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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

" The wheel 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.

A Suggested. Substitute for E.P.D.

The proposal of Sir Charles Mendleberg to substitute a. surplus profits duty for the excess profits duty is referred to on our second editorial page. It strikes us as being interesting and calling for consideration and discussion, but until this has taken place it would not be wise to pass an opinion upon the scheme.

The Napier-Edge Action.

The settlement in the action of D. Napier and Sons, Ltd,. against Mr. S. F. Edge and Col. J. S. Napier in respect of the use of the names Edge and Napier in combination is one inane. which the parties are to be congratulated. The defence declared that there had never been, any intention to deceive or to use the word " Napier " in connection with .any motor production. It was agreed that the name of the defendant company would be changed elimineting both names, and that no combination of them would be used. The action was stayed, each party paying their own costs.

Municipal Parcels Delivery.

In spite of the fact that the year ended March 31st constituted a record in the number of parcels carried by the Bradford Corporation Parcels Delivery Service, there was a lose of £2,412. This has been caused by the combination of two circumstances. First, the very laxge amount paid to the parcel messengers in wages and bonus, and, second, the fact that the parcel rates have for some time been the maximum permitted by law. Until new powers are obtained to advance the present rates, the department cannot hope to_pay its way. The number of parcels carried in the course of the year was 713,073. The gross income was £16,094, the income from parcels being £12,143, The gross expenditure was £18,506, of which £11,116 represented wages.

Subsidy for Lorries in India.

The Government of India are offering an annual subsidy to owners of certain typesof heavy motor lorries who are prepared to register their vehicles for acquisition by Government at predetermined valuations in case of need. The object of the scheme is to provide mechanical transport to supplement the requirements of military forces on general mobilization. It applies only to those descriptions of lorries having a normal rated load-carrying capacity of. not less than 21 tons and not more than 4 tons, and running on steel road wheels fitted with pneumatic or solid rubber tyres. While there is no restriction as to makes of lorries, preference is given to those makes and models for the time being employed in, and far which stocks of spare parts are maintained by, the military motor transport service in India. The subsidy ranges in three classes, from R-s.600 to Rs.750 (about £75) per annum, the larger grants being paid when the vehicle is accompanied by n driver of the Indian Motor Reserve

010 when this has been constituted, or by an approved subaltern of the I.A.R.O. The registration will be for three years, and may be extended at the discretion of the Q.M.C. in India for one or more yearly periods.

Road Transport at the Institute Meeting.

Mr. E. S. Shrapnell-Sanith, C.B.E., read a paper last night before the Institute of Transport entitled "Economics and Co-ordination of Transport by Road." The Rt. Hon. Lord Ashfield presided. We shall not be able to deal with the paper at adequate length until OGIT next issue, but it may be mentioned here that it contained two important appendices, the first of these giving new data concerning the incidence of certain levies upon rail and road transport, and the second, new data concerning the highest recorded numbers of passenger seats per hour in, one direction provided in tramcars and motorbuses passing along a highway in the United Kingdom.

Renault Tractor Demonstration.

An interesting -tractor demonstration took place last Thursday at Pilgrims Hatch, near Brentwood. The machine. engaged was a Renault, only recently placed on this market, although its makers are well knOwn to our renders. The tractor is a caterpillar or tracklaying type, powerful in build, and is little above the average as regarde its size and weight. It was set to plough in the morning On a. field of light, sandy leam,. pulling two three-furrow Oliver

plouglie, cutting furrows 6 Me. deep by 10 ms. Wide. The work was well within the capacity of the tractor. During the morning a rough-and-ready test of acreage and fuel consumption was made, the work done and the petrol consumed in an hour being measured. A little more than an acre-and-a-half was ploughed in the time, for a consumption of half-aepint short of two gallons of petrol—a really remarkably favourable result, being equivalent as regards consumption to but slightly more than 14 gallons of petrol per acre. After the test another boat or two of the field was ploughed ; the implements were then detached and the manosuvrability of the machine demontrated, although we had already noticed, in observing the plough, how comparatively narrow was the headland, bearing in mind the fact that two pkaighs were being hauled.

The spieification comprises a four. Cylinder engine. of 95 mm. bore by 160 mm. stroke, developing 35 h.p. It has the same power unit as that used on the Renault lorry. Three speeds are provided, and the weight of the tractor complete is 3 tons, the pressure per square inch between tracks and ground being 4 lb. An important point about the transmission is that the second or intermediate gear is a direct drive.

The accumulated funds of the Cycle and Motor Trades Benevolent Fund have now reached the magnificent total of £50,000. We remember the time when it was Mr. Wilson's ambition to accumulate 220,000 for the purposes of the Fund.

National Road Transport Conferences.

During the past few months a number. of road transport clearing houses have sprung into being in various parts of the country, and, although the efforts which they have put forward to achieve more efficient operation of motor transport, have been attended with much success, there has been a lack of unity of action betweenthose bodies.

