News and Comment.
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This journal is admitted to possess the influence, the men, the standing and the leading circulation. It is exclusively read by the heads of many wealthy commercial houses throughout the Empire.
This journal continues to be widely quoted all over the world. Acknowledged extracts from our pages are more numerous than ever — so are, we regret to state, the unacknowledged ones.
The second contribution from our Calcutta correspondent. is published on page 420. A large selection of photos. from one of our correspondents in the Argentine is reproduced on page 428.
Colonial and Overseas visitors to our London offices last week included the Bishop of the Falkland Islands ; this energetic parson is about to make a motor tour of Great Britain, with a motor-borne cinematograph equipment in addition to a private car, in order to raise 1100,000 for the needs of his extensive " diocese," which includes practically the whole of South America.
C.P. and Co.
Amongst the well-maintained advance luggage services which are conducted by motor-van, we class that of Carter, Paterson and Co., Ltd., to and from Margate, as quite the best. A full account of its working, on one day during the season before last, was published in our issue of the 26th August, 1909. Leyland three-tonners do the tains.
Topical Subjects.
Our leading articles this week are devoted to points concerning the standardization of vehicles for the British Army, the advantages of combination in motor service for cross-country and round Journeys of commercial travellers, the preparedness of the public to patronize the inside seating accommodation of motor buses, the importance of ample strength in the attachments between bodies and chassis, and the beneficial effects upon commer cial-motor prospects of the recent carters' strike at Manchester. The progress of the great furnishing house of Maple, with especial reference to the ever-widening range of its delivery branch, is recorded in the exclusive illustrated article which is begun on page 421. This article will be concluded in our next issue.
Camberwell Decides.
Mr. William Oxtoby, the Borough Engineer of Camberwell, recently reported to his Committee that a balance of £268 available for the purchase of horses could be advantageously expended in the purchase of a motor vehicle in substitution of the present horse-van used by the disinfecting depot. A motor vehicle could also, he was sure, be adopted with advantage in connection with the Grove Vale Depot, where the necessity for the quick transit of materials from the deplit to the various districts in the Borough is appreciated. He suggested that for the present a suitable motor be adopted in connection with the disinfecting department. The experience gained therefrom would doubtless be a guide in further consideration on the subject. The Works Committee has adopted the report of the Borough Engineer, and is to invite tenders for a motor disinfecting van to a specification to be prepared by Mr. 0 Xt0hY.
There will be no meeting of the C.M. V.A. Committee during August : the next meeting will take place on the 6th September.
Dennis Deliveries.
During last week, the Dennis works delivered two further vehicles to Carter, Paterson and Co., Ltd., and four further vehicles to MacNamara and Co., Ltd., bringing the latter company's fleet of Dennis machines to well over 50. The Dennis works, it may be noted, will be closed from six o'clock on Friday the 4th prox. to Monday morning the 14th idem, but a small staff will be in attendance for urgent matters.
New Registration.
Essex Steam Rolling Association, Ltd., with an authorized capital of £5,000 in £5 shares, by Rowe and Wilkie, Wool Exchange, E.C.' to take over the business of a contractor for steam rolling, etc., carried on by H. J. Foster, at 19 and 20, County Chambers, Southend-onSea. First directors: H. J. Foster (permanent managing director. subject to holding 200 of the shares allotted to him under purchase agreement) and ff. C. Foster.
Proof Against Strike Risks.
A Lancashire subscriber writes : "During the recent strike in Manchester, motor lorries and vans proved more than useful. In one ease, a van belonging to a furniture-remover residing at St. Anne's-on-Sea went to Manchester and brought back provisions for a large shop in the town of Lytham. Though the van was nearly set on fire four times by the strikers, on the return journey it ran through most satisfactorily. Large sums of money were offered for the loan of vans, but few could be tempted, as the risk was tremendous.' The Metropolitan Asylums Board has recently made purchases of Continental and Dunlop tires. Apropos Continental tires, we are asked to point out that T-section solid tires are fitted to the whole of the fleet owned by Messrs. Puttock.
