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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by an difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier, For Overseas Trading.

A new concern has been established entitled Hills and Hills, Ltd:, Fitzalan " House, Arundel Street, London, W.C.2. The managing director is Mr. A. C. Hills, who for many years has been in charge of the Eastern branch of Tozer, Kemsley. and Millbourn, Ltd.., and in the course of his travels in the Far East has established valuable connections and acquired an extensive knowledge of the requirements of various countries overseas.

His brother, Major A. G. Hills, has also had considerable experience in the East, and has a long record in salesmanship. He has had ample experience in connection with bodywork construction, and has a very complete knowledge of the commercial motor side.

The new concern is prepared to assist manufacturers in providing outlets overseas for their productions, thus avoiding the heavy expenses of sending out their own representatives and affording them advice and assistance on matters which are necessarily beyond their ken.

The territories which, in the first instance, will be exploited are : India, Burmsth, Ceylon, Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States, Java, .Siam, China and Japan.

We would recommend concerns who desire to increase their facilities or overseas trade to get into communication with Hills and Hills, Ltd.

Bus Restrictions : Parliament Petitioned.

The petition. to Parliament on behalf of the independent bus owners of London, prepared by the Association of London Omnibus Proprietors, Ltd., was presented amid considerable interest on Wednesday last. There were actually four petitions., signed, in all, by over 900,000 and they were presented in the form of six huge brown paper parcels and a number of smaller parcels. Commander Burney read the prayer of petition which was signed by over 97,000 citizens of West London, who

asked that no steps shOuld be taken to restrict the omnibuses or to increase the difficulties of the travelling public pending the appointment of a public authority to control the buses, tubes and tramways of London.

L.G.O. Co.'s Interest in Further Independent Bus Companies.

The London, General Omnibus Co., Ltd., have acquired a controlling interest In the following independent omnibus undertakings :—The Central Omnibus Co., Ltd.; the Fleet Omnibus Co., Ltd.; Edward Paul, Ltd.; Western Omnibus Co., Ltd.

Features Held Over.

Owing to great pressure on our space this week, mainly due to the need for publishing the revised tables of operating costs for all types of vehicle, we are compelled to hold over one or two articles and some of our regular features. Thomas Tilling's Report.

The'rePeit of the directors of Thomas Tilling, Ltd., for the year ended December 31st last shows a profit of £179,502, -which, added to the amount brought forward from the previous year—viz., i57,478—gives a total of 1236,980. Of this amount 131,414 is accounted for by interim dividends declared during the year, whilst a further dividend on the preference shares for the half-year will absorb £8,250, and a final dividend of is. 6d. per share (less tax) on the ordinary shares (making 15 per cent, for the year) will account for 123,164. A sum of £15,000 is being transferred to the special reserve fund for properties, investments, etc., which will bring this up to £144,604. After these deductions there remains a balance of £159,152.

S.D. Freighters in Demand.

A number of prominent municipal authorities figures in the list of those who have recently placed •orders for S.D. Freighters with Shelvoke and Drewry, Ltd., of Letchworth, Herts. Amongst these we can mention; Sunderland Corporation, which is buying six Machines; Chelsea Corporation, which has placed an order for three machines and the Luton Borough Council, which will take delivery of two machines. Other machines are being delivered to the corporations of Dukinfield, Lytham St. Annes, Gillingham, Huddersfield and Eccles, 'whilst other orders have been received, from the Dorking Urban District Council, the Royal Borough of Tunbridge Wells and the Letchworth Urban District Council, the latter being a repeat.

Many important names are to be found amongst the list of private users who have recently placed orders with the company, these including: Pickfords, Ltd.; Barclay, Perkins and Co., Ltd. ; Johnson and Phillips, Ltd.; Boots Pure Drug Co., Ltd.; The 'Ever Ready co. (Great Britain), Ltd.; Hooper, Struve and Co., Ltd.; the Surrey Sterilized Milk Co., a large proportion of them being repeat orders, which, in itself, is testimony to the :satisfaction which S.D. Freighters are .giving in various classes of service.

An Address on Transport Taxes.

