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WHEELS of INDUSTRY

" 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.

AN INTERESTING GOODSVEHICLE LICENSING CASE.

One of the most interesting of the cases that have been heard recently before the Metropolitan Commissioner, Mr. Gleeson Robinson, was that of 27 drivers employed by the Greenha,ne Sand and Ballast Co., which owns pits at Cranford, near Hounslow, and which is at present, operating a fleet of old-type 5-tonners.

Partly for the reason that Mr. Greenham, the managing director, was disgusted with the intricacies of the new legislation and partly because it would have cost some £20,000 to renew the fleet, the company decided to give up its own transport and employ outside haulage, but this would have necessitated discharging 27 drivers, so the company generously offered to give each man a lorry which he could exchange for a new one under a hire-purchase • agreement, in addition offering each man a bonus of R.5 for each year of service, the periods varying between and 14.

The company had originally applied for Class B "claimed" tonnage, but withdrew its application; the men then lodged individual applications for Class A " discretionary " tonnage, much below the total amount applied for by the company.

Objections were made by three railway groups. The railways also drew attention to 17 other objectors, not one of whom, however, possessed tipping vehicles suitable for the work in question; some owned only pantechnicons.

The Commissioner endeavoured to persuade the men to arrange haulage contracts with the company which would give them the right to have " contract " tonnage, but, finally, he granted Class B licences, restricting the men to dealing with the transport of building materials, and pointing out that it was mainly for the reason that the men would lose their employment that the licences were granted.

A Continental Trial for Vehicles Using Fuels Other than Petrol.

The annual French " Rallye des Carburants Nationaux," has aroused interest in other Continental countries, and an event on similar lines is being organized under the auspices of the International Commercial Motor Association, by Austrian, Swiss and Italian industrial-vehicle societies. The trial will start and finish in Innsbruck, and during the journey the vehicles will make a fairly intimate acquaintance with the Alps.

The trial starts on September 17 and

finiehCs on September 22. Vehicles using fuels of all kinds other than petrol are to be admitted, and thus the majority will probably be offengined,

B20 but many producer-gas machines may be expected, especially, as the Italian Gevernment is encouraging the use of producer-gas. .

Mr. Bristow to Attend Road Congress.

Mr. F. G. Bristow, C.B.E., M.Inst.T„ is one of the delegates of the British Government at the Seventh International Road Congress to be held at Munich from September 3 to 8. In addition, he will officially represent the Westminster City Council, the British Road Federation, the Commercial Motor Users Association and the National " Safety First" Association.

He will submit a report -to the Congress of "Means Adopted to Promote the Safety of Traffic in Towns and the Open Country ; Legislation, Regulation and Road Signs."

Club for Bedford Drivers.

The Bedford Drivers Club has been formed with headquarters at Vauxhall Motors Depot, Edgware Road, The Hyde, London, N.W.9. No subscription is asked for, and no obligation other than adherence to a code of decent road behaviour.

One of the benefits is a free insurance policy payable in the ease of the death of any driver when in charge of a Bedford vehicle. It is hoped to arrange.for special service and first-aid facilities when on the road. The social side has not been overlooked.

It is hoped to enrol the majority of Bedford drivers in this country, a body numbering over 40,009.

Sole Distributor Required.

The manufacturer of a successful proprietary product which should possess a strong appeal to all engaged in the motor industry wishes to negotiate with an established concern having modern organization, with the object of appointing It sole distributor to the motor trade throughout the country. The product will be extensively advertised. Letters addressed to " Distributor," care of the Editor, will be forwarded. CAUSES OF VEHICLE NOISE; MINISTER APPOINTS COMMITTEE.

The Minister of Transport has appointed a committee, under the chairmanship of Sir Henry Fowler, K.B.E., with the following terms of reference: " To consider and report upon the principal causes of noise in the opera tion of mechanically propelled vehicles, and the steps which can efficiently be taken to limit the noise so arising.", Sir Henry Fowler is chairman of a committee appointed by the British Association for the advancement of • science, and it has already carried out certain investigations; the Minister's object is to secure that the fullest use is made of these.

