WHEELS of INDUSTRY
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"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport, at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
THE TRANSPORT OF PIGS—A C.M.U.A. DEPUTATION.
Last Monday the Commercial Motor Users Association arranged a deputation to the Pigs Marketing Board concerning the clause in the contract with pig producers and curers, that the transport above five miles must be performed by the railway or its agents.
Mr, S. N. Horne said one of the aims of the Board should be to promote the co-ordination of road and rail transport, and it was inequitable that a monopoly should be given to one method of transport. Lord Phillimore referred to the loss of weight of pigs as a result of conveyance by rail.
The vice-chairman of the Board said there were two exceptions, these being the five miles from the curers' premises and between five and 15 miles where road conveyance was reasonably required. The committee would investigate any case of a pig producer or curer who thought he was suffering from disability and wished the pigs to travel by road.
The railways had agreed that, so far as reasonably possible, they would employ hauliers who had handled the business, when it was impracticable for them to use their own equipment.
The Milk Marketing Board is also discussing an agreement with the railways, and others may follow suit, so that it is of vital importance to the road industry to curb this tendency.
New Appeal Tribunal.
Mr. T. Rowand Harker, K.C., has been appointed chairman of the Appeal Tribunal established under the Road and Rail Traffic Act.
The other two members of the Tribunal will be Mr. E. S. ShrapnelSmith, C.B.E., and Mr. P. C. Fairholme, J.P., A.M.I.C.E. The appointments take effect as from March 15.
On taking over his new duties, Mr. Rowand Harker will cease to be chairman of the Traffic Commissioners for the South-Eastern Area, and the Minister has appointed Sir Henry H. Piggott, C.B., C.B.E., Deputy Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, to act as deputy to the chairman of Traffic Commissioners for this Area from March 1; from May 1 Sir Henry will become chairman of the Traffic Commissioners for the South-Eastern Area.
Mr. E. S. Shrapnell-Smith, who was the Editor of this paper from its inception until 1916, has represented the Government at various International Road Congresses, has been chairman. and president of the C.M.U.A. and a vice-president of the Institute of Transport.
Mr. F. C. Fairholme is a vice-presiB16 dent of the Federation of British Industries, trustee and member of the management board of Engineering and Allied Employers National Federation, president of the Sheffield Employers Association, and a member of the Railways National Wages Board.
R.H.A. Meeting in South London.
The South Metropolitan sub-committee of the Road Haulage Association has arranged a meeting for March 5, at 8 p.m., at the Amersham Hotel, New Cross, London, S.E. The chair will be taken by Mr. A. E. Drain, chairman of the South London Committee, and the senior vice-chairman of the Association, Mr. J. S. Nicholl, M.Inst.T., will be the principal speaker. LOWESTOFT FISH-TRAFFIC APPEAL DECISION.
The House of Lords has dismissed the appeal by the defendant company, the London and North Eastern Railway Company, from the judgment of the Court of Appeal, dated March 1, 1933 (recorded in our issue dated March 10), which allowed an appeal by the plaintiffs, the British Trawlers Federation, Ltd., and others, against the finding,of Mr. Justice Branson, dated July 5, 1932.
Mr. Justice Branson held that the defendant company was not under statutory obligation to allow sales of fish to take place on Lowestoft quay, and might attach to its permission such conditions as it pleased, including conditions regarding the use of motor vehicles for removing fish from the docks. This decision was varied on appeal, and the variation is in the main upheld by the House of Lords.
Lord Tomlin, in giving judgment, pointed out that, at any rate since before 1852, there had been on the quay a market for the sale of-fish, and held that the defendant company was not entitled to impose a restriction upon the manner in which fish should be dealt with after removal from the defendant's premises.
Road Transport Conciliation Board.
Editorial reference is made, elsewhere to the new Conciliation Board for the road-haulage industry, which will deal with wages and working conditions of drivers. There will be an independent chairman, but he has not yet been appointed.
The employers will be represented by Messrs. A. H. Amor, F. G. Bristow, H. P. Currie, G. H. P. Dalgleish, W. Edwards, J. France, W. F. French, C. H. Hurst, H. J. Lloyd, J. S. Nicholl, S. C. Parkin, E. W. Rudd, E. F. Topham, J. H. Turner and W. C. Venn ; whilst the workers will have Messrs. E. Beyin, J. Bowman, S. Brooks, J. E. Corrin, A. N. Denaro, Ald. J. Donovan, J. Donovan. J. C. Francis,, J. Henson, T. Keeling, A. A. Robeitson, G. Russell, J. Tarbit, J. W. Walker and G. G. Witcher.