Under the auspices of the Nottingham Chamber of Commerce a representative meeting, at which the vice-chairman of that organization, Mr. A. R. Atkey, presided, was held in the city on Tuesday of last week, when an address on " Transport Taxes: a Vicious Circle," was delivered by Mr. Edward S. Shrapnel-Smith, C.B.E.,

president of the Commercial Motor Users .Association and chairman of the standing joint committee of Mechanical Road Transport Associations. Mr. Shrapnel-Smith said that the cardinal points in the vicious circle in which they were ooncerned were the railway monopoly, the wasteful retention and maintenance of weak roads and bridges, the hoarding and threatened diversion of Road Fund money and the consequential additions to the cost of living awl public travelling. B.A.T. Results.

The report of the directors and the balance-sheet of the British Automobile Traction Co., Ltd., for the year 1925 have just been issued, and they show that the income from investments, net traffic receipts and other revenues, after providing for depreciation, amounted to 1831085 is. 2d. This compares -with 174,115 in 1924 and 156,291 in 1923. The balance brought forward from 1924 amounted to £20,727, which compares with the balance brought forward to 1924 of £18,314, and the balance brought over to the 1923 accounts of £19,978. General expenses have absorbed £6,527; income tax, £4,506; debenture interest, £13,661 (which is £9,600 more than in the previous year), whilst an additional item in the accounts is 14,125, being discount and underwriting commission written off.

It is proposed to place £10,000 to reserve (the same as in the previous two years), to pay a, dividend of 10 per cent, on the participating preference shares (which will absorb £20,000), to pay an ordinary share dividend of 10 per cent. (absorbing £30,000), and to

carry forward £14,993. This carryforward is 4.6,000 less than in 1924, but, in addition to the inereaded debenture interest, the amount distributed in dividend is £5,500 more than in the previous year.

A Clear Map for Road Users. .

The latest publication] of the Ordnanee Survey is Sheet 3 of the 10-mileto-the-inch map of Great Britain. This might at first seem to be a road map and little else, but other information has been cunningly interwoven. Relief is shown by a colour scheme, land below 200 ft. being green, and the higher altitudes varying shades of brown. Water is blue, and the map is jnstly described as being "a very complete physical map of the country." Towns are classified by four distinct signs. whilst Principal villages are shown.. and all main roads, which aie in strong red, can be easily followed. The series is designed to meet the need of road users requiring a dear map showing a very large portion of the country. Great Britain will be covered in three sheets; the present sheet takes in all the Country south of a line running from Southport to the Humber.

Purchasers of H.B. Trailers.

Sheffield Steel Products, Ltd., Advise us that they have recently received orders for their H.B. patent tipping trailers from the Aberford Motor Co., Ltd., who are buying six ; Hartwells Garages, Ltd., who are buying three; Davey, Sleep and Co., Ltd., who have ordered a similar number ; whilst they are constructing two trailers for the Wednesbury Fire 'Brick and.Tile Co.

Inst. of T. Examinations.

As a result of the large number, of applications which has been received by the Institute of Transport in connection with the graduate and associatemembership examinations to be held on April 15th and 16th, the council has arranged for candidates to be examined at the following centres :—London, Ring's College, Strand, W.02.; Manchester, High School of Commerce, Spring Gardens; Leeds, The University.

Atkinsons for Yorkshire.

Mr. F. E. Ogden, late of the Sentinel Waggoo Works, Ltd., has been appointed North of England representative for Atkinson Walker Wagons, Ltd. He informs us that three 6-ton Atkinson steamers, each fitted with 1,000-gallon self-contained tar-spraying equipment, 'will shortly be supplied to a Halifax company, and that three 6-ton Atkinson steamers are also being supplied to a large steel-manufacturing company in Sheffield.

Avoiding Traffic Troubles.

The North-Eastern Division of the Commercial Motor Users Association has issued a very interesting and extremely useful booklet for circulation amongst users and their employees, its title being "Avoid Trouble with the Police."

The paragraphs are dealt with alpha-, helically, and cover .accidents (showing exactly what has to be done should one occur), requirements as to brakes, responsibility as to bridges, the dutieS imposed upon drivers in all sorts of circumstances, requirements as to hackney-carriage plates, identification plates, lamps, licences, silencers,'-regisA tratiou, etc., etc. There are alab valuable hints to persons operating passenger-service vehicles, and there are notes on the 'liability of haulage contractors as common carriers, and many other matters. It is one of the most useful little booklets we have ever seen, and a copy should be in the hands of every owner and driver.

The name and address of the secretary of the North-Eastern Division, of the Association are : Mr. E. Harrison, F.C.A., 20, Bond Street, Dewsbury.

