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WHEELS of INDUSTRY

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.

The Public Health Congress and Exhibition.

We have received a copy of the programme of the Public Health Congress, which is being held at the Royal Agricultural Hall, London, from November 17th to 22nd. A number of papers is being read, but the one of outstanding interest to our readers is that by Mr. H. Cook, the cleansing superintendent of Rochdale, dealing with "The Future of Public Cleansing Work." This will be read at a meeting of the Institute of Public Cleansing, and the chairman on this occasion will be Mr. J. C. Dawes, 0.B.E., who is inspector of cleansing at the Ministry of Health. This paper is being read at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 21st, in Hall No. 2.

On the previous Wednesday there will be a demonstration of various types of municipal vehicle in the Gilbey Hall.

There will be a number of vehicles and appliances for various branches of municipal work at the Public Health Exhibition, and these will be shown by the following concerns :—Allan Taylor and Co.; Dennis Bros., Ltd.; Eagle Engineering Co, Ltd. ; Electricars, Ltd.; Fitch McGillivray and Co., Ltd.; Ford Motor Co., Ltd. ; S. Fowler and Co. (Leeds), Ltd.; General Vehicle Co., Ltd.; Earner Motors, Ltd; Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd.; Piccard, Pictet and Co. (London), Ltd. ; Shelvoke and Drewry, Ltd. ; John I. Thornycroft and Co.; Ltd.; Tuke and Bell, Ltd. ; Unic Automobiles, Ltd.; Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co. (1906), Ltd. ; Walker Bros. (Wigan); Ltd.; F. Walters and Co. ;. and the Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co.

Headquarters of Area Traffic Commissioners.

The Minister of Transport announces that the headquarters offices of the 13 traffic areas specified in the Third Schedule to the Road Traffic Act, 1930, will be in the following towns:—

In England.-1, Northern, Newcastleupon Tyne ; 2, Yorkshire, Leeds; North Western, Manchester ; 4, West Midland, Birmingham ; 5, East Midland, Nottingham ; 6, Eastern, Cambridge ; 7, South Wales, Cardiff ; 8, Western, Bristol; 9, Southern, Reading; 10, Smith Eastern, London ; 11, Metropolitan, London.

In Scotland.-1, Northern, Aberdeen ; 2, Southern, Edinburgh.

Journalistic Enterprise.

This week's issue of our associated journal The Motor represents a veritable triumph of journalistic organization. Although the motorcar and motor boat exhibition at Olympia opened only on Thursday, a complete report dealing with the whole of the 610 Stands was publishedand on sale last Saturday. This is more noteworthy as the number is three times the normal size, with some 130 pages of reading matter and roughly 500 illustrations. The Third Show Number of The Motor forms an invaluable record of the entire Olympia Show. The price is 6d.

220 Indian Subsidy for Six-wheelers.

The Indian Government is now offering a three-year subsidy to owners of approved six-wheeled lorries who are prepared, in a time of emergency, to hand them over to the military authori

ties. In the cede of a 30-cwt. sixwheeler the subsidy is 1,300 rupees (about £97 10s.) for the first half-year, 200 rupees (£15) for the second halfyear and 300 rupees (£22 10s.) half yearly for the second and third years— a total of 2,700 rupees (£202 10k.). The C.M.U.A. and the Royal Commission..

Alhough the Commercial Motor Users Association has already submitted to -the Royal Commission on Transport a memorandum and has given much oral evidence, it. has recently addressed another memorandum to the Commission. After pointing out the advantages to the community which have already been established by road transport it treats with the two topics, the regulation of goods-carrying traffic by road and commercial-motor taxation. The Association strongly urges that no further regulations or restrictions be applied to vehicles and their use, otherwise trade in general will be saddled with additional burdens and handicapped if transport competition be unduly curtailed. The possible licensing of haulage contractors is not regarded with favour; it is pointed out that the principle has already failed in parts of America, owing to traders having established their own fleets when road-haulage contractors became restricted in their operations.

In the memorandum it is stated that certificates of fitness are no more required for goods vehicles than for private cars. It is submitted that the operation of economic laws can be relied upon to prevent redundancy of transport far more effectively than could any official action.