D.E.U.A. Anniversary Dinner.
The 21st annual dinner of the Diesel Engine Use'rs Association was held in London on February 27. A somewhat gloomy note, from the oil engine point of view, was struck by Mr. Charles Day, M.Sc., the recently elected president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. On the other hand, Mr. C. S: Mounsdon, A.M.I.E.E., the pre= sident of the D.E.TJ.A., was more optimistic and referred, amongst other pointers of progress, to the rapid in'crease in oil-engined road vehicles. INDIA'S IMPORTS DOUBLED.
The recent improvement in the demand for commercial vehicles in India is being well maintained. During the seven months ended October last, 2,611 vans, lorries, buses and chassis valued at £266,722 were imported, as compared with 1,310 and £161,280 respectively a year earlier.
The United States not only heads the list, but shows the largest increase—
from 805 to 1,504 vehicles. Canada follows with 620, Great Britain 464 an advance from 258—and other countries 23. It is worthy of note that the value of the 1,504 American vehicles is £118,858, whilst that of the 464 from Great Britain amounts to £78,795.
An Albion Procession in Glasgow.
In connection with the grant of a Warrant of Appointment as a motorlorry manufacturer to His Majesty the King, Albion Motors, Ltd., recently inaugurated a procession of vehicles
through Glasgow. The column was headed by' a 1901 model, which ran very, well on the journey of 15 miles.
The vehicles participating in the procession were a 40-45-cwt. lorry, a 3-ton lorry, a four-cylinder 6-tonner, a sixcylinder 6-tonner, two single-deck buses for 26 and 32 passengers respectively,
and a 51-seater double-decker. The old 8 h.p. dogcart carried the slogan "Even the first was built to last," whilst the double-decker at the end carried the apt slogan 'The last is built to last better than the first."
Official Orders in January.
During January last the G.P.O. authorities ordered Morris vans, Albion chassis, Brockhouse trailer chassis, and Strachans Park Royal and Express bodies. The War Department gave an order for bodies to Ransomes, Sims and Jeffries, Ltd., also purchasing Eagle and Kennedy and Kempe trailers.
Trolleyblis Progress in Lianelly.
During 1933 the Llanelly and District Electric Supply Co. made a net profit of £54,667, after payment of debenture interest to date of redemption, as against £38,705 a year earlier. The reserve receives £20,000 and the payment of a dividend of 5 per cent. on
the ordinary shares is recommended, which will leave a balance of £2,472.
The conversion of the company's tramways undertaking to trolleybus operation was commenced in 1932, the first section being brought into use in December of that year, and the remainder in February, 1933. PERSONAL PARS.
Mr. Myles Scarf, who has designed many interesting types of trailer, has joined Multiwheelers (Commercial Vehicles), Ltd.
The engagement is announced between Sir John Maxwell, C.M.G., and Miss Helen Hood, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Findlay, of Walla sey, Cheshire, and Barncailzie Hall, Kirkcudbrightshire.
Pending the appointment of a transport manager, Aberdeen Corporation has appointed Mr. Alfred Smith as atting-manager.
We learn from our German contemporary Verkehrstechnik that Herr G. Quarg, who is 44 years of age, has lately retired from the board of management of the BerlinTraffic Co. Herr Quarg is one of the leading authorities in Germany on passenger-traffic management and he became connected with the Berlin General Omnibus Co. In 1922. When this concern was taken over in 1929 by the Berlin Verkehrs Gesellschaft, he was made a director.
He was one of the German delegates to the World Transport Conference in London in 1927.
Royal Guest at C.M.U.A. Luncheon.
The Duke of York will be the principal guest at the 30th anniversary luncheon of the Commercial Motor Users Association, to be held at the Savoy Hotel on Wednesday, March 14. His Royal Highness will propose the toast of "The Association," to which Mr. Sidney N. Horne, M.Inst.T., president of the Association, will reply. The Home Secretary, the Rt. Hon. Sir John Gilmour, Bt., D.S.O., M.P., will respond to the toast of "His Majesty's Ministers," and the Minister of Transport will propose the toast of ' The Chairman."
Canada's improved Exports.
A distinct improvement took place last year in the overseas demand for Canadian commercial vehicles, 4,575 units valued at approximately £338,550 having been exported, as compared with 2,634 vehicles (£188,590) in 1932. R.H.A. NORTHERN MEMBERSHIP INCREASE.
The remarkable growth of the Northern Area branch of the Road Haulage Association was outlined at a meeting, last week. Mr. F. Milton, secretary and organizer, stated that in April last there were 92 members, and this figure had been increased to 450. It had also 'been found necessary to open a permanent office at Norfolk House, Grey Street, Newcastle, with a staff, and Mr. Milton. who was formerly connected with Imperial Motors, Felling-on-Tyne, had been appointed secretary.
