News and Comment.
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Some features of an interesting design of gearbox are illustrated and described on page 153; it promises well for rail-cars.
Yesterday (Wednesday), at Maxwell House, Arundel Street, Strand, W.C., a meeting of the Joint Committee on Docks and Bridges of the C.M.U.A. and the S.M.M.T. was held.
Germany's subvention scheme for military wagons and tractors is making astounding progress, some particulars of which will be found on page J.52. We also make brief comment Gpon the situation on page 149.
On Monday next, at 112, Piccadilly. W., a private meeting of registered cwners of wagons and tractors under the present War Office subvention scheme will take place. The chair will be taken by the Editor of this journal, and an invitation to attend is hereby extended to any such owner. The meeting is fixed for 2.30 pin.
The Exeter City Council has decided to invite tenders for a traction engine and six wagons, at a cost of £1.000. and we understand that the surveyor. Mr. T. Moulding, is now proceeding in this direction. Why, we ask, is a preference given to the heavier and oldfashioned methods of haulage ? The same Council is also purchasing a patching roller, at a cost of £4.55.
Show Politics.
Manchester traders find themselves unexpectedly in a position of considerable difficulty, and we congratulate them upon the statesmanlike way in which they have recognized that the S.M.M.T. is also unhappily placed. It is eminently undesirable that two commercial-motor shows should approximately clash in the early months of :text year, and we have something more to write on that point, at length, on the first and second pages of this issue. Why not consider the holding of commercial-vehicle exhibitions, in alternate years, at London and Manchester—beginning with London next March ? We do not see that this would involve hardship for anybody.
The Ratio of Commercial Motors to Private Cars, According to the annual report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, there were, at the 31st March last, only 48.169 private motorcars in Great Britain, compared with 23,732 commercial motors (trade vehicles and passenger-carrying machines): The relation between these figures is likely to give a shock to many who are connected with the motor industry. 'Unless there are considerable evasions of the carriage tax. upon which the staisties for private motorcars are based, the proportion of lapsed registrations is enormetisly greater than was estimated, either in official or Press circles, during the last few years. To Paris and Back.
Dickins and Jones, Ltd., of Regent Street, W., was amongst the houses which maintained its own motor service during the recent strike on the French railways. Goods were regularly brought from the French capital to Dieppe.
Lacres in Australia.
The, leap into popularity of 1910type Lacre vehicles, in Sydney and other parts of Australia, has been an outstanding feature of trade "down under" during the -past six months. One of the latest vehicles to be shipped to this market is illustrated herewith.
Illicit "Passengers."
We hear that a London company whose vans are making long-distance runs daily are taking action over "passengers." A watch is being kept on the vehicles en route. It appears that certain drivers have been detected carrying one or more passengers the full or part journey.
Hints for Export to Japan.
In the course of the present month, at Nagoya, the principal city in the Aichi district, a newly-established commercial museum, known as "The Aichiken Commercial Museum in Nagoya," which appears to have been designed for the same purpose as the commercial bureau at St. Petersburg, to which attention was called in a recent number, namely, to further Japan's international trade, acting as a go-between for traders.
Next Month's Private-car Show.
The Society of Motor Manufacturer:, and Traders has extended to members of the Commercial Motor Users Association, in virtue of their associateship of the Royal Automobile Club, the advantage of obtaining tickets of admission to the Olympia private-car exhibition, which will be held from the 4th to the 12th prox., inclusive, at half the usual rates—for their own use. Applications should be made, either personally or by letter, at the offices of the Association, 112, Piccadilly, W.
Roads Improvement Association.
The unnecessary watering of trainlines, which frequently causes inconvenience to general traffic, is receiving the attention of the Roads Improvement Association, whose office is at Caxton House, Westminster, S.W., and the Secretary invites the communication of suggestions or experiences. The same association is hoping to improve the conditions of traffic on the Thames Embankment, and points out that the camber reaches as much as 1 in 14 on the side of the highway remote from the river, with the result that traffic from west to east is much incommoded, and unnecessarily so. We understand that the new Peruvian Customs Tariff admits freight automobiles free of duty.
" Please do not write to us to Store Street," pleads the Bosch Magneto Co., Ltd. The proper address is 4042, Newman Street., W.
Crossing the Mersey.
,.,unday Railings of the goods steamers, between Liverpool and Woodside (Birkenhead) landing stages will be discontinued after the 30thi inst.
Gill-Aveling Engines.
We understand that an Italian syndicate has purchased the patent rights of the Gill and Aveling variablestroke engine, which engine was described and illustrated in the issue of this journal for the 7th October, 190D. and that the purchasers have granted the sole rights for the manufacture of engines above 150 h.p. to Messrs. Gill and Aveling, of Canal Street, Birmingham.
L.C.C. is Solicitous.
We strongly suspect that the anxiety of the L.C.C. to secure a large grant from the Road Board, for the express purpose of improving the, principal Metropolita.n traffic arteries, arises from a wish to further tramway extension without the hitherto-attendant " widening " charges. It. will be worse than useless to widen such thoroughfares as Euston Road, if such improvement is entirely to be neutralized by the roadway monopoly of tramrails sobsequently. These widen. ings are matters of urgent importance, and the Metropolis has a preeminent, claim to the product of the motor and petrol taxes for such a purpose, but there is nothing in the Development Act which states that the Road Board's funds may be employed
to facilitate the obstruction of general traffic by the construction of tramways.
The new tramway schemes which are before the Council for 1911 are to cost £1,183,390. They will include, amongst others, the following routes: Essex Road to Kingsland Road; Mare Street to Lauriston Road; and Forest Hill to Rushey Green.
"harrier " Cars in Asiatic Turkey.
We are advised that a " Karrier " car recently travelled from Samsoun to Amasia, a. distance of about 50 miles, in five hours, compared with the normal requirement of three days by donkey or horse carriage. Having regard to the had road conditions, we can only express the hope that those who are responsible for the handling of these and other vehicles in the district will he able, to hasten the fulfilment of contemplated track improvements.