The Wheels of Industry.
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This journal, dealing as it does with the "Chariots of War," no less than with the "Wheels of Industry," continues to be of national importance. Its interests embrace impartially the transport wagon and the parcelcar, the military tractor and the steam lorry.
London's Motorcabs.
There were 5813 licensed motorcabs, in the Metropolitan police district, at the end of last month, compared with 7746 at the end of July, 1914.
Proposals and Purchases by Local Authorities.
Further extensions of the Sheffield motorbus undertaking are likely to occur in the near future.
Poplar Borough Council is purchasing one Edison batteryequipped wagon, and one Foden wagon.
The Wonsan Town Council is about to buy a Bowser petrolstorage installation, with a capacity of 5000 gallons, at an estimated cost of £207.
Certain members of the Lancaster Town Council hope to obtain early authority for the purchase of a motor ambulance by that authority.
The West Bridgford (Notts.) after satisfactory experience with its existing fleet of five motorbuses, has recommended the purchase of another vehicle, at a cost of £840.
Tilling-Stevens, Ltd., has offered to buy back three of its motorbuses, from the Southend-on-Sea Corporation, and the Loughborough Road Car Co., Ltd., has offered to sell the same corporation a batteryequipped bus.
Scottish Ambulances.
We wish to offer our congratulations to Mr. R. 3'. Smith, as one of the most active workers in connection with the Scottish branch of the British Red Cross Society, in his having contributed so materially by his personal labours to the securing of subscriptions and donations aggregating nearly £100,000, and therefrom the addition of 292 motor ambulances to the fleet at the disposal of the R.A.M.C.
Sheffield's Special Industries and Motor Haulage.
Mr. 0. M. Gamble, of Huddersfield, recently read on interesting paper at Cutlers Hall, Sheffield, dealing with the question of motor haulage in its relation to the special industries of Sheffield.
He was of opinion, he said, that, for railway transport, the daily capacity of a good horse was from 20 cwt. to 30 ewt. per journey, and from 15 to 20 miles was its econoniical distance. To secure the highest efficiency with motor transport it was not sufficient to scrap the horse and put a motor to work on the same lines ; care should be
taken to endeavour to evolve a scheme which would reduce the number of stops on each journey as well as the delays in loading in the old-fashioned way. Mr. W. J. Hadfield, the Sheffield Surveyor of Highways, stated that in his experience, a five-ton petrol wagon saved £200 per annum, on fairly regular work as compelled with horse haulage.
Car and General Report.
The twelfth annual report of the directors of the Car and General Insurance Corporation, Ltd., has been issued, and the company'S annual general meeting will take place to-day (Thursday), at 83, Pall Mall, S.W., the bead offices of the company, under the chairmanship of Mr. Edward Manville. The profit for the year is 210,021, from which £5000 is written off establishment expenses, whilst the dividend is at the rate of 10 per c:-nt. per annum (free of income tax), and the carry-forward is 21617. The retiring directors, both of whom offer themselves for re-election, are Mr. Win. Birtwistle, J.P. (Blackburn), and Mr. Robert Ward, J.P. (Leatherhead).
The company's trading forlast year shows the following principal figures, the corresponding items for 1914 being given in parentheses: net premium 2395,119 (2381,210); claims paid, 12:08,743 (2188,863) ; commission and management 2131,231 ( '
2126,273)reserve for claims estimated outstanding and unexpired risks 2210,705 (£191,150) ' • investments at cost 2235,455 (2194,702); cash at bank and in hand 213,353 (222,928). A considerable proportion of the company's income is derived from commercial-motor business.
Motorbus Drivers.
We have pleasure in announcing, further to the intimation in the issue of TER COMMERCIAL Moron of the 3rd February (page 454 ante), that our representations to the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, through Sir Jesse Herbert, one of its Hon. Secretaries, have been successful in respect of motors bus drivers. The latest list—for official use—of "Certified Occupations," wttich are thet•new words in substitution for "Reserved Occupations," shows an addition in the section which concerns "Public) and public utility services." There have inter alia been introduced" Omnibuses :—head of department ; foreman ; motor driver." We are most happy to be able to record the cessation of the uncertain position with which we have have had to deal on several occasions during the past two months, as regards motorbus drivers generally. We also refer readers to pages 520-523 of this issue.
Export Relaxation.
