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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

The Latest Registration Figures. The registration figures for motor vehicles registered in Great Britain for the period ending May 31st have just been published. Cars taxed on horsepower have increased in the year since May, 1927, from 727,443 to 832,171, an increase of 104,728. Motorcycles have increased by 26,000 in the year. Goods vehicles : in May, 1927, the number of these was 269,217; in February, 192s, they numbered 278,812, and in May last 288,987, representing an increase in the year of 19.770, and since February of 10,175. Electrically propelled vehicles, however, have fallen in number from May, 1927, when the figure was 1,384, to 1,365 in May last—a decrease of 19. Agrimotors show an increase of nearly 500 in the year, their number in May last being 14,755. There• is a falling. tiff in the number of agricultural and general-haulage tractors from 4,241 in May, 1927, to 3,361 in May last. Motor hackney vehicles in May last numbered 86,692, which is an increase of 204 over the figure for May, 1927 (then 86,488). in February last the number registered was 74,783. Exempt vehicles have increased during the year from 17,187 to 18,939.

The total receipts to the end of May in respect of licences amounted to £19,884,801, and it is interesting to note that this is more than twice the amount received in respect of the first six months of the year 1922.

In respect of vehicles registered for the first time during the. three months to the end of May, 1928, it is interesting to observe that of these cars number 56,136; goods vehicles, 9.424; agrimotors, 610; tractors, :185; motor hackney vehicles, 3,695; and exempt vehicles, 927.

The average receipt in respect of the whole year licence is £14 4s. for a car, £28 10s. 6d. for all types of goods vehicle, except electric, for whichthe figure is £20 9s., whilst the figure for hackney vehicles is £50 138.

New Sales Organization for Vuleans.

We are able to announce that Fitch, McGillivray and Co., Ltd., of 167, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W.1, has been appointed sole distributor for Vulcan commercial vehicles for London and for the counties of Middlesex, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex. The present Vulcan range consists of goods models to carry 30-cwt., 2-ton, 21-ton and 3-ton loads, as well as a six-cylinder 20-seater passenger chassis and 32seater and 36-seater bus chassis. In future, Fitch, McGillivray and Co., Ltd., will concentrate upon the distribution of Vulcan products and will display a range of these vehicles at its -showrooms.

Mr. Fitch and Mr. McGillivray have both had very intimate and successful experiences with Vulcan vehicles. So long ago as 1911 Mr. Fitch was appointed joint managing director of the Vulcan Car Agency, Ltd., whilst Mr. McGillivray was prominently associated with the supply of Vulcan vehicles to the Indian Government. After the war, Mr. Fitch was appointed managing director of Vulcan Motors (London), Ltd., and a director of the Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co. (1906), Ltd., Mr. McGillivray taking up the position of sales manager to the former' organization.

Pitch, McGillivray and Co., Ltd., was established last year and since that time has been actively engaged in the commercial-vehicle trade.

The 30-ewt. Morris-Commercial Truck. We are asked by the manufacturers of the Morris-Commercial truck to refer once again to the new 30-cwt. chassis

described in our issue of July 10th, and to say that, whilst 33-in. by. 61-in. balloon tjres can be fitted to these chassis if desired without extra charge,these tyres are only fitted to chassis intended for ambulance work, and not to those which are to be u;--..ad for carrying heavy goods.

In a Line or Two.

During the year 1927, 63,505 motorcars were registered in the province of British Colombia. Commercial motors were only registered by tonnage, the total being 12,592.

During the past municipal year the Maudslay buses run by the Coventry Corporation carried 6,570,710 passen gers and travelled 612,000 miles.

At the end of February last there were 11,104 lorries, vans and buses registered in South Australia.

Birmingham Corporation is to proceed with a scheme for the reconstruction of roads proposed as bus routes • a cost of £51,000.