Ford Week in Ulster.
During this week a special display of Ford commercial and private vehicles is being held throughout Northern Ireland. The Ford Motor Co., Ltd., has decided to stage this system of simultaneous exhibition at the different agencies in all the principal towns, instead of the annual Ford exhibition at the Wellington Hall, Belfast. The arrangements for the display are in the • hands of Mr. Stanley Wright, the makers' Irish representative.
U.S. Petroleum Exports in 1933.
America's exports of petroleum and petroleum products, last year, declined by 4 per cent. to a value of 200,016,309 dollars, according to the United States Department of Commerce. The 1933 total represents a decline of 64.4 per cent. from the high record of 561,191,162 dollars in 1929. Petroleum imports, last year, were valued at 25,893,384 dollars, compared with 60,635,916 dollars in 1932.
Spares for Manchester Lorries.
-It is announced by R. H. Collier and Co., Ltd., Birmingham, a company specializing in the supply of spare parts, that the whole of the extensive stock of spare parts for the repair and maintenance of Manchester and Overland lorries has been purchased from the liquidators of Willys-OverlandCrossley, Ltd.
More A.E.C.s for Co-operative Societies.
The A.E.C. vehicle continues to be a popular make amongst co-operative societies. The latest orders received from such sources by the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., are for the Mercury model, which has a gross load capacity of five tons. Three such vehicles have been ordered for the Acton and Reading C.W.S. jam factories, and a third repeat order for a boxvan has been placed by the Guildford Society.
Institute of Metals Annual Meeting.
The annual general meeting of the Institute of Metals will he held at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers on March 7 and 8, when 13 papers will be presented for discussion and the new president, Dr. H. Moore, C.B.E., will take office and deliver his presidential address. On the evening of the first day the Institute's annual dinner will B18 he held at the Trocadero Restaurant. Tickets for the meeting and the dinner may be obtained on application to the secretary, Mr. G. Shaw Scott, M.Sc., 36, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1.
15-20-tonner Required for British Columbia.
A reader in British Columbia would be interested to learn of a vehicle which would haul 15-20 tons, be equipped with a side-tipping body for coal, have four rear driving wheels with 16-in. or 18-in, solid tyres, and 10.50 pneumatic tyres on Budd wheels at the front, the vehicle to have either a steam or oil engine, It would require ample power for mountain work, and an auxiliary transmission. Letters addressed " B.C.," care of the Editor, will be forwarded. "LANCASHIRE UNITED" RESULTS FOR 1933.
During 1933 the combined gross profit of the operating companies comprised in the system of the Lancashire United Transport and Power Co., Ltd., was £85,292, as contrasted with £91,486 in the previous year. Traffic and sundry receipts of the parent company, together with interest received from the South Lancashire Transport Co., totalled £269,166. After deducting working expenses, income tax, interest
on first mortgage debenture stock and £35,682 for depreciation of motor vehicles, it is recommended that, out of the balance, interest at 5 per cent. should be paid on the second mortgage debenture stock for 1933, the '£1,817 remaining being carried to the depreciation account.
"S.T.R." ADDRESSES R.H.A. MEETING AT CAMBRIDGE.
There was a well-attended meeting of the newly formed Cambridge and Ely section of the Road Haulage Association, at Cambridge, last Monday. The event of the evening was a lecture by " S.T.R." on rate-cutting.
The lecturer treated his subject from four different aspects: Why rates are cut; how they are cut; the futility of cutting, and ways whereby rate-cutting can be diminished. In the last section he put forward practical suggestions which evidently met with the approval • of his audience, of about 50 strong. The chairman, Mr. Newport, of Fordham, said that there could be no more important subject than that which had been chosen as the theme of the lecture. It was a matter in the ventilation of which The Commercial Motor had for years been particularly active.
Retirement of Mr. Basil Joy.
After 23i years of much-appreciated service as secretary of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, Mr. Basil H: Joy has asked the council to release him from his duties as secretary, owing to the state of his health. He is now in a nursing home, but all his friends will be glad to learn that his medical advisers believe that relief from the pressure of work will soon restore him to health.
Mr. Robbins, the present assistant secretary, has been appointed acting secretary for six months as from March 6, during which time Mr. Joy has been given leave of absence before his actual retirement.
Goods Storage and Licensing.
Questions as to whether a haulier who stored goods for more than one night required an A or B li4ence, were asked at the monthly meeting of the Road Haulage Association (North Western Area), in Liverpool.
