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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

" The wheel 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.

Tractors at the Trials.

We understand from an 'intending competitor in the Lincoln Tractor Trials (we are not sure that they wish their name to be brought into the matter, and, therefore, do not give it) that the reason why they have withdrawn the two types of tractor which they had entered for the Trials is, as we have already. hinted in these columns, the decision of the R.A.S.-E. to exclude all but three -makes of English ploughs from participation in the event. The .'original regulations under which the entry was made contain the following clause:—

, "Competitors will have to plough • a given area of land with their own tractor and plough, etc." • It was later decided to exclude Canadian and American ploughs from the ballot • which was taken by the authorities at a later date to decide what ploughs should be used at the Trials.

The competing firm, to whom we are referring, take the view that it was not an equitable decision on the part of the R.A.S.E. to exclude Canadian and American ploughs any more than it would have been to exclude tractors cornfog from those countries, and because of this view they have withdrawn their tractors from the Trials, which is a great pity, because the particular makes of tractor thus concerned have a good reputation in this country for excellent work.

Negligence with Petrol.

Owing to the action of an employee, who failed to follow instructions which had been given him, the Shell Marketing Co. were recently proceeded against in the Bristol Police Court by the Watch Committee of the City for contravening conditions of the licence granted them in respect of their petroleum spirit store house at Pylle Hill Depot, Bristol. It appears that petrol was being trans:erred from a railway tank wagon into the company's tanks, and through carel'essness a small quantity overflowed and sscaped into the roadway. Fortunately, -he fault was at once noticed, and pre cautions were taken. After a carefnl 4earing of the case, the charge was dismissed. On behalf of the company, it was shown that every precaution was -lasing taken to prevent a recurrence of she fault.

Petrol Prices Reduce Facilities.

There has come into our hands a circular from one of the largest of the London stores, which has been issued during the past few days to its customers announcing that they are compelled to withdraw their motor delivery services in certain districts after Saturday next, September

25th. The managing director of the company, who signs the circular, says that it is with very great reluctance that they have decided upon this course, but the recent heavy advance in the price of petrol, added to the ever increasing cost of labour and all upkeep charges, makes it necessary for them entirely to suspend the long-distance suburban services. The circular then goes on,to outline the company's arrangements for C4 effecting deliveries to their customers by rail and post. The petrol companies may be getting higher prices for what they sell, but it is quite obvious that their sales are going to diminish-to a material extent. s

Caledon Reconstruction.

Negotiations have recently been taking place among the members of the board of directors of Caledon Motors, Ltd., and as a result one group of directors has disposed of its interests to the remainder, and has resigned from the board, whilst, individually, they have resigned their appointments. The following directors have retired :—Mr. William Rinman, Mr. Frederick Mitchell, Mr. Bernard Barnett, Mr. Hugh Johnston, and Mr.

• R. Barry Cole. We have not yet heard the names of the directors appointed to fill the vacancies on the board.

' Radiator Hose.

Radiator hose is an essential of all commercialvehicle engines, and, although it plays a less prominent part than many other engine details, it is, nevertheless, important to maintain watertight joints, in the water pipe connections between the radiator and cylinder jackets if the cooling system is to function properly. For this reason it is necessary that the hose should be of the very best material throughout and impervious to the water action. A concern which has had a large experience in the manufacture of radiator hose is the Garden City Rubbar Co., Ltd., of Letchworth, Herts., and their extensive works are well equipped for its production in large quantities. It is made in all diameters and lengths to suit the varying requirements of different eegine designs. The company supply radiator hose to a number of important manufacturers in the industry, who have expressed complete satisfaction with the results obtained from its use on their engines. The company also manufacture retreading compound', the quality and price of which are said to be unbeatable. Rubber solution in bulk can also be supplied, as well as rubber tubing of all descriptions, and diameters. Manufacturers often require tubing in • quantities at short notice, and this company is in a position to supply immediately. The company also specialize in ebonite moulded goods, and small parts for magnetos, and other accessories where such insulating material is employed are produced. Their 'works are situated in very pleasant surroundings, and in 4 centre which haa large industrial potentialities.

The registered offices of the National Omnibus and Transport Co., Ltd., have now been removed to 206, Brompton Road, S.W.3.

Mr. D. McNeil Sharp has resigned his position with Halley'a Industrial Motors, Ltd., where he has been 14 years, in fact, since the first Halley petrol vehicle was turned out. He has been appointed manager for Dennis Portland, Ltd., 214, Great Portland Street, W. 1.