In order to promote more harmonious working between the various bodies interested in road transport matters, an adjourned meeting was convened by the Association of Road Transport Clearing Hoe-sea on November 18th. This meet-. ing was held in London., and was attended by representatives of the Association of British Chambers of . Commerce, Association of Road Trans• port Clearing Houses, Automobile Association and Motor Union, Commercial Motor Users Association, Federation of British Industries, and the National Alliance of Horse and Motor Vehicle Owners' Aesociation.

Further-consideration was given to the proposal submittal by the A.B.T.C.H. for the drafting of a national clearinghouse scheme, in Which interested trans,: pelt and trade associations might cooperate. It was decided. tu recommend for adoption the principle of one official clearing house foe each transport centre, such clearing house to have the official support and cooperation of the aseocia-. Mons concerned in the project. A resolutioii was unanimously passed to the effect that advisory conferences should be called every three months in London, at which representatieee of the associations mentioned above and the National. Alliance of Commercial Road Transport Associations and Federations shall be invited to attend. It is intended that earious points erising on the practical working of road transport shall be discussed at these conferences and that suggestions to the A.R.T.C.H. for the improvement and development of mechanical transport hail receive consideration. Members of these conferences viil be able to confirm the recognition of particular,

clearing homes or their fusion with the -new body if thought fit. .

the advertisement of the Apollo Plug Manufacturing Co., Ltd., which appeared in our issue for November 23rd, the address of the company's London branch was erroneously given as Great Eastern Street, which, as many, of our readers will probably know, should have been Geeat Tichfielcl Street.

Mr. Walter Atkinson, A.C.A._,.of Preston. has been appointed north-western divisional secretary of the Commercial Motor Users Association, The division comprises Lancashire, Cheshire, Cumberland, and Westmorland, and is one of the most important in the country. Mr. Atkinson was secretary to the old North and East Lancashire C.M.U.A. before the national organization of the Associae: tion came into being, and has done a great deal to organize the commercial motor users in the area. The liavre Pipeline.

The construction of the Havre pipeline 126 miles long, which is to bring petivieum direct from Havre to Faris, Ta to be begun within the next few clays. The contractors who are working for the Compagnie Francaise Transport des Mazouts et Petroles hope to have finished the principal part, of the work within sia months, .frut it will not be possible to open the line for a year from now. The contract inoludes the laying of the line, which, except for a tenth of the distance, will follow the Route Nationale from Havre to Paris, passing through Rouen, and the °stablishment.of • .e ping statirms. The pipe, 10 ins. iii '"'eter, is to be laid along the edge of the road 3 ft. below the surface. At Havre and Paris there will be ten tanks of a capacity of 55,000 barrels each, and six tanks of a similar capacity will be stationed along the route at the pimping stations. The pumping stations will be provided with apparatus for heating heavy oil, so that it may flow easily. One of the most interesting points in the plans for construction is the arrange's-fent that has been made to utilize trencheligging machines sent to France for the American Amy end taken over by the French Government when the latter acquired the American Army stsores. The pipes, tanks, and pumps are being sent from America, but the rest of the material, the cost of which will not be less than 30,000,000 francs, will be bought in France, With the exception of the engineers taking charge of the work, all the workmen, numbering some 1,500, will be French.

Co-operative Transport in Eastern Counties.

It is hoped to organize a road transport scheme on co-imperative lines which may eventually cover the whole of East Anglia and Cambridgeshire. It is suggested that a society could be formed to undertake three types of business (a) Mechanical transport.

(b) Ownership of farm motor tractors.

(c) Ownership of ploughing and Threshing tackles and other expensive machinery.

It is proposed that the society shall undertake rural transport primarily for the benefit df farmers and small holders, but also for the benefit of the rural population generally. A r.cheme of this nature must be rim on highly organized lines if it is to be successful, and it is certain that the most careful preliminary .organization is of as great importance as the subaenuent practical running of the business.

Grimsby Motorbus Service.

Orinis.by municipal authoritiee are affording further welcome evidence by their latest proposals regarding public traction of enterprise characteristic of many other projects which have marked recent developments in Lincolnshire's chief port. The extension of the tramway system constitutes an important feature in the Bill to be promoted in the ensuing Parliamentary Session, but the Corporation proposes also to apply for powers to run meter omnibuses and trackless trollies in several parts of the borough. Unlike some municipal bodies in different

Midland areas, the Grimsby Council is masnifesting adequate regard for the potentialities of bus traffic in providing for the wants of districts which are unserved by present rigid lines of communication and thus, adding to Lincoin's lead, the two main centres of population. in the Fen Country, are setting an example of enterprise in relation to improved facilities which might with advantage be followed by some „larger Midland communities and notably that of Nottingham, which have never given the alternative plan of bus services a reasonable trial.

Another Price Reduction.

We are informed that, by means of mass production, and without departing in any way from the latest specification, it has been found practicable to reduce the price of the Garner 30-40 cwt. chassis from 2670 to 2595. Always one of the cheapest vehicles of its type, the new price represents sheer pre-war value. In making this announcement we are specially requested to emphasize the fact that the quality remains unaltered. Further particulars and the Garner catalogue, free and post paid, can be obtained from the company at Moseley Motor Works, Birmingham.

Armistice " Slump " Sequel.