We have been distinctly .surprised, since we dealt witti the sub: ject a fortnight ago, to find that some of the High Commissioners question the existence of any demand in their portions of the overseas dominions for British/node motor lorries. Our correspondence, for example, with the Secretary of the High Commissioner for South Africa shows that the prevalent opinion in that office is that transport and industry iii South Africa can get along quite • well without any such assistanee. If any of our motor-manufacturing readers have been unable to execute orders for South Africa, clue to the embargo on the expert of heavy motors and parts, we trust that they will write direct to this gentleman, and so, perhaps, help to impress his active assistance. We are convinced that, if motor manufacturers generally communicate independently, direct with the various High Commissioners, a suitable and willing response will be made by the military authorities, OD receipt. of communications from those High Commissioners. We are a little surprised that there has not been more direct representation of this kind, both from members of the motor industry at home, and from would-he purchasers overseas. The War Office will certainly not grant releases in the absence of formal representations as to the need for such action. To Carry Hides.
F. T. Pearce, Ltd., of Atlas Motor Works, 23, Victoria Street, S.W., notifies us of the recent delivery of a 30-ewt. Dennis flat lorry to Messrs. Strong, Rawle and Strong, hide merohants and fellmongers, of Bermondsey and Ipswich.
• Albions and "The Trade."
In connection with the reproduction of a photograph of the 32 h.p. three-ton Albion lorry, which is in the service of Messrs. James Aitken and Co. (Falkirk) Ltd., Brewers, we are advised that other Albion users in similar trades are :—W. and A. Gilbey, Ltd., London ; James Buchanan and Co., Ltd., London; J. Dewar and Sons. Ltd., Perth ; Steel, Coulson and Co., Ltd., Glasgow ; T. Usher and -Sons, Ltd., Edinburgh ; James 'Watson and Co., Ltd., Dundee.
Sales by Agents.
Recent deliveries of commercial vehicles by Messrs. S. Newton and Co., of 60, Haymarket, W., include Iwo-ton Burfords to Burnazd and Co., milk contractors, Vauxhall, Messrs. Archibald Dawnay and Co., Battersea Steel Works, • and Mr. R. W. Searle, Carrier Boxmoor ; 30-cwt. Vulcans to Messrs. Auborn and Heaviside, Battersea, and the New Imperial Laundry, Brixton (2); and Ford vans, • to the New Imperial Laundry and Carlton Laundry, Balham.
Urbans as Well.
Electromobile (Leeds) Ltd. notifies us that in addition to the .15cwt. electric vehicle built on the Greenwood and Batley chassis, which it is handling, it also has acquired exclusive rights in the British Isles for the " 'Urban " electric in sizes varying from 10 cwt. to 3i tons. These can be equipped with the Edison or Iron-clad-Exide batteries, at additional cost.
It appears also that this company is shortly to handle two petrol lorries of American origin, of load capacities of 1250 lb. and 30 cwt. respectively. We understand that particulars will be available shortly.
Daimlers and Municipalities.
• Recent Daimler deliveries may interest some of our readers. Any, of them who are engaged on Government contracts, or are occupied in transport work of national importance, may secure suitable Daimler machines • for their work by early application, together with particulars of the service for which it is desired to obtain Government release.
The above deliveries include two-tonner to Messrs. Chance Bros. and Co., Ltd., of Birmingham; six vehicles to the Bimming• ham CJorporation ; nine to the Walsall Corporation ; five to the Man
chester Corporation ; four to the Sheffield Corporation ; three to the Rotherham Corporation; two to the Chesterfipld Corporation ; four to the Lanarkshire Tramways Co. ; one to the Mansfield and District Tramways, and four to the East Surrey Traction Co.—a record of recent municipal and public employment for which the Daimler Company may well take credit. More New "Trucks."
Our American contemporary, 'The Commercial Vehicle," announces "No less than 62 new model motor trucks" on the 1916 market. Readers who have hitherto, owing to the exceptional demand, failed to obtain possession of a "truck," may surely take heart again in the prospect of the early advent of many of the 62 here. A further list of cash donations in support of our Campaign Comforts Fund for the A.S.C.,
will be published in our issue of the 2nd March. The Editor, as Hon. See. and Treasurer, will gladly acknowledge donations.
We learn that Wood-Milne, Ltd., the well-known motor-tire manufacturer, in order to cope with its rapidly increasing business, has found it necessary to open new depots at Manchester and Leeds.
At Manchester the premises are 21, Albion Street. Gaythorne, and at Leeds, curiously enough, at 94, Albion Street. Both depots have facilities for the fitting of solid tires. It is interesting to note that the company is experiencing quite a boom in connection with its very useful foot-operating tire pump.
Spares for Old Chassis Wanted.
We are desirous of hearing from second-hand dealers and others who hold spare parts for commercial-vehicle models which are not manufactured at the present time.
We shall be glad to have particulars of any such stocks. Mention should be made, wherever possible, of the actual models to which such spare parts belong.
We require this information, in the first place, to assist our engineers in connection with their Inspection and Trial duties, in order that they may be in a position to indicate where spare parts for many of the older machines which they have to view, may be Obtained. We also are receiving an increasing number of inquiries for such supplies.