WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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" he wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozisr.
as a carriage is by
Institute of Transport Congress.
The members of the-Institute of Transport meet at Sheffield on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of next week, June 14th-16th for their third annual congress. The proceedings will cbmprise the reading and discussion of papers at meetings to be held on the mornings of the first two days at the Cutlers' Hall, by the courtesy of the Cutlers' Company, whilst the afternoons of the two days and the whole of Saturday will be devoted to visits and inspections which have been arranged by the local committee.
The Lord Mayor of Sheffield has invited the congress to a Conversazione at the Town Hall on the evening of Thursday,whilst the Master and Mistress Cutler entertain the congress at a con. versazione at the Cutlers' Hall on Friday evening.
. The subjects of the papers cover railway matters, air transport, handling of cargo at docks, a comparison of British and American methods of road construction and maintenance, and tramways from a traffic point of view.
Weeding-out London's Cabs.
it was stated in the House of commons a few days ago with regard to unserviceable taxicabs plying for hire in the Metropolitan area that notice had been given by the Commissioner of Police that after September 10th all motor vehicles applying for licence or renewal of licence would be subjected to a practical efficiency test.
It would appear that police officials are now framing 'a new efficiency standard for taxicabs, and that the tests to which vehicles will, be put will be most Ff tringent: There are about 7,500 taxicabs in London, more than half of which are estimated to be of post-war types, although there are probably more than 1,000 vehicles of the old two-cylinder type, many of which have engines manufactured so long ago as 1906.
London to Kentish Coast Arterial Road Opened.
The Elthani by-pass arterial road, which forms part of -a scheme for sons necting. Maidstone, Folkestone, Dover, and other_ Kentish coastal towns with London, was opened a few days ago by Col. 'Wilfrid Ashley, Parliamentary Secretary to the Mimstry of Transport. The total width, of the new road is 80 ft., of which 50 ft. is occupied by the carriage-way, and 15 ft. by each of the footpaths.The new road is close on 3-1, miles -long, and stretches from the Eltham Road east of Lee Green and meets the main Folkestone Road about a quarter of a mile on, the west side of Sideup. The work has been executed Under the control of the Woolwich Borough Council, and has taken about 4
years to complete. • Reduction in Railway Carriage on Solid Tyres. .
The general secretaries of the British Ridsher Tyre Manufacturers' Association, Ltd., inform us that, as a result of representations, railway companies have de 019
cided to charge solid rubber tyres on iron or steel bands for road motor vehicles at Class 2 rat-A! the revised method of charging operating as from June 1st.
The general reduction on rubber goods is from .75 per cent. to 60 per cent, in the percentage increase, . the increase ever pre-war rates being now 60 per cent. plus 6d. flat rate. The cartage
charge of 9d. at each end is eliminated, and the percentage increase on smalls is reduced from 100 per cent. to 75 per cent.
Revised Tolls for Heavy Motors.
The Widnes Corporation Omnibus Committee has decided to revise the tolls on the Transporter Bridge operating between Widnes and Runcorn as follow :Commercial vehicles, not exceeding 25 cwt. gross, empty 8d., loaded is.; above 25 cwt., and under 50 cwt. tare, empty is. 3d., loaded 2s. 6d.; above 13 cwt., and under !.5 cwt. tare, empty 9d. and loaded Is. 6d.
Wood-Milne Development. .
An important new tyre organization, which is known as the central sales office of Wood-Milne Tyres and Manufacturing Co., Ltd., has recently been established at 64, Victoria Street, London, S.W. 1. Mr. F. J. Copping, who has for some time past handled the Wood-Milne solid tyre interests, has beenappointed general sales manager of the new organization, which has been formed to acquire the Ajax Rubber Works at Leyland, where Wood-Milne products have been manufactured for 'many years pa-st.
The new company will:commence trading on June 1st, and is taking over the whole stocks of Wood-Milne solid tyres and foot pumps. The managing director of the company is Mr. H. B. Potter, until recently joint managing director of Wood-Milne, Ltd„ and his effort will be supported by am very powerful board of directors, consisting-of Mr. R. A. Workman (chairman of Workman, Clark and Co., Ltd.), chairman; Mr. William Busses (Richard Barnes,and Sons, Rochdale); Lt.-Col. the Hon. Stuart Pleydells Bouverie, D.S.O. (director, of Wolseley Motors, Ltd.): Sir John Prescott Hewett, G.C.S.I., K.B.E., C.I.E. (director of General Electric Co., Ltd.); and Sir Harry Verney Bt.,111.S.O. (director of Met. Rly.