The story of a slump in the purchase and sale of motor haulage wagons was told at the Liver000l County Court last week, when a laiushmaker, carrying on business in Liverpool, appeared for public examination. The statement of affairs showed £6,282 liabilities unsecured and 23,990 assets.

It appeared that in January, 1918, he and another person entered into an agreement for obtaining contracts for the purchase and sale of motor wagons for haulage purposes, the name under which the business was earried on was the Lancashire and Yorkshire Motor Transport Association, until November 11th, 1913, when there was a " slump " iu the business and all contracts were suspended. Litigation followed and the partnership was dissolved, On the -sales of motor wagons, bankrupt stated, that following the slump on Armistice Day, he lost 21,117 10s. The examination was adjourned until January 3rd amt.

Personal Pars.

Mr, C. M. Benjamin, one of the joint directors of James Bartle and Co., Ltd., Netting Hill, London, W. 11, is sailing for India during_ the first week in December. His visit to this part of the Empire is primarily in connection with a service -of motorbuses which is shortly to be established in India, in which the company will be largely interested. The buses will be equipped with bodies built at the London works' of the company. Mr. Benjamin will he visiting such centres as Bombay, Colombo, and Calcutta, and he will be prepared to undertake a certain amount of business in the country for any firm of repute. Communications on this matter should he addressed to either of the managing directors, Mr. C. S. Windsor or Mr. C. M. Benjamin, at the address given abeve.. Lincoln motorists who have benefited troin the road patrol scheme of the Royal Automobile Club are pleased to hear of the reward which has fallen to Mr. M. B. Hitchman, the local R.A.C. inspector' who has been in Lincoln since August, 1919. He has now been appointed superintendent of road patrols, with a district stretching from the east to the west coast and from York to Northampton. It was in February, 1919, that. Mr. Hitchman joined the service as an ordinary pointsman touring guide, and rose to the rank of sub-inspector in August, 1919, through smart work and general merit on the LondonBrighton road,. He then came to Lincoln to open up the district for the Club, and, became an inspector in March last. He is responsible for organizing the hauling of thousands of motor vehicles at the recent tractor trials, the Grimsby Agricultural Show, and other big int.lugs. He will now be the youngest superintendent on the road.

The Dunlop ." Adaptable " Inflator Connection.

The Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., are marketing a new felon of push-on pump connection which promises to overcome the difficulties which light van users experience through inability to obtain an accurate fit upon the various types of valves. This connection is absolutely independent of thread pitch, attaining its accuracy of fit by the compression of the flexible rubber tubing by means of a sliding ring upon a split collar. It is thus suitable for all types of tyre valves, and, in addition to being instantaneously fitted and removed, retains its advantages permanently, since there are no parts whatever capable of wearing or needing replacement.

The Siberian Deal.

Mr. Washington B. Vanclerlip, who, negotiating for an American syndicate, concluded the big ..deal with Soviet Russia, vehereby the company was given the right to exploit the whole of Siberia east of the 160th parallel, gave some interesting particulars as to his deal while passing through this country on his return from Russia. The oil obtained from Siberia, he said, was to be shipped to Vancouver, where a large refinery was to be built next spring. Among the many things he had contracted to supply the Soviet Government were 2,100 steam tractors, 1,500 petrol tractors, 10,000 lorries and ears, 2,000 river craft {including motor beats), and 10,000 acreplanes.

Railless Results.

Bradford Corporation can be regarded as one of the pioneers of Tailless traction. It has in service 17 railless cats, and has recently constructed a double-deck vehicle for experimental purposes. The annual report pf the Corporation tramways manager for the year ended March 31st records a total " railless " revenue of £18,477, or 11.625d. per carmile, being an increase of £3,355, or 1.075d. per car-mile, and against, this there was an increase in operating expenses of £7,734. • The route mileage was 9/, and the car mileage 381,460, as against 344,012, an increase of 16.88 per cent.

Subjoined are summaries of the year's statistics, those in brackets being those for the previous year Traffic revenue, £18,476 16s Id.

(£15,121 9s.). • Average traffic revenue per car-mile, • 11.625d. (10.549d.).

Car-miles, 381,460 (344,012).

Average car-miles se. r day per car, 116 (115).

-Average speed. per hour (miles), 7.7 (7.7).

Average number of cars in use per day, 9 (8).

Average number of hours per car per day, 15 (15). &its used for traction and car lighting, 468,414 (433,048).

Average number of units used per carmile, 1.227 (1.258).

Total passengers carried, 3,492,374 (3,200,187).

Average traffic revenue per car-hour, 7s. 6d. (6s, Average traffic revenue per mile of route, £1,947 7s. 11d. (£1,591 14s. 7d.).

Average working expenses per car-mile (excluding power cost), 13.966d.

(10.461d.). .

Average working expenses pet' car-mile (including power cost.), 15.660d. (11.970d,).

Licensing of Public Vehicles.

