OUT AND HOME.
Page 19
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By "The Extractor."
Marooned.
There has been no motoring for me, joy-variety or • otherwise, since the authorities slammed the door in October last.I held a petrol licence certainly; but 10 gallons a month was only sufficient to tickle the palate of my Bedford-Buick, so it went into a corner of a friend's big garage, covered with a sheet, with its wheels jacked up, waiting for better times. I have felt disinclined to sell it, one reason being it has served me so excellently, and as, when peace comes, I shall doubtless need It all the time to cope with my business needs, for once I do not feel like the man who said that the only thing he could not resist was temptation. And from what I can hear tempting offers fill the letter box of a car owner to-day. However, I started on this theme with the object of saying something about the Petrol Control Department. I had the idea_ a week or two ago. that I would like to use my Buick for a purely business trip to some odd corners in the eastern counties, thus saving much time and more tribulation; but I had to abandon the idea. One cannot qiend all one's time filling up forms, can one ?
Looking Forward.
It is my lot; and it is of much interest, to walk round motor engineering works in all parts of the, country. Many are the changes, but none more striking than • the introduction of the bluesmocked cheerfuhlooking girls and women engaged mostly on lathe work. Various verdicts are given as to the quality of their work. There is, however, a universal chorus of praise for their industry, their spirit and :their willingness; this in sharp contradistinction to the attitude of certain budding specimens of manhood. During a recent visit to East Anglia, I was told at one works that during a recent rush of work, one callow youth flatly declined to work any more oveTtitne, giving as his reason that he didn't want to " grow old" before his time. The average youth is getting -high wages and bad training with it, as he , had 'yet to learn that money is only a -Men.
Some Ambiguities.
One reads in the announcements of this journal a statement, over the Sentinel wagon works address at Shrewsbury, that The " Sentinel " never leaves its Post. That must be very irksonie for the two smart young fellows who have obviously posed in front of the wagon whilst the photograph was being taken. It would be a pity to think that they were "all dressed up and nowhere to go." The wagon is evidently loaded up ready to start, and I feel sure it Would grieve these men to be baulked in their desire
to explore fresh scenes. I suppose, however, we must accept the expression in its poetical sense, for did not 'rennyson say, "Men like soldiers may not quit the post, allotted by the gods" l. A man desired to explain politely to his informant that he was conscious of being filled up with misinformation; he remarked sententiously, "You remind me of George Washington, you are so different." In the same way this Sentinel announcement reminds one of a Commer Car slogan, it is .so
Some years ago the front cover of this journal came out boldly with the startling statement that "Commer Cars never stop," which struck us at the time as being a most disturbing characteristic, because, after all, every wagon should have a destination, and, anyhow, and in any case, this is only an island. I suppose there_was some subtle meaning that " Commies " cars never name to a "full stop."
„, However, in spite of the Sentinel's declaration, 1 hardly go into a town but I see one or more of them " carrying on."
011a Podrida.
It was good to hear that.Mr. Chas. R. Clark has returned to his old love, Whiting, Ltd., Etiston Road,
in charge cif the agrimotors.
It was a genuine pleasure to talk over old times and also glance forward with Mr. Hooten, late of Continental Tyres and now installed in an important postwith Mann, Egerton and Co., Ltd., at Norwich. He likes the comparative quietude of East Anglia, and comprehends the characteristics and temperaments of the Norfolk farmers with whom they • are doing great business in Fordson tractors. On market day, Norwich, even in these days, fills up with farmers' cars—more than 100 are garaged in and about Mann Egerton's every Saturday. A caricature sketch of Col. R. E. B. Crompton, C.B., has just come to light, and I make no excuse for reproducing it, except that I am sorry it does not portray the popular first president of the C.M.IT.A. in uniform, as he is always seen these days of war. This sketch was made by poor ." G.A.S. 'at the time of the lastcommercial vehicle exhibition at Olympia.