A London service depot is -being established at 43, Johnson Street, Page Street, Westminster, S.W., whilst the company will have depots of a similar description at Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Birmingham, and Glasgow.
French Licences for German.owned Lorries.
The German authorities in the occupied area have wisely decided that licences for motor lorries and motorcars owned by German users may be taken out from the French authorities. This decision has been reached in order that the food .supplies in the area concerned should not be imperilled. The situation in Cologne, where theBritish Authorities had not recognized the new ordina.nce placing the control of mechanical road transpork in the hands of the Rhineland Commission, will thus be relieved.
' Rubber Tyres Entering South Africa.
It is reported that the proposed new duties on tyres entering South Africa are to be levied on a weight -basis, This is in accordance with the policy advocated by .the British Rubber Tyre Manufacturers' Association, Ltd., when the matter was -first suggested two years, ago. This teethed is considered very Much fairer than the present ad valorem basis.
More Guys for Shell-Mex.
Guy Motors, Ltd., inform us that they have been favoured with a repeat order for a fleet of 4-ton" Vehicles from Shell-Mex, to. It is interesting to note that the company have been using Guy vehicles for the past. eight years, and this is one of. several repeat orders which have beeri obtained from this source.
Brussels Bus Service.
At a meeting of the Societe BruxelLoire held in Brussels a few days ago, it. was asked what was the present status of the negotiations. concerning the proposed BruxellesIxeIles motor omnibus line. The president stated that the company's negotiations with• the city of Brussels and the commune of Ixelies on this subject have been long and laborious. They were on the point of being concluded when another company intervened and submitted certain proposals, which had now been considered. The outcome of the matter was that tenders for Lases would shortly be asked for by both the city of Brussels and the commune of Ixelles.
Public Petitions versus Municipal Opposition...
An inspector of the Ministry of Transport recently conducted an inquiry as to the suitability of Carridon Road and Hazelbank Road, Catford, for omnibus traffic. It was urged on behalf of the London County Council and the Lewisham Borough Council that the roads were not adapted for omnibus traffic, but the other side of the question was presented by the London General Omnibus Co-, who produced petitions in which residents in the district favoured the operation of buses along the roads concerned.
Tramcars Congest Glasgow Street Traffic.
The question of the traffic congestion within the central area of the City of Glasgow has recently been considered by the local magistrates, who decided to remit the matter to a special sub-committee for attention. The chief constable has stated that the present congestIon is of such a nature as to endanger the safety of the public and hamper industrial and other transport, and he throws the blame for this %t.ate of affairs chiefly on the tramcars, which, he says, use an unequal proportion of the available street space. The present width of the streets is considered insufficient to accommodate the volume of traffic on them, and they were constructed at a period when the population, business, and size of the city were comparatively small.
Two distinct classes of transport vehicles using the same streets, but travelling at greatly different speeds, were considered contributory causes of congestion. It was pointed out that it is a well-recognized fact that the speed of a moving stream of vehicles is regulated by the slowest-moving vehicle. The presence on the streets ef mechanically propelled • vehicles other than tramcars would not interfere, says the chief constable, with the natural division of traffic in slow and fast lines, but, on the other hand, the defined and unalterable position possessed by tramcars causes a much more serious obstruction to the free movement of other traffic, particularly in the narrow streets of the central area of Glasgow.
Express Buses for Paris.
It is stated that express motorbuses of a smaller type than those at present in use and fitted with pneumatic tyres will shortly be placed on the streets of Paris. Life in the Frencii capital will then certainly be worth the living.
Municipal versus Private EnterpFise.
Opposition was raised to the proposal put forward at a meeting of the Cardiff City Council to finstitute corporation motorbus services at Llanisben, Rhiwbina, Llandaff, Llandaff North, and St. Fagan's, it being painted out that private individuals running bus services would suffer as a result_ Edinburgh Parade.
A representative collection of motor vehicles paraded on Saturday last in Edinburgh in connection with the Royal Infirmary pageant. The types of vehicles were divided into three classes, those not exceeding 30 cwt., those above that capacity, whilst the third class was for advertising vehicles. The parade was organized by the Scottish C.I14.17.A.
Hull Disposing of its Recent Purchase.