The other members of the committee appointed by the Minister are Mr.

Leslie Walton, deputy president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders; Mx, H. R. Watling, director of the British Cycle and Motor Cycle Manufacturers and Traders Union, Ltd.; Mr. H. J. Gough, M.B.E., D.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.S., Mr. C. W. C. Kaye, 0.B.E., D.Sc., both of the National Physical Laboratory; Mr,. E. S, Perrin, B . Sc. , A .M.Inst.C.E „ M.rnstA .E. A.M.I.E.E., of the Ministry of Transport. The secretary of the committee is Mr. A. E. N. Taylor, B.Sc., A.M.Inst.C.E.

The New Wages Scale: Postponement of Enforcement Suggested.

A resolution suggesting the postponement from October 1 next to January 1, 1935, for putting into operation the wages conditions in the scale adopted by the National Joint Conciliation Board for the Road Motor Transport Industry (Goods) was passed by the Yorkshire Regional Area Committee of the Road Haulage Association, at a recent meeting in Leeds. It was urged that the R.H.A. National Council should press the Minister of Transport for such a postponement, on the ground that it is impracticable to set up the area boards and complete all the details regarding wages by October 1.

It was also resolved that the National Council be asked to press for C-licence holders to be subjected to the findings of the Board. In support of this resolution, it is contended that many &licence holders are paying wages much below the scale adopted by the Conciliation Board.

While making these representations, the committee is taking steps to cooperate in the formation of an Area Conciliation Board for Yorkshire. • A protest against the findings of the Board is being organized in the Yorkshire Regional Area of the R.H.A., and it is intended to hold meetings of members in various parts of the area. OFFICIAL ORDERS IN JULY.

Among the orders for motor products given out by Government Departments during July last was one for tractors and trailers placed by the Air Ministry with Tractors (London), Ltd. The War Office placed a contract for bodies with John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., and divided one for sixwheeled chassis between the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., Albion Motors, Ltd., Karrier Motors, Ltd., and the Thornycroft concern. The Admiralty gave an order for motor ambulances to Clement Talbot, Ltd., the Crown Agents for the Colonies one for chassis to the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., and the C.P.O. authorities one for vans to Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd.

An Unusual Dual-purpose Vehicle.

• Kenyon and Co. (1927), Ltd., Marsh Lane, Preston, has recently booked an order from the chief constable of the Lancashire Constabulary for a horse box and patrol van, The chassis chosen for the vehicle is a Leyland Cub KP.3, and the body is being constructed by the Durarnin Engineering Co., Ltd., Willesden, London, N.W.10. The vehicle will have a most attractive appearance and, when not used as a horsebox, seating accommodation will be provided for 18 passengers, whilst detachable partitions will be provided for transporting prisoners.

The First Area Conciliation Board.

Believed to he the first area conciliation board to be set up under the National Joint Conciliation Board, which has been brought into being to assist in regulating wages and conditions in the goods transport industry, that for the north-western area has begun to function. A meeting of representatives of the employers and employees was held on August 22, at Manchester, and it was agreed that both sides should have 15 representatives. The first chairman is Mr. T. H. Dunbabin. And the vice-chairman is Mr. J. H. Webb, of the Transport Workers Union. The businesS transacted was mainly on points of procedure. It is understood that the next meeting will be held on September 14.

Efforts to Increase Wages Rates.

The fact that negotiations are taking place on a proposal to increase the London wages rates for drivers of haulage vehicles, to a level higher than that in the findings of the National Joint Conciliation Board, was mentioned by Alderman Ben Smith, AlVI.Inst.T., national organizer to the.Transport and General Workers Union, in a speech at Bradford on Sunday last. If the negotiations be successful, he said, the Board would adopt the higher rates.

Terriers for the Army..

The Director of Army Contracts has placed an order with Leyland Motors, Ltd., for a fleet of 35 Leyland Terrier six-wheelers-and a double-drive Cub.