Spanish Tractor :Trials.,

The Chamber of Agriculture of the Province of. Valencia is organizing a trial for tractors so as to ascertain the adaptability of this modern system of cultivation as applied, not only to the very small holdings that are characteris-. tic of landownership in this region, but . also to the varied operations connected with orange growing, vines, rice, algar-: rabo beans, and market garden produce, etc. • The trials are to take place from Octo ber 17th to 31st. The latest date of entry is October 10th, on the condition • that the machines are actually in Valencia. on October 7th. Every care will be taken to select fields for the trials pre seating like conditions; and the plots to be cultivated by 'each machine will be determined by drawing lots.

The machines entered will be diejded solely according to .horse-power, there being four groups, viz. :—(I) for engines up to -10 h.p. ; (2) for engines up to 20 h.p.; .(3) for engines up to 35 h.p.; (4) for engines up to 36 h.p. Applications for entry should be addressed to Camara, Agricolo, Province de Valencia, : Plaza de San Luis Bertran, 4, Valencia. This event would appear to offer an excellent opportunity for British manufacturers An Unlicensed Char-a-bancs.

A point of law recently arose in the Weston-super-Mare Police Courts when a. char-S-bancts proprietor was summoned for permitting an unlicensed char-1,bancs to ply fOr hire. The proprietor held five licences from the U.D.C. for five vehicles, and applied for licences for two others. One additional licence was granted, so that the seventh vehicle was not licensed. In spite of this, the seventh vehicle was used for the conveyance of passengers. . The defence was that the seventh vehicle was never used except when there was an overplus of passengers, in which • case it was sent for from the garage, only taking the overflow, and tsaking no passengers except those that had already been booked ; consequently, there had been 110 plying for hire. Legal authorities were quoted by the prosecution, the defendant's solicitor again submitting that the char-S-bancs was not exhibited or exposed. The magistrates, however, decided to convict, and imposed a fine on each summons.

Tractors for Siam.

A despatch has been received in the• Department of Oirdaseas Trade reporting inquiriesfrom the Agricultural Department of the "'Siamese Government for particulars regarding British made tractors, especially of the chain-track type. It is suggested, therefore, that interested conceree should forward particulars of their manufactures to H.B.M. Consul-General, Bangkok, Siam. In Connection with the foregoing, it may be mentioned that His Majesty'a Trade Commissioner at Singapore is also desirous of receiving copies of catalogues, . or other descriptive matter relating to British made tractors.

'French Dunlop Fire.

Mr: A. L. Orinrod, chairman of the Dunlop Rubber Co., states that the : newspaper reports which had appeared in regard to a. fire at the French factory were both erroneous and exaggerated. Mr. Proctor, the Continental directdr of the company, says that the fire did not occur in the company's mill, but in its reserve store at Paris, and would not in any way affect its business, as production in the mill was being increased to meet the necessities of the situation. The stock destroyed consisted of cycle and • motor tyre goods, but the stock of solid tyres was completely intact. The damage. was estimated at two million francs, not twenty million 'francs, for which the company Wae fully coveted • by insurance.

'Business Men and Ferry • Congestion.

The Wallasey Chamber of Commerce, .at the instance of Mr. C. F. Rymer, of C. F. Ryinei:, Ltd., ch.ar-ii-bancs owners and haulage eentractors,_ has passed a resolution in favour of the Town Council .taking steps towards the formation of a Standing Committee of the Merseyside boroughs to take. such action as would effect an improvement iii the existing congestion of cross river traffic.

Mr. Rymer said that thiswas the only method: of doing anything. The Mersey Docks And Harbour Board held the key, andthe 'Wallasey Council, by taking the initiative, Would show that it was in earnest on the matter. Mr. Seddon thought that two ferry luggage boats should be run at high tide to relieve the traffic. while MC. Sampson suggested that if cmiers worked in relays the difficulty would be solved. The congestion. was net so. bad until the carters changed their hours.

Char-a-hancs Trippers Damage Fruit Orchards.

Damage to fruit trees and crops by motor char-A-banes trippers from the Midlands when visiting the Tenbury 'Wells district at week-ends has recently been the subject of numerous complaints.

Fining two trippers each for doing damage to apples in an orchard with intent to steal thefruit, the chairman of . the hench, Col. Wheeler; said they intended to stop this practice on the part

• of some of the char-a-bancs trippers. In any future eases of the kind that came before them they would seriously consider sending the offenders to prison without the option of a fine. The 'farmer to whom the orchard belonged stated that he found three men there; one was pelting the apples off one of the trees with a stick, and the Other was wrapping a few apples in a handkerchief on the ground.