In our last issue we referred to the fact that the Ministry of Transport had refused the Hull Corporation sanction for a moterbus service to Resale, although the corperAion had purchased six vehicles and the goodwill of a service previously maintained for the purpose. Following this refusal, it was decided at a meeting of the tramways committee to sell the vehicles by tender.
Seasons on Taxis.
A novel method of encouraging the use of taxicabs in Sydney and Melbeurne has been adopted by one of the largest proprietors in the Antipodes. Regular patrons are supplied with metal discs, which are numbered and registered by the company. When the disc holder calls a cab he merely shows the driver his disc and no money changes hands. At the end' of the day the latter submits a statement to the company, giving particulars of trips made by disc-holders, who pay on receipt of monthly bills.
Rates in Australia vary from is. 3d. to is. 6d. a mile and are charged both ways, whether the passenger makes the return trip or not. These rates cannot be considered unreasonable, as operation coats are much higher there than they
are in this country. Generally speaking, Australian taxicabs are very pretentious and luxurious, the most popular type having locally built bodies mounted on Fiat chassis.
Buses Preferred to Tramcars.
At a recent meeting of the Cardiff City Council a member moved the deletion of the minutes of the tramways committee recommending the purchase of additional tramcars at a cost of £43,350, pointing out that the time had come for the curtailment rather than the extension of the tramcar system. He suggested the desirability at purchasing additional motorbuses, 25 in number, to replace obsolete • tramcars.
Refusal to Issue New Licences.
The North Wales Silver Motors; Ltd., have applied to the Colwyn Bay District Council for four new licences to enable them to run buses through that part of Colwyn Bay, included in a circular tour from Colwyn Bay through the Mochdre Valley to Conway, Conway to Llandudno, and Llandudno through Rhos-on-Sea. The surveyor reported that buses plying between Colwyn Bay and Llandudno frequently travelled at too great a speed, and that if a tramcar was standing on the rails and the bus could not get past immediately, the driver did not hesitate to mount the footpath. This happened frequently on the narrow path between Colwyn Bay and Old Colwyn, and the practice damaged the footpath. The tyres on the buses, moreover, were not all of the resilient type which the council had decided to insist upon. The council renewed the existing licences, but declined the additional licences applied for by the company. The licensees were all informed by the chairman that. the regulations on the particular points mentioned by the surveyor must be closely adhered to.
Cardiff's Paying Buses. The increased revenue on the Cardiff City Council's bus services continues, and the forecast a the services becoming a 'paying concern is likely to be proved correct. From April 1st to May 12th of this year receipts on the buses were £4,915, as against £1,503 6s. 41d. in the corresponding period of 1922; an increased revenue stated to be satisfactory, even allowing for fleet extensions since the 1922 period.
-.Improved Communications in South Wales.
The communication between the Western Valley of Monmouthshire and the eastern part of the county; as well as access to Newport, has been greatly improved by the opening of anew traffic
• route between Llanhilleth and Hafod rynys.• ' • The new road, undertaken as a renet work for unemployment, was contsructed at a cost of £26,227, which was borne by the Abertillery Urban District Council, the Monmouthshire County Council, and the Ministry of Transport, and is to be maintained as a first-class road by the county council. The route improves the connection between Abertillery-, Pontypool and Newport.
East Lothian and Road Grants.
At a Meeting of the East Lothian CountsConnell a. few days ago a letter from -4116Orkney County Council was considered, in which attention was drawn to the grants being made by the Ministry .of Transport towards a asew road from Edinburgh to Glasgow, and other
schemes. •
It was pointed out that this was a departure from the purpose of the Road Fund, and an inquiry was put forward as to whether East Lothian objected and if it was pressing for a larger grant for reconstruction and repair work of existing roads. The letter also suggested that Scottish Members Of Parliament should be asked to take the matter up With the Ministry Of Transport. After a discuss Sion of the proposals, memberS "of the
B.20 East Lothian Council unanimously agreed to support the terms of the letter.
A Publicity Appointment.
Mr. G. F. Marreco., A.M.I.Mech.E. A.I.E.E., has been appointed advertising manager to the Grigg Motor and Engineering Co., Ltd., -andall matters relative to publicity will receive attention at his hands at the London office, 45, Newman Street, London, AV. 1.
One-man Buses to Reduce Losses. in view of the fact that the motor -omnibus services operated by the Middlesbrough Corporation Tramways Committee have for some time past been .operated at a loss, a suggestion has been _advanced that the commit-tee should eonSider the advisability of running oneman-operated buses, which are proving ; their worth in various large industrial and other centres. The committee is also considering the • inauguration "o4
special country outings during the summer menths.