At the annual general meeting of the Aseociation of Municipal Corporations, the Deputy Town, Clerk of Torquay called attention to the provisions of the Ministry of Transport Act with reference to the licensing of public vehicles,

• and proposed that the Government be asked to take steps to amend that Act 50 as to restore to local authorities the power hitherto enjoyed by them to grant or refuse licences to proprietors of motor chars-ashancs and other vehicles who Ply for hire according to the requirements of their localities, and to restrict the power of the Ministry of Transport to over-ride the decision of such local

authorities in these matters. It was agreed to refer this question to the Law • Committee for consideration.

The Successful Saunderson.

A very successful demonstration of tractor ploughing, arranged by S. Crawley and Sons, Bedford, was held on a large field belonging to Mr. Herbert Parrish, Stanforclhury, a few days ago. Though the demonstration was not timed to start until 10 a.m., the first visitor, from St. Neots, was on the trial ground before 9 o'clock, -and from then on the two Saunderson tractors which were on exhibition were never without onlookers.

The many comments overheard by the writer during the day were most favourable. One farmer pointed out the accassi 012 bility of all units; another the complete way all working parts were enclosed; the sturdy construction pleased another; whilst the ease with which the driver of one of the tractors backed his "mount" on to a grubber and then drove it from one field down a narrow lane, along a road and into another field belonging to Mr. Ihskip, of Stanfordbury, left another farmer almost speechless. Why," said he, delightedly, "they can do anything with it ! '

The ploughing (and also the grubbing) received nothing but praise. The furrows were straight, clean, and well laid over, and the village ancients who inevitably foregather at these demonstrations, were unanimous in agreeing that the land had never been ploughed so deep or so well before "Lots o' that land's never seen daylight afore," was their way of expressing it.

A most excellent, impression was left on the minds of all attending the demonstration, the tractor turning furrow after furrow -with effortless ease, and more than once the driver had a self-invited passenger to see for himself how easy the tractor was to manage.

Motors in Kent.

During the year ended September there were registered in Kent 53 agricultural engines as compared with 34 in the pre-ceding year; 2,157 heavy motorcars, an increase for the year of 835; and a total of 26,372 motorcars and motorcycles, an increase of 4,303.

Plant for Devonshire Roads.

Under the proposed new scheme of maintaining the main roads of Devonshire, the county council recommends an expenditure of £70,000 on plant and materials, including 12 steam wagons, 21 steam rollers, a 1 ton lorry and pump set. 3 -stem'stractors and wagons, and 34 sleeping vans.

Speed Limit Inquiries.

West Sussex County Council is not prepared to agree to the suggestion . of the Ministry of Transport as to the holding of conferences with objectors to applications for speed limits, preferring the holding of local inquiries, which enable the particular circumstances of a locality to be ascertained.

Doom of the Toll Bridge.

Under the new regime of the Ministry of Transport, the doom of the surviving

toll bridges seems imminent. Gainsborough District Council reports a movement on the part of the Ministry to free the Gainsborough toll bridge out of the funds available for highway purposes, and has decided to support the proposal. Now many highways in the vicinity are practically closed to traffic by reason of the existence of this toll bridge.

Sunday Coach Traffic.

Denbighshire County Council has had a letter from the Council of Evangelical Free Churches complaining of the numerous chaee-i-bancs which pass through the Cefn Mawr district., and more especially those from 'Wrexham to Oswestry, on Sunday evenings. The County Council decided to reply that it had no power to interfere, but tlhat if there were any breach of the law, eonspheints should be lodged with the chief constable.

Arterial Roads.

The arterial road scheme of the Ministry of Transport for the employment of workless ex-Service men has already been put into operation in some provincial centres. Of the total cost of each scheme, 50 per cent, will be borne by the Ministry, which is prepared to lend the remainder at "Treasury rate of interest," repayable in five annual instalments._ Precedence will be given to exService men in each district. In order to prevent the absorption of floating casual labour in the work,a week's registration at a Labour Exchange will be Made a condition of employment.

The following is a list, of the provincial authorities with whom schemes of road construction and improvement have been arranged. The sum in each case represents the total estimated costa—

Aberdeen, £'23,760.

Birmingham, £120,000. Brighton (begun November 8th), £30,000.

Bristol (begun November 22nd), £38,000. , Bournemouth (begun October 29th), £15,705. Coventry, £70,000. Dundee, £60,000. Edinburgh, £88,000. Ipswich (begun November 16th), £21,644.

Leeds £35,000. Leices:ter, 268,400.

Liverpool, £507,425. Manchester, £144,000.

Norwich (begun October 25th);

£68,027.

Nottingham (begun November 22nd), £126,055.

Plyinouth £11000. (begun November 8th), 2, Portsmouth, £100,000.

Preston (begun), £79,120.

Ramsgate, £67,320. Rotherham, £93,000. Sheffield, £60,000. Taunton, £4,800, Yarmouth. (Great), £12,000.

Willys-Overland Dividend.

The Willys-Overland Co. of America paid its quarterly dividend on preference shares on October 1st, and on November 1st warrants for its 33rd regular quarterly dividend were posted to the holders of ordinary shares.

It will be remembered that the British company, Willys-OverlandCrossley, Ltd., of Manchester, which be-. gan operations last January, paid an interim dividend of 10 per cent., less j income tax, in September, covering operations for the first six months of 1920.

Withstanding Intense Traffic.