By arrangement with the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., the Birmingham Corporation is to construct a 42-ft road between Wood Lane and Tyburn Lane, and to erect a bridge over the canal.

The highways committee of the London County Council recommends the council to proceed with the scheme for enlarging the tram subway beneath Aldwych and Kingsway, so as to permit of the use of double-deck cars, at a cost of £326,500.

A New British Tractor.

The directors' of the Associated. Equipment Co., Ltd., announce that they have decided to produce and market a lightweight tractor which will be manufactured at their works at Southall. Details of the new tractor are. not yet available for publicatien, but we understand that the directors of the' company intend to produce both agricultural and industrial types, and will' also engage in the export side of

the business. We are informed that Mr. E. Allan "Webb, late director of Ford Motor Co. (England), Ltd., has joined the company and will direct sales in the home market, whilst Mr. Walter L. Hill, late managing director of MuirHill and Co. (Engineers), Ltd., of Manchester, a concern making tractor equipment, has been appointed to manage the export section of the business. The experimental stage being completed, the tractor will be in production in the course of the next few months.

The New Fiat 30-cwt. Chassis.

We understand that the 24-cwt. Fiat commercial vehicle chassis, known as model 507F, has been revised in its design so that its capacity is increased to 30 cwt. In this form it will be known as the model 507FA. Full details of the revisions are not yet available, but on a wheelbase of 10 ft. the chassis overall length is 14 ft. 7 ins, and the weight unladen, but including a spare wheel, is only about 23 cwt. A. new radiator with interchangeable sectional tube elements, easily replaceable, has been adopted. We hope to deal more fully with the model 5071WA so soon as a chassis has been brought over for inspection.

S.M.M. and T. Officers for 1928-1929.

Sir George Beharrell, D.S.O., has been re-elected president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Ltd., for the year 1928-1929, and, at a recent meeting of the Society, the council paid a strong tribute to the very successful work accomplished by Sir George as president during the past year. Mr. F. S. Bennett, the vicechairman of the importers' section of the Society, was elected as one of the vice-presidents, Mr. S. S. Guy being elected as the other vice-president. As many of our readers will be aware, Mr. Guy is chairman of the committee of the commercial vehicle (petrol) section of the Society. Mr. Leslie Walton was, for the fourth time, reelected as honorary treasurer and chairman of the Society's finance committee.

• — In our report of commercial vehicles and motor appliances at the recent Royal Agrkultural Show an error occurred in the title to a group of illustrations on page 709. The central picture in the second column illustrated a 7 n.h.p. Foster tractor, whilst the bottom illustration showed the 6-ton Clayton tractor with three-speed gear. We regret the transposition of titles, which occurred in the hurry of sending that particular issue to press.

Dorman's Trading Results.

The report of W. H. Dorman and Co., Ltd., the well-known cngine-making concern, for the year ended March 31st last, shows, after providing for administration expenses (117,025), maintenance and depreciation (£16,547), interest on bank loan, debentures and notes, a net profit of 110,281. This sum is being deducted from the debit balance of f69,664 on the profit and loss account, leav ing a balance of 1511,383. There has been a marked improvement in the company's trading during the past year. The modern foundry at Tixall Road, Stafford, continues to expand, and all the aluminium and iron castings required by the company are • now made there.

Bus Prosecutions in Ireland.

Figures were recently quoted in the Irish Free State Chamber of Deputies showing that 1,505 prosecutions had been instituted against bus drivers and conductors during the six months ended Tune 30th last. Of these prosecutions 1,104 were for speeding and 401 for overcrowding, and in all but a few cases fines were imposed. The amount collected in fines was £805, as against £.207 in the corresponding period of 1927.

A Simple Idea to Avoid Traffic Confusion.

As only a single line of traffic can be permitted on the Hollywood Road, Belfast, which is being reconstructed as an all-concrete thoroughfare, vehicles are despatched in batches along that part of the road not ' under repair and, so that no confusion Is likely to arise, the driver of the last vehicle of each batch is handed a stick from the constable on point duty. This is passed on to the officer at the other end of the road, who then releases the stream of vehicles waiting to come from the opposite direction.