The past month's operation of the buses bas" shown ii revenue of £198 leas than the previous month, but against this working costs were £886 lower.
Steam Wagons for Sydney.
After tests, a committee of the Sydney Municipal Council, "N.S.W„ recommends the purchase of a six-ton Foden steam wagon, with tipping body, for the surveyor's department, at a cost of £1;470, and a Sentinel steam wagon, with flattop body, for the electricity department, at a cost. of £1,480.
Dumbartonshire Roads.
. At a recent meeting of the Dumbartonshire County Council resolutions by the finance committee were confirmed for the .borrowing of large sums of money in connection with schemes for road construe: tion and repair work. Part of the money will be needed for the proposed road .from Duntocher to Bowling, the estimated cost of which is £170,009, out of which £50,000 will fall upon the county. London's Hooded Buses.
, There appears to be some confusion in the matter of the covered-in bus with which the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., have recently experimented. To test the practicability of the scheme, the company recently equipped a bus fitted with a rigid covered-in top, glass windows, cushioned seats and efficient systems of illumination and ventilation, and a vehicle of this description was illustrated in our issue wherein we published a description of the new NS-type chassis. This type of covered-in vehicle has been confused with another produced by the -All-Weather Bus Co., which has been equipped with a collapsable fabric hood. The London General Omnibus Cos wish to point out that they are.emphaticallyaverse to fabric hoods_ of any description, and that there is no intention ,of equipping their, buses running on the London streets with such protectiVe
coverings. •
c.m.u.A. Rotherham Parade.
The first "annual parade of the NorthEastern Division (Sheffield and Rotherham area) of the C.M.TJ.A. was held on Saturday last, when a considerable num-ber of petrol and steam vehicles -paraded. _ •
There were actually 20 classes in which arasizes were awarded, these including champion teain of three vehicles, champion single vehicle, three best, petrol lorries, three best steam wagons, best single vehicle (six classes, including a passenger" vehicle class), best oldest vehicle prior to 1916), makers' classes • (including A.E.0 , 'Albion, Garrett, Robey, and Yorkshire) the driver with he longest period of driving to his credit, 'sthe driver with the longest period of service with one employer, the -driver possessing a clean licence for the longest period, and the .driver who has "driven for the longest period without accident or breakdown. In each of these classes monetary awards were "made.
Accessories for Every Need.
A most comprehensive c g
ataloue has just been issued by Messrs. A. 'sJ. Dew and Co.., 21-25, Endell Street, London, W.C. 2, in-which details of an extensive range of motor-vehicle accessories marketed for 1923 are given: All the features which have usually been incorporated.in the company's catalogue are to be found
• ia the 1923 edition, in which every possible requirement of the motor trade is covered;: Twb new' section have this year been added to the catalogue, these including a garage and workshop equipment section, and another devoted to wireless apparatus and accessories. The distribution of the catalogue is confined to the trade, and the conipany will he pleased to forward a copy to any bona fide agent. •
Too Much for the Only Constable. Hockliffe Parish Couucil, Hertfordshire, is urging thata speed limit or more regular supervision of traffic be made for thatparish in view of the danger to the public and to property o-wing to the vast amount of traffic • along Watling Streets tothe dangerous crossroads and the lack of proper supert vision. There is only one policeman in the village, and he has to supervise three other villages, and it, is therefore impossible for him to devote much of his time to the supervision and regulation of traffic through the village.
Orders for Guy Buses.
Guy Motors, Ltd., have been paying considerable attention to the use of motorbuses by municipalities which are using such vehicles as feeders to the tramway system or which are using them in preference to the rigid system of communication, and of late the company have received a large number of orders from various municipalities. They havs recently secured an order for a fleet of 2-ton, 20-seater one-manoperated buses fram the Ashton-underLyne Corporation, whilst the Caine Corporation has placed an order for a number of 20 seaters of the one-man-operated type and 30-seater buSes.
The popularity of the Guy vehicle for pztssenger work is undoubtedly due to the underslung springs of the chassis, which give excellent riding, and the low loading platform—both of which are appreciated by passengers—and to the low cost of operation of vehicles of this make.
Police View of Bus Speeds.