Gamer's London Office. Henry Garner, Ltd. Moseley, Motor Works, Birmingham, advise us that their London Service Depot is now in full working order. This is situated in -Wells Street, Gray's Inn Road, W.C., where all spares for various types of Garner commercial vehicle can be obtained immediately, and more especially thosc relating to the company's latest production—the all-English 2-21

tonner. • Irish Free State Imports. '

The official returns just to hands indicate that a falling off took place last year in the trade in commercial vehicles in the Irish Free State, for only 162 vehicles, valued at £37,583 were imported during the twelve months, as compared with 355 (£121,529) in 1924.

Road Risks Illustrated.

A minV edition of "Road Risks Illustrated" has just been issued by the Royal Insurance Co., Ltd., Royal Insurance Buildings, North John Street,

Liverpool. It contains a series of photographs amplifying those which have appeared in previous editions, and illustrates certain phases of the use of motor vehieles on the highway from a legal point of view, accidents of an un

Usual character being depicted. An analysis is given of the proportion of motor accidents occurring in certain definite circumstances, these being based on aerual experience and offering forceful evidence of the importance of "Safety first " precepts.

Those users who have to cover long distances will be interested in the tables, which show the mileages separating a large number of important towns and cities in all parts of the country. The booklet also contains other features of interest, not the least important of which is one which deals with points of

law of which road users should possess

a knowledge. _ Copies of the booklet can be obtained from the company at their London offices, 24-28, Lombard Street, London, E.C.3.

A Paper Before Transport Graduates.

At a meeting of the Midland Graduate and Student Society of the Institute of Transport held in Derby recently, Mr. A. J. Dawdeswell, G.Iust.T., read a paper entitled, *" Traffic as Intextured in the Arrangements of an Industrial Organization." The author stated that development of a traffic department is, as a role, not particularly encouraged bymost firms, as such a section is considered to be an unprofitable one. This, he added. is no doubt a short-sighted policy, as an efficient traffic department will easily save much more than its own pay-roll, and anything that may lead directly or indirectly towards facilitating the Marketing of goods mist be worthy of consideration.

The fundamental object of a traffic department should, he said, be the securing of a maximem of useful and efficient service for a minimum outlay. Concentration upon problems of distribution and the despatch, transit and delivery of the finished commodity generally take up the major portion of the traffic department's time, and it is here, the-author pointed out, that great saving can be effected if the department be alive and constantly challenging road and rail rates.

French Tractor Sales.

During last year 5,000 tractors were sold in France. Of this total only 20 per cent, of the machines were of French manufacture, the majority of the remainder coming from the United States, Thornycrofts' Repeats.

No fewer than nine repeat orders were included in some 30 different types of Thornyeroft vehicle ordered during a recent'week. John I. Tharnycroft and Co., Ltd., inform us that these include throe more 20-stater single-deck buses for the Devon Motor Transport Co., who

already own a large fleet of buses of this make; two type-J 4-ton chassis for the National B.enzole Co., Ltd. ; another 750-gallon tanker -for the Uxbridge District Council ; and a further two of the company's new type-Q 5-ton vehicles for Messrs. Pearson Bros., of Gainsborough. A number' of chassis is also in hand for delivery through the company's branches at Calcutta and Singapore, in addition to ten vehicles for new Thornycroft users.

Cushion Tyres for Trolley-buses.

At a meeting of the tramways committee of the Oldham Corporation the tramways manager reported upon an interview 'with the manager of the Ashton-under-Lyne Tramways with reference to vibration caused by the operation of passenger vehicles, and it was ascertained that the corporation proposed to have cushion tyres fitted to the trolley-buses. The proposal has received the sanction of the committee.

Taxis in Paris.

Aceording to a report recently issued by the police authorities of Paris there are now 18,638 taxicabs registered in the French capital.

A Traffic Safety Exhibition.

The Austrian Automobile Association, Vienna VI, Mollardgasse 27, Austria, which es representative of all prominent automobile organizations in Austria, has arranged for an exhibition to be held in the City Hall. Vienna, from June 5th to 19th, of the various means used or planned in different parts of the World towards assisting in safety in street and highway traffic. The exhibition will be divided into eight sections and will deal with the following matters :—Statistics, traffic control, streets, highways and equipment, city planning, insurance, education, automobile 'engineering, firstaid service and literature.