Public and Pleasure Services in Gibraltar.

One of our correspondents who has recently returned from a sea trip to Marseilles reports that the steamer on which he travelled called at Gibraltar, where the passengers were allowed to go on shore for a few hours. He found the mole crowded with both motorcars and horsedrawn vehicles, the drivers of which were all touting for customers for drives round the town. The motor vehicles used for the purpose were either ordinary pleasure cars or car chassis with roughly adapted coach bodies. Owing to the narrowness of the streets motor traffic in the city Is car

ried on under difficulties. Donkeys and mules are still mainly used for goods transport. The British G.P.O. authorities, however, run a number of familiar red-painted Ford vans, whilst a British steam wagon marked "Gibraltar City Council" was also seen.

Proposed Irish Free State Tariff.

It is announced by the Irish Free State Tariff Commission that a public sitting will be held in the first week in August in connection with the appliestion of the,frish Coach Builders' Association for a customs duty on the bodies of the various types of mechanically propelled vehicle imported into the Irish Free State. Inst. of T. Examinations.

Examinations for graduateship and associate membership of the Institute of Transport will be held in -London and certain other centres on Xpril 25th-27th, 1929, inclusive. The latest date for the deposit by candidates of forms of application for exemption is November 30th next, and for examine

tion February let of next year. Fuller particulars, forms of application and copies of the complete syllabuses and of papers set at examinations in past years can be obtained from the secretary of the Institute of Transport, 15, Savoy Street, Loudon, W.C.2. The syllabuses are priced at 1s. to nonmembers and examination papers at is. per set, in each case per_l: free.

Breakdown Lorries for Thames Tunnels.

Arising out of the congestion which recently occurred in Blackwell Tunnel owing to a collision between two motor vehicles, the London County Council has given consideration to the steps to be taken for dealing expeditiously with such emergencies. It has approved an arrangement providing for• the tramways breakdown lorry at the central repair depot to be utilized in the daytime and that at the New Cross depot at night. In the event of a tramways lorry not being available, the breakdown lorry at fire-brigade headquarters will be used for the purpose of removing traffic obstructions in Blackwell or Botherhithe Tunnels. Telephones are also being installed in the tunnels to enable rapid communication to be maintained with outside areas. At the seventh annual general meeting of the Institute of the Motor Trade, which is now inoorporated under licence of the Board of Trade, Mr. 'Walter Boyle, F.I.M.T., was unanimously re elected president. Mr. Boyle is well known throughout the industry as the Editor of the Garage and Motor Agent, and the author of various books in connection with the motor trade. The following were re-elected vice-presidents of the Institute :—Sir George Beharrell (President of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Ltd.), Sir Edward Manville (President of the Motor Trade Association) ; G. W. Lucas (President of the Motor Agents' Association, Ltd.) ; Viscount Curzon, ALP.; E. S. Bennett and John Chilton, America's Huge Export Trade in Tractors.

Reference has already been made in these columns to the very large export trade which is being transacted in American tractors. Apparently the demand is being well maintained, for returns just to hand show that no fewer than 19,991 wheel-type tractors, valued at £2,876,525 were exported from the United States during the four months ended April last, as compared with 16,609 machines and 11,906,048 respectively in the corresponding period of 1927. Similarly the exports of track-laying tractors of American manufacture advanced from 626 (£229,307) to 1,011 (£361,524).

Result of the Newcastle Bus Inquiry. Newcastle Corporation has now received the decision of the Ministry of Transport on the several points raised at the important inquiry held at Newcastle a few weeks ago and reported in our columns at the time. The Ministry's decision is that the corporation shall be empowered to run its buses both to Darras Hall and to Fawdon, but that its application to work a service from the New c20 Coast Road into Whitley Bay shall not be allowed.

