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NEWS of the WEEK

" THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR'S" NEW HOME.

THE offices of this journal and its printing works in Rosebery Avenue were, last Friday, transferred to a new and completely up-to-date building in Bowling Green Lane, London, R.C.I, a few hundred yards from our former premises, and in a part of Finsbury which is being developed as a commercial centre.

The new building has been especially planned, from its foundations, for the production of the weekly and monthly periodicals and other publications owned by Temple Press Ltd. It is entirely self-contained, even including a garage and workshop for the maintenance of the company's fleet of mbtor vehicles, and it stands on an island site which will allow for expansion.

The modern equipment includes the latest alt-conditioning system, windows glazed with three types of glass (including Thermolux to provide even distribution of light) and there is actually a greater window than wall area. The teak-panelled offices are simply designed and planned for effi ciency, and the machine room, with its most modern printing plant, is spacious and lofty.

We hope, at a future date, to give fuller details of the premises and methods of production.

Great North Road Improvements to Cost Over 2,000,000.

BIG improvement schemes to be started within the next few months will bring the total estimated cost of works in hand on the Great North Road up to a figure exceeding

£2,000,000. The schemes, including those now in hand, represent the first stage in the rebuilding of the Great North Road under the control of the Ministry of Transport. They number altogether 26, on 14 of which work has already started.

The result of these initial schemes will be to provide, within a reason able space of time, some 50 miles of first-class road at those places where improvement is most urgently needed.

All schemes have been designed to fit in with the ultimate layout of the road. SAFEGUARDING " SQUARE-DEAL " EFFECTS.

ROAD-TRANSPORT licensing reforms, and additional safeguards in connection with the " square-deal " proposals, are advocated by the trans port committee of Hull Chamber of Commerce and Shipping. The committee, the minutes of which were adopted by the Chamber's Council recently, urges that hauliers should have the right:—

(1) Of automatic renewal of licences; and (2) of automatic. increase of licences upon proof of increase of business, whether or not such increase is at the expense of other public carriers, except upon proof by an objector that the transfer of traffic was obtained at uneconomic rates.

Concerning the railway companies' "

square-deal" proposals, the committee expresses the view that the suggested safeguards, as to the conveyance of goods by rail, are inadequate, and presses for the retention of:—

(a) A statutory basis for classification, "although this may, with advantage, be on lines more simple than the present classification "; (b) the obligation to publish rates (which, it is suggested, should apply equally to road transport) at an early date; (c) the provisions for the disintegration of rates. ALLEGED CONSPIRACY TO DECEIVE AUTHORITY AST week the Yorkshire Licensing LAAuthority (Major F. S. Eastwood) nterrupted his holiday to hear an ipplication at Hull, it being the sequel .o previous proceedings which culminited in the withdrawal at Hull, on July 10, of an application by Mr. F. kndrew, Howden, to take over the iaulage business of Micklethwaite and to., Wakefield.

Mr. Andrew's take-over application laving been, withdrawn, the Licensing kuthority heard, last week, an applicaion for the renewal of the A ,licence to ilicklethwaite and Co., which had techdeafly lapsed. This application, like he previous one, was opposed by Mr.

P. Merritt for the London and North :astern Railway Co. Cross-examined iy Mr. Merritt, Mr. Andrew and Mr. 2laude Micklethwaite strongly denied hat they had conspired to deceive the ,icensing Authority. Major Eastwood eserved his decision.

More Power to " Bristol Haulage."

A NOTHER application by the -"tBristol Haulage Co., Ltd., has been ranted by the Western Licensing

■ uthority under Section II 3 (b) of the 933 Act without a public inquiry. This ompany has now been granted four chides (10 tons 4 'cwt.) and one railer (1 ton) under an A licence, and B licence for one vehicle (2 tons 10 wt.), which was formerly operated by ressrs. Hodges, of Weston-super-Mare, omerset.

Notts Oil-well Prospects Good.

MPORTANT reference to possible developments in the search for oil in ottinghamshire, is made in the guar:I-1y report of the Mansfield and Disict Employment Committee, which ates that the Eakring No. 1 well has en sunk and oil has been found in hat is believed to be workable qualities, at a depth of 1,975 ft. This well producing oil at the rate of about )0 tons a week. A further statement that it is understood that a number new borings are contemplated, and :velopments may have an important !aring on the industrial future of the ansfield district.

Valuable Courses in Transport Education.