Cinema Trade and Strike Transport.

Profiting by the(experience gained during the last railway strike, the members of the Yorkshire cinematograph trade have already made their arrangements in view of the possibility of a coal strike, which, they anticipate, would immediately •paralyse the railway transport of the country. The rapid transfer of films from one part of the 'country to another is essential if programmes are to be changed twice a week as is the custom, and, although the railways carry the bulk of the film traffic of the country, very little influence would be needed to persuade the cinema trade to Use motor transport in ordinary circumstances.

During the railway strike the motor transport organization; whichwaTs built up at very short notice, was so successful that the exhibitors who were put to any disadvantage whatever were fewer in number than when railway transport

was used. The cost of the motor transport system during four "cross over " days was just under £2,000, but for-this amount the exhibitors were guaranteed a programme, and they were able to carry. onwithout interruption. Film programmeS were carried to and from a central dump at Leeds into all parts of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, 'and similar arrangements. will be inaugurated again should theemergency arise.

Already a levy of .L5 per cinema has been made upon all the 400 picture houses in Yorkshire, and this will form the nucleus of a fund to meet the cost of the organization. Immediately this money was collected it was resolved to expend the bulk of it on stocks of petrol, the view being held that if this procedure was delayed available supplies would be' commandeered by the authorities..

Oil Resources of Brazil.

Investigation of Brazil's oil resources and their development, either directly by the Federal Government or by private companies under strict. -supervision, is ordered in a. bill introduced in the Chamber of Deputies.

The measure provides that oil-bearing lands of proved capacity may be expropriated by the Government as a matter of public utility, and developed with a view to splying the country's own needs, any excess being exportable.

Lorries in Japan.

: Mr. Hugh Horne, commercial secretary to H.M. Embassy, Tokyo, in an official report on Japan from 1914 to 1910, incidentally observes that motor lorries are appearing in increasing numbers, and their manufacture is being financially encouraged by the govern.nient. "The vehicle mostly in demand is one of from 1 ton to 43 tons capacity. 1VIanufacturerS of cars and lorries who are interested in the Far Eastern market are recommended to get in touchwith the Department of Overseas Trade (Development and Intelligence), 35, Old Queen Street, London, E.C., where full particulars of requirements can be readily' ascertained.

Harvesting with Power.

The immense value of steam ploughs and tractors to the farmers of the present day is remarkably illustrated by Mr. Frank Cooke, of Town End ifanor, Spaadiag, Lines., who claims to have created a:record inharvesting, this year.

During the past 10 day S he has not only gathered in his harvest, of Wheat, oats, barley', and beans fromover 1,000

acres, but he has threshed it and delivered it. He has also ploughed the whole of the land, and prepared it for the next season's crops, with the exception of one or two clover fields. This, he .declares has only been made possible 34 'the extensive use of three gigantic steam ploughs and the latest agricultural machinery: The estimated value -of his mechanical plant is over 20000.

Grants for Motor Vehicles.

At the Ministry of Health inquiry into the application of the Swansea Corporation to borrow M4,000 for steam wegons and trailers. ,etc„ the borough engineer Stated :that be had approached the Ministry of Transport with: a view to obtaining a grant towards the cost, of providing these vehicles, and, as a result, the Ministry had definitely promised to snake a grant of £4,800 towards. the cost of purchasing the vehicles, and this grant, which works out at one-third the

• total cost of the lorries will be paid .in. instalments as the vehicles are purchased.

Enfield•Aliday Motors, Ltd., 'have just received an order through their Scottish agents, Messrs. Rossleigh, Ltd., for two Enfield-Allday two ton vans -from the 'Corporation -of Glasgow Gas Department. It. is hoped to exhibit one of these vans at the forthcoming Commercial Show -at Olympia

Taxis for Luggage.

The transport of luggage and other cumbrous packages in France has, since the war, presented a real difficulty, as luggage sent by railway is not delivered at the house, but has to be fetched from the station, and with regard to goods other than luggage, many small tradespeople, such as second-hand furniture dealers, no longer undertake the delivery of goods. The only resource of passengers arriving with luggage and of persons rash enough to invest in armchairs and writing desks without inquiring whether they can be delivered, has, up to the present., been to take a taxi, on which -the gee& in question were piled in perilous pbsitions. The taxi driver had the right to demand a sum varying from 5 to 10 francs for the "degradation " of his car.