The Ministry has dismissed the appeal lodged by the Fawdon Motor Omnibus Co. against the refusal of the Newcastle Watch Committee to grant them licences to ply for hire in Newcastle, in connection with their service from Fawdon.

At the last meeting of the council, at which these decisions were announced, it was also reported that there was an application from the London and North Eastern Ely. Co. for permission to Operate a bus service from the Newcastle Central Railway Station to Ponteland and Darras Hall, a route over which the corporation is now working. The application was referred to the watch committee.

A Potteries Bus Acquisition.

The Potteries Electric Traction Co., Ltd., has acquired the bus business of W. and F. Rogerson, Ltd., of Burslem. The transaction will result in the former company increasing its fleet of 154 buses by 17 vehicles.

Show Parking Plans.

The whole of the parking arrangements for motor vehicles in connection with the Royal Lancashire Show at Oldham from August 2nd to 6th, and the Royal Welsh Show at Wrexham from August 8th to 10th, are being undertaken by the Automobile Association.

Safety Glass Compulsory ?

More and more attention is being given nowadays to the use of safety glass for motor vehicles. There is no doubt that now the enclosed car and the. all-weather type of coach have established themselves in popular esteem, the danger from flying glass in the event of even a minor accident cannot be ignored. Mr. Prank Hough, the chairman of the Splintex Safety Glass concern, said at a recent meeting of the shareholders of the company, there have been persistent rumours that the Government intends to make safety glass compulsory on all vehicles.

Whether there is any truth in the rumour or not, it seemed, he said, desirable that some pressure be brought to bear, at least upon the proprietors of public conveyances to fit some form of unsplinterable glass.

Good Business for Garner's.

The Tyseley works of Garner Motors, Ltd., are being kept very busy with several large orders which have been received from various parts of the country. One of the largest has come from a London council which is buying 30 2i-ton end-tipping lorries, four 2ton three-way tipping lorries and nine tankers. One of the most important petrol-distributing concerns has ordered 16 2i-tonners. The Garner 20seater passenger chassis is also in good demand. The company is also completing an order for five 30-35-cwt. vans for service in Australia.

Ulster Registrations.

Approximately 150 commercial vehicles were registered in Northern Ireland during the months of March. April and May. Of these, 93 were between I2-cwt. and 25-cwt. capacity, and 30 were between 25-cwt. and 45-cwt. capacity. The number of hackney vehicles registered in the same period was 54, nearly one-hat of them having seats for 14 to 20 people. The number of commercial vehicles now registered in Ulster is • 5,165 and the number of hackney carriages carrying more than six passengers is 545.

M.A.B. Recommendations.

The Metropolitan Asylums Board recommends acceptance of the tender of John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd., to supply a 30-cwt. subsidy-type chassis for £410.

The Board recommends making contracts with the British Goodrich Rubber Co., Ltd., and the Goodyear T)re and Rubber Co., Ltd., for the supply of pneumatic t,yres for six months.

Canada Building Many Motor Roads.

Reports received by the Canadian Good Roads Association from all the provinces throughout Canada indicate that expenditure on highways work during the present year will be greater ihan during any previous period. The large increase in motor traffic in Canada, combined with the annual summer influx of road users from the United State's, are contributory, factors to this increased outlay. During last year the large total of 3,153,800 private cars for touring purposes entered Canada from the United States.

Restricting Oldham's itud Rochdale's Bus Activities.

The Parliamentary Committee of the West Riding County Council reports that the Corporations of Rochdale and Oldham have for several months been running buses betWeen their respective towns and the borough of Halifax, contrary to the provisions of the Acts defining their bus powers.

The Corporation of Rochdale is restricted to routes five miles from the town hall of the borough, and the Oldham Corporation to five miles from the borough boundary. Until the grant of the injunction against Halifax, the Corporations of Rochdale and Halifax worked a joint service, but since then it has been worked wholly by Rochdale. So far as Oldham is concerned, the service is worked as a joint one by agreement between the corporation and the North-Western Road Car Co., Ltd.