. Municipal engineers are apparently be-. ginning to discover the system of road .construction to meet, modern traffic ewerstials. In Kent, the surfacing with a "carpet" of bitumen and sand mixture 1/ in. thick laid on a specially prepared base coat of local materials treated with itch and tar, both coatings laid hot, has been considerably extended. This class of work has been confined to most important land heavily trafficked sections,including the London-Dover, London-Folkestone, and MaidstoneTonbridge main roads. Highways similarly treated in previous years are declared to have withstood intense traffic extremely well, and fully justified the continuation of this systern of road surfacing. Ebbw Vale and Buses.

The Ebbw Vale Urban Council is in a state of much perplexity on the question of whether they should follow the examples of many of their smaller neighbours in the South Wales Valley and start a municipal motorbus service in the town. They have discussed the matter in all seriousness, andrecently appointed a sub-committee to further investigate. Last week this committee, by the casting vote of the chairman, deoided.that the time was inopportune to proceed with the matter. But many members, alive to the necessity of a really efficient motorbus service, have pressed the matter further, and a. full council meeting has been fixed to discuss the matter shortly, so there is still a hope for Ebbw Vale's large industrial population to secure transport facilities so urgently required.

Sir W. Yarworth Jones Resigns from Victor Tyre Co.

Fifteen months ago Sir W. Yarworth Jones was bitten by an insect, and, as he was in poor health at the time, being run down through over work, septic poisoning set up, and, although an operation was performed, Sir Yarworth has never completely recovered; consequently, on the. advice of his medical advisers, he is obliged to winter abroad, and he has also decided to retire from. business. He has, therefore, resigned his position as managing director of the Victor Tyre Co., Ltd., and als-) his seat. on the directorate. All who know the activities of Sir Yarworth will realize how keenly he feels being compelled to give up business, partioulaely, when great things were to be expected from the Victor Tyre Co., as a result of the large factory which was built on modern and model lines, at his personal cost, at New Malden:, Surrey.

Midland Parade Awards.

In. our issue for July 27th we dealt very fully with the commercial motor parade organized by the West Midland Division of tlhe Commercial Meter Users Association, and we included details of the various, awards made by the judges in Classes 1 to 5, and 11 to 14. The awards in Classes 6 to 10 inclusive were for drivers only, and could not be made until the necessary documentary evidence had 'been carefully gone through. The judges have new CGTII• pleted their task, and the following are the awards in each of these see/Lions :

CLASS 6.—A prize of 25 for the driver who has driven acommercial vehicle of any type for the longest time was awarded to W. Bennett, in the service of the Premier Motor Co., with 19 years' driving to his credit.

Cress 7.—A prize of 25 for the driver with the longest service with one employer was awarded' to II. W. Jones with 24 years' service in the employ of Cadbury Bros., Ltd.

Ceess 8.—Three prizes of 25 were awarded in this section for each driver with the longest driving experience with petrol, steam, and electric vehicles. In the petrol section, P. McCune, with 17 years' service,took the prize, and in the steam section, W. Bennett, with 19 years' service. There were no entries in the electric section.

CLASS 9.—A prize of 25 for the driver who has driven the longest without accident was carried off by E. R. Cook, in the employ of the Shrewsbury and Challiner Tyre Co., with 15 years' service.

Coos 10.—A prize of 25 for's, man who has held his licence the longest without endorsement was awarded to the same driver, who carried off the prize. in Class 6, viz., W. H. Bennett, in the employ of the Premier Motor Co., who had not had his licence endorsed for 17 years.

Char-a-bancs Proprietors Combine.

Hearing all talk about future Iegislatier) regarding the control of char-aabanes traffic several proprietors in the West Riding district of Yorkshire have been discussing a scheme to safeguard their own interests. Their organization consists of a Yorkshire char-it-banes section of the Commercial Motor Usera Associaa tien and Mr. Harrison, who is secretary of the Yorkshire Division of the C.M.U.A., has been appointed secretary of the new organization, •which will endeavonr to safeguard its interests as regards futeve legislation', dealing with limitation of roads, width of vehicles, obstructions, .court cases, etc.

Garden Cultivator Demonstration.

With the object of showing market gardeners and small cultivators the possibilities of a small motor cultivator in aiding the cultivation of their respective holdings, demonstrations with the Beeman motor garden cultivater have been held at Saxilby and Wainfieet (Lincs.) under the auspices of the organizer of Horticultural Education for the Lindsey County Council. Lincolnshire. The Lincoln Power Equipment Co., Lincoln, provided two machines (one fitted with a plough and the other with a cultivator), and were responsible for all expenses in connection with the demonstrations except. those of advertising. Approximately 80 market gardeners and others attended at Saxilby, while nearly MO persons, mostly small-holders, were present during the day at the Wainfleet demonstration.

Co-operative Transport.

The question of improvement in the transport of agricultural produce and requirements is not being lost sight of by the Agricultural Organization Society in their efforts over different parts of the country. The recent substantial rise in railway rates makes it imperative that farmers should, avail themselves of alternative methods of transport for the shorter 'distances. Information as to road motor transport (running costs, types of vehicles, etc.) is being accumulated at head office witlea view to.advising societies on the question when the occasion arises.

