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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.' Beattie Crozier.

Leyland's Loss.

The report of Leyland Motors, Ltd., has just been issued for a period covering 13 months to September 30th, 1922, The actual less shown is 267,009, after writing down stock by 2100,000, against a loss for the previous period of 11 months of 2539,803, when the stock was written down by £696,983.

After adding interest on looms, including bank Interest, of 2104,201, de predation on buildings, etc., £67,020, and certain other items, and deducting dividends on investments and sundry receipts, the adverse balance is brought up to £238392, which, added to the deficit at the end of the period dealt with by the preceding report, brings the total debit balance up to £993,907.

A New Bridge Lip North.

A new scheme for a bridge over the River Blyth, at Bedlington, is in course of preparation, and should, when approved and completed, prove a boon to motor vehicle users of all classes, by materially shortening the distances by road, between 'many of the well populated mining towns inEast North. umberland. The existing bridge,is only capable of bearing light tra.ffic, and en tails long detours for all heavy vehicles travelling between Tyneside and Bed: lington, Ashington and Newbiggin.

The estimated cost of the new strucis tore is 250,000, of which the Ministry of Transport would bear 50 per cent., leaving the remainder to be divided between the Blyth Town Council and the Bedlington Urban District Council:

Southend and the Rail-less System.

Southend 'Corporation Light Railways Committee is now recommendingetbe sail-less system to provide a service to Prittlewell, in place of the existing single-track tramway

The committee has Visited Birmingham to inspect the rail-less system re: cently put into operation, and reports that it was much impressed by the smooth and silent running of the vehicles; the lack of oscillation' and! vibration; the quick acceleration after stops, enabling a rapid service to bemaintained; the control of the driver over the mathine when passing other traffic; and the ease with which the vehicle, fully loaded, mounted a steep hill, stopper' in the centre of the rise. and started without effort. Thecorn. mittee is also .favourably impressed with the.mobility and capacity of the vehicles' as a means of transport.

Tilling-Stevens Buses in London.'

Tilling Stevens Motors, Ltd., of Maid stone, in orm us that there seems to be a genera: impression gaining ground in some parts of the country that the sale by the Hamilton Trading Co., of

number of London double-decker 'Tilling-Stevens petrol-electric omnibuses indicates that this type of vehicle is bang withdrawn entirely from the London streets

The company ask us to emphasize the fact that the vehicles which are being diannsed of by the Hamilton Trading 20

Co. are of a, smaller type, which have been running on the streets of the Metropolis with complete success since 1912, and that they are now being replaced by a similar number of larger and more up-to-date Tilling-Stevens petrol-electric buses, which are to be

seen in daily operation in the metropolitan area.

In addition to the large fleet at present in service, the company -have oust received a further order for 168 vehicles of a similar type which are to he put into service on the London streets, PO that in the near future there will he a: larger number of Tilling-Stevens petrolelectric type buses in service in London than ever before.

Hampstead's Protest.

Flampstead Borough Council is protestkig to the Commissioner of Police and the Minister of Transport against the proposal of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., to extend a bus service on Sundays and Bank Holidays from the present terminus at South End Green, along the side of Hampstead Heath, to Downshire Hill.

Food Prices and Motorbuses.

-Quite a novel objection was raised to 'motorbuses at the March meeting of the Penmaenmawr Council, North .Wales, when, in the course of a discussion on food prices it waS stated that for certain' commodities there was a. difference of 3d. per lb. between the prices ruling locally and those at Bangor. Naturally, perhaps, the Penmaenmawr shopkeepers felt a little antipathy toothe traders of Bangor, and it was stated at the council meeting that it had been said that the Blue motorbus services should be stopped, because they were invariably full of provisions carried by passengers from Bangor at week-ends. Was ever .absurdity carried to such an extreme?

By virtue of their capacity for linking the small with the large towns, it is Quite evident that motorbuses exercise a useful influence in levelling the prices of shopkeepers, thus preventing the public from being exploited, as otherwise they might. be if the passenger motor vehicles did not enable inter-town corn

Paying to Cross the Road.

