Road Making Follows Road Using
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COMMENT has been made on the unwisdom of hold ing the Public . Works Exhibition so soon after the Commercial Motor Show, which this year included a Municipal Section. Truly there has been, in consequence, aloss to the former of certain exhibitors, among which were several prominent concerns. Nevertheless, it is by no means inappropriate that, after the show of commercial vehicles, there should be a similar event dealing with the maintenance and manufacture of the roads upon which they are dependent. Moreover, it is significant that this year's Show is the largest ever staged by its promoters. Doubtless, the five-year plan has contributed something to the activity now prevailing in the road-works branch of our industry, and it is unquestionable that activity spells pro gress. It is, however, to the makers concerned that the credit is due, for they have responded splendidly to the crumb of encouragement flung to them.
In the Royal Agricultural Hall this week, de, velopments are particularly noticeable in machines expressly built for road building and mending. It is an old saying that nothing succeeds like success, and the general indications of prosperity, reflected—may we be permitted to say—in the eye of the Angel, assuredly proves the truth of this maxim. More power to the elbows of those whose fertile and facile brains seek out the requirements of municipalities and contractors and interpret them into ingenious mechanisms. It is these that will effectively smooth out, simultaneously, the difficulties in the way of executing the ambitious plans that have been conceived, and the obstacles that lie in the way of the wheels of the vast transport machine.
The Future of Transmissions
AFEW days ago we were questioned regarding the need for any transmission system other than the straightforward gearbox with, perhaps, some simple device to prevent clashing the gears. This is a matter upon which we would rather like to have the opinions of our readers.
We may well ask ourselves further questions. First, as to what benefit will be derived from automatic or semi-automatic gear changing, and who will be the recipient of any such benefit? Will it be the operator, as a result of decreased maintenance; the driver, because of the simplification of control; or the public, by the promotion of safety or better riding comfort? We welcome all constructive efforts which will add to the general efficiency of the vehicle and improve its control, but the cost must not be excessive or buyers will be few.
There are other points of which notice must be taken. The human element must be considered. Some drivers like to exercise their own judgment, and object to too much " automaticity " ; and men who have driven vehicles with a self-operating change-speed device have told us that certain examples tested were not ideal under traffic conditions, because they could not be adjusted accordingly to give quick acceleration when this was particularly desired.
An Attempt to Enforce Legal Representation
I T appears that an effort is being made in a section of the legal profession to enforce the representation of applicants before Licensing Authorities by solicitors or counsel. In view of the fact that counsel for one of the railway companies is concerned in this matter, its significance is marked, for it would be greatly to the advantage of the railways if the cost of applying for licences or variations were such that some small carriers were dissuaded from doing so.
At a sitting of the South-Eastern Licensing Authority this week the secretary of an association complained that counsel for a railway company had declined to discuss with him, prior to the hearing, certain terms. The legal representative of the railway replied that, as the advocate for the applicant was neither .a solicitor nor a barrister, he (counsel) refused to have dealings with him.
Without reflection in any way upon the barrister concerned, we would point out that some -transport experts are, despite a lack of legal training, better equipped to deal with licence applications than are certain solicitors and counsel, who have no experience of transport. This movement constitutes an unjustifiable attempt to introduce into the sittings of Licensing Authorities the rigid legal procedure observed before the Appeal Tribunal.
We agree that it is often an advantage to be legally represented by a specialist in roadtransport law, particularly when a railway company figures as an objector. Nevertheless, there is no statutory obligation upon any person to employ a legal representative in court, and we deprecate any attempt to enforce it without. authority. The cost of operating transport is already excessive and any further increase would be intolerable.