In the eastern counties a comprehensive scheme for road transport of agricultural produce on co-operative lines is taking shape. In connection with this scheme a conference was held at the Ministry of Transport on September 16th, attended by Colonel Pickard and Sir Sampson. Sladen, representing the Ministry, and by representatives of the A.O.S. and others. The Ilinistiy indicated that they would be prepared to

recommend the Treasury to make a grant towards a substantial scheme on cooperative lines, and it was left to the A.O.S. branch secretary for the caster's branch and one or two others to formulate such a scheme.

With regard to railway transport, various shatter); have, at the req.uost of societies, been taken up with the Ministry of Transport generally, with unsatisfactory or inconclusive results. On the urgent request of the West Hereford and Radnor Farmers' Society, the A.O.S. took up the question of the relaying of the Eardisley and. Tilley railway line in Herefordshire with the Great Western Railway and the Ministry of Transport: Considerable correspondence ensued, and Sir Charles Bartolome, Director of Development for the Ministry, has now consented to receive a deputation from the Society, when representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and the A.O.S. will be present.

The County Councils Association is seeking the views of county authorities as to making compulsory. the use of reflector oil motor, veinclea to enable drivers to see ouertatting vehicles.

Thornycroft Dividends.

The accounts of Jahn I. Thornyereft, and Co., Ltd., for the year ending July -31st, 1920, have been made up., and subject to• audit the dia•ectors prepose'• to recommend the payment, of the following dividends in respect of the year ending July 31st, 1920. Cumulative preference shares, 5 per cent. croaking 6 per cent. for the year); participating preferred. ordinary shares, 9-1?er cent. (calculated from the due date of instalments less interim dividend of 5d. per 'share paid on April 28th, 1920); ordinary shares, 8 per cent. (making 13 per cent. for the year). In addition, about £35,000bie transferred to reserve,and about B53,000 is carried forward.

The Right to Run Omnibuses.

Despite the oppositiou of the East Griustead Rural District Council, the Ministry of Transport has, on the

appeal-of the East -Sussex Traction Co., even power fo: the running of motoruses over certain routes, though the Ministry has scheduled some roads as unsuitable for bus traffic. As; however, the Ministry Of Transport has made no mention of oontributions by the company, the District Council has decided that no special expense. can be entertained in Maproving the roads.

-The M.L.s and their Work.

So many men now associated with seen transport had something to do, directly or indirectly, with the motor launches which played a highly important part in the war that a reference hero to "The Motor Launch Patrol," written by Lieut. Gordon S. Maxwell, R.N.V.R., illustrated with 20 monoehrome drawings by Lieut, Donald Maxwell, Reln.Y.R., and published by J. M. Dent and Sons, Ltd., is by no means out of place. Quite apart from the interesting story which Lieut. Maxwell has to tell, he has told in in a ma.4,erly way, suggesting a Writer of rare experience because he has given us a semis of pen pictures, simple and modestly drawn, yet, vivid to the active mind, and he has avoided the matters which, whilst being of deep interest to those actively taking part in the work, could not hold the attention of the shoreping reader. The result is that heis Interesting front coverto cover—we conlees that having started the book we had

el4

to defer all other reading until it was finished. It gives a pure insight into the work of the meter launches, it is rich in humour of a quietsoet, and it goes into sideiesues, each a which takes ,us hell:tad the scenes as it were, and shows us the purpose of much that he described of the.work of the hLL.s, There is sonic delightful work in the illustrations, which also have the merit of being artistic and accurate in their detail. It is a book we would not have missed.

-Where Signposts are Needed.

In those parts of the country where the local authorities are converting secondary roads into alternative main thoroughfares, a useful service would be to erect, signposts to indicate the route to " foreign" drivers. Sometimes these signposts do exist in out-of-the-way corners, where they never catch the eye, or are so battered about-by the elements as to be undecipherable. Road transport

is partaking more and more of the nature of through traffic, and incoming • drivers cannot be expected to. leave the obvious route unless their attention is drawn to its alternative. .

Road Rollers to Cost More.

Bedfordshire County Council recommends raising the charge for the hiring by local authorities of road rollers to be increased to 23 ashy in the case of steam rollers and, £3 5s. a day for petrol rollers. At present only £1 8s. a. clay is charged.

-Census of Narrow Roads. "

West Sussex County Surveyor is communicating with the various local authorities with a view to the compilation of a schedule of roads throughout the county deemed to be -too narrow for heavy motorcar and charek-banes traffic. The idea, is to get the Ministry of Transport to declare such narrow roads asdangerous

What it Costs an Hour.

A Kent County Council return shows that the average hourly cost of working a steam. roller, including repairs, coal, oil, waste, -scarifying, tyres, ineur lance, driver, and attendant was last year 4s. 110.; that of a steam wagon, including all charges, 6. ld.; a heavy petrol vehicle, 6s. 4d.; and a Foden steam wagon, 6s. 4rle

Local Proceedings.

Harrogate T.C. has received sanction to borrow .1,510 for the provision of a. Daimler lorry.