At a meeting of the County Councils Association the Highways Committee reported haying considered the following report received from the Warwickshire County Council on the subject of the licensing of agricultural tractors and their drivers:— " It appears clear that, 'according to the existing law, an agricultural motor tractor, which is not a heavy locomotive and which is used on a highway, must be licensed, and that the driver of it must hold a motor driver's licence. When the use of such a vehicle on a highway ia slight, e.g., merely crossing a road from one part of a farm to another' it is hard on the owner of the vehicle to have to pay for such licences. We think that the law, which at present in word,s appears to require agriculturists to take out 'eueh licences, should be reconsidered . . ."

The matter was brought to the notice of the County Councils Association, but its Highways Committee reported that it was not satisfied that any substantial grievance is caused to agriculturists by the existing provisions of the law,

The Association, however, referred the matter to the Agricultural Committee for consideration.

Harrier Trade.

Karrier Motors, Ltd., inform us that they have recently received an order for two of their 50 h.p. chassis for Messrs. Schweppes. The vehicles have been selected especially for use in hilly districts.

It is interesting to note that the company have executed three times the amount of shipping within the past three months as compared with the whole of last year.

At an India Office test recently held at Coldharbour, near Dorking. when hill-climbing and, other difficult feats were set, the Karrier vehicle, we are told, headed the list of performances in comr■istition with a number of vehicles of other makes.

Fuel Service in Leicester.

C. Bacon and Sons, Ltd., inform us that they have recently installed two large petrol pumps at their premises at 126. Harrison Road, Leicester, for the benefit of commercial users. The pumps are placed at the entrance to the company's large parking station situated midway between Manchester and London on the main road, at which not only petrol and accommodation for vehicles are to be obtained at very reasonable charges, but sleeping quarters and wholesome food can also be had for the benefit of drivers.

Last week we mentioned that we would give a resume of a paper entitled "The Future of Steam as .Applied to Motor Vehicles and Agricultural Engines." by Mr. Kyrie W. Williams. We find, however, that we have not the necessary space at our disposal, and wa regret, therefore, that we shall not be We to deal with it this week.

Petrol Pump Accuracy.

At a meeting of the County Councils Association the Parliamentary Committee reported having considered a letter front the Somerset County Council drawing attention to the lack of uniformity of practice in. regard to the stamping of petrol pumps, and also to the uncertainty of the position of these iustruments under the Weights and Measures Acts, and requesting the association to consider, in conjunction with the associations representing other local bodies, what steps should be taken in the, matter, It was reported that a Government Bill had been prepared to deal with this question, but had never been introduced.

The association decided to urge the Government to introduce legislation on the subject of the ve:ifieation and stamping of roadside petrol pumps, and that the three representatives of the Society of Inspectors of Weights ant Measures upon the association, together with the secretary, be authorized, in case of necessity, to confer with the Association of Municipal Corporations in the matter.

Control of Roads.

Al the annual meeting of the County Councils Association, 'Viscount Long was elected president. Lord Long. said that one of the most difficult questiors which the assoziation had to deal with was that of the control of roads: The present division of control between the Government and the county councils did not make for efficiency. He said that no Government could have the same information as that possessed by county councils and, therefore, trust ought to he placed in the councils in this matter.

A Tax on Bus Tickets.

At a meeting of the Worcester Chamber of Commerce recently, a tax On motorbus tickets was suggested as one means of relieving the agricultural ratepayer of certain of his burdens.

Viscount Deerhurst, the chairman, spoke of the great increase in the cost of maintaining roads, and he contended that the traffic which did most damage included the motorbus. If the Government placed a halfpenny tax on an omnibus fare of 6d., and a penny tax on a fare of Is., it was stated that a considerable sum could be raised for the

use of the Road Board. A resolution was passed expressing the • view that those who . put heavy vehicles on the road shouldhear a larger proportion (.1 the upkeep.

An Electric Tractor.,

At a recent conference in Stockholm it was reported_ that a new type of tractor had *recentlybeen constructed in which a three-phase electric motor was used in •place of the ordinary internal

combustion engine. It is stated that the tractor has emerged from its initial trial's very satisfactorily, and that the cost of ploughing by the new means is considerably reduced. The manufaeturers of the tractor are Aktiebolaget Juneplogen of Bankeryd, in co-operation with Allmaenna Svenska, Elektriska Aktiebolagets It is stated that 1,770 motor ploughs and tractors of various construction are now being used in Sweden.