PERSONAL PARS.

We reproduce on this page a portrait of Major H. R. Lecomber, 0.B.E., sales and service manager for the Armstrong-Saurer concern in Ireland, who has recently been appointed to control the sales activities of the company in the North of England, although he is maintaining his interests in Ireland.

Since the war, Major Lecomber has been very successful in the commercialvehicle sales field. He joined ArmstrongSaurer Commercial Vehicles, Ltd., in 1932, and is particularly well known in his home county—Lancashire—as an oil-engine expert. In addition to Ireland, he will now control ArmstrongSaurer sales in Lancashire, Cheshire, Yorkshire, Cumberland, Northumberland, Westmorland, North Wales, and territories up to the Scottish border.

Mr. A. Vernon Kay, M.I.M.T., for several years linked up with DaimlerLanchester interests in the northern counties, operating from Coventry and Manchester, and for the past few months with Singer and Co., Ltd., has been appointed general manager of the new branch opened by Loxhams Morriservices, Ltd., at Sudell Cross, Blackburn. As a Lancashire man he is right at home in his new sphere among commercial and car users in East Lancashire.

Another Affiliation to the C.M.U.A.

The Bradford Commercial Vehicle Owners Federation recently held a meeting at which it was decided to become affiliated to the North-Eastern Division of the Commercial Motor Users Association. Mr. Fred Pickering (the hon. secretary) was nominated ftir election as the Federation's representative on the divisional committee of the C.M.U.A.

Road.accident Returns.

Ministry of Transport returns of persons killed or injured in road accidents during the week ended August 18, 1934, show that, in England, 101 persons were killed and 4,634 injured, whilst 26 died as a result of previous accidents. The figures for Scotland were 15 killed and 488 injured, whilst in Wales eight were killed and 262 injured.

Increasing Weighbridge Facilities.

A considerable increase in public weighbridge facilities is likely to result from the operations of the Cattle Committee, appointed under the Cattle Industry (Emergency ,Provisions) Act, 1934. Under its enactments every certified cattle-market centre must have weighbridge facilities, and the weighbridges in use must carry the certificate of accuracy from the Weights and Measures authorities.

Many councils have already taken • steps to provide weighbridges, in order to secure the committee's certificate, and others are proceeding to have their equipment overhauled and tested. NEW PUMP FOR LEYLAND'S LATEST FIRE-ENGINE.

The Leyland 400-gallon fire-engine, with a new design or pump, made its first public appearance at the district competitions of the National Fire Brigades Association, recently held at West Drayton. This new turbine pump is generally considered to be an improvement on the previous design. Not only is it lighter, more compact and capable of a higher output than the previous model, but it has one or two interesting features which will prove to be of value when long periods of pumping are necessary.

One feature is that there are no bearings running under water, with the result that ball or roller types have been standardized, and these, together with the driving gear, are housed in a well-lubricated oil-tight casing. The patented type of gland also would appear to be an improvement. The packing is such that, should the need arise, it can not only be adjusted, but the gland can actually be repacked while the pump is in action.

Containers for the Brick Trade.

Current reports all tend to show that the great activity in the building trade is causing a boom in the British brickmanufacturing industry, which is, consequently, one well worthy of the attention of commercial-motor manufacturers, agents and hauliers.

The railway undertakings are not overlooking the possibilities of the brick industry for increased traffic. Thus, it is announced that the London Midland and Scottish Railway Co. has decided to add no fewer than. 850 new containers to its fleet to deal with a 100 per cent, advance in traffic from the brickfields in one -year, Seven .hundred and fifty of these containers will be of the " travelling-hod " type, transporting bricks from kiln to building site with the minimum of handling and breakages.

Railways Oppose Shipping Company's Licence Application.