Shoreilitch B.C. has been recommended to spend £1,750 on the purchase of two electric duet vane.

Messrs. Gibbs and Co., are supplying the York City Council with a motor fever ambulance to cost £596.

Preston Corporation, is adapting an old stable as a garage for its three neetor vehicles, at a cost of £200.

Eaton (Yorks.) Urban District Council has decided to purchase a, motor fireengine at a. cost of £1,875.

Chertsey District Council has obtained permission to borrow £1,800 for the purchase of a motor fire-engine.

OH& R.D.C..is making application for urban powers in respect of the proposed joiet purchase of a motor ambulance.

Pat-Eamon-tau powers to run motorbuses and trackless trolley vehicles are to be obtained by Grimsby Corporation.

Preston Welch Committee recommends the purchase of a chassis for a hose carriage at an estimated coat of .p1,100.

The question Of buying a. motor fireengine to cover outlying districts is under the consideration of Ashby U.D.C.

Barrow Town Council proposes the purchasa of fcur additional electric vehicles for refuse collection, etc., at a cost of £5,300.

Hackney Borough Council's Works Committee recommends the purchase of La,ere motor road sweeping -machine at a cost el £650.

For the supply of a 60 h.p. motor fire.. engine the tender of Dennis Bras., Ltd., £1,1300 has been recommended to Gosport U.D.C. for acceptance.

The Ministry of Transport has promised Preaton Corporation a grant of £31,000 towards the constructionof an arterial road from Hall Lane to Garstang Reed.

Keith-and Boyle (London), Ltd., have -tendered to supply the Deptford B.C. with a seeoncl-handHalley tipping lorry at £500, and the tender has been recommended for acceptance.

The County Council propoees an expenditure of over half a million for 125 new tramcars for London. The coat per car is about 04,326 compared -with £883 paid for a similar ear in 1910.

Preston Town Council has considered snaking 8, charge for the use of land for accommodating motor vehicles when maladies are ta-king place on the North End Football Ground, and arranged AEI, make inqairy as to the practice in other towns.

Weethempneet Rural District Council has asked its Highways Committee to consider questions regarding the speed and weight of motorbuses, allegations having been made of excessive speed and-unduly heavy weight of some of the vehicles. It is said that it is difficult to keep roads in proper repair, because some vehicles are heavier even than London buses.

A report of the Kent County Council mentions that new plant as follows has been purchased :---Six 'Hanford 4 ton petrol lorries, five Aveling and Portersteam tractors with rubber tyres, and four trailer wagons with tipping bodies. The Council elet-.■ possesses three leveling and Porter 4 ton petrol lorries, one Halley 3 ton petrol lorry, and 16 Aveling and Porter steam tractors.

TO AVOID ACCIDENTS.

Suggestion That Heavy Motors and Tractors Should Have a "Guard."

OWING TO bad or inconvenient passenger transit services, /workers going to and from their work are always very appreciative when they can get a lift on a passing motor vehicle going their way. In this respect some drivers are very accammodating, but sometimes their well-meant kindness is a disservice to those they want to help; and causes Accidents that might be avoided were the practice discontinued.

One has frequently noted drivers who slow down in response to the signal from. those who want to save shanks pony to enable them to "embark," but it is in the process of " disemberkation " when the vehicle is travelling at a geed speed that accident's frequently arise. There have been many such accidents, some of them, unfortunately, fatal, in the north lately, and coroners have been making severe comments on so-called road "scandals."

One worthy gentleman who recently conducted an inquiry into the circumstances of an aceident caused by a motor lorry, said it was a scandal and a disgrace that heavy motors, especially those with trailer attached, should have the right to travel on the highways without the law imposing on them the necessity of putting on the trailer someone who, riding at, the rear, could control it. Drivers of these vehicles, both steam and petrol, are encased, in a cab, and the only way in which one could look was in front. The noise. created by the engine and the vehicle was so great that he could not hear anything behind him, and to attract his attention at all they had to make a noise to wake the dead!

The suggestion is worthy of adoption, we coneider, on all vehicles that at the present time carry a second man. Lorries are not always so safely packed that the loads can withstand the vibrations of a 40-mile or so run. Repeatedly have we seen packages and bales fall from lorries whilst travelling through city streets, and have heard of them being • lost on the journey. Quite recently a roll of barbed wire was dropped from a lorry a few miles outside of Liverpool, and the loss was not discovered until the consignment was checked. It was recovered from a police station.

It is obviously absurd to hold the driver responsible for the mishaps of a journey, but if a proper look-out is maintained by a man at the back of the Lowy or trailer, it is a precaution that may result in fewer accidents and fewer losses.

PROTECTING DRIVERS.

The Need For Adequate Protection From the Elements.