A communication was sent by the Lowestoft Corporation to the superintendent of police with regard to the speed of motor omnibuses along the main road. The superintendent replied calling attention to difficulties with which the police are faced in the regulation of this traffic, and stating that past experience has shown to the police the futility of making charges as to driving to the danger of the public unless overwhelming evidence can be obtained, and suggesting that eten with such evidence it is by no means certain that the charge will be dealt with solely on its merits. The town clerk has been asked by the corporation to inquire on what grounds the superintendent bases this suggestion.'
Southend Buys a Motor Mower.
At a meeting of the Southend Corporaion Parks Committee the borough sur'eyor reported that he had made further inquiries, as directed by the committee, with a view to securing a suitable motor mower at a lower cost than £230, the amount previously proposed. He submitted quotations which he had obtained from six firms for the supply of machines of various gauge, and the committee--being of opinion that the most satisfactory for the purpose of dealing with the large tracts of land at the Victory Sports Ground and the Jones Memorial Recreation Ground was that of Messrs. Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, costing £227 12s 6d.—resolved to accept this conspany's.quotaticsa.
A Railway Motor Service.
The Great Western Railway Co. have stated, following a plea for the reintroduction of a railway motor service between Merthyr and Newport, that the company are not in a position to accede to this request while the building of the Newport Station is in progress, but that so soon. as the station is completed a restoration of the motor service will be , considered.
Allowance of 20 Per Cent. for Police Errors.
The Cardiff Stipendiary Magistrate in dealing with cases against motor drivers for exceeding the speed limit, said that in cases where the constable stood in the centre of a measured length, to time vehicles, he would make an allowance for an error of 20 per cent
Some Parking Difficulties.
At a meeting of the Chester Watch Committee the Chief Constable reported a considerable increase in the traffic through the central streets of the city. He had difficulty in dealing with motor vehicles standing in the streets, and his fear was that repeated prosecutions would eventually harm the trade of the town. Streets which had been allocated for parking were too far away from the centre of the city, and his opinion was that a large central garage was an urgent necessity to deal with the problem.
A sub-committee was appointed to con sider the question of dealing with motor vehicle traffic and the arrangements to be made foi the garaging or parking of cars.
Burton-on-Trent Bridge Widening. With the acceptance, at. a recent
• special meeting of the Burton-an-Trent Town Council, of a tender for widening the bridge which crosses the Trent at the great brewing centre, the first' stei has been taken towards the realization ot an improvement which has long been needed.
The structure, which wadi erected nearly 60 years ago, is over a quarter of a mile long, and it is now intended to widen it by 20 ft. Tenders for the work, ranging from £47,029 to £78,432, were submitted for consideration, and it was determined to accept one for the firstnamed amount, that. having been submitted by Gray's Ferro-Concrete Co., of Glasgow. In all 19 tendeas were received by the council, and it transpired that Messrs. Lambrick and Co., a local firm, had sent in the second lowest tender, amounting to £49,928.
• For and Against Bus Services.
It has been decided by the local legis. lation committee of the House of Commons, •which has considered the Birkenbead Corporation Bill, that only with the consent of local authorities outside the borough boundaries will Birkenhead Corporation be enabled to run motorbus services. The petitioners against the Bill include Bebington and Bromborough Urban District Council, Wirral Rural District Council, Cheshire County Council, and the Crosville Motor Bus Co., although residents in the districts of Hey. lake., Meols, Bromborough, and West Kirby have put forward requests for the services.
One-man Buses Satisfy.
The Rotherham Corporation Tramways Committee ha e recently issued its report for the year 1922 dealing with the various forms of passenger services which it runs. • The revenue on the tramcars for the year was £91,256, a decrease of £5,356 for the previous year; on the railless vehicles '£8,676, a decrease of £849 on the previous year, whilst. on the petrol buses an ilicrease of £890 was shown.
.In, the report it is pointed out that considerable savings are shown in the running of the petrol buses, and it is clear that there has-been a decided advantage resulting from the operation of one-man type vehicles.
Business Opportunities Abroad.
The municipality of Colombo has decided to purchase an electrically propelled street sprinkler, which will be the first vehicle of its kind'in Ceylon. It is anticipated that additional electric vehicles will be utilized for the transpor tation of refuse and other commercial work, although much depends on the -reduction of the present cost of electric power,
A Costly Garage.