West Riding Traffic Growths.

The census of traffic which has been taken in the West Riding indicates a remarkable increase in the use of mechanically propelled vehicles. The extent to which the weight of traffic has increased is indicated by the fact

that, whilst in 1913, 2,000 tons per day was considered an exceptional weight of traffic on county roads, that figure wat-: exceeded 'last year at 40 of the 211. census points, 11 of which were in rural districts. Horse-drawn vehicles, it is worthy of note, have decreased in num. ber on the principal roads by /0 per cent, during the past 10 years. Swansea Roads.

At its last meeting the Swansea Council received notification that a further sum was atrailable' for the improvement of first-class .reads in the area during, the coming-year, and itswas recommended that a portion of the expenditure earmarked for unclassified react improvement should,he struck out of the, estimates for the year now commencing and allocated instead to firstcla.s.s roads.

The council decided to take this step with . the re,sult that an additional £42,000-aboye the estimated sum will 'be spent on' classified, roads, whereas subsidiary highways expendituie will be lowered by £57,000

Running Costs for a Six-tonner.

One of the illustrations on this page shows a new 6-ton Leyland side-type lorry, which is giving splendid service in East Lancashire to its owner. The platform with which the chassis is fitted is 18 ft. long and at the time the picture was taken it was carrying 49 skips of cotton yarn weighing about 7 tons 4 cwt. The Leyland 6-t,onner is designed so that the driver sits alongside the engine, and on this account it is possible to secure a lengthy body at the expense of the driver's cab, and at the same time a better distribution of the load between the axles is obtained.

The owners of the lorry, whose headquarters are at Burnley, have kept accurate costs in detail oi its running, and the statistics, which we reproduce below, show that on a 63 miles per day basis the costs are approximately 13.52d. per mile.

The detail costs, which are based on 5; days' running per Week over a distance of 350 miles, are as follow: — • Pence per mile.

Tyres ... 1.36 Interest on. capital (5 per cent. on £1,250) .82 Depreciation at 15 per cent. ... 2.46

Reserve for renewals and repairs 1.08 Wages— Driver at £3 3s. per week, loader at £2 17s. per week ... 4.11 Oils and grease, cleaning mate

rials, etc. ... ... .31 Insurance ... .31 Petrol at 6.5 miles per gallon ... 2.92 Garage expenses ... .•. ... .15 Total • Cost per day. £3 10s. 11.76d. Cost per week. £19 14s. 4d.

Cost per year (52 weeks), £1,025 5s. 4d,

Giving Good Service.

The South Wales Transport Co. has acceded to the request of the tocai authorities, particularly the Clydach Council, to extend the bus service ter. minus from Swansea to the Pontardawe Valley to Craigiupare Road. The Clydaele Council has passed resolution of appreciation of the company's willingness to consider suggeeMona from local bodies.

The company has, in addition, at the request of the local authorities, made certain modifications with regard to Sunday services, in order to suit those people visiting hospitals at Swansea.

Labour Asks for Buses.

The Beoington and Bra:nix/rough Labour Party has passed the following resolution :—" That we, the members of the Bebington and Bromborough Labour Party, strongly support the proposal of the Birkenhead. Corporation to run a service of motor omnibuses from Charing Cross to Brenaborough.

" We believe that the proposed through-service to Birkenhead would be an inestimable advantage to the inhabitants of thisdistrict, and, further, that the proposal to issue workman's tickets will be a boon to the very large number of workers who travel daily to New Ferry and Bromborough from Birkenhead."

Wakefield Bus Developments.

At the annual meeting of the Yorkshire (West Riding) Electric Tramwe.ys Co., Ltd., the chairman referred to important developments in the company's affairs arising out of the purchase of motorbuses.

In, connection with the bus undertaking the company had spent £30,180 during the past year, in addition to an. expenditure of £10,775 in extensions to depots at Wakefield and Caatleford, whilst close on 00 had been spent on the provision of a waiting-room and parcels office in the centre of Wakefield. The. decision of the company to use motorbuses was made not only to protect the company against competition, but because they were convinced that there existed a prepared field for the utilization of buses which would serve the convenience of residents and at the same time provide a working profit. The results of the inauguration of the bus services have exceeded the company a expectations, and, such has been their growth that 22 vehicles are now in full commission, whilst 16 additional machines wlll shortly be put into regular Service.