A few days ago Fisher Renwick Manchester-London Steamers, Ltd., made an application to Mr. Gleeson Robinson, the Metropolitan Licensing Authority, for licences for discretionary tonnage in respect of vehicles not yet acquired. Counsel for the company said that it was applying for discretionary tormage (36 tons), as well as for claimed tonnage. The section of its business which called for the use of road vehicles involved Au collection from consignors of goods, which were put aboard the company's ships and subsequently collected at the end of their journey by water and delivered to the consignees. The vehicles were employed at the termini, the principal part of the journey being by water.

This branch represented about 90 per cent. of the company's business, but in recent years it had been carrying goods by road between Manchester and London, as more expeditious transport was required by some customers.

One reason for the application was B22 that the horsed vehicles in use at the termini were being gradually replaced by motors. On this point, Mr. Robinson said that the discretionary vehicles for which licences were sought were out of proportion to the amount of horsed transport that it was proposed to displace.

Counsel for the railway companies, which opposed the application, said that his clients had no objection to the licences being granted for vehicles serving as feeders to the steamers, but they objected to the possible extension of the company's road services between Manchester and London.

After calculating the amount of horsed transport to be displaced and making an allowance for increased business, the Licensing Authority granted .licences for vehicles up to a total of 28 tons.

Traffic Ban : Extension of Order Sought.

At a meet,ing of the roads committee of East Sussex County Council, the county surveyor reported that the Order made by the Minister of Transport, on August 2, 1924, prohibiting the use of heavy traffic on certain roads, would shortly expire, and the committee recommends that the Minister-be asked to extend the period of operation of the Order indefinitely.

R.H.A. PERSONNEL CHANGES IN THE WEST.

At a weIl-atterided meeting of members of the North Devon sub 'area of the Devon and Cornwall Area of' the Road Haulage Association, held at Barnstaple, Mr. P. I-I. Bradford, of the North Devon Ice and Cold Storage Co., who presided, intimated. his intention of retiring from the chairmanship, in view of the fact that he expected shortly to be removing to Exeter, and Mr. Wilfred Cater was elected to succeed him. Mr. P. A, Miller (Braunto:a) retired from the honorary secretaryship and Mr. J. Mitchell, of Bideford, was chosen to take over his duties.

The sub area committee was appointed as follows :-Messrs. P. A. Miller, W. J. Lamey (Appledore), 1VIetherell (Northam), Parker (Chulmleigh), Claris (Appledore), Champion (Banastaple), Moor (Moor and Sons, South 1VIolton), with the chairman and secretary ex-officio. Messrs. Cater and Mitchell, with ' Mr. Bale, of Bale's Garage, Barrista,ple, were elected as representatives on the area committee.

Next Year's I. of T. Examinations.

The Institute of Transport announces that the next examinations for gracluateship andassociate membership will be held fromApril 25-27, 1935, in London and at a number of provincial and Overseas centres. Full particulars of the examinations, previous question papers ' (price Is. per set, post paid), and copies of a booklet-entitled "The Institute of 'Transport Examinations;Notes for the Guidance of Candidates Unable to Attend Preparatory Courses" (price 2s, 6d., post paid), may be had on applica,tion to the secretary of the Institute, 15, Savoy Street, London, W.C.2. The closing date for the receipt of applications is March 1, 1936.

Bouts-Tillotson 'a Successful Application.

The well-known company of BoutsTillotson Transport, Ltd., recently applied to the Metropolitan Licensing Authority for A licences for vehicles in excess of those owned in the basic year, the application being founded on increased trade during the past year. Not only did the four main-line railway companies object to the application, hitt it was also opposed by leading coastal shipping concerns and other interests. The objections of the railways and Carter, Paterson and Co., Ltd., were withdrawn, however, when Mr. G. A. Thesiger, for the applicant, stated that the company would withdraw its application for discretionary hiring allowance of a number of vehicles and trailers, and confine it to a request for licences for vehicles and trailers already in possession.

The application was for licences for 56 vehicles and 39 trailers, representing 442 tons of claimed tonnage in possession, and for 19 vehicles and six trailers of discretionary tcinnage in possession. amounting to 136 tons.

Mr. Robinson granted the application of the company.