The L.C.C. Finance Committee reports that in 1920 it sanctioned the bar-. rowing by the Poplar Borough Council of £2,050 for the erection of' a garage for the accommodation of mechanically propelled vehicles. This garage has been used for both steam and petrol-driten wagons and, in view of the risk involved in using fires in proximity to petrol, the borough council has decided to extend the garage 80 as to provide separate accommodation for each class of vehicle.
The work, which is already in hand, is being carried out by direct labour under the supervision of the borough engineer. The cost, estimated at 21480, is subject to a reduction by £20 in respect of existing work which will have to be destroyed, so that the amount which the borough council now seeks to borrow is £1,160, The committee ad
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vised that, this is excessive, and. that £1,036 represents a reasonable figure for which sanction may be given. In the case of the former sanction to the borrowing of £2,050, as the site was one originally acquired for electricity purposes, but not then required for such purposes, the period of repayment of the loan was, at the suggestion of the borough council, fixed at ten years. or earlier if and When the site was, required for electricity purposes, and similar provisions with regard to the repayment may be made in the case of the present sanction.
Narrow Roads and Coach Traffic.
The Lindsey County Council has recently received several applications for roads to be closed to char-à-bancs traffic, especially on those roads of narrow dimensions near the sea coast which are used by many motor coaches operating on circular tours. The council has not, se far, taken any action, the difficulty
being to make regulations without interfering with residents who use the roads themselves. The closing of the roads would also add to the duties of the police. The council has decided to erect notices at, the entrance to some of the roads in question pointing, out that they are not, suitable for char-a-bancs traffic.
Market Traffic.
Glasgow Corporation has a special committee which is considering suggestions submitted by a deputation from the Glasgow Wholesale Meat Salesman's Society for the better. regulation of the vehicular traffic in the meat market, etc.
Not Enough Police.
In a communication to the Lambeth Borough Courtil, the Commissioner of Police says he. recognizes that there are several places at which it would be advantageous if more police assistance than is at present possible could be afforded, but, owing to economic conditions, he does not feel justified in augmenting the force at the present time.
Transport Employees' Wages.
The Liverpool road transport employera have issuednotices that on and after June 2nd the programme of working conditions, which has been rejected by the Liverpool Carters' and Motormen's Union, will be put into operation. The employers' programme has been the subject of .negotiations between the employers and the Union for some time now, without any decision being reached_ It involves a small reduction in wages and alterations in the conditions of
labour. Whilst the 48-hour week is guaranteed, motor vehicle owners claim the option of emplaying drivers on what i:; known as the accumulative" working week, which means that the first 48 hours worked between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. would entitle the worker to a full week's wages, .hours over and above the 48 being calculated at overtime rates, which are also being made the subject of revision.
Road Transport Saves 4s. per Ton.
At a meeting of the Blackburn Chamber of Commerce the question of road transport and upkeep of roads was reviewed. In introducing the subject, Mr. J. S. Miller said that the traders of Blackburn and district were out for the best transport service; and did net mind whether it was provided by railways or by road transport companies. A councillor said that the commercial motor vehicle was not sufficiently. taxed, and that it was unfair that railways should pay as much for roads which they did not use as motor users. He followed this remark by adding that cloth could be sent, to Manchester by road for 14s. 6d. per ton as against 18s. 6d. a ton by rail for such work. This, in itself,is surely a point in favour of the use of mechanical road transport vehicles.
Motors and the Swansea Show.
• South Wales buses, a fleet of up-todate single and double-deck vehicles, owned and run by the South Wales Commercial Motor Co., played an important part in conveying people from many parts to the recent Bath and -West, and -Southern Counties Agricultural Show at Swansea and back again. Swansea is a town with• a multitude of railway star tions, from which a good service of trams operates. "Where one could get a bus or coach, though," writes a correspondent, "the journey could be done much more quickly and with greater eaee and comfort, whilst , the faxes on the Swansea trams were tho highest I have ever met with.'' , • The show proved that road transport becomes more important each year in the Conveyance of exhibits to the site of the big Shows. Many implements and other exhibits go by road, but most recent progress in this connection has taken place with regard to live stock. There is a greater saving of time when show stock is taken by road, and far less risk of injury to the animals. The construction of live-stock motorvans has now reached such a high state of perfection that ani mals travel in perfect luxury. Many such vans were in use at Swansea.
Taxi Sidecars for Lowestoft.
Lowestoft WatchCommittee has licensed as a hackney carriage a motorcycle and two-seater sidecar belonging to Mr. dela Motto, subject to the vehicle proving satisfactory on inspection.