An innovation which will do away with these difficulties is shortly to be introduced, in the shape of a service of taxitransports, neat little delivery ears which will stand on cab ranks, and which will undertake to carry goods of any description to any destination at the usual taxi

tariff. A seat beside the driver is provided so that it will not he necessary for the owner of the goods to take a separate conveyance..

Education and Costs Reduction.

The proprietors or large commercial undertakings must realise that the more they can educate their drivers, the better the results they will receive from their fleets of motor vehicles. It is to the commercial advantage ef any proprietor to see that his drivers know as much as is humanly possible about their charges. When this knowledge has been instilled, it will be found that the commercial vehicles are more reliable and more intelligently driven, and that the running costs will be considerably less. The simplest and most efficient method of instructing drivers in the working of their vehicles is the study of the. latest edition of "The Motor Manual" (the 23rd; No fewer than 600,000 copies of this "leading handbook have been published, and it is scarcely necessary to produce other evidence of popularity. Each copy only coasts 3s. 6d., Or 35. 10d. post free, and can be obtained from, the offices of .this journal. Contained therein will be found a simple and full explanation of the

r.S working of the petrol motor and of every component of a motorvehicle chassis. In addition, considerable space is devoted to the upkeep and running repairs of the motor vehicle. It should he in the hand's of everyone interested in commercial vehicles, whether oWner, or driver.•

Vulcan Chassis Tests.

Parbolcl Hill, near Wigan, is a long climb averaging 1 in 16, with a maximum gradient of 1 in 8. .11 is used for testing Vulcan 30 cwt. lorries, and on a fine morning a large number of these machines can be met with on the hill. The lorries are tested with full load. The drivers, who are provided with a chassis test report sheet, on the back of which is a map of the hill, have to mark on the map where they change gear. The full test consists of three climbs, so that comparisons can be made as to the performance on various gears and differences in the time of changing the gear. This is only part of a very severe test which each chassis has to undergo. .

For a chassis to be perfect it. may have to go out on the road two or-three times

with full load--.-petrol consumption of about-14 to 15 miles to the gallon being nia uncommon thing The 100 a week output of the company is being maintained; the results of the complete reorganization of the works now having had time to show themselves. At. their factory one finds the _rail system working in conjunction with overhead travelling cranes. The chassis leave the blacksmiths shop on the rails,. and .

pass down to a turn-table, where their course is directed at right angles down another side of the assembling shop. Meanwhile units already completedand transported by overhead cranes are incorporated with the chassis as it-is pushed along on the main line. A different gang of men perforres each operation, i.e., one gang. puts in the engine another the axle, and so on, pushing the chassis on to their next-door neighbours when they have completed their task.

Like many other concerns, the Vulean • peoplepossess their own brass and aluminium foundry, as well as their own body making plant, where a large number of different types of bodY, suitable for fitting to the standard 30 cwt. chassis, are being produced. A specialist in body design is one uf the principal members of the staff.

Chances in Canada.

Makers of British lorries and, cars and accessories have paid but little attention to the Canadian market. Prior to the war, a few cars and a fair number of lorries notably the Albion and Commer, were ;old in the Dominion; ether manufacturers made half-hearted attempts to do business, with poor results. The mar. ket was in fact left to American manufacturers, and the outcome is an enormous business with American firms, some of whom have erected assembling plants on. the Canadian side. The war, of course, helped to. increase the American trade, as its was out of the question to export

machines, etc., from Great Britain. • It is satisfactory to note that there has been a change of policy—to a slight degree—in this matter. Mr. Walker, of the Vulcan Co., is making a tour of Eastern Canada with a view th introducing the company's lorries and cars, and Mr. J. H. Rose, of S. Smith and Sons, is now in Canada—he has also visited the U.S.—with a view to introducing British motor accessories to the country. Nearly all those in use are of American manufac tore, a result. of the persistent advertising of these lines of goods. Mr. Rose took over a large number of samples of crocks, lighting sets, magnetos, etc., and these were on exhibit at the British Trade Commissioner's office io Montreal for two weeks. This was a far better way than attempting to sell from catalogues. Agents want to see the goods, and. to judge of their suitability. Captain Edwards, the British Trade Commissioner, states that more manufacturers connected with the British motor trade are visiting the Dominion, and . that he has received many inquiries on

the subject. The market exists, andaffords opportunities to those manufacturers who will spend a few hundred pounds in the personal investigation of conditions.

Mileage. Levy on Municipal Buses. .