DEFINING TRAFFIC CLASSES: CONCILIATION BOARD'S TASK.

Reference to the delay in setting up the area conciliation board for Yorkshire was made by Mr. J. Bowman, of Leeds, commercial group secretary for No. 9 District of the ' Transport and General Workers Union and a member of the National Joint Conciliation Board, at a recent meeting of the Bradford branch.

Since August 1, said Mr. Bowman, he had been endeavouring to get the Yorkshire Area Board formed. The Union had already nominated its representatives, but the employer's had not yet been able to agree among themselves regarding their representation. He was informed that it was anticipated the employers* list of representatives would be completed early in September.

Pointing out that the area board would have to define what is to be regarded as long-distance traffic and

what is to be regazlied as local traffic, Mr. Bowman said that some Yorkshire employers had suggested that if a journey could be completed in 11 hours it should come under the heading of local traffic. But drivers were able to travel to Liverpool and back in 11 hours, and surely, he added, that could not be termed local traffic. His own view was that journeys -to points more than 25 or 30 miles away should be regarded as long-distance work.

A Thornycroft at the International Alpine Trial.

As previously mentioned, Autocheques, Ltd., Regent Street, London, W. again arranged the hotels and conveyance of luggage for most of the International Alpine Trial competitors. For the luggage, the vehicle employed was a Thornycroft 2-tonner, supplied by Carter, Paterson,and Co., Ltd., the driver being Mr. T. W. G. Jude, assistant road supervisor for Carter, Paterson and Co., Ltd., and he was accompanied by Captain E. R. Atkins, who acted as courier and co-driver.

The same vehicle did similar work in the Alpine Trial of 1983, but, on this occasion, the test was much more severe. The time oCcupied was 16 working days, including the Channel crossing ;. the mileage. covered was 3,850, and the actual load carried during the

trial consisted of 116 valises, suitcases and trunks, each weighing anything between 40 lb. and 60 lb. The speed averaged 25 m.p.h., the average fuelconsumption figure was 14.17 m.p.g., and two quarts of oil were used.

The route followed was ;---England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Yugoslavia, Austria, Germany, Austria, Italy; Austria, Germany, Austria, Germany, France, England. Most exceptional difficulties were encountered. Some of the roads proved impassable through wash-outs as the result of violetit storMs, and consequently some of -the passes had to be descended and reclimbed. Some of the other roads were appalling, and the route from Susach to Zagreb was simply a loose track of stones, held together by sofne kind of powder.

The last three days of the trial permitted only 4 hours' sleep, scratch meals, and involved a journey of 888 miles, not to mention loading and un

loading and difficulties with Customs.

The Thomycroft put up a wonderful performance. It had to pull its load of 2 tons 5 cwt. up mountain passes, such as the Julier, the Tauerne, the Lueg, the Katschberg, and the Wurzen.

Conciliation Board's Report: Yorkshire Operators Meet.

Reasons why he signed the report of the sub-committee of the National Joint Conciliation Board, dealing with wages and conditions of employment in the goods-transport industry, were given by Mr. James France, president of the Commercial Motor Users Association, and one of the signatories of the report, at a meeting of operators held at Leeds on Tuesday. The meeting was held under the auspices of the North-Eastern Division of the C.M.U.A. and was attended by nearly 600 operators. Mr. G. E. Gilbey, chairman of the Division, presided.

Mr. France said he signed the report because he considered that the level of the industry should be raised and that the employees in it were entitled to a fair wage and reasonable conditions of employment. He stressed the elasticity afforded by the recommendations and the opportunity which was thereby given to area conciliation -boards to adapt them to local conditions. T.G.W.U. PUSH TO INCREASE LORRY-DRIVER MEMBERSHIP.

That the Transport and General Workers Union is making a push to increase its memlSership among drivers and mates employed on motor lorries with a view to strengthening its position in relation to the control of the goods side of road transport through the National and Area Conciliation Boards; was indicated at a recent meeting of the Bradford branch of the Union.

