GERMAN SALES DOUBLED IN MARCH.
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During March, 1,290 commercial vehicles were sold and registered in Germany, bringing up the total sales for the first three months of the year to 3,386 vehicles, as compared with 1,582 a year earlier.
Of the total for March, 420 vehicles were of a capacity of under a ton, 411 between 1 ton and 2 tons, 322 between 2 tons and 3 tons, Si between 3 tons and 4 tons, 46 between 4 tons and 5 tons, and 10 over 5 tons.
Ulster Taxation Increased.
The Ulster Budget, which was introduced on May 16, contains no relief for Northern Ireland motor-vehicle operators, but seeks, instead, to impose additional taxation on certain types of vehicle. Oilers, which have hitherto paid the same rate of taxation as petrol vehicles, are to be subject to an increase of about 33 per cent, on the present scale of taxation.
Vehicles exceeding 5 tons unladen weight are to be taxed at the rate of £20 for each ton in excess of 5. An increase is also to be made in the case of lighter vehicles and trailers. The duty on solid-tyred machines, which at present is the same as that en vehicles equipped with pneumatic tyres, is to be raised by 25 per cent.
The new taxation raTtes will operate from January 1, 1935, except in the case of the duty on solid-tyred machines, which will not come into force until January 1, 1936.
Production of Leyland Torque Converters.
With the installation of an electrical testing machine, the torque-converter shop of Leyland Motors, Ltd., has now become a self-contained department, with a weekly output of some half a dozen units, which can, if necessary,
be increased. Hitherto, these units have been sent to the research department for testing, but this course is now obviated.
The building has a floor space of 9,000 sq. ft. and the plant includes some very delicate machines for the production of the blades. On the balancing machine each separate rotating part, after assembly, is balanced, and not only does the machine record B24 the amount by which the part may be out, but actually restores its balance by the removal of the correct amount of metal.
Before the converter is passed, it undergoes trials on the electrical test bench, and it is interesting to note that, although each unit is tested throughout its speed range, in no case has a variation of more than 2 per cent. been revealed.
Chloride Electrical Storage Trading.
During the year ended March 31, 3934, the Chloride Electrical Storage Co., Ltd., made a profit of £244,910. After deducting depreciation and directors' fees, and providing £15,000 for income tax, the net profit amounts to £214,313. It is proposed to pay a final dividend of 5 per cent. on the ordinary shares, making 10 per cent.
for the year, and to allocate £125,000 to general reserve, as well as £11,000 for the benefit of employees. The sum to be carried forward is 272,191, as compared with £104,129 brought in.
R.H.A. Activity in the Metropolitan Area.
In future, all the business of the Metropolitan Regional Area Committee of the Road Haulage Association will be conducted from the office of the secretary, Mr. R. E. Tyrrell, A.S.A.A., Bank Chambers, 103, Streatham Hill, London, S.W.2.
The annual general meeting of this branch of the Association was due to take place yesterday (Thursday), when Messrs. F. F. Fowler and H. J. Lloyd, members of the National Council, were to speak on matters of general importance to hauliers.
Big Increase in Ferry Traffic.
It is reported that during the past year the number of motor lorries and steam wagons passing over the Torpoint Ferry, Cornwall, increased by 5,364 (22.4 per cent.), and by 22,294 tons.
MR. STIRK INSISTS UPON SOUND VEHICLES.
Mr. J. H. Stink, the Licensing Authority for the East Midland Area under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, recently sat at Nottingham, when he emphasized the necessity of keeping good.s vehicles in a safe condition. He denied the rumour that a certain type of goods vehicle was to be driven off the road, and said that he was not concerned with its make or its age, but merely as to whether it is safe or not to be on the road.
The senior examiner had brought to the Court a few examples of parts collected from vehicles of certain operators, which, it was alleged, were not fit to be on the road. Mr. Stirk added "We shall continue to collect such parts, in order that it will be impossible for you to put them back."
When a licence was granted to a general haulage contractor to operate within a radius of 15 miles of Heanor, the railway's representative said that the application "general haulage" was a little wide, and said that the railways had lost much coal traffic, and he was anxious that the applicant should not carry coals for other people. Mr. Stirk thought that the limit of 15 miles might meet the railway company's objection, and this was agreed to.
New Edition of "The Motor Boat Manual."
The 11th edition of" The Motor Boat Manual" has recently been published by Temple Press Ltd., 5-15, Rosehery Avenue, London, E.C.1, at a price of 5s. (by post 5s. 5d.). Owing to the changes in the design and production of marine engines and boats, as well as other factors, it has been found necessary to re-write, almost entirely, 11 of the 21 chapters, whilst the others have been thoroughly revised.
A chapter has been added which gives the working drawings of five popular types of boat. Illustrated descriptions are given of 16 types of petrolparaffin marine motor, nine heavy-oil engines, 20 high-speed Diesel units, and six types of outboard motor.