)R013ABLY the chief centre for transport education in London (last ssion over 700 transport students tended), the North-Western Polythnic, Prince of Wales Road, London, W.5, reopens for enrolment for the 39-40 session on September 18. The lior transport lecturer, Mr. E. T. lburn, will be in attendance from p.m. to 9 p.m. on September 19, 20 d 22. There will be courses for the Aiminary, graduateship and associate tmbership examinations of the Insti:e of Transport.

[n addition, classes will be held for Royal Society of Arts certificates in transport, for those engaged in xis or passenger transport by road. special interest are the courses for

the examination of the Institute of Travel Agents. Fuller particulars are available from Mr. M. W. Mitchell, the head of the Department of Commerce.

Johannesburg Wants a Tower Wagon.

JOHANNESBURG City Council re quires a 5-ton tower wagon, based on a petrol-engined chassis with a rating of not less than 31 h.p. Tenders have to be delivered to the town clerk, Municipal Offices, Johannesburg, by September 16. Further details of this call may be obtained from the Department of Overseas Trade, 35, Old Queen Street, London, S.W.1, reference T.26112/39 being quoted. NO EXCUSE FOR IGNORANCE ON RECORDS

WHEN a confectioner, at Keighley VIII (West Riding), recently pleaded ignorance of regulations regarding records, Inspector A. Slaughter emphasized that neither employers nor their drivers had any excuse for ignorance in this respect. '.` Since 1933, when these regulations came into operation," he said, "there has been a surprising amount of laxity in complying with them. Time after time we have defendants telling us that they did not know they were doing wrong, in spite of the many cases reported in the Press and the fact that it is their duty to know these regulations.

" It is quite easy and cheap for anyone to get to know what is required. They can buy a copy of the regulations from a bookseller or direct bum His Majesty's Stationery Office. If in doubt they can always ask the police. We are very pleased to be able to help them" Defendant in the case, Mr. Frank Rollison, who said that he did not know records had to be preserved for six months, was fined 21.

Slump in India's Import Trade.

SURVEYING the import trade of India for the period from April 1, 1938, to March 31, 1939, a publication recently issued by the Department of Overseas Trade shows that 7,808 motorbuses, vans and lorries were imported during the period, their aggregate value being Rs, 118.4 lakhs, Imports from America totalled 5,095 vehicles, whereas 607 were imported from the United Kingdom and 1,958 from Canada. All these totals are lower than the corresponding figures for the previous year, but the greatest percentage loss occurred in the case of imports

from the United Kingdom. , In the previous year the total number of vehicles, imported was 15,077, their value being Rs. 206.8 laklis. In that year 10,035 vehicles Came from the United States, 2,337 from the United Kingdom, and 2,197 from 'Canada.

The trade suffered a marked decline in the period under review, which was felt by all the countries of supply, except Canada.

Big Increase in Fruit-transport Lorries.

AORE and heavier lorries are the IVIfeature of this season's fruit and vegetable trade at Evesham and Pershore. Supplies are almost unprecedented, but prices are good, consequently activity is considerable. Sometimes one market will handle upwards of 4,000 lots, comprising innumerable packages, in one day, and unloading for the sale, commencing at 5 a.m., will be taking place from a queue of vehicles over half a mile long.

New H.Q. of British Aluminium.

AS from September 18, the head office of the British Aluminium Co., Ltd., will be removed to new and larger quarters at Norfolk House, St. James's Square, London, S.W.1.

PERSONAL PARS.

MR. B. T. BROWN has been appointed northern sales representative of Edwards Brothers (Tippers), Ltd., of Bolton.

ALDERMAN CLIFFORD KENYON, vicechairman of Rawtenstall Transport and Electricity Committee, has accepted the invitation to remain Mayor of the borough for a second year 141x. C. D. WATERS, until recently director in charge of outside sales for Wellworthy Piston Rings, Ltd., has no.v been appointed sales director at the company's head office and works at Lymington.

LORD ASHF1ELD, chairman of London Transport, is to succeed Sir Harold Bellman as president of the council of the Advertising Association, when the latter vacates that office in October next.

MR. OWEN MASSEY, who has recently been elected vice-chairman of the Industrial Transport Association, began his career with Salt Union, Ltd., Winsford, Cheshire, there going through many departments, gaining knowledge of the organization of a large business. This experience was interrupted by service during the War with the R.A.S.C. (M.T.), which was his first direct contact with transport. In 1920 he joined the traffic department of Salt Union, Ltd., from which time he has devoted himself to transport and allied activities. He resigned his position in June, 1930, to become traffic adviser to Scribbans and Co., Ltd., Snaethwick.