The passenger services operated by the company run in the areas of 5:1, different authorities.

A Use for Parking Pees.

At a recent meeting of the Roborough Down Commoners it was decided to make a small charge. for all motor coaches parking on the moors, and to devote the proceeds • to clearing the moors of debris scattered about by the trippers. The proposal to lemove a bank on the corner of the road below Yelverton Corner in order to give greater visibility to drivers was approved.

Where the Police are Wanted.

The traffic inspector of the Llanelly Borough Council reported to a meeting of the transport committee that investigation of complaints relating to congestion at certain of the termini for public-service vehicles had revealed the fact that much of this was caused by tramcar stopping-places coinciding with those allocated to buses, and it was decided to call the attention of the tramcar ownersto the matter. The committee further resolved to request the police officials. to be present at all future meetings.

Oil cang of all shapes and sizes for all uses are described in a catalogue which has been issued by Joseph Kaye and Sons, Ltd., Lock Works, Leeds.

Potteries Bus Services.

The terms of compromise which have been arranged between the Potteries Electric Traction Co., Ltd., and the special tremways committee of the eitoke-On-Trent. Corporation were approved by the council a few days ago. The company's Bill, which is now before Parliament, proposes an extension of their running powers in the Potteeiee for a further 30 years, and also the elimination of ail omnibus competition on routes on which( the company are prepared to run a sufficient omnibus service.

By the terms of compromise the tenure of the company is limited to 25 years and the corporation's option to purchase in 1924 is extended until 1925. The clause in the company's Bill limiting omnibus competition is deleted altogether, but a dame in the general Bill promoted by the Stoke-on-Trent Corporation is modified in Order to give the company a reasonable proportion of the number of licences on mutes over which the corporation has control. If any sense of injustice is felt, at the number cf licences issued, the company has the right of appeal to the firlinistry of Transport.

,A.E.C. Instruction Book.

The Associated Equipment Go., Lide have recently issued an instruction book for tho A.E.C. model 403 (or S4ype) chassis. This book, which has been supplied to all owners of this type of vehicle, contains a boat of valuable information relating to upkeep and main. lenance. It indicates the best wave of ensuring efficiency and economy, and the numerous line and half-tone illustrations which are included serve to amplify the lucid descriptions which are given relating to methods of adjustment. A lubrication chart printed on linen paPer is incorporated at the end of the book. Details of the company's service scheme are briefly enumerated, arid wo note that it is pointed out that the corn

pany's engineers constantly tour the country and that every user should receive a. visit at least once every six months.

Home Office and Driving Mirrors.

The Home Office refuses to sanction e by-law proposed by the Kent County Council for the compulsory provision of mirrors on motor vehicles, on the ground that traffic provisions of this nature ought to lie enforced, if at all, by general law and not. be made the subject of local by-laws.

Morecambe Bus Traffic.

The Morecambe Corporation. has wider consideration the question of an 6xiension of local motorbus services. The Hackney Carriage Committee of the corporation recently met to consider. spplications from several firms for permission to run motorbuses, and the chairman of the committee stated that the growth of this form of traffic had made the work of the committee increasingly difficult, in View of the narrowness of certain. streets in the borough and the limitation of stand accommodation on the Promenade. The 'whole .situation was in a state of transition, but the committee had every_ de,sire to deal absolutely fairly with applicants for new licences, keeping in mind public convenience and existing services. -if4e far as the motor vehicles used are concerned, it was stated they would have to be submitted. for expert. examination, the holders of licences would have to be adequately. insured. against third-party risks, and each vehicle would have. to carry suitable fileextinguishing apparatus. With regard to fares, the committee had come to a tentative arrangement with Lancaster and Heysham to adopt the &Vile scale.

:Inspector Whitfield drew attention to the difficult problems which confront Morecamba in the matter of motor traffic. The committee deferred its decision on

the subject-. .

. Crofts' Bearings.

