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WHEELS of INDUSTRY "The wheels of wealth will be slowed

30th June 1931, Page 38
30th June 1931
Page 38
Page 38, 30th June 1931 — WHEELS of INDUSTRY "The wheels of wealth will be slowed
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

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.

An Up-to-date Book of Motor Law.

At the present time the motor-vehicle operator is bewildered by the mass of new regulations issued in connection with the Road Traffic Act, whilst the Provisions of the Act itself are intricate. No book that we have seen offers more lucid help in explaining to the layman the many knotty points than does "The Law of Motor Vehicles." It is priced at 5s., and is publiehed by The Commercial Motor Users Association, 50, Pall Mall, London, S.W.1. The author is Mr. F. G. Bristow, F.C.I.S., M.Inst.T., barrister-at-law, who is, of course, the general secretary of the Association. His intimate kuowledge of technical problems, as well as his legal qualifications, place him in an exclusive position, and this book gives its readers the benefit of that fact.

'It is up-to-date in that it gives details of regulations issued at the beginning of this month. Its index is so simply airranged that the lay mind can grasp its purport as easily as a dictionary. Each section is set out alphabetically, and the appropriate penalties for each offence are included in the respective paragraphs.

At 5s. per copy it represents a really profitable investment.

Great Britain the Second Largest Motor-making Country.

In 1.929 the British motor industry was fourth in point of numbers produced, being beatenby the U.S.A., Canada and France. In 1930 this country took second place, the U.S.A. leading with 3,256,000 units whilst our total was 236,500.

Corporation Bill's Progress, Darlington Corporation's Bill to confirm a Provisional Order made by the Minister of Transport under the Darlington Corporation Act, 1925, relating to trolley-buses, has been passed for third reading by the House-Of Commons Select Committee on Unopposed Bills.

Amended Construction and Use . Regulations.

The Minister of Transport issued Piovisional Rules and Orders, amending the Conetruction and Use regulations ; these were dated May 29th, and are in operetion. The leaflet is entitled The Motor Vehicles (Construction and Ilse) (Amendment) Provisional Regulations, 1931. Copies may be obtained from any, branch of EM. Stationery Office, price 1d. each. .

The principal effects_ of the new Orders are as follow :—The provision that a: trailer may not be used for the conveyance of passengers for hire or reward now applies in the case of proceeding to a port for export.

It is now provided that the maximum overhang of 7-24the does not :apply to a heavy motorcar registered . prior to August 15th, 1928. It is not now necesSarY fOr the owner of a heavy motorcar,

B20 not registered under the Roads Act, to paint on the side of the vehicle its weight and maximum Speed.

The regulations regarding the maximum 7-24ths overhang in respect of a motorcar does not now apply to a vehicle registered on or before January 1st, 1933. It is not now necessary for a trailer not exceeding 2 cwt. in weight unladen to have a braking system.

Steam wagons registered before January 1st, 1932, are now allowed up to 14 tons in weight unladen (9 tons axle weight), provided that the maximum speed, with or without a trailer, does not exceed 12 m.p.h. After that date the limit is set at 13 tons, provided that all wheels be shod with pneumatic tyres.

Section 17 of the Road Traffic Act, with regard to drivers and attendants, does not now apply in the case of a trailer, drawn by a motor tractor, used by or on behalf of local authorities for refuse collection, or in the ease of a motor vehicle and trailer not exceeding 30 cwt. in weight unladen in each case, which are designed for use on private premises.

A Safer Motor Spirit. •

References have appeared in the daily Press -to a spirit for aircraft and motor vehicles which is not easily set alight. The inventors are MM. Ferrier and I3ardel, and their address is care of The Air Union Aerial Transport Co., Le Bourget Aerodrome, Paris. They have obtained the fuel froth petroleum by fractional distillation; this commencing at 145degrees and finishing At 200 degrees C. The flash point is 37 degrees and the density 0.78 at 15 degrees C. The only special engine requirements appear to be an exhaustheated induction muff, a pump-type acceleration device and an induction manifold layout whieh does not permit centrifugal deposit Of fuel particles at the bends, for the fuel does not enter the cylinders as a gas. It is claimed that combustion is complete.

In demonstrations made to our representative the fuel was splashed in quantities over the red-hot exhaust pipe of an engine actually running, and did not ignite.

Green Line Appeals Against Commissioners' Decision.

As expected, the appeals of Green Line Coaches, Ltd., against the refusal by the Southern Area Traffic Commissioners of licences for seven of its routes have now been lodged. The routes affected connect Central London with Maidenheud, Windsor (via Slough and via Staines), Ascot, Sunningdale, High Wycombe and Chesham. Some 50 coaches are affected, and these have continued running in the meantime. The licence refusals were announced in our issue dated June 2nd.

Increase in Motoring Offences.

According to the latest statistics isSued by the Rome Office 332,575 motoring offences were committed last year, as compared with 290,511 in the previous year. The number of persons involved was 288,875, contrasted with 256,414 in 1929. • Lighting offences were the most numerous, followed by cases connected with drivers' licences and obstruction. The fines amounted to 1202,406.

"Scottish General's" Growing Revenue.

The report of the Scottish General Transport Co., Ltd., for 1920 states that the revenue of £76,094 was 1021 per cent, greater than that of 1929; £27,500 Was placed to depreciation reserve and 15,857 was carried forward. The amount traesferred to reserve more than liquidates the loss incurred during the year.

America's Production Last Year.

According to a return lately issued by the American National Automobile Chamber of Commerce, 599,991 goods vehicles were, last year, produced in the United States. Of the total 24 per cent. of the vehicles had carrying capacities not exceeding 15 cwt., and 51.7 per cent. between 11 ton and 2 tons.

Successful Transport System at Bury.

A profit of £5,78 is reported by the Bury Corporation on its working of the tram and bus system during the

past financial year. An amount of £3,975 is to be transferred to the depreciation and reserve fund.

German Exports and Imports.

The present year has so far witnessed a marked decline in.the imports of foreign goods vehicles into Germany. The latest available returns are those for the three months ended March last, during which period only 29 vehicles, valued at £14,850, were imported, as contrasted with 121 (£38,600) in the similar quarter a year ago.

On the Other hand, an improving tendency is shown as regards the over-seas demand,. for German commercial vehicles, the exports during the periods under review having advanced in number from 627 to 733. The gross value has, however, declined from £228,650 to £189,400.


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