The committee has called the attention of these corporations to the fact that the services on the Halifax route are being illegally run by the corporations, and it is of opinion that pro ceeclings should be taken, as in the case of Halifax, for obtaining an injunction or order to restrain the Rochdale and Oldham Corporations from running buses to Halifax contrary to the provisions of their respective Acts of 1925.

Trade Opportunities in New Guinea.

A Queensland correspondent reports that Edie, Creek and the Bulolo Goldfields, in the mandated territory of New Guinea, are likely to witness the advent of the motor lorry before the end of the year. The importance of the gold deposits, since the discovery of various reefs, has been grasped by the authorities, and a road is being built from the coast to the fields to enable machinery to be transported. More Railway Lorry Services*

Since the beginning of the year new motor lorry services have been inaugurated by the Great Western Railway Co. in the following districts :—Penzance, Lavington, Melkshain, Newton Abbot, Baschurch, Bridgnorth, Presthope, llminster, Wellington (Spin.), Martock, CIevedon Bedwyn, Wantage Road, Ilrornyard, Trawsfynyld, Shrivenham, Evesham, Shifnul and Southam Road.

, Indian Imports.

It is announced that from April 1st, 1927, to March 31st, 1928, India imported motorbuses, vans and lorries to the total number of 8,682, the vehicles being valued at Rs.35,391,000. It is interesting to note that Canada supplied more of this total than the United States, -the exports from the two countries being 4,268 and 3,699 respectively. The United Kingdom was responsible for the contribution of 447 vehicles to the total.

New Irish Services.

A number of new bus services has been started in the west of Ireland, where they were badly needed in view of the inadequate railway service available. The Connemara Bus Co. which, as their name indicates, operate in the beautiful scenic district of County Mayo, have recently put on a service between Galway,I Castlebar and Westport.

Stockton's First Double-decker.

We publish on this page an illustraton of the Stockton Corporation's first enclosed double-decker bus, which has just been put into service. It is a Leyland, and is the first 'elivery of an order for six machines of this type.

With the exception of the Newcastle Corporation, which has six Associated Daimler enclosed double-deck vehicles in service, Stockton is the only municipality in the north country running these large-capacity machines. They have been obtained primarily for use on the corporation's route between Stockton and Billingham, where there is a heavy workmen's traffic.

Crude Oil From Coal.

The directors of Motor Fuel Proprietary, Ltd., have just announced the results of some recent tests made at their commercial production plant at Slough. A plant capable of treating 10 tons of coal per day has borne out the claims which the company hes made in connection with its lowtemperature distillation patents.

We are informed that the results have proved the company's process to be not only highly satisfactory from the point of the amount of crude oil obtained from coal, but that it can be operated on an economic basis. In one case 7 tons 14 cwt. of Nottingham coal were treated and the crude oil produced was 230 gallons, or 30 gal Ions per ton. In another case, 8 tons 17 cwt. of Lancashire Cannel coal were treated, and in this case 720 gallons (81 gallons per ton) of crude oil were produced.

The directors of Motor Fuel Proprietary, Ltd., express the view that the time has come when the distillation of oil from coal at low temperature can be operated commercially, and they have, therefore, acquired an important site in the Nottingham coalfield area for the erection of an oil refinery. Orders have already been placed with Ruston and Hornsby, Ltd., of Lincoln, for the first retort of the new unit of 80 retorts.

The Ministry's Finding on Darlington Appeals.

According to the finding of the Ministry of Transport in the case of the recent inquiry at Darlington, a corpora-. lion is entitled to require a company applying for licences to state the route which will be followed by its vehicles outside the borough boundary and that it has also the right to fix time-tables.