We have received a copy of the latest catalogue issued by Crofts (Engineers), Ltd., Thornbtiry, Bradford, which gives full details of the types of ball and Seller bearings manufactured by this oompany, and indicates their suitability for all forms of power transmission.

New Bridges in Worcestershire.

All classes of road users will welcome he news that the Worcestershire Llonnty Council has undertaken to construct a new bridge over the Tema at Bransford. The road passing oVer this bridge Ts the one leading from Worcester to Hereford, and it is used -very largely by motor traffic. The present bridge is a wooden structure of narrow width and with a bad approach, on which accidents have occurred, the last being a fatal upsetting of a petrol wagon into the Teme. The new structure is to be built in ferro-concrete, with an 80-ft. span and at a height of 17 ft. above the normal water level, at an approximate cost of £14,000, There is a movement on foot, to construct a bridge over the Severn at Highley, but, so far, the Worcestershire County Council has not undertaken any

i action n the matter, it being referred to the consideration of the Shropshire Council and the Ministry of Transport. Such a bridge would be a great boon, and would save many miles of unnecessary travelling in -order to cross the River Severn.

C.M.U.A. Annual Luncheon.

The annual luncheon of the Commer-. cial Motor Users Association will be held at the Savoy Hotel, London, on Wednesday, April 11th.

Tank Design and Experiment.

The work of the Department of Tank Design and Experiment formerly carried on at Old Charlton has been taken over by the Woolwich Arsenal, and all official correspondence on the subject must be addressed " Superintendent of Design," Royal Arsenal, -Woolwich, S.E.18.

Could Have Been. Prevented.

The brakes of a 30-cwt. van, for some unknown reason, gave out suddenly whilst it was recently standing unattended on a gradient in a London street. Running back, it mounted tha pavement, and was only brought to rest by an unfortunate lamp-post One of the gears should be "in," or the wheels chocked, when leaving a vehicle on a hill. A sprag, of course, makes for absolute safety on such occasions. Incidentally, it is not generally known that the lead-pipes of London street gas-lamps are flexible, so that no escape of gas takes place when a contretemps such as this is experienced. (See page 203.)

In our report of the C.M.U.A. London Parade we referred to the Westinghouse brake with which one of the fleet of the Anglo-American Oil Co., Ltd., was equipped as an hydraulic brake. This was quite a slip in dictation, for the brake is operated by the gases derived from the explosions in the engine cylinders.

Personal Pars.

Mr. E. Harry Lancaster, A.M.I.A.E., M. I . A.E. .M. S.A.` (U. S.A. ), informs us that he has now severed his connection with the Service Co., and is recommencing his former activities as a consulting engineer at 173-175, Great Portland Street, London, W. 1.

Mr. Lancaster will be well remembered as one of the pioneer engineers in the motor trade. He was the engineer to the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland (now the Royal Automobile Club) for many years' following which he spent a period of his career in the motor industry, being managing director of the Enfield Autocar Co.

He is specializing in general construction work relating to motor vehicles, arbitrations, inventions, production costs, valuation of businesses and works and, in fact, in everything appertaining to the motorcar industry and general engineering matters. He is also pre, pared to act as agent in London for any Colonial firms. He is closely in touch with manufacturers in this country, America and Franco and, being a man of the highest integrity and possessing an almost unlimited number of friends throughout the whole of the motor movement, he is a man who, with confidence and advantage, may be entrusted, with any important mission.

The appointment of Lt.-Col. .Arthur Hacking, D.S.O., M.C.: to the secretaryship of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders will prove a popular one, for he is, in every sense;,

"live wire " without, however, any of the fireworkswhich "live wires " generally consider it neceSsary -to display. He has had a legal training. and has made his mark in the past year or two as seeetary to the Motor Legislation Committee, whilst he has acted as deputy to Mr. Woodfine during the latter's leave. We wish him every success.

Meetings of the Departmental Committee on the Taxation and Regulation of Road Vehicles were not held last wenlz nor are they to be held this week.

Cardiff Cab Conditions.

The 'Cardiff Watch Committee has called for a report from the Chief Constable dealing with what has been done in other cities in the matter of the revision of taxicab fares. It was stated that the Cardiff schedule sf taxi charges had not been ,revise,d since 1915 and that the cost of tyres, petrol, and other items was reduced considerably from the 1915 standard.