Plymouth Corporation Tramways Committee has asked the Watch Committee to waive the charge Of 14d. per bus mile in respect of mileage run on the tramway routes in view of the cost. of mains taming these routes being almost entirely borne by the Tramways Committee.. The Watch Committee, however, has decided that the charge must beadhered to..

U.S.A. Motor Exports.

According to a statement issued by the National City Benk, of New York, the value of automobiles, and accessories exported during the fiscal year 1920 from the United States is nine times as much as in the year before the war and more than double that of the closing year of the war. The number of commercial vehicles exported in the first 11 months (of the fiscal year 1920) was according to the official reports of the was, 21,656, against 11,154 in the same months of 1919, and the number of passenger cars 103,146, as against 33,412.

Great .Britain took in the first 11 months of the fiscal year 1920 over $5,500,000 worth of commercial automobiles, against $2,500,000 worth in the same months of the preceding year. Cuba, which recognized the convenience and practicability in a tropical climate of the power-driven vehicle, as Against that. drawn by animals, took 1,419 U.S.A. commercial automobiles in the 11 months of the fiscal year 1920, valued at over $3,000,000, as against 610 machihes valued at a little over $1,000,000 in the same months of the preceding year.

A Petroleum Appeal.

At a meeting of the Bath Watch Committee, the town clerk reported that the Chief Inspector of Explosives hp.ii held an inquiry on the appeal of the British Petroleum Co. against the refusal of the corporation to issue a licence for the storage of petrol at Weston, and that, as a result, the Home Office had since granted a licence for storing 41,000 gallons of petroleum.

A communication was read from the Home Secretary asking for the observations of the corporation on the applica. tion made to him by the AngloAmerican Oil Co. to increase the quantity stored in Westmoreland goods yard from 22,500 gallons to 24,000 gallons.

The town clerk was directed to reply that, inasmuch as the corporation declined to grant this licence in the first instance, no useful purpose would be served by submitting observations on the present application.

The C.M.U.A. in South Wales.

The presidency of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Division of the Commercial Motor Users Association, with which is associated the Motor Transport Employers' Federation, has been offered to, and, accepted by, Mr. Tom Morgan, expresident of the National Federation of Meat Traders Association and this year's president of the Newport (Mon.) Chamber of Trade. The secretaryship of the division, rendered vacant by the death of Mr. Butt-Ekin, Cardiff, has been accepted by Mr. Chas. B. Langmaid (Messrs. Langmaid and Rollison, Kelvin Chambers, High Street, Newport), the secretary of the Newport Chamber of Trade. The Commercial Motor Users Association extends its activities throughout the whole of South Wales.

• Farm Tractor Spares.

" Send by air post " is a direction which appears in the spare parts list of the Austin farm tractor, surely the first volume of its kind td contain such a phraee. The book is very clearly arranged, and illustrated down almost to the last nut and bolt; no pains or expense have been spared to make it complete. 6ection references make it easy to find the name of any part. and, each haa a, cede word, ordering being facilitated by a comprehensive list of coded phrases drawn up in the light of lengthy service experience, and the system is useful in the United Kingdom as well as for Austin tractor owners and agents abroad.

The Transport Ministry has notified the appointment...tit Col. L. G. Tempest Stone, C.M.G., Bristol, as Transport Commissioner for the South-western area.

A Traffic Census.

In accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Transport, the Stretford Urban District Council took a census of vehictlIar traffic on Trafford Park Road for the period from August 11th to 17th inelNive, with the following result :

Bicycles •••

Motor vehicles 69,697231

Horse-drawn vehicles ... 3,225 Tramcars 1,584 Cattle ... 186 Handcarts ... ... 248 Horses—drawing vehicles ...3,452 _ 'Total 25,109

The total is erroneous as a .vehicular census.. Why should the item, horses, drawing vehicles, be. included?

Transport by Tram.

Glasgow Corporation Tramways Committee has revised the charges payable by shipbuilding and engineering firms in respect of the use by them of the tramways in connection with the conveyance of materials to and from the GOvan railway station and their works.

At the last meeting of the Tramways Committee the town clerk reported that the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Co., Ltd., had agreed to pay, as from February 1st next, the increased charge of tv4penee per ton for the use of mechanical power required in connection with such running over the tramways.

Buses at Swansea.

At a meeting of the Swansea Corporation Highways Committee the town clerk submitted applications by the South Wales Transport Co. for permission to run motorbus services on the following routes :—Swansea and Cwm districts and Swansea and Dunvant.

After the town clerk bad explained the legal position,, the committee agreed to accede to the application for a period of six months.