Westminster's Petrol Needs.
Westminster City Council reports the receipt of a letter from the British Motor Spirit Distributing Co., Ltd., stating that they are prepared to continue to supply motor spirit to the council under their contract dated September 19th, 1922, at is. 4id. per gallon, during such time as the present prices remain in force. They have since dropped the price another farthing, to Is. 41d.
The lowest price at which the company have to supply spirit under'their contract is Is. 5.7d. per gallon. The last reduction made by the company was on November 7th, 1922, when the price was reduced to 1s. aid. per gallon. The contract is for one year ending July 13th, 1923, and the council has directed that competitive tenders be invited for the supply of petrol on the termiRation of the existing contract.
Lincolnshire Traffic and Rivet Bridges.
The inadequate means which are available for crossing the River Trent, in Lincolnshire districts, have long been a cause of serious complaint, which has been aggravated by reason of the high tolls charged for the use of the few bridges spanning the river. The matter has several times been under the consideration of the county authorities, without any satisfactory solution being arrived at, and it has now become one of pressing exigency in relation particularly to the bridge at Gainsborough.
A special committee of the urban council which had been appointed to deal with the question of a free passage over the Trent from that town has had an interview with the Director-General of Roads. A resolution has been passed by the council expressing the view that, owing to the development of road traffic, the toll bridge has become a burden on the district, never contemplated when the Gainsborough Bridge Act was passed, and that, in order to abolish or lessen the tolls or to establish other means of transport over the river, it has asked the Director-General to summon and attend a conference of interested public authorities and organizations, together
with the Parliamentary representatives of this and adjoining districts.
The question of establishing a better means of communication lower down the river, between the Lincolnshire and Yorkshire Coasts, by means of a tunnel for motor or rail purposes, connecting Grimsby with Hull, is still engaging the close attention of the authorities in the Fen Country, in conjunction with those at Hull. It is generally recognized that such an arrangement would be of incalculable value, and improve transport facilities between the Midland and NorthEastern counties.
Northumberland Roads.
The county surveyor of Northumberland states that it is proposed to spend £403,471 on the improvements of roads and bridges in the county. Of this sum £15,518 will be allocated to bridges, of which, it is stated, there are 199 needing reconstruoting or strengthening.
Electrics for Southend.
Southend Corporation Health Committee recommends the purchase of three electric lorries, with tipping gear, £910 each, from Richard Garrett and Sons, Ltd. The chairman informed the committee of the result of his inspection, with the engineer, of the Garrett vehicle, large numbers of which were in use in Norwich, Hackney, and other boroughs, the van being so constructed as to provide control thereof by the loader from the pavement level.
Costing for Motor Vehicles, .
Under the auspices of the joint organization of the East Lancashire Road Transport Association and the Blackburn area of the C.M.U.A., Mr. Thomas Fletcher, A.L.A.A., the secretary of the organization, recently read a paper on "Costing for Motor Vehicles." Mr. Fletcher pointed out that road transport lent itself to a simple system of costing that would produce information vital to those engaged in the industry, and that in their own interests and in the general interests of the industry it was essential that costing records should be kept.
Local Proceedings.
The profits on Deal and Walmer municipal motorbus services for the past year amounted to nearly £7,000.
A Blackwell Rural Distriet Council report records a saving of £839 last year by the use of motor lorries.
The Tenby Town Council has decided to increase the charge for street petrol pumps from one guinea to three guineas.
Cardiff Corporation is shortly to consider the advisability of seeking powers for the establishment of new bus services,
About £10,000 is to he spent on the purchase and installation of motor firefighting equipment for the city of Tampico, the Mexican oil centre.
Proposed joint Bus Services.
A conference is being arranged between the local authorities of Morecambe, Lancaster and Heysham to consider the question of motorbus services for the districts.
Unauthorized Buses at Southend.
Southend Corporation Tramways Committee has directed the town clerk to call the attention of the watch committee to the unauthorized plying for hire of motorbuses between York Road and Leigh.
Coastal Bus Service for Wales.
It is reported that the Great Western Railway Co. intend to initiate motorbus services between Cardigan and Aberystwyth. The proposed route is' along the coast, over one of the most famous of Welsh coast scenery stretches.
Wheel Talc for New South Wales.
Sydney (N.S.W.) Municipal Council has been asked to send delegates to a conference of local authorities in connection with the subject of a proposed wheel tax and regarding the condition of the main roads.