Recently, Mr. .Massey has been appointed to the boards of Hurst and Payne, Ltd., and Red Arrow Deliveries, Ltd., of Birmingham. He is a founder-member of the Association, was chairman of the Birmingham branch for the two years 1936-1938, and was elected a vice-president for the year following.

Scanunell Lorries Doing Good Export Business.

EXPORT orders received during July for Sc..ammell and Bedford-Scammell vehicles had a value exceeding £16,000, so we are advised by Scammell Lorries, Ltd., Watford West.

A.30 Outstanding amongst the orders was one from Rangoon Corporation for a large number of three-wheeled refuse collectors. The company received further orders for Bedford-Scammell tractors and trailers for Australia, Ceylon, Abadan and Lisbon, whilst from Brazil came an order for two mechanical horses and six trailers, and from Ceylon one for three mechanical horses and five trailers.

Death of Mr. E. W. Rudd.

IT was with deep regret that we learnt .I.of the death, on Monday last, of Mr. E. W. Rudd, at the age of 76 years. He was chairman of E. W. Rudd, Ltd., also a director of Scammell Lorries, Ltd., vice-president of the C.M.U.A., and a member of the Institute of Transport.

More Vehicles Go Into Holland. QO far this year there has been a marked increase in the imports of commercial vehicles and chassis into Holland. Thus, during the six months ended with June last, 540 vans and lorries valued (taking guilders at 8.8 to the £) at £65,568 were imported, as compared with 410 and £46,250 respec tively in the corresponding half of 1938.

In the case of chassis, excluding those for buses and coaches, the number imported during the periods under review advanced from 1,994 (£338,410) to 2,825 (£367,045). An analysis of the returns shows that of the complete vehicles, 295 came from Belgium, although it is understood that the bulk consisted of American productions assembled in that country. WHERE CAN FARM TRACTORS GO?

AN important point with regard to the use of farm tractors (although not new one) was raised at Monday's Forfar branch meeting of the National Farmers' Union and Scottish Chamber of Agriculture. The secretary intimated receipt of a circular from headquarters, which stated that under the Finance Act, 1939, the purpose for which a tractor operating under the 5s. tax may be used is extended to

cover the hauling of farm produce and requisites between different parts oi the same farm, irrespective of thr mileage travelled on public roads.

The question raised was with refer. ence to the words "between different parts of the same farm." What wai the position with regard to a farmei having adjacent farms? Could he usi his tractor between his farms?. It wal agreed that this question should bi taken up with headquarters. LIVERPOOL MEAT MARKET— NEW " REGS."

NEW traffic regulations become operative at Stanley meat market, Liverpool, on September 1. Containers winging meat will be allowed to take ip a position immediately adjacent to be market stalls until 6.50 a.m., when ;hey must pull out from beneath the zeranda and take up parking postions. Each. imported meat concern will be allowed to retain one container mly, adjacent to its stall, During market hours, the veranda pace will be used solely by retailers' zehicles taking delivery of meat. Readers' vehicles requiring to use the :overed roadway, between the cooling .00ms and the meat market, must eave a complete road through from vest to east, for the circulation of raffle.

Jersey Tomatoes by a Fast Service.

THIS week saw the commencement of the season for tomato transport, .nd the Huelin-Burrows daily service rom Jersey via Portsmouth to London, 3irmingha.in and the southern counties s now well in swing. The service s maintained by the fast modern rotor vessels "St. Bedan " and ' Jolly Girls" and by up-to-date cornaercial vehicles.

During this season there is the possidity of the concern's being able to we return loads to contractors applyrig at at the Portsmouth office of Burrows 'ransport, Ltd.; at Somerset Road,

outhse-a. •

It is as well that contractors running 3 -Portsmouth should advise the corn

pany's London or Birmingham offices the day previous to leaving, so that arrangements can be made to reserve for them return loads from Portsmouth. The address of the London office is 31-33, Tabard Street, Borough, S.E.1, and that of the Birmingham office is 16, Morville Street.

Eire Buys More Goods Vehicles.

T ICENSING returns for June last Lashowthat whilst the total number of commercial vehicles registered in Eire fell from 167 to 164, as compared with June, 1938, the number of goods vehicles increased from 102 to 113. The number of road locomotives, tractors, etc., showed a similar inciease from 11 in June, 1938, to 15 in June, 1939.

The number of hackney vehicles fell from 32 to 16, and the number of exempt vehicles from 18 to 15. The number of buses remained at 4, for June of both years. The best sellers in the commercial-vehicle field were in the following order :—Fordson (81), Bedford (25), Morris (18).