Mr. J. Hopkins, F.S.A.A., hon. secretary, kaid that he understood from a representative of the North Western Traffic Commissioners that hauliers who stored goods for more than, say, one night, apart from their business as carriers, would require a B licence.
Several members contended that as storage facilities were incidental to their businesses as carriers, an A licence was necessary. Sometimes goods were carried from the docks, and the customer asked for them to be stored until be sent forwarding instructions. Although a charge was made it was incidental to the haulage business.
Minister's Appeal and Warning on Road-rail Co-ordination.
There were both an appeal and a warning in an address which the Minister of Transport, Mr. Oliver Stanley, gave at the Leeds Luncheon Club, last Monday. The appeal was for voluntary co-ordination between road and rail, and the warning was that, if sufficient progress be not made on voluntary lines, compulsory methods will have to be adopted.
Mr. Stanley said he was convinced that for a ,generation, at least, we should need both road and rail, and they should offer the cheapest transport which modern science can devise. The future, he said, lay in the co-ordination of rail and road transport. This object could not, however, be achieved between a highly organized industry and a chaotic one. The first step was to try to prevent reckless rate-cutting in the road-transport industry.
Welcoming the creation of the Transport Advisory Council as a means for providing a meeting ground for hitherto conflicting interests, Mr. Stanley said it was the duty of those inter
ests to take the next step. If there were to be any chance of a voluntary agreement between road and rail, it would be 'beneficial to both, atsd he thought the function of the Government was to stand aside and give them every encouragement to reach agreement.
Dagenham Motors' Ford Exhibition.
The special exhibition of Ford commercial vehicles, which is being held by Dagenham Motors, Ltd., at its premises, Balderton Street, Oxford Street, London, W.1, and which commenced on Wednesday afternoon, will continue until Saturday.
R.H.A. Development at Leeds.
A meeting of the Leeds members of the Road Haulage Association was recently convened by Mr. A. Butterwick and Mr. M. C. Vickers, when it was resolved to form a Leeds sub-area committee of the Association. The following officials were elected :—Chairman, Mr. Butterwick; vice-chairman, Mr. Blackford; honorary secretary, Mr. Borrowdale, 13, Dawson Road, Leeds.
OFFICIALS OF YORKSHIRE HAULAGE ASSOCIATION APPOINTED.
The first general meeting of the roadhaulage section of the Yorkshire Motor Coach and Transport Owners Association was held at Leeds, on Tuesday, when the following officials and committee members were appointed:— Chairman, Mr. N. Oldroyd (Dewsbury); secretary, Mr. J. Keeling (Leeds); committee, Messrs. W. Burns (Leeds), F. Drake (Leeds), L. Senior (Leeds), T. Cockayne (Leeds), F. Brook (Dewsbury) and T. Forder (Bingley).
Mr. Keeling criticized the provision made in the Road and Rail Traffic Act for the granting of A licences for contract work. He viewed with alarm the arrangement whereby anybody could obtain a licence for a contract lasting not less than 12 months, whether or not he had had a vehicle before. The speaker considered that it lej'i open a door to rate-cutting.
The feeling of the meeting was that only operators who had owned vehicles during the year ended March, 1933, should be entitled to claim licences for contract tonnage.
An Attractive Pyrene Exchange Offer.
The Pyrene Co., Ltd., announces an interesting scheme, under which owners of Pyrene fire-extinguishers are granted a generous part-exchange allowance on their old Pyrene extinguishers. This means to say that the owner of a Pyrene extinguisher, which has given several years of service, is able to trade it in for a brand new model, and a saving from 10s. to 30s. may be effected according to the model selected. It is a good chance to secure an up-to-date extinguisher. Passenger vehicle operators will be particularly attracted by the smart chromium-plated models. This part-exchange offer is open only until April 30, 1934.
Full details of the scheme may be obtained from the Pyrene Co., Ltd., Great West Road, Brentford, or from any motor dealer.
A New Valve-seating Process.
In our report of the British Industries Fair, last week, a process for forming the seatings for valves was referred to under an incorrect address ; the originator and maker is the .Harold Andrews Grinding Co., Cheapside and Lombard Street, Birmingham. The Stellite facing, an extremely hard, heatresisting material, is welded to a deta,chable ring, which is retained by an expanding ring in either the cylinder head or cylinder block (according to whether the unit is of the overhead or side-valve type).
Peerless Trading Company Changes Title.
The manufacturer of Trader lorries, formerly known as the Peerless Trading Co., Ltd., has assumed a new titleTradermotives, Ltd. The new company will continue the production of the machines at its works at the Trad lug Estate, Bath Road, Slough.