FROM TIME to time efforts are made to provide for the drivers of °canmercial vehicles better protection from the vagaries of our so-called climate. One the whole, we have perhaps up to the present been rather inhumane in this respect, giving Oct enough attention to the question of the conditions under which our men have to work. Certainly, there were many complaints on this score in the early days of the war, when a large number of commandeered machines were in use.in Franceeduring the

winter of 1914-15. The difficulty, of course, is not so much that motor owners do not think it worth while to incur the expense of providing their drivers with proper protection, as that the provision of such protection is very apt• to eurtail the driver's view, and to render the handling of the vehicle more dangerous than it would otherwise be. To cite an extreme instance, as afforded by a completely closed cab with side windows, we hays to take into account the fact that the driver is quite likely to put comfort before safety, and particularly to neglect the safety of others. On a rainy day, his .view, if he is occupying a cab of this kind, is then limited to that obtainable through a rain-smeared windscreen and rain-smeared side glasses. Without lowering the latter, he has no means of indicating his intentions. to overtaking traffic, unless he be provided with some system of signals that can be manipulated from inside the cab, and the purport, of which can be readily understood by anyone coming up behind.

While referring to this question of danger that may conceivably result from giving the driver too much protection,. we must also recognize that. there are risks if the protection is insufficient. A man who is chilled to the bone, soaked to the skin, and whose hands are thorroughly numbed,. is apt to hold the view that this cannot very well be worse and to take risks accordingly.

PASSENGER TRANSPORT.

A Problem for Consideration by London Traffic Authorities.

('EN TRAL LONDON is, in the %bei main, most admirably provided with facilities by which the public can travel from one part to another in the shortest space of time, but there is one need which, although it may not be vital, is eke-Lai:11y pressing, and that is for the provision of adequate means of passenger transportbetween places outside the central. area. The morning and evening floods of passengers have tended to make an the traffic radial with the heart of London as the centre. This is quite satisfactory to those of the travelling public who seldom require to journey otherwise than between a suburb and the Oity, iput for persons who wish to travel between places outside the London radii, there are remarkably few facilities and, in rnaty eases, it is necessary for them to. travel toward& the centre of Loudon until some important junction is reached.

To avoid, this, the old scheme of an outer circle railway has been revived by the former Chief engineer of the Great Northern Railway, and it is suggested that the route should follow a 12-mile radius. from Charing Cross, taking in Hounslow, Kingston, Croydon, Purfleeti and Dagenham, with a total mileage of approximately 85..

The great difficulties in the way of this scheme are the enormous initial cost said the possibility that the traffic carried avoid for some time be insufficient to provide satis-factory, dividends.. At the same time, the need.is so -urgent that every effort should be made by the various companies concerned to promote some scheme which would alleviate the situation.

Road motor transport, in the shape of motor omnibuses should in. a large measure fill the need so far as passenger traffic (unaccompanied by heavy baggage) goes, and it might assist by linking up present arterial routes by means of such sereices. One of the great difficulties is the absence of suita,ble through routes for the purpose.

MIDLAND WORKERS.

Disturbing Propaganda Amongst Vehicle Workers in the \Midlands.

THERE IS again evidence of considerable activity among vehicle workers in Midland weak; in support of wages claims and, other matters incidental to working conditions, the greater proportion of the employees concerned, mainly in public services, being drivers of mechanically propelled vehicles. Following the holding of the last annual conference of the national organization at Nottingham, the city has been the centre of widely spreading propaganda, in which men engaged .at Leicester, Derby, and other large neighbouring towns have taken an assiduous past.

The refusal of the suggested increase of 12s. a week to tramway workers has aroused a storm of condemnation among those in Nottingham as elsewhere, and arrangements are being made for the holding of a number of district meetings in Midland towns, at which the attitude of the men will be further considered. Meanwhile, there has been an insistent public demand emanating from many areas for reduction of tramway fares, Nottingham's case having been brought into particular prominence by reason of the fact that the minimum charge for the shortest of journeys is lid. it being contended that an already substantial revenue, accruing from this branch of the city's enterprise, might be further augmented by the reinstatement of Id. stages.

But the corporation, with the present heavy expenditure upon 'working and the insistent demands which are now being renewed by the staff, finds itself, like other public bodiee, in a position of difficulty. Meanwhile, there is no indication forthcoming of any willingness upon the part of the workers here, or elsewhere, to acquiesce in arrangements which are calculated 'to secure a settlement of difficulties upon a mutually acceptable ba,sis. Some hope had been entertained in Midland districts of practical results following the operations of the National Alliance of Employees and Employed, but a recent meeting at Derby did not in that respect supply much ground for 'encouragement as far as vehicle workers are concerned.

The proposition was advanced upon that occasion by Mr. J. L. Litchfield, of Nottingham, who adz as district secretary of the organization, that there is a distinct obligation resting upon employers to provide workers with a reasonable and continuous livelihood, the reasonable' sequence to this, as he argued, -being that it is the duty also of those employed to make a reasonable and efficient return for that which is so provided.

But the temper of the vehicle workers was shown by the adverse criticism of their representative, Mr. H. Linfield, who questioned why they shank] be dependent upon 'employers for such a reasonable and continuous livelihood, his contention being that present difficulties are entirely due to bad organization in the State. He objected to workers being asked to voluntarily tax themselves in order that employers might have a surplus of labour upon which they could draw in the competitive struggle.

Whatever may. 130 thought of the extravagance of the idea, the statement appears typical of the growing feeling among a large section of vehicle employees.