A Worcestershire Bridge Unsafe for Heavy Traffic, The Worcester County Council recently sought an order from the Ministry of Transport for the • prohibition of char-it-banes traffic across Powick Old Bridge, an extremely narrow structure which is considered unsafe for heavy traffic. The Ministry of Transport, however, points out that there appears to be no justification for a discrimination between passenger-carrying vehicles and goods vehicles, and suggests that the council's application should be in the standard form and include heavy motorcars, etc_ The highways committee now recommends that the application be altered to accord with the Ministry's suggestion.

A Free Booklet on the Art of Tuning an Engine. _

With every copy of the issue of our associated journal The Motor, dated March 23rd, a 16-page booklet is given away which contains an Illustrated treatise on the art of tuning an engine. The descriptive matter is of an interesting and most instructive character and really gives in condensed form most of the information contained in the average half-crown manual dealing with this subject It has been specially written by an expert and describes the principles upon which tuning is based, in addition to the actual adjustments involved.

Guy Buses Popular.

Guy buses of various types and sizes are gaining much popularity in municipal service, and amongst local authorities who have recently placed orders with the makers, Guy Motors, Ltd., Fallings' Park, Wolverhampton, are the Corporations of Sheffield, South Shields, Reading, Keighley cud Wolverhampton. Amongst private companies who are purchasing buses of the company's make, the names of the Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd., and the National Omnibus Co., Ltd., are well known.

A Qualified Engineer Available.

:We know of a man who has spent 16 years in the commercial motor industry, with the various branches of which he is well acquainted, who has considerable technical knowledge, and who is desirous of securing a post on the practical. Side ef the industry. His qualifications particularly fit him for taking charge ofthe opeeation of a fleet of buses or the like. tle has had experience with several prominent commercial motor manufacturers on the sales side. Letters addressed "M.," c.o. the Editor, will be forwarded.

I.A.E. Council Members.

As a result of the recent ballot, the • following have been declared elected members of the council of the Institution of Automobile Engineers for the Session 1928-1927 :—Sir Herbert Austin, Dr. L. _Aitchison; Dr. F. W. Lanchester, Professor W. Morgan, Colonel R. E. Crompton, Lieut.-Col, T. B. Browne, Lieut.-Col. D. J. Smith, Captain J. S. Critchley, Messrs. F. A. S. Acres,

A. H. R. Fedden, A. J. Rowledge, W. A. Tookey, G. A„, Burls, A. .j. Hancock, G. II. Lanchcster, H. F. L. Orcutt, Geo. W. Watson, W. Chater-Lea, N. Endacott, W. H. Hingston, L. A. Legros, P. A. Poppe, R. -M, Tilling, F. G. Wool lard, The names of the ex-officio members of the Council, who are not subject

to ballot, are as follow W, R. Ormandy, Major E. G. Beatfinont, Major B. W. Shilson, Major Chas. Wheeler, Major C. •W. jordon, Captain J. S. Irving, Messrs. L. H. Hounsfield, G. E.

• McCaw A. E. Berriman, F. R. Simms, W. D. iVilliamson, H. G. Burford, T. C.

• Pullinger, H. Kerr Thomas, T. IL Recent Buyers of Leylands.

A number of important users 'figures in the list of those who have recently placed orders with Leyland Motors, Ltd. Amongst these are Blythe and Berwick, Ltd., of Bradford, who are buying two Lion vehicles ; Shell-Mex, Ltd., who have placed an order for 2 and 3-tonners, some of -which are to be used as tankers, and the others for distributing motor spirit in cans ; Bass, Ratcliff and Gretton, Ltd., the well-known brewers, of Burton, who have ordered a number of 3-tonners; Messrs. Spreckley Bros., of Worcester, another firm of brewers, who are buying a 4-ton dray ; the Red Line Motor Spirit Co, who are to employ 4-tonners for the transport of motor

spirit ; whilst two vehicles of a similar capacity will shortly be commissioned for service with the Medway Oil and Storage Co., of London, for transporting fuel in cans.

The company also have ,in hand a number of velieles-for important municipal bodies, these including the Corporations of Edinburgh and Bolton, who are buying eight Lion and five Leviathan vehicles respectively; RS Well RS the County Borough of Blackpool, which has exhibited a preference for the Lioness chassis, and of which it is purchasing six.

Inst. P. E. Meeting.