Alderman Ben Smith, A.M.Inst.T., national organizer for the Union, said that if the workers-were not sufficiently organized by October 1, when various regulations regarding labour conditions came into operation under the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, the advantage of the report on wages, etc., adopted bythe National Joint Conciliation Board, would be lost.

Referring to the fact that the findings of the National Wages Board do not apply to operators holding C licences, Alderman Smith said it was hoped, as was stated in the report of the National Conciliation Board's sub-committee, that licence-holders who had in the past conformed with national or local wages agreements would continue to conform, as a minimum, to the National Board's conditions. On this matter the Transport Union was already in negotiation with the National Retail and Distributors' Association of Great Britain.

The Soviet Oil-engine Tests

Forty oil-engined vehicles, including several with British engines, have returned from Moscow after a gruelling test to Tiflis. They covered more than 3,000 miles in 32 days, 10 days less than the scheduled time. They are now undergoing laboratory tests to determine the condition of the engines.

Area Board Set UP for South Wales.

South Wales machinery to put into operation the schedule of wages and working conditions adopted by the National Joint Conciliation Board for goods transport, was set up in Cardiff on Tuesday last, Mr. Alan Kiinjaton, of Newport, for the employers, and Mr. J. Kelly, of Swansea, for the employees, were appointed joint secretaries of the Area Board. BRUSH BODIES FOR OVERSEAS.

The Brush Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd.,Falcon Works, Loughborough, advises us that it has received an order from the Ntzam's Stat.: Railway for six 34-seater bus bodies for use in the city of Hyderabad, India. The bodies will be of the company's special all-metal design to suit the climatic conditions, and are being built to the 'requirements of the consulting en gineers, Sir Douglas Fox and Partners.

Another order received by the company from overseas is for five singledeck bus bodies for mounting on Thornycroft chassis for the Ramleh Electric Railway-s.

A Low-loading Three-way Tipping Trailer.

The accompanying illustration shows an interesting tipping trailer that has recently been supplied to the repeat order of Messrs. John Brown and Son, the well-known haulage contractors of Shoreham-by-Sea, by Carrimore Six Wheelers, Ltd., High Road, North Finchley, London, N.12.

The trailer can be tipped to both sides, as well as the rear, to an angle of no less than 40 degrees. The tipping operation is carried out by means of a special hand-operated hydraulic ram, which does not project below the level of the frame when the body is in its normal position. The trailer runs on twin pneumatic-tyred wheels, and a feature is that the loading level is little higher than that of an ordinary nontipping model.

Fescon New Branch Works.

Fescol, Ltd., which has for many years specialized in the electrodeposition of metals, has opened a branch works at Prospect Works, Lockwood, Huddersfield, for the deposition and machining of. nickel. The works are equipped with modern plant and can deal with shafts up to 6 ft. long and of a weight not exceeding 2 tons.

THE E.W.R.A. CONFERENCE.

The autumnal conference of the Furniture Warehousemen and Removers Association will be held in London, at the Hotel Victoria, Northumberland Avenue, W.C.2, on Thursday, November 16, and the following day. The autumnal dinner of the Association will be held on the evening of the first day, German Output Much Higher.

The production and sales of motor vehicles in Germany during the first half of 1934 were good, as compared with the corresponding period of 1933. The output of lorries and vans was more than doubled at 12,809, as against 5,915, whilst 12,636 vehicles of these types were sold, as against 5,812 a year ago. Foreign sales of motor vehicles, except for the smallest types, were rather higher, but as a result of the big increase in home sales, the percentage of exports declined.

A.E.C. v. Leyland—at Cricket.

The annual cricket match between teams representing the A.E.C. and Leyland concerns w=as played on the former's ground, at Southall. on August 25. The game resulted in a well' deserved win for the A.E.C. team which, after scoring 152 runs, dismissed their opponents for a total of 78 runs. These annual fixtures represent the high-light of the season for the teams concerned and the social side of the occasion was well catered for by the A.E.C. Sports Club.