Imports to Norway.

During the first six months of this year, imports of lorries into Bergen, Norway, were as .follow :--Frorri U.S.ara 24, from Germany 38, from Denmark 2, from Franca 3, and from Italy 5, whilst Great Britain did not send a single vehicle. The Bergen district of Norway may also have received a certain number of vehicles imported through Christiania.

His Majesty's Consul in Bergen, Mr. H. C. Dick, has recently sent to the Department of Overseas Trade (35, Old Queen Street, Westminster, London, SW, 1) a list of the firms in the Bergen Consular district which carry on regular -goods or passenger services, and it is suggested that British firms interested should getrinto touch With them and forward catalogues. A copy of the list can be obtained by any maker in the United Kingdom on application to the Department of Overseas Trade.

Criticising the Transport Ministry,

Ramsgate Town Council haa passed a resolution deploring the proposed, large increase in the price of railway travelling and expressing the belief that the Minis try of Transport serves no useful pur pose; that it does not juatifyits existence, and calling upon H.M. Government ,,to abolish the Ministry without further delay; further, that the Council view with alarm the present cost of the Civil Service, and are of opinion that .many new Ministries and newly created departments of older ministries are beyond the country's means to support, and that they rshould be abolished. Intimating that in their opinion, if this course were adopted,the rising cost of living will be stayed and the increase in railway fares in particular and other increases in general will quickly-become unnecessary.

Trade in Uruguay.

Precise details as to the number of motor vehicles at present in use in Uruguay are unobtainable, hut the following appears to be a conservative estimate for. the city of Montevideo ;—Private cars, 5,500; taxicabs, 1,580; commercial yelldes, 260.

In the remainder of the Republic it is estimated there are 6,160 cars, so thatthe total figures are approximately

13,500, of which about 10 per cent, are unserviceable cars.

Sales of ears for use in the country districts are increasing, the Majority of the cars sold being of a well-known American make. In fact, of the total number of vehicles in the country, 60 per cent, are of American manufacture, 15 per cent. British, and 25 per cent. from the rest of Europe.

The prospects for the sale of British motor vehicles in Uruguay ate not encouraging, with the exception, possibly, of the 'dearest class of cars, which can , compete with the better American and Continental makes. In cheap vehicles American manufacturers practically control the market.

Uruguay participated to the full during the war in the tide of economic pros perity, and has been able to pile up very

favourable tradebalances There La,

accordingly, every reason to believe that, taking into account the extent of foreign demands for the products of this country, the sales of motor vehicles will show.

a steady increase. Proof of this is contained in the arrival at MonteViclea within three months of 706 vehicles Hann the United States.

The import duty on motorcars is 24 per cent. of the decla'red value. Other local taxes are car licence, $2 per horsepower; number • plate, $2; and licence book, $2.

Albion Dividend.

• At a board meeting of the directors of the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., held last week, it was revolved to pay on the first day of October, 1920, the half-yearly dividend on the 6 per cent, cumulative preference shares at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum, less income tax, for the half-year ended June 30th, 1920. On the q7astion of the payment of an interim dividend on 'the ordinary shares, the directors, having in view the present uncertain industrial outlook, decided not to declare an interim dividend for the present.

Hop-picking has commenced in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, where the crops are. good. Hundreds of pickers are arriving by motor lorry from the vicinity of Birmingham and other large towns. The cominereial,motor bids well to oust the railway entirely in the dis-, trict for this work.

Local Proceedings.

Thornhury R.D.C. is consideringathe question of purchasing another steam roller and lorry.

The question of acquiring •a new chassis for the fire-engine is being considered by Sleaford The Central Aircraft Co. is to supply the Metropolitan Asylums Board with a 16 passenger bus body for £468.

Plymouth Corporation has accepted the tender of the. Anglo-American Oil Co. for the supply of 100,000 gallons of oil.

Residefits of Crownhill have petitioned the Plymouth Corporation to start a motorbus, service between CroWn-hill and Plymouth,

Plymouth Corporation Tramways. Committee is considering the question of a system of central storage of petrol for the whole of the corporation motor services.

Three 20 lap. tractors for street clean-Sing purposes, to ylat ahout_.£3,000, are to be ordered -by tile Vale of Leven District Committee of Dumbarton. County Council,

Two hundred inhabitante of the east end of Plymouth have lodged a petition with the Town Council asking that the Embankment road toll gates should be immediately freed.