A geueral meeting of the Institution of Production Engineers will be held in the council room of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, 83, Pall Mall, London, S.W.1, on Wednesday, March 24th, at 7.30 p.M., when Mr. J. T. Kenworthy, of Tilling-Stevens Motors, Ltd., will read a paper on "NVorks System."

Publicity by Austin Seven.

The usefal little vehicle which is Illustrated on page 188 not only serves as a valuable transport unit, but it also has a distinet publicity value which Must redound to the benefit of its uses. The basis of the van is the 7 h.p. Austin chassis, and the unique publicity body which it carries has been built by Mann, Egerton and Co., Ltd., 5, Prince of Wales Road, Norwich, to attract attention to the service which they give in connection with batteries. As will be seen from the illustration, the exterior of the body is painted to represent an accumulator, whilst the interior is fitted with shelves to. carry batteries. and other equipment. The vehicle is in use by the company's battery service station.

Personal Pars.

Mr. Owen J. P. Wray, who has been associated with Silvertown Lubricants, Ltd., for 21 years, has been appointed a director of the company. Mr. Wray is making good progress towards recovery frorothe effects of his recent.accident, and it is hoped that he will be able to resume his activities 'at an early date.

We understand that Mr. V. Bingham has resigned his appointment as advertising and publicity Manager to Mann, Egerton and Co., Ltd., of Norwich, London, Ipswich, Lowestoft and Bury St. Edmund's, and will shortly take up a similar position with a leading London. Concern.

Result of a Bradford Appeal.

The. of Transport has grante the appeal of the West Riding Automobile Co., Ltd., against the refusal of the Bradford Watch Committee to grant licences for 18 motorbuses. The licensing committee of the corporation has asked the town clerk to prepare a case for the opinion of counsel dealing with points arising out a the matter.

Fire-engine Tenders for Hanwell.

In a news paragraph which appeared in our issue dated March 9th, we gave a list of tenders received bY the Hanwell "Urban District Council for the supply of motor fire-engines. We are asked by Martin's Cultivator Co., Ltd, to state that their quotation was for ono of their latest fine-engines equipped with their new patent rotary, positive-action, valveless punip, and not as stated. We described the Martin fire pimp hi our issue dated June 30th last, and the machine for whien the company quoted the Hanwell authorities differs in point of size only.

Local Proceedings.

The Bedwas and Machen Urban District Council has ordered a Karrier motor ambulance.

Worcester Standing Joint Committee has authorized the purchase of a prison motorvan at a cost of £300.

Walsall Corporation has arranged to run motorbus services between Walsall, Kidderminster and Bewdley.

Adelaide Corporation, Australia, has allocated £1,350 in its estimates for the purchase of two motor lorries.

Douglas (I.o.M.) Corporation is considering a petition for a bus service extension to the Onchan district.

During last year Worcester County Council issued 15,790 motor driving licences compared with 8,974 in 1921.

Birkenhead Corporation has obtained sanction from the Ministry of Transport to borrow £16,500 far the purchase of 10 motor omnibuses.

Swansea Corporation has asked a committee to consider the question of the provision of a repairs depot for corporation motor vehicles.

Dough's (I.o.M.) Corporation has accepted the tender of Tilling-Stevens Motors, Ltd., for the supply of two petrol-electric buses at £1,467 each.

Bradford Licensing Committee has appointed Mr. R. Melhuish, A.M.I.A.E. to make expert examination of motor vehicles for which hiring licences are sought.

Douglas (I.o.M.) Corporation has accepted the tender of the Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co., Ltd., at £828, for the supply of a low-loading toast-rack type of motorbus for running on the promenade.

Hull Corporation has asked the tramways manager to report as to the advisability of running " express 'f buses at regular intervals on -each tramway route, from the city boundary to the centre of the city.

The Llandilo-Penybont (Glam.)' Council is negotiating a loan for the purpose of purchasing a motor fireengine.

The North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., have lodged an objection with the Ministry of Transport to the application of the Oldham Corporation for permission to run a motorbus service to Mossley.

The highways committee of the St. Pancras Borough Council recommends acceptance of the tender of the Chaseside Mdtor Co., Ltd., of Enfield, for the supply of a Forclson tractor at 1260 and a Carrimore trailer with tipping gear at £325.

A Spanish Agricultural Show.

A section for tractors and motor farming implements will be included in the Agricultural Machinery Exhibition to be held in Madrid from May 14th to 23rd next.

A Paper on Welding.