With regard to taxation questions the Association confirms the average yield of duties upon commercial vehicles as .18d. per gross ton-mile and adheres to 12,000 miles per vehicle per year as an average distance covered. It is pointed out that the 'roads are a prime national necessity and that they are the only means for internal communication between other transport systems—rail, water and air. They should, therefore, be regarded as an asset of the community and not as that of any particular section. The heavy taxation on commercial vehicles constitutes a special tax on trade, which ultimately affects the cost of living; this ought to be reduced forthwith.

In a Line or Two.

It is announced that the price of the Austin 7 h.p. 5-cwt. delivery van has been reduced from £132 10s. to 1122 10s.

The Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., has just received a big order for Regent double-deck buses from Thomas Tilling, Ltd., this being for 62 machines.

In our small-advertisement columns for this week several 50 h.p. 4-5-ton Diesel-engined lorries, equipped with new bodies and new tyres, are advertised for sale at an attractive figure.

We are asked by the Equipment and Engineering Co., Ltd., 2 and 3, Norfolk Street, London, W.C.2, to state that it is not in any way connected with the Transport Engineering and Equipment Co., of Leeds.

Personal Pars.

We reproduce on this page a portrait of Captain J. R. Hewitt, who has resigned his directorship of Stratton-Instone, Ltd., with which he has been connected since the company's inception, to take a seat on the board of the Star Motor Co., Ltd. His .activities will chiefly be concerned with the selling side of the business.

Captain Hewitt was associated with the Daimler Co., Ltd., both in London and Birmingham, from 1905, and during the war was awarded the M.C. and mentioned in dispatches while serving with the Third South Midland Brigade of the R.F.A.

A portrait which we publish on this page is of Mr. N. Mullins, M.I.M.T., who has recently been appointed outside sales manager for Karrier Motors, Ltd., of Huddersfield. Mr. Mullins has had considerable experience in the commercial-vehicle industry, and was for a number of years with Crossley Motors, Ltd.. of Manchester, leaving that coinpany 5i years ago to become assistant sales manager of the concern with which he is at the present time engaged.

Mr. L. V. Kenward, who has during the past 20 years occupied various positiona with the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., and, latterly, that of general sales director, has now been appointed general manager of subsidiary companies. He will, therefore, no longer be intimately associated with the sale of tyres, although he will retain his seat on the Fort Dunlop local board, which deals with tyre questions. The subsidiary companies include the Macintosh group.

It will be remembered that Mr. Kenward was recently re-elected chairman of the India Rubber Manufacturers' Association for the second year in succession.

Capt. P. M. Harding, lately associated with Singer and Co., Ltd. as technical expert on the concern's sales and publicity staff, has taken over the duties of sales manager for Perrin's Motor Garages (Solon), Ltd., Southampton. Capt. Harding's experience in the trade, particularly with the Citron, Studebaker, Graham Paige and Singer companies, should certainly be an asset to the motoring community of Southampton and district.

German Imports Increase.

Returns just to hand show that, duripg the seven months ended July last, 237 vans and lorries valued at £73,500 were imported into Germany as Compared with 227 and £64,700 respectively in the corresponding period a year ago. On the other hand, during the same periods, the exports of vans and lorries from Germany declined from 1,873 (664,150) to 1,314 (535,000). This year's exports comprised 671 vehicles with carrying capacities under 2 tons, 601 between 2 tons and 5 ton; and 42 carrying over 5 tons.

Bosch Factory fc:kr England.

We have been informed that big changes in the Bosch organisation in this country will shortly take place. A 15-acre site has been purchased at Neasden, Middlesex, on which an up-todate factory and offices are being built for the manufacture of Bosch magnetos, dynamos, sparking plugs, electric horns, windscreen wipers, direction indicators

and other electrical equipment. We understand that an English company is being formed to take over the present business in Bosch products in this country and to control the manufacture and sale of Bosch products for theBritish market.

A Novel American Refuse Vehicle.