Shipping Guide for Hauliers.

THE following is the number of ships arriving at the London docks, wharves and jetties named, from August 25 to September 2, inclusive:— Domes: King George V. 7; Royal Albert, 7; Royal Victoria, 2; urrey Commercial, 6; East India, 1; West India, 5; South West India, 4; Tilbury, 7; Tilbury Stage, 2; Millvvall, 4; Royal, 2. WHARVES: Hays, 6; Mark Brown's, 1: Butler's, 1. Tilbury Jetty, 4. Regent's Canal, 2.

LAUNDRY TRANSPORT IN TIME OF WAR.

LIV,ERPOOL laundry proprietors who have had under consideration transport work in time of war, have examined the merits of (a) a pooling system for all laundry work; and (b) simultaneous collection and delivery. They have decided in favour of the latter.

Simultaneous collection and delivery has the advantage of giving a continual flow of work, as vans that collect dirty washing will, at the same time, deliver the previous week's clean bundle. At present, the first three days of the week are used for collecting and the latter three days for delivering. Thus, under a simultaneous service when each van collects and delivers every day of the working week, there will be six collecting days, as against a normal two-anda-half or three. It is believed that simultaneous collection and delivery will effect a saving of petrol, men and vans of at least 40 per cent, and possibly 50 per cent.

New Severn Bridge at Gloucester.

ESTIMATED to cost over £100,000, a new bridge is to be built over the River Severn by Gloucester City Council. It will benefit traffic on tee

Gloucester-Ross road. The present Westgate Bridge, built 130 years ago, is inadequate for present-day road needs and hampers river traffic owing to insufficient headroom.

The new bridge is on the line of the Gloucester ring road, which connects with the Exeter-Leeds trunk road, on the north side of the city. The work is expected to commence immediately.

BS. SPECIFICATION FOR SAFETY GLASS.

A SPECIAL committee of the British riStandards Institution has drawn up a new British Standard Specification for safety glass for land transport. Glass which complies with these standards may be marked with the registered certification mark of the British Standards Institution, which is a guarantee that it has passed the stringent tests laid down in the specification.

Additional to the requirements of the M, o.T. regulation, that if fractured such glass does not fly into fragments capable of causing severe cuts, are transparence, freedom from cracks, scratches, bubbles, blisters, etc.

The specifications include heattreated and laminated glass.

Slings for Efficient Lifting.

SLINGS, for general and specific purposes, are described in a leaflet issued recently by Herbert Morris, Ltd., Loughborough. All those using a-y form of hoist for the loading or unloading of goods vehicles may find, among the range offered by this company, items of equipment that will

enable them to accelerate these operations or to effect economies in other directions.

Green Wood Makes Producer-gas.

PRODUCER-GAS, made by the burning of green timber, is being used by an inventor, Mr. M. J. Andrews, to operate a lorry for hauling logs at a timber mill at Narrikup, Western Australia. Tests, it is stated, have shown that the plant burns green or dry wood, that no gumming of valves occurs, because the process ensures clean gas, and that green wood produces better gas than charcoal.

Sales and Service in Macclesfield.

AT 34a, Hurdsfield Road, Macelesfield, Mr. George Mellor opened on Aug. 14 extensive premises, where he is conducting all classes of repair for commercial vehicles, his staff consisting of highly qualified mechanics with a full knowledge of all types. Other sections of the work is the supply of fuels, oils, tyres and motor accessories. He is also continuing with his service of used units and spares, in addition to dealing in all makes of new and used vehicles.

FUEL-RECORD FAILURE.—£10 FINE INFLICTED.

LAST week, at Dumfries Sherif Court, Catherine M'Bricle, Melia Larg, Crocketford, pleaded' guilty to ; charge that, being the owner of six oil engined vehicles, she failed to keep ; record in an approved form of all th heavy oils used. Mr. George Crosbie deputy „fiscal, said that in October 1938, an officer of the Customs an( Excise sent respondent a notice settin forth the legal requirements in connec tion with the receipt and use of hews-, hydrocarbon oils.

On March 10, 1939, the Custom Commissioners, in a letter to respon dent, warned her that they would tak legal proceedings if the records war not kept in a satisfactory manner. Th officer called on April 14, when b found that there had been no entrit in the record since March 16, nor wee any invoices produced.

The Sheriff remarked that respor dent was liable to a fine of £100. Ther was no explanation of why responder did not observe the regulations, which she could not be ignorant. 1-] imposed a fine of £10.