A meeting of the Institution of Welding Engineers will be held at Caxton Hall, Westminster, London, S.W.1, on March 25th, at 8 p.m., when a paper, entitled "Electric Welded Construcr tion," will be read by Mr. James Caldwell, M.Inst:C.E. The reading of the paper will be illustrated by lantern slides and will be followed by a discussion.

W. and G.'s for South Wales.

W. Jeffreys and Co., Ltd., of Swansea, advise us that during a recent period of ten days they placed orders with,, W. and G. du Circa, Ltd., for 15 low load-line bus chassis of their manufacture, 12 of which will be fitted with 25seater bodies and the others with 20seater bodies. These vehicles will all be delivered before Easter. The company tell us that during the past two years they have taken delivery of no fewer than 72 W. and G. vehicles, all of which are operating in South Wales.

Dennis_ Municipal Deliveries.

That section of the Guildford works of Dennis Bros., Ltd., which is devoted to the construction of various types of municipal vehicle is at present very busily engaged in meeting the requirements of a number of local authorities, and some of the vehicles and appliances which have just been delivered for use by municipalities are shown in the group of accompanying illustrations.

The first picture is of outstanding interest, inasmuch as it depicts a tipping wagon purchased by the Surrey County Council, which has exhibited a commendable spirit in buying a vehicle produced in its county town. The vehicle, which is a 5-6-tonner, is fitted with a hydraulically operated steel tipping body, and it is being employed in the neighbourhood of West Ewell, This is the third machine of this type that has passed into the service of the highways and bridges department of the Surrey County Council.

The van shown in the second picture has just been put into service by the gas dePartment of the Rochdale Corporation. The basis of this vehicle is the manufacturers' 30-cwt. chassis, to which is fitted a boxvan body of pleasing design; the colour scheme is most attractive, consisting of a bottle-green ground, on which red letters are outlined in white. A further vehicle of a similar type was recently ordered by the electrical department of the same corporation, whilst another vehicle for the gas department will incorporate a flat platform body with hinged sides.

The Southend-on-Sea Corporation has just taken delivery of the Dennis gullyemptier which is illustrated in the third

picture. This corporation is not unfamiliar with Dennis products, for it has had in service for the past two years throe 1,200-gallon street-sprinkling and washing machines of this make. Its latest acquisition consists of an example of the makers' 4-ton chassis with a tank of 750 gallons' capacity. This model has a 40 h.p. engine. Abolish Bridge Tolls.

Convened by the Anglesey County Council to consider the abolition of bridge tolls on the lilikenai Suspension Bridge, which connects the Island of Anglesey with Carnarvonshire, a conference has been held, and this was attended by representatives .qf the Anglesey and Carnarvon County Councils and the Beaumaris, Menai Bridge, Bangor, Llangefni, Holyhead and Acthwy local councils. A: deputation was appointed to wait on the Ministry of Transport with a view to securing the abolition of the tolls • on the bridge. One delegate said that' nobody outside the Ministry and the lessees knew exactly what amount was received annually in bridge tolls, but, as the result of a census taken by the Automobile Association and frcins other information, he was fairly satisfied that the tolls amounted to £12,000 annually. They were leased, he said, for £3,000 annually.

Coach Parking. at Tintern.

Tintern, which in the summer is the rendezvous of numbers of coaches making tours from a multiplicity of centres. in South Wales, as wide afield as Swansea and Newport, is to provide improved facilities for motor coaches during the forthcoming season. The local council has accepted from the Board of Works the offer, free of cost, of a piece of land near Tintern Abbey for parking purpOSSS.

Farm Tractors in Syria.

The French Mandate authorities in Syria and Lebanon have recently made a decision which, under certain conditions, allows the free importation of farm tractors, motor 'sloughs and cultivators into the area under their control.

India's Imports.

Fromsa survey of Indian trade returns during the nine mouths from April to December last year, which has just been circulated by the Department of Overseas Trade, it is shown that the imports of motorbuses, vans and lorries into India have increased rapidly, largely due to the growing popularity of the metorbus. The actual number of vehicles imported in the .nine 'months was 8,225, valued at Rs. 601 lakhs, the largest number of vehicles coming from Canada, which shipped 1,558, although their value at Rs. 19 lakhs was less than the value of 1,443 vehicles imported from America, which possessed a value of Rs. 29; lakhs. In the period under review the British share of imports increased from 56 vehicles in 1924 to 253 in 1025, the latter being valued at Rs. 10i lakhs.