A new motor dust-collecting vehicle having a _novel form of body known as the Collecto has lately been put into service in the town of Hackensack, New Jersey. To the sides of the usual refuse body are hinged supplementary containers which can be let down so that the dustmen can empty the household bins without having to waste time in climbing ladders, etc. When the supplementary containers are full they are wound up by means of cables.

Wigan Bus Contracts.

After Certain negotiations the tramways committee of Wigan has, we learn, come to terms with Leyland Motors, Ltd., with regard to the supply of Titan double-saloon buses, which are being brought into use gradually to replace tramcars. At a recent meeting it was reported that negotiations relating to the patent rights held by Leyland Motors, Ltd., had been successful, with the result that the committee was now able to place orders locally for the supply of 22 bodies.

Leyland Motors, Ltd., is to supply the corporation with 15 complete Titan double-saloon buses at £1,650 per vehicle, as well as supplying 22 chassis at £949 each. The bus bodies for the lattet chassis are to be built by the Northern Counties Engineering Co., Ltd., Messrs. Massey Brothers and the San tes Motor Body Works, Ltd., the first twc named each supplying 10 bodies; each body will cost £700.

The A.A. Road-traffic Census.

The census of road traffic, which IS taken annually by the Automobile Association, is particularly interesting this year, in view of the reforms to he effected under the Road Traffic Act, and the co-ordination of transport facilities. Throughout the whole country the average number of vehicles passing A.A. census points in a week of 77 hours was as follows :—Heavy motors 5,157, motorcars 17,984, motorcycles 3,489, these figures contrasting with 4,611, 17,133 and 3,686 respectively in the previous year. Tests for Bus Drivers.

A concrete track for instruction in the driving of buses is to be laid out by Glasgow Corporation. The scheme, which comes under the extension at present proceeding at Larkfield garage, will abolish the necessity which now exists of taking corporation employees into the streets of the city in order to teach them to drive. Before they are allowed to drive on the streets drivers will, when the track is laid, be given instruction in skidding— how to induce a skid and how to right it—and will be required to reach a high standard of proficiency.

The extension to the garage, which was inspected a few days ago by members of Glasgow Corporation, will add 225 ft. to its length, and will increase the accommodation from 100 to 100 buses. With the erection of four new petrol pumps, four buses may simultaneously be supplied with fuel, and, with the proportion of two washing bays to each pump, it is expected that petrol will be supplied and buses washed at the rate of 60 an hour.

' Appeal to M. of T. Fails.

The action of Wallsend Corporation in refusing to renew licences applied for by Wakefield's Motors. Ltd., of North Shields, which formed the subject of an inquiry held on August 19th, has been upheld by the Ministry of Transport. , .

A Wirelestilstation Chart.

Most owners of commercial vehicles also own wireless sets—or will do so if they smoke enough cigarettes. In this connection a very useful station chart has been sent to us by A. C. C,ossor, Ltd., Cossor Works, Highbury Grove, London, N.5. It gives the call sign, closing-down item, wave length, and much other useful information regarding each station, and provides blanks for the insertion of dial readings.

The charts are obtainable post free for twopence each.

Scottish Conference on Road Accidents.

A. largely attended conference of representatives of local authorities in Scotland has just been held in the City Chambers, Edinburgh, to consider what further action could be taken to mini n22 mire road-traffic accidents. The meeting was convened by the National Safety First Association, and Mt. William Adamson, Secretary of State for Scotland, presided.

Letters conveying wishes for success were read from the Duke of York, Mr. J. R. Clynes, M.P., Home Secretary ; Mr. Herbert Morrison, M.P., Minister of Transport, and the Earl of 'Wemyss. Mr. Morrison said that the keystone of the safety provisions of the new Road Traffic Act was the observance of the rules and courtesies of the road by every user of the highway. Given universal observance of the new highway code, the risk of street accidents would be minimized.

Worcester Benefits by Buses.

At a recent meeting of Worcester City Council the chairman of the traffic committee announced that under the corporation's arrangement with the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., the city received for 1930 over i11,000 as its share of the profits from the company, this figure being an increase of £1,500 on that for 1929.

Railway Statistics.

The statistics for July, 1930, have recently been published by the Minister of Transport.

