NEWS of the WEEK
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Freezing-out Fish Traders at North Shields
THE L.N.E. Railway is pressing its objections against the renewal applications of over 20 road hauliers engaged in the carriage of fish from North Shields, consequently a difficult situation has arisen, for the efforts to cement goodwill between road and rail interests may receive a, drastic setback.
The hearing commenced on Tuesday and will probably occupy a week.
In connection with these applications, one contractor, J. H. Turnbull and Sons (North Shields), Ltd., has sent a letter to all Members of Parliament, drawing attention to the statement by the• railways that they have no desire to interfere with any other means for transport.
This company has been engaged in fish transport from North Shields for a number of years, using 13 vehicles and employing, in its own and associated concerns, over 70 men. Twenty-one other hauliers, operating approximately 100 vehicles, also engaged in this business, have also made applications for
the renewal of their licences and have received similar notices of objection from the railway concerned.
The company points out that it is the avowed intention of the railway to secure, if possible, the monopoly of this fish carriage, and has briefed eminent counsel (Sir William Monckton) to oppose these applications. If the railways be successful it will mean the end of the company's business and that of the other hauliers. Many men will lose employment in an area which can still be called depressed.
In a resolution passed at a meeting of the North Shields fish merchants, held on February 15, it was stated that the meeting deplored the attitude adopted by the railways and expressed the opinion that it was directly contrary to certain principles defined in its " square deal" campaign.
The letter concludes by requesting that the matter should be raised immediately in the House of Commons, so that the country can be told the facts. REFUSE COLLECTION DE LUXE.
La f AST Tuesday, at the L.C.C. fiats of
the Clapham Park Estate, Wandsworth, London, S.W., there was held an interesting demonstration of the " Paladin" refuse-collecting vehicle built by Walker Brothers (Wigan), Ltd., Pagefield Works, Wigan.
Since we described this outfit in connection with the exhibition of public-cleansing devices held at the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington, London, N., last November, a number of improvements has been embodied in the, design. but the principle is essentially the same.
It forms an adequate method of dealing with the collection of house refuse from blocks of fiats, a matter which is proving something of a problem to the authorities in London and elsewhere. ' The refuse containers are brought to the vehicle on