A redaction in fares, it was contended; might revive the trade of which taxicab proprietors complain as being at low ebb. Several compleints were made to the committee that the meters in the taxis were frequently" out of order and that the figures were net legible. A dirty and dilapidated condition was alleged to prevail with respect to the taxicabs.

The Chief -Constable stated that from 70 to 90 taxicabs were inspected daily and that the necessary police supervision was forthcoming.

Many New Motor Ships.

The superiority of internal-combustion-engined vessels over steamers is being made increasingly manifest, and orders for motor ships are now being placed in large numbers. "Three Years' Progress of the Meter Ship" and " Complete List of All the -Motor Ships on Order," two articles which appear in the April number of The Motor Ship, which is now on sale, give a splendid idea of the remarkable advances that are being made.

Articles dealing with " The MotorPassenger Liner Dumana,' " " A New 17,000-ton Motor Liner," and "A 1,000-ton River Motor Tank Ship" are also given, with a profusion of first; class illustrations, as well as a number of other articles of considerable interest.

Restrictions in Switzerland.

At the end of last year there were 5,902 commercial vehicles in use in Switzerland, The Swiss Tourist, Office has addreseed a. petition to those Cantonal Governments which have prohibited the running of motor vehicles on Sundays, requesting the removal of these restrictions, at any rate so far as they affect the main roads.

Presses for Tyre Companies.

Hollings and Guest, Ltd., Thimblo Mill Lane, Birmingham, inform us that they have recently reCeived orders for their well-known hydraulic tyre presses from several of the leading tyre corn• pa.nies, including the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd. ; B. F. Goodrich Co., Ltd.: Avon India, Rubber Co., Ltd.; Pirelli, Ltd., and that they are also constantly supplying their tyre presses to garages all over the country. It is pleasing to hear that there is an increased demand for the company's overseas model press.

The Value of a Trailer Fire Pump.

The Penrith Joint Fire Brigade Committee is contemplating the purchase of a Dennis trailer pump at the cost of 2450, to be used in conjunction with theenotoe fire-engine, the step being deemed necessary in view of difficulty encountered in negotiating narrow lanes and bad roads by the heavy motor.

• Local Proceedings. .

Leicester City Council is proposing the purchase of electric vehicles for refuse collection.

' East Barnet Urban District Council is shortly to reconsider a proposal to purchase a motor lorry.

St. Albans City Council is making inquiries as to the possibilities of economy by introducing motor vehicles.

Preston Corporatoe Tramways Committee recommends the purchase Of a Leyland motor omnibus at a cost of £1,041.

Hampstead Borough Council is inviting tenders for the supply of a gullyemptying machine, a 4-ton petrol lorry, a 1-ton lorry, and a 2-ton lorry.

Edinburgh Corporation is inviting tenders for the supply of a 3-4-ton motor chassis, a 25-30 lep. van chassis, and a 150-200-gallon pump for the firebrigade.

Rotherham Corporation is considering the advisability of extending the railless buses to the village of Maltby, where a housing estate is being dedeveloped.

Preston Corporation has accepted the tender of the Anglo-American Oil Cc., Ltd., for the supply and erection of petrol storage plant, with a capacity of 5,000 gallons, for the sum of £192.

Grimsby Corporation Fire Brigade Committee recommends the purchase of a Merryweather motor trailer pump at a cost of £490, and a Daimler motor ambulance chassis at a. cost of £500

Preston Corporation is applying to the Ministry of Transport for sanction to borrow the sum of £950 for the erection of a garage on. the south side of the power station, adjoining Argyll Road, to accommodate ten motorbuses.

Deptford Borough Council has arranged to make tests with motor eehicles in order to ascertain the kind most suitable for refuse collection. Up to the present the council has net found it economical to use motors for the work, although mechanical transport vehicles are used for ether branches of municipal work.

The L. C. Rawlenee Windscreen Co. inform us that they have removed te 5, Lower Marsh, Westminster Bridge Road, London, S.E. 1, where windscreens for all types of motor vehicles can be obtained at shortenotice.