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The Wheels of Industry.

31st August 1916
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Page 9, 31st August 1916 — The Wheels of Industry.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

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.

Proposals and Purchases by Local Authorities.

The Acton U.D.C. has taken delivery .of its new motor fire-engine. The Millom U.D.C. has sanctioned the purchase of a steam motor-wagon.

Mr. E. Hazledene Barber, Engineer, Council Offices, Pentre, Rhondda, desires to receive, on or before the 12th September, tenders for two tipping trailers, suitable for use behind motor vehicles or horses.

The Electricity Committee of the Glasgow Corporation is spending /2990 on the purchase of two fiveton battery-equipped wagons, one each from Edison Accumulators, Ltd., and the General Vehicle Co., Ltd.

The Falkirk Town Council has been considering motorbus traffic at certain points in the town, and it is hoped that closer co-operation between the police and the Falkirk and District Tramways Co. may be arranged.

Recent Registrations.

Moore's Garage, Ltd. (E3000), by Mr. A. A. Mann, of 33, Newhall Street, Birmingham.

Fellows Magneto Co., Ltd. (275,000), with its office at Cumberland Avenue, Park Royal, Willesden, N.W.

Prohibited Exports.

The exportation of sparking plugs from the United Kingdom has now been prohibited to all parts of the world.

Advices from Melbourne state that neither motor vehicles nor their component parts and accessories, inclusive of tires, may be exported from the Australian Commonwealth, unless with the consent of the Minister of State for Defence.

New Fuels: Some General Considerations.

Not. a few of our readers are being " pestered " by purveyors of new fuels. One large consumer of petrol, in asking our opinion on various points, has sent specimen circulars and letters, and we have endeavoured to answer his enquiries to the best of our ability.

We strongly deprecate any scheme under which advance pa) ments of several pounds per order have to be made as a. minimum in order to secure a consignment of any so-called new fuel. It will be obvious that, if some thousands of commercial-motor and private-car users each pay out 24 oe25, a. huge initial Sinn might be netted, as profit, by those who seek to do the business, before the fuel which they

are offering is-in any way proved on the road on a large scale. Proof of suitability should be furnished, also in advance.

A particular experience of short duration with a particular fuel is not conclusive ; there is no guarantee that general satisfaction will be obtained. People who seek to sell a new fuel in the most-convincing fashion will undoubtedly,, be prepared to state its qualities apart

• from mere mention. of the specific gravity. They should give the range of boiling points, and state the source (home omoverseas) of the fuel, unless they wish the Impression to remain that they may be primarily seeking to take advantage of the difficulties by' which consumers are at present confronted. We make no allegations against the honesty of anybody's trading intentions, but we must, in the interests of our readers, warn them against purchasing fuels in the absence of proper information. There will, of course, be efforts to snatch profits. While there is no commercial objection to the practice of selling an article for what it will fetch, there is every commercial objection to attempts to foist on the public socalled motor fuels which cannot properly be so classed. Caveat employ (let the buyer beware).

A.S.C., MT., Convoys.

Vire draw attention to pages 7 and 16 of this issue, whereon will be found two fine photographs of Army Service Corps convoys. They are evidently mixed convoys, as we can make out a Daimler, Hallford, L.G.O., and a Peerless amongst the lorries.

Petrol Relief Soon.

Our statement of last week, concerning the prospects of material increases in petrol-supply allotments before Christmas, have roused general interest in-commercial and transport circles. We observe that "The . Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury" and "The Liverpool Echo" submitted our statement to the Petrol Control Committee, with the result that the secretary of that committee is reported to have informed the London representatives of our contemporaries as follows :—" We hope to provide the relief suggested very soon, but we are making no definite announcements."

Our specific statement was, that enough petrol would be available before Christmas to place every commercial consumer in a position to obtain about 85 per cent. of his requirements. The present basis of allocation is, of course, 60 per cent.

Use of Hurricane Lamps.

Several owners and drivers of steam lorries were convicted, -about th; end of June last, in Lancashire police courts, and particularly at St. Helens' Court, for tne use of hanging lamps of the hurricane pattern. The 0.1SILU.A., at the request of its affiliated Lancashire bodies, made direct representations to the Home. Office on this matter. We are gratified to note that, under date the 24th inst., the Home Office has officially notified the Association that— "whilst the Secretary of State has no authority to give a binding deeision on a question of law, he believes that Regulation 12a of the Defence of the Realm Regulations was not intended to prevent the use of such lamps on lorries and similir vehicles."

H any user whose vehicle has a hurricane-lamp attached to it gets into trouble with the police in any part of the country, he will do well to apply direct to the secretary of the C.M.U.A. for a copy of the Home Office communication. Portuguese Transpor The Commissao de Autouidismo Ministerio dá Guerra, Lisbon, will receive tenders for motor wagons, motor ambulances, etc., up to the 3rd November next. Particulars can be obtained from the Commission Internationale de Ravitaillement, India House, Kingsway, W.C.