French's Garage and Motor Works, Ltd., whose principal depot is at 314, Balham High Road, S.W., appears to be going ahead well with its hiring and contracting department. The latest vehicle to be hired out is a handsome Hanford, from the _Dartford works of J. and E. Hall, Ltd., which machine has been put into contract work for Bass, Ratcliffe and Gretton, Ltd. We illustrate it herewith. Following the conclusion of the Royal Show at Norwich, Mr. W. Flexman French's company took delivery of the first Ffallford five-tonner, and Mr. French informs us that he is "de lighted by the way the Hallford machines are running."
The Newcastle Co-operative Society, Ltd., placed its first order for an Albion chassis some six years ago, and it has just placed another order, through Frank Little and Co., Ltd., of the Tyneside city, which company has the local. concession for Albion vehicles, for a
four-cylinder three-tonner.
Northern Representation.
It appears to be the fashion just now for well-proved representatives of motor-spirit firms to join the tire industry. Following the transference of Mr. Coppinger, at Manchester, to the Peter-Union interests, we have now to report that Mr. E. C. Ord, who is well known in the North of England as having represented the proprietors of " Shell " spirii • has joined the staff of the North British Rubber Co.. Ltd., in connection with the organization of its tire sales, and that he will take charge of the North-British branch in Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Successful Bernas.
Messrs. Peppercorn, removal contractors, of Deptford, who own several five-ton Bernas, are getting exnit results with these machines, both in respect of running perform ance and petrol consumption. From Belfast, we learn of the good behaviour in service of a Berna lorry, illustrated herewith, which has been supplied to the Bloomfield Bakery Co., Ltd.. of the Ulster city. Mann and Overton's Outing.
The staff of the above well-known company had its annual outing, which was held at Burnham Beeches, on the 8th inst. The sports and amusements were everything that could be desired, and several neatly-chosen speeches were .delivered. The chair was occupied by Mr. J. T. Overton, who was supported by Mr. W. E. Middleton. Mr. W. Overton, just up from the new Manchester branch, made a good speech, and, throughout, an enjoyable day was spent.
We congratulate Marshall, Sons and Co., Ltd. of Gainsborough, on its decision to support this year's international competition at Winnipeg by the entry of two of its excellent oil tractors.
Speed Limit Abolished in France.
The Minister of Public Works of France has now before him, for his formal approval, the findings of an expert committee on road traffic regulation in France, in the form of a new Code de la Route. Many of the foolish stipulations, which have for so long puzzled strange users of our neighbours' metropolitan and provincial highways, are shortly to be superseded. Of outstanding importance is the decision that French traffic shall in future "keep to the left" The relative rights of users of departmental vicinal, communal and other grades of roads are strictly classified, and detailed regulations are embodied with relation to the lighting of vehicles of all kinds, whether horsed or motor. The speed-limit abolition is another important decision. The commonsense method of dealing with the problem is adopted.
Of similar interest is a report which has just been issued by the Committee on the "Rule of the Road on Land," which was appointed at a Conference of the International Law Association in August, 1910. New regulations are suggested with regard to the lighting of vehicles ; all motor-vehicles to show two lights in front, one of which should be green ; horns, it is proposed, shall emit two different notes. Other suggestions concern traffic on cross-roads and general behaviour of drivers on the road. Owners and Power of Election.
Owners of commercial motors have various legal rights and prerogatives; they also have responsibilities. In no place are the varieties of technicalities revealed so freely as in Bolton Police Court. The latest phase of heavy-motor law came out when the Lancashire Hygienic Dairies, Ltd., of Hulme, Manchester, was summoned together with one of the company's drivers in a case of excessive rear axle-weight, the actual overweight being cited as Hi cwt. The police solicitor (Mr. J. H. Hall) premised the particulars of the " offence " by remarking that the company could register the motor with varying degrees of weight, according to the speed at which the vehicle was to travel. The lorry in question had composition tyres, but, if the motor was to be driven at more than 12 m.p.h., the maximum weight on the rear axle must be 3,1 tons (sic), and they could not register more than six tons if they wished to travel over 12 m.p.h. The company had power of election.
A representative of the owner, in defence, pointed out that the offence was merely technical ; they did not desire to injure property on roads, and they did not know that they had the power of election.
A fine of El and costs (including lawyer's fee) was imposed, which is quite lenient treatment in Bolton, but the company's delegate protested against the costs being as high as 22 ls., as he did not think they ought to be more than the fine. The protest was unavailing, the Chairman remarking, "We cannot alter it."