In his 1919 report, the Leicester Corporation. Cleansing superintendent says he is convinced that street watering cquld be done much better and far cheaper if motor vehicles were .employed. • Straker-Squire, Ltd., have; notified Ply-• mouth Town Council that, owing to the increased cost of. labour and material generally, the cost of the motor vacuum gully cleanser would be increased by £100 --from £1,350 to £1,450. The Council has agreed to pay the increased amount, The contracts of the St. Helens Cable and Rubber Co., Pirelli, Ltd., and the Shrewsbury and Phailliner Tyre Po., to supply the Metropolitan Asylums Board with tyres,. have been extended for a further six months at the same prices, except in the case of the last-named concern, which have been granted slight increases.

Motor Show in Delhi.

An Indian contemporary mentions that. at a meeting of the committee of the Motor Trade Association it was decided to hold a motor show To the whole of India in Delhi in or about February next. A committee has been selected, and Major Morgan has been elected honorary secretaay to carry out the organization and running of the show. All motor houses in India are being invited to exhibit cars, lorries, motorcycles and motor accessories that they handle, and a very fine and comprehensive show is antici

pated. • Mr. A. II. Sadler, manager of the service department of the Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Co. (Gt. Britain), Ltd., sailed on the 17th on S.S. " Rotterdam " for a six months' visit to the United States and Canada. His visit will embrace the Canadian factory at Toronto and the American factories at Akron, fll.do, Los Angeles and California.

ORGANIZED COACHING.

Large and Small Owners Mast Co ordinate Their Efforts.

WE HAVE RECENTLY conducted a

critical examination of the motor coach services running from the various seaside resorts in most of the Home Counties, and our tour has revealed a state of affairs which needs rapid correction if harmful results are to be spared an industry which has hardly outgrown its infancy. On all aides, prominent coach owners confronted us with the remark "There are far too many owners endeavouring to obtain a lucrativesource of income from char-a-banes operation," and this statement would not appear, in present circumstances, to be greatly exaggerated.

• The explanation for this excess of owners is simple. The 1919 season saw the popularity of the motor coach reach a high level, and the supply of new chassis for char-it-bancs employment was unequal to the public demand for road tours. Enterprising and resourceful men _foresaw in this position the possibility of laying a foundation for a profitable business, and, consequently, ordered chassis to be ready for the 1920 season. Before the present season was far advanced. however, the supply of coaches for road tours had overtaken the demand, albeit this demand had considerably in'creased.

This excess of supply formed a fertile ground for the germination of discontent amongst owners. Many of the newcomers to the industry began to realize that their " get-rieh-quick " plans had miscarried, and in an endeavour to tighten their insecure hold on the business, lowered their charges below those generally prevailing. Being small owners, this did not disturb their own organization, but their action created much, trouble for the owner of a dozen or more vehicles. Little wonder that the big user is hostile to his small competitor. It is perfectly obvious that, if two men run identical tours at different rates of fare, the owner running the cheaper trip will secure the custom. Thia" position has often forced the large owner to come into line.

We heard of one instance where; in order to fill a coach to its capacity on a Certain tour, passengers an the same vehicle had been charged three different fares for the same trip, the second fare being la. less than the first, and the third 6d. less than the seciond. The loweringof reasonable fares at all is a

suicidal policy when one considers 'thatth6 running and maintenance of motor

vehicles continue to rise all the tithe.

The only sane way in which to overcome troublesOf this nature is for coach proprietors as a body to organize. Why not an indiVidual organization for each county from which extensive tours are run? Let the big owner and the small owner both nominate men fram their ranks to act on the committee of a controlling body. Let each class of -owner have a say in the matter of standardizing rates for tours, and let. their efforts be co-ordinated so as to avoid Unnecessary overlapping of services. The popularity of the average coach excursion Can usually be* gauged, and once it has been determined, the number of vehicles. needed to meet, the demand could be allocated. This number could be divided amongst all the local coach proprietors, or those desirous of . running the tour,

in proportion fo the total number of their fleet. Needs would, of Course, vary according to the season, but the arrangement could be made elastic without disturbing the general scheme. Local organization would only benefit local competitors, and a national f would be useful to guard the interests of all local organizations.

Whatever form it takes, however, organization is an urgent necessity if the coaCh business is to be made stable and to prosper. The suggested meeting of proprietors dne:ng Show week might help to find a solution of the problem, which is a most pre sing one, and one that should be settled before the commencement of the next char-h-bancs season.

SPEED ON THE ROAD.

Midland Lorry Traffic and Police Activity in Restricting Speed.