Gazette.

A meeting of the creditors of All .Motors, Ltd., of 38, Great Portland Street, W., will be held on Tuesday next, the 5th September, at 11.30 a.m., at 33, Carey Street, Lincoln's Inn, WC., and of the contributories at 12 noon on the same date and at the same place.

A meeting of the creditors of the Optime Motor Spirit Syndicate, Ltd., which is being wound up voluntarily, will be held at the offices of the liquidator, Mr. Frederick King, 26, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., on Monday next, the 4th September, at 12 noon.

Members of the Automobile Exchange, Ltd., in voluntary liquidation, will meet at the offices of Messrs. H. J. Veitch, Grahame and Co., 36, Basinghall Street, E.C., on the 25th September, at 2 p.m., to consider the liquidator's report showing the manner in which the winding-up has been conducted.

Creditors of Mechanical Transport, Ltd., whieW is being voluntarily wound up, are required, on or before the 28th September, to send their names and addresses

and particulars of their debts or claims to the liquidators (Geo. W. Askew and H. W. Philpott), at Finsbury House, Blomfield Street, E.C.

A general meeting of the members of the New Peverell Road Car Co., Ltd., will be held at 6, Sussex Terrace, Princess Square, Plymouth, on the 9th September, at 11.30 a.m., to consider the report of the liquidator (Mr. Percival White) showing the manner in which the winding-up of the company has been conducted and the property of the company disposed of.

Langham One-tonners.

We understand that the Longhorn Steel Co., Ltd., of 10, Great Marlborough Street, W., has recently sold a one-ton vehicle to Hancocks, Ltd., the Brewery, Cardiff, through W. Lewis and Sons (Cardiff), Ltd., which latter company holds the agency for Longhorn vehicles in South Wales.

Income-tax Guide.

We can confidently recommend 'readers of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR, -to send 7d: to the Financial Times, Ltd., 72, Coleman Street, London,. E.C., for a copy of that journal's most-excellent handbook on ths present position under income-tax legislation. This booklet has been revised so as -to bring it thoroughly up to date. It is concisely written, and admirably presents theessence of what is to many taxpayers on inscrutable puzzle. • Thornycroft Commercial Vehicles.

In the course of the past 18 months we have occasionally drawn attention to publicity matter from important makers of commercial vehicles, this generally taking the form of catalogues. The latest of these to hand is from. J. I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., of Basingstoke, whose London office is at Caxton House, Westminster, London, S.W. It is a worthy successor of previous catalogues emanating from that • company. It contains within its neatly and artistically bound 40 pages all the information , about Thornycroft heavy vehicles of which readers may have need, including, besides specifications and descriptions of each model chassis, illustrations of the various types of bodies commonly in use, and coach-builder's drawings of all the various chassis,

Prospective buyers, who like to obtain the opinions of other users before investmg in new vehicles, will find a list of names covering no fewer than. three pages. Those new to commercial-vehicle use can .compare running costs of horses and motor traction by reference to the figures laid out on pages 10 and 11. Illustrations, which are many and various, include two views in colourof a couple of the heavier

-types of this maker's lorries. Users present, and users to be, whether of Thornycroft commercial vehicles, or of other makes. would do well carefully to study this catalogue. Taxi-fares in Liverpool.

The Head Constable of Liverpool is reporting on proposals for increased taxi-fares. Local owners of taxicabs are greatly opposed to the initial charge of 6d. for the first half-mile, and particularly so under the stress of existing conditions. Whilst this exceptional initial fare is L convenience to many,. it has in practice proved a hardship upon drivers and owners of taxicabs, and largely so because of the "loss of turn" involved for so small a sum.

Ford Motorvans and 210 of the Import Duty.

Readers of this journal who are owners of Ford motorvans, provided the vehicles which they own have been purchased since the let October, 1915, will do well to get into communication with the company, at Trafford Park, Manches

ter, in order to make sure whether or no they are entitled to £10 of the Customs rebate. The Ford Co. has arranged the necessary documents, in order to relieve its customers of clerical work, and will itself undertake to secure and pay over the money to which we refer.

Smoke Emission.

Several drivers of steam wagons were fined by the Gateshead magistrates last week for using vehicles which "did not as far as practicable consume their own smoke." These men were evidently charged under the Locomotives Act of 1898, which Act has no application to a steam wagon. It is simply astounding to find the extent to which confusion continues to exist, with all its evil consequences for owners of steam wagons. The facts of the position, legally, were carefully set out in our issue of the 20th July last, and we are glad to note that not a few steam-wagon owners and drivers have been -helped successfully to defend themselves against erroneous prosecutions under the 1898 Act, by making use of this legal summary, which we gave after an appeal case against a decision of the Bury (Lancs.) magistrates.