Recognition of these claims on the part of the Darlington Corporation is given in the Ministry's decision to make no order on the licensing authority, subsequent to the inquiry, which was held to consider appeals lodged by the C22 United Automobile Services, Ltd., and the Reliance Express Motors, Ltd., against refusals of licences by the corporation. In a communication to the interested parties the Ministry indicates that the Darlington-Richmond service, via Melsonby, shall be provided by the former company at hourly intervals, and that the two companies shall work a half-hourly service by the direct route between the same places, in equal proportions. The Ministry does not recognize the necessity for the deviation of another route by the United company to take in Middleton Tyas.

To Supply Fuel to Westminster.

The contracts committee of the Westminster City Council has received 14 tenders for the supply of motor spirit for 3, 6, or 12 months, the period of contract commencing on August let next. The sample of No. 3 grade spirit accompanying the tender of Cory Bros., and Co., Ltd., is reported to be considered the most suitable for the council's purpose. The company's price is lid, per gallon, including tax; subject to a rise and fall clause of 50 per cent, of the fuel combine's London prices.

The Belfast Bus and Tram Conflict.

The Belfast tram versus bus conflict was carried a stage farther recently when it was decided to reduce the fares on the tramway system. In addition to this step, buses to the value of 130,000 are to be purchased. These are to run at rush hours, in conjunction with the trams. When on a recent visit to Belfast our Irish correspondent noted that the trams were -running practically empty, whilst large numbers of people were waiting at all the, more important centres for buses.

Coach Traffic to Brighton.

The estates and town-planning subcommittee of the Brighton Corporation has been requested by the general-purposes committee to report at an early date as to the practicability of providing garage accommodation for incoming motor coaches on some portion of the Fast Brighton Estate. , Encouraging Coach Tourists.

The most popular coach-touriug ground of the South Wales, Midlands and Western Counties area is to be developed with a view to making popular resorts and places of interest more accessible by road. To this end, a conference has been held at Symonds Yat by representatives of the Monmouthshire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire councils to consider concrete proposals for improving access by road to the Wye Valley region.

The main proposal is to develop the Monmouthshire area by providing a bridge over the River Wye, to link the counties of Hereford and Gloucester. By means of the proposed bridge traffic will be able to pass from Chepstow to Symonds Yat alongside the River Wye, a drive of rare interest from the beauty standpoint.

The proposals were approved by the convention, and the individual county authorities will now take the necessary steps to consummate the decisions.

The Tees Crossing at Newport.

In connection with proposals for a crossing of the River Tees at Newport, either by means of a bridge or a tunnel, the Middlesbrough Corporation ex _ presses the opinion that a conference should be arranged between representatives of the Ministry of Transport, the Durham County Council and the corporation further to discuss the whole ques tion, particularly with reference to obtaining professional advice in the matter. It is suggested that the cost of the scheme should be borne in the proportion of 50 per cent. by the Ministry of Trans port, 25 per cent, by the Durham County Council and 25 per cent, by tha corporation.

A U.A.S. Bus Appeal.

The Tynemouth Watch Committee has received intimation that the United Automobile Sesvices, Ltd., has lodged an appeal with the Ministry of Transport against the committee's decision concerning the company's application for permission to operate buses in the borough in connection with its Whitley Bay-Newcastle service, via the New. Coast Road. At present the vehicles, which are not licensed in the borough of Tynemouth, convey passengers picked up in Tynemouth, free to their destination.

The Roads-Beautifying Association.

Colonel Wilfrid Ashley, the Minister of Transport, presided at a well' attended meeting held at Whitehall Gardens, London, a few days ago, when steps were taken to inaugurate the Roads-Beautifying Association for the purpose of promoting the adornment of highways by the planting of selected classes of trees and shrubs.

A New-type Taxicab.

The chief constable of Manchester recently inspected a new type of taxicab which, it is said, will cost considerably less than most of the present types, the approximate figure given being £350.