to serve on the council :-Sir Henry P. Maybury, G.B.E., K.C.M.G., C.B. ; Sir Joseph Nall, D.S.O., T.D., D.L.; Mr. Roger T. Smith; Sir Josiah Stamp ; G.B.E.; the Hon. Sir Arthur Stanley, G.B.E., C.B., M.V.O. Vice-presidents : • Mr. A. L. Barber ; Mr. R. Bell, C.B.E.; Mr. J. H. Follows, C.B.E., M.V.0.; Mr.
R. J. Howley, C.B.E.; Major-General S. S. Long, C.B. ; Sir David J. Owen, Hon. treasurer :-Sir Henry P. Maybury. Hon. librarian-Mr. W. V. Wood. . Road-accident Figures Lower.
The Minister of Transport stated one day last week that during the first quarter of the present year the figures relating to accidents in London (Metropolitan and CitY Police Areas) showed a decrease of 10 per cent. in the case of fatal accidents and of more than that in" the ease of non-fatal accidents, compared with the corresponding statistics for 3930.
Railway Traffic Still Falling.
Railway statistics for• the month of February last have now been published by the Minister of Transport, and can be obtained from H.M. Stationery Office, price 2s. 6d. In addition to the usual information, the volume contains particulars of the construction of rolling stock during the year 1930.
The total number of passenger journeys (excluding those of season-ticket holders) rtaken on all standard-gauge railways in Great Britain in February, 1931, was 83,414,538, a decrease of 5.9 per cent, on the figure for February, 1930. Journeys taken by passengers at reduced fares decreased by 2,975,687, and those at standard or ordinary fares by 2,225,971.
The total tonnage of freight conveyed '(excluding free-hauled traffic) was 22,339,667, this figure being equivalent to a decrease of 17.7 per cent, on that for the corresponding month of the previous year. The freight train-miles run were 913,212 less than in February, 1930-a decrease of S per cent.
Royal Show Exhibitors.
The list of exhibitors at the forthcoming show of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, at Warwick, from July 7th-11th, includes the names of the following concerns of interest to our readers, the figures in parentheses being the stand numbers :-Associated Manufacturers Co. (London, Ltd. (168) • Auto-Mower Engineering Co., Ltd. (49) ; Barford and Perkins, Ltd. (154) ; Bean Cars, Ltd. (281) ; Blackstone and Co., Ltd. (152) ; Dodge Brothers (Britain), Ltd. (278) ; Alfred Dugdale, Ltd. (174).; Eagle Engineering Co., Ltd. (176) ; Eccles Motor Caravans, Ltd. (361) ; Fodens, Ltd. (221) ; Ford Motor Co., Ltd. (181) ; William Foster 020 and Co., Ltd. (159) ; John Fowler and Co. (Leeds), Ltd. (186) ' • Richard Garrett and Sons, Ltd. (153) •, International Harvester Co. of Great Britain, Ltd. (161) ; P. H. Jennings and Son, Ltd. 150) ; J. P. Super Lawnmowers, Ltd. (189) ; Latil Industrial Vehicles, Ltd. (2611); R. A. Lister and Co., Ltd. (167) '• J. and H. McLaren, Ltd. (163) ; Marshall, Sons and .Co., Ltd. (157) ; Martin's Cultivator Co., Ltd. (175) ; Massey-Harris, Ltd. (192) ; Merryweather and Sons, Ltd. (332) ; Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd. (249) ; National Motor Horse Box Co. (368) • Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, Ltd. (164 and 339) ; Ruston and Ilornsby,.Ltd. (165) ; Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd. (177) ; Societe .Anonyme Austin (251) ; Yincents of Reading (366) ; Willys Overland Crossley, Ltd. (276).
American Exports Still Declining.
Last February American factories produced • 37,633 commercial vehicles against 31,584 in January, 1931, and 48,567 in February, 1930. The percentage of units exported last February was 11, as compared with 13.9 in the corresponding month of 1930. Of the 4,155 units exported last February, 833 were of less than 1-ton capacity ; 2,720 were rated between a ton and 30 cwt.; 399 between 30 cwt. and 2/ tons; and 203 over 21 tons. The unit value increased from $524 last January, to $591 in February. The leading markets were Sweden, 665 units; Belgium, 526; Japan, 457; Denmark, 443; Canada, 225; Spain, 209; Philippine Islands, 177; and Mexico, 168.
The Latest Willys Model.
The new Willys Six-30 30-cwt. chassis is to be sold at £198; its sixcylindered engine develops 65 b.h.p. and the power unit is of the side-valve type. Four-wheel braking is standard and the wheels are of the steel-spoked variety. Floating shafts are provided in the rear axle and the gearbox affords four speeds. Protest Against Railway Operating Costs, The Traders' Co-ordinating Committee, for which the Federation of British Industries acts as secretariat, made a strong protest lest week before the Railway Rates Tribunal.
It was stated that prosperity can never be obtained by a system of high rates and charges by the railways; that, in fact, a substantial reduction is long overdue when the general level of prices and costs is considered. The operating costs are grossly out of proportion to what they ought to be if the railways are to be efficiently and economically worked. During the past two years
wholesale prices have fallen 24.84 percent., retail prices and the cost of living 11.45 per cent., but the railway expenditure by only 3.94 per cent., and the percentage of railway working expenditure to gross receipts has risen .95 per cent.
The Use of Trade Licences.
In a recent appeal case before the High Court of Justice, King's 'Bench Division, a decision was given which is of direct interest to all users of general and limited trade licences. •
The Lord Chief Justice said that undoubtedly there was a great contrast between the regulations applicable to general and limited licences. A limited licence might be used for only a series of specified and extremely limited purposes, such as "test or trial," "delivering a vehicle" and so forth. No vehicle could convey any load except such as is necessary to test a vehicle, and consisting of some ordinary form of ballast, such as gravel, scrap iron or the like, which load must he brought back to its place of loading without any part of it having been removed and without it being used or conveyed at any time other, than as test ballast.
Under a general trade licence a vehicle could be used for any purpose connected with the holder's business as a manufacturer, repairer of, or dealer in, mechanically propelled vehicles, but it could not be used for the conveyance of passengers for profit or reward. The vehicle could not be used for some totally different and collateral purpose, such as the lucrative business of the intending purchaser. It was apparent that a general trade licence could be used for purposes much wider in scope than was allowed under It limited licence.
The Effect of the Petrol Tax.
Mr. Ti. W. Gupwell, who wrote an interesting article in our issue for last week, has Asked us to point out that as a result of the latest increase of 2d. per gallon in the taxation of petrol, the figures he gave in that article should be slightly modified. As revised, they show that taxation now represents 54 per cent. of the wages of the industry, 16 per cent, of the operating costs and 17 per cent. of the transport costs.
Such figures as these show that the road-transport industry is taxed most excessively.