JUDGINQ FROM RECENT police action in Midland areas, there appears to be a disposition to exercise sioniewhat severe restrictions regarding heavy motor traffic. There has been a good deal of discussion lately at meetings, particus larly of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire authorities, relative to the use of roads by . chars-A.-banes, and evidence has not been want-log of a tendency to hamper present arrangements by somewhat unnecessary regulations, Lord Galway, chairman of Notts. County Council, having recently propounded the view that some general legislation on the subject

is needed.

Nobody will object probably if public convenience is not materially interfered with; but meanwhile the policy as t,o heavy motor lorries is being carried out in a way which suggests that the use by these indispensable vehicles of pertain of the main arteries of traffic is not being viewed, in some quarter's, with entire favour. .

An illustration was afforded a few days• ago by proceedings instituted before Lincolnshire magistrates, sitting at Gainsborough, when one driver of a lorry was fined £2 for exceeding the speed limit of 12 miles an hour, the evidence being that, according to the observations made over a given distance, he was travelling at the rate of 16 miles per hour ; 'whilst in another case the extreme course was taken of issuing a warrant for the apprehension of a defendant who failed to answer to a surum.ons for a similar offence.

Nobody will cavil at any just penalties being imposed for wilful transgression of the law, but the significance of the Gainsborough proceedings lay in the statement made by the district superintendent of police -that, to obviate damage occasioned to the roads by the excessive speed of such heavy vehicles, notice had been given' to the Midland police to take action where the limit had been exceeded. •

The natural inference underlying the idea of concerted action is that very serious damage is being occasioned. Whilst finding no fault with the police, it may be permissible, however, to point out that there is possible danger Mvolved, to the disadvantage of a growing industry, by assertions of too sweeping a character, which, however much justified in even certain extreme cases, are not always justified in relation to damage occasioned by such traffic to the roads, for, after all, there 'is no particular virtue in a 12 miles per hour limit.

SUBURBAN BUSES.

Nottingham Slow to Follow the Example of its Suburbs..

T T HAS LONG been a cause of reproach I to the Nottingham eiyie authorities that, in their determination-eto adhere inflexibly to an existing tramway system, with its rigid lines of communication between central and ultimate points of the municipal area,, no adequate trial has been given to the more flexible means of travel afforded by motorbuses. An experiment has been ,recently. .undertaken, and is still in progress, for the exploitation of an attenuated service, but it was fonedromed to financial fafluse by reason of the entirely unremunerative nature of the route selected. If the corporation desired an assured source of revenue from the bus traffic there are ample opportunities in other directions, and for special days of the week the capacity of an adequate stock of such vehicles might be amply utilized, independently of or as feeders to the, existing tramway system.

Particularly is the necessity of such provision being exemplified now that the i football season s in full swing; the trains running from the Trent. Bridge district, in which the two principal grounds are located, proving upon all occasions of big matches quite -incapable of dealing with the great rush of traffic, many thousands of people, who would ride but for the inordinatetime wasted in 'waitingfor oars, being driven to the necessity of undertaking the journey by foot, and money thus being lost which by a combination of the bus and motor arrangements might easily be brought into the municipal exchequer.

In striking cOntrast, therefore, with the corporation' own supineness, it is signifieant to notice that suburban traffic around Nottingham is being developed to the unmistakable advantage-I of the public. West Bridgford, the chief sesidential suburb, which is separated from the city by theTrent; has long had its own excellent. public service of motor vehicles, which have been recently supplemented by substantial additions to an .already considerable stock, mid upon the Beeston side of the borough, an, area in which the municipal authorities failed to obtain the acquiescence of the urban council in regard to the suggested extension of the Nottingham tramway system, there have been notable developments of late in regard to Motorbus facilities. Beeston is now doubly served in that) whilst participating in the advantages of the •Trent Motor Traction Co' a services running between Nottingham and Derby, it has its own independent fleet of motors by which the journey may be accomplished at a lower price thanis rendered possible by travel by the Midland Railway. The same private enterprise serves Stapleford and Sandiacre daily, whilst providing a special service on Saturday • to Long Eaton and Draycott, -the former place being the largest centre of lace manufacture outside Nottingham. Staple. ford and Sandiacre are likewise adequately served by the Trent Co., so that in all directions outside the city there is evidence of the. popularity of a form of traction which the. municipal aothorities affect to View with indifference and has done little to encourage. If the experiment now being conducted is given a fair trial, in all probability motorbuses will shortly be put on to Nottingham streets in increasing .numbers.