Char-a-bancs Restrictions.

"The People" of the 20th inst. comments as 'follows on the new Order :—" The drastic new -petrol regulations, which forbid the use of petrol for charrs4-bancs and similar vehicles after let Septettiber7 will put a stop to these trips and inflict a serious hardship on the worker who has well earned his holiday, as well as the proprietors of these vehicles."

An emergency meeting of the General Committee of the Commercial Motor Users Association took place, on Friday afternoon last, in order to consider correspondence from members on this subject, when the following memorandum was adopted for circulation :— " (1) any fuel that does not pay the petrol tax can be used. "(2) petrol in hand or authorized

cannot be used after the 31st inst, unless in accordance with the three classes of specified exceptions as under :—

"(a) trips in connection with ambulance or hospital work or the conveyance of wounded soldiers; or "(b) trips in connection with naval, military or munition service or the conveyance of munition workers to or from their work ; or "(c) trips which are certified by the chief officer of police for the police area in which the motor spirit is used to be necessary or desirable in the interest of the travelling public. "(3) In the absence of right or

sanction to continue after the 31st inst. (as above), any deposits should be returned to the hirers, who will have no redress for their disappointment.

"(4 If in fact there are legitimate grounds for the use of charsii-bancs in effect as ordinary motorbuses plying for hire, exception ' (above) should be sufficient in respect of established routes." We feel that, despite possible

hardships for which there may be a means of securing compensation hereafter, the C.M.U.A. would have been ill-advised had it taken action in the present national crisis to press for the issue-of more petrol to char-h-bancs owners for any purposes in extension of the exceptions which are set forth, and which we may recall were published by us a week ago. We hope that those of our readers who are char-it. -banes owners will find the means to bring themselves within one or other_ of the exceptions which are sanctioned, or to arrange to utilize their machines—themselves, or by hiring

to other parties—for goods haulage. Openings in China.

H.M. Consul-General at Yunnanfu, China (Mr. H. Goffe, C.M.G.), has been requested by local merchants to obtain catalogues and price lists of British-made steam wagons and trailers, together with prices f.o.b. U.K. ports, with shipping weights and measurements in detail for each packing case. The weights of the heaviest pieces should be reduced as far as possible, to facilitate inland transport in China.

We may point out that there is a proclamation in force prohibiting exportation to China, unless the consignments are made to British persons or bodies of persons, the only exception to this general pro. hibition being the British Colony of Hong hong.

Wolverhampton's Chars-a-bancr.

The Wolverhampton Corporation's motor chars-à-bancs will no doubt be certified by the chief of police for the district as being engaged upon work which is "desirable iri the interests of the traVelling public." We congratulate the general manager of the Tramways department upon the successful showing which he continues to make, despite adverse conditions. The chars-h-balics carried 119,865 passengers, during the year ended the 31st March, compared with 114,098 during the preceding year ; the receipts were 10.93d., oompared with 9.5d. ; the balance of profit for appropriation was 21459, compared with 21554.

Petrol for Agrimotors.

Colonel Warde, M.P., has recently been addressing himself to the matter of supplies of petrol for agrimotors. The President of the Board of Agriculture, in reply, has stated that nothing can be done between now and the end of October, and that farmers who require petrol for their farming machinery have been treated as favourably as any other industrial users. When the licences have to be renewed, the Board of Agriculture, in consultation with the Petrol Control Committee, will endeavour to see that the essential requirements for all purposes connected with agriculture are fully considered. The tenor of the foregoing reply suggests that these important national requirements were not fully considered, prior to the adoption of the petrol-licensing system, which came into force on the 1st inst. What is the use, we ask, of promising fully to consider such points when harvesting operations are all over ? It is typically in accord with the stereotyped form of Government answer.

The Command of the Ali.

Mr. W. Joynson-Hicks, M.P., has written a forceful book entitled "The Command of the Air." It is published by Nisbet and Co., Ltd., price is. This protagonist of automobilisra and aeronautics is happily able to quote from his speeches in the House of Commons going back so far as the 24th March, 1913, when he deliberately challenged the then Secretary of State for War, Colonel Seely, as to the position of the country's aeroplane service, the preparations of the War Office in that direction, and the money available both for experiment g and construction. Mr. Joynson-Hicks refused 'to be lulled into a state of slumber by the halting atsuranees which were given to him, and events have since justified to the full the attitude which he adopted. If was in the month of July, 1913, that Mr. Joynson-Hicks presented a report on Army aircraft, in reply to numerous statements by Colonel Seely, which report, published in the daily Press more than a year before the outbreak of war, showed that there was no occasion to modify any of

teresting bases of attack. The book is for many other reasons.


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