In addition to the usual information, it contains particulars of the progress of construction of rolling stock during the six months ended June 30th.

The total number of passenger journeys (excluding season ticket holders) was 110,500,000, a decrease compared with the previous year of 4,000.000, or 3.4 per cent. The journeys, taken at reduced fares decreased by 2,500,000, and those at standard or ordinary fares by 1,400,000.

The receipts from passengers showed a decrease of £364,000 or 5 per cent. Exclusive of Tubes and the Metropolitan Railway, the figures showed a decrease in journeys of 4,500,000. The coaching train miles showed an increase of 134,000.

The total freight tonnage conveyed was 24,500,000, a decrease of 3,350,000. Freight-train receipts amounted to £8,200,000, a decrease of £820,000. The freight train miles run were 555,000 less. The average train load decreased from 128 tons to 1221 tons,, and the net ton-miles per engine-hour from 452-i to 447i.

• Vehicles Without Licences.

Cheeks of motor vehicles running on the public roads under expired licences were recently made at 14 different points in East Suffolk, with the result that 746 vehicles were found to be without licences, 726 licences were renewed within the 14 days' grace, 14 were renewed after the expiration Of the period of grace, whilst six were not renewed.

Yorkshire Companies and Long-distance Services.

The watch committee of Wakefield. Corporation has granted the joint application of the Yorkshire Traction Co., Ltd., the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., ad., and the Yorkshire (Woollen District) Electric Tramways, Ltd., for permission to pick up and set down passengers in the city, on their Harrogate and London, Bradford and Birmingham services.

Roller Doors for Ford Vans.

The Ford Motor Co., Ltd., has circulated some details of the Ford light van equipped with a rear roller door, which can be opened with great ease and rapidity. It should make special appeal to newsagents and other tradesmen who cannot spare the space required for the opening of ordinary van doors. This new product has recently been marketed, and it should find favour in a variety of trades.

Cardiff Alters a Decision.

After hearing representations on behalf of several applicants for licences for long-distance services, the watch committee of Cardiff Corporation has revised its previous decisions to refuse the applications, and now grants licences for a trial period of a month. Licences for services from Cardiff to English towns have also been granted to Black and White Motorways, Ltd., of Cheltenham, Queen Line Coastal Coaches. Baldpck Motor Transport Co,, Ltd., and Red and White Services, Ltd.

The Railway Companies and Road Traffic.

In the course of his inaugural address the new president of the Institute of Transport, the Hon. Sir Arthur Stanley, G.B.E., C.B., M.V.O., made certain interesting references to the railway companies' development of road services in this country. He pointed out that they had not yet seen fit to make extended use of their powers so far as goods services are concerned.

This is largely due to the fact that they must perforce get the utmost possible use out of the existing permanent way if it is to pay ; the more traffic that is diverted to the roads, the more difficult it will be to secure a return on railway property. He holds, however, that the future will witness a much greater exploitation of the road vehicle in the pursuit of economies in railway goods-traffic working.

In addition to being the president of the Institute of Transport, Sir Arthur Stanley is president of the Tramways, Light Railways and Transport Association and is the chairman of the Royal Automobile Club.

Stockton's Preference for Buses.

Although according to the terms of the Act recently passed, two years may elapse before the Tees-Side tramways system—comprising Middlesbrough and Stockton Corporations' Tramways— need be -discarded in favour of motorbuses, Stockton is now pressing the Middlesbrough .authority, to expedite the change-over. One of the chief reasons for the desire for an earlier substitution is the fact that in the past two months Stockton has experienced a decline of £1,100 in its tramways revenue. In the same period bus revenue showed its customary increase, the public preference being marked.

Testing the New Daimler Transmission in London Traffic.

In our issue for last week we published a report of an exclusive test of a Daimler double-deck bus equipped with a fluid flywheel and an epicyclic gearbox. A representative of The Commercial Motor travelled from Coventry to London on the bus, and a short time

afterwards we were invited by the Daimler Co., Ltd., of Daimler Works, Coventry, to participate in a demonstration run through London traffic on this vehicle; the trip commenced and finished at the offices of StrattonInstone, Ltd., 27, Pall Mall, S.W.1.

We were much impressed with the remarkable performance of the doubledecker, especially in view of -the fact that the driver was a member of the Daimler Co.'s Coventry staff, and was, therefore, unfamiliar with London traffic. Travel was perfectly smooth, and effortless, and it was frequently difficult to determine which gear was

being employed. • Traffic hold-ups enabled us to make some interesting observations. When the bus and a touring car of moderate size started off together the' -latter usually attained a lead until the first change-up was made, and then, owing to the exceedingly rapid gear change of the Daimler bus, the commercial vehicle was able to overtake With ease and the lead was maintained. Con

siderable interest in the bus was displayed by pedestrians, and drivers and conductors of other vehicles, who were apparently impressed by the silent running and rapid acceleration.

An Irish Long-distance Service.

H. M. S. Catherworal,. Ltd., has recently inaugurated a limited-stop daily coach service between Belfast and Cork, the vehicles employed being of a luxurious type equipped with heaters. A bus leaves Belfast at 11.15 am. and reaches Cork' at 10.50 p:m., whilst in the reverse direction the departure time is 8 a.m. and the. arrival time 7.45 p.m.

I.A.E. Meeting in Manchester.

Mr. Norman Box, the well-known heavy-haulage expert, of Manchester, and another pioneer road-transport operator, Mr. Paul, of the Merseyside Touring Co., Ltd., Liverpool, were among the speakers at the October dinner debate held in Manchester, which marked the opening of the winter session of the local branch of the Institute of Automobile Engineers. There was a large attendance under the chairmanship of Mr. John 0. H. Norris (J. Cockshoot and Co., Manchester). A Register of Hire-purchasers.

We learn that Mr. Herbert Gerald Renly, joint managing director of Henly's (1928), Ltd., has joined the board a the Hire-Purchase Clearing House, Ltd. From the earliest days of hire-purchase and extended credits it has been the desire of every trader that a central register of hirers should be in existence. Many have been the cases of downright fraud, and more numerous still of the hirer with innocent intentions but lack of stability who incurs liabilities far beyond his means or-his prospects, which could have been avoided at the outset if there had been available the information which. the Hire-Purchase Clearing House, Ltd., will possess.

'The existence of such an undertaking should be of value to the trade, and details of a high percentage of the agreements in existence to-day have been already promised to the agreement register. Every facility and help will be given to members to enable • them to extract these details, and by the use of modern and efficient equipment, searches of the register will be conducted and reports furnished economically and rapidly.

It would appear that the directors have taken every conceivable precaution to enure absolute secrecy in their records. Members are supplied with a code number, and all information is supplied in code.

Another Tramway Track Abandoned. Under the terms of the Barnsley and District Light Railways Act, 1930, the Yorkshire Traction Co., Ltd., has been empowered to abandon its tramways on certain routes, and the company intends to discard the tramways along the Wakefield and Sheffield county road in NITorsborough urban district.

In accordance with the provisions of the Act, the sum to be paid by the company to West Riding County Council in satisfaction of its liability for the reinstatement of the roadway has been agreed at £1,800,' which amount has already been paid. The highways committee of the county council proposes to proceed with the work of reconstructing the full width of the road, at a cost estimated at 19,420.

A Power Take-off for Fords.

A simple power take-off, -which can be readily fitted to the four-speed gearboxes of Ford 30-cwt. vehicles has lately been introduced by the Allan Taylor Engineering and Manufacturing Co., of 126-128, High Street, London, S.W, Within the supplementary box is a spur wheel mounted on a short twospline shaft, so that when necessary the wheel can by a suitable lever be slid into engagement with the third-speed constant-mesh pinion on the layshaft of the main gearbox, the gear ratio being approximately 1 to 1. The shaft of the power-take-off pinion is extended outside the box to the rear ; it is provided with a small universal joint, and carries a power-transmitting device.

" Engineers Available.

Concerns in the commercial-motor industry which require, from time to time, the services of fully trained engineers, should get in touch with the Warden of the Leyland Hostel, Wellington House, Leyland, for details of students who are passing out after completing their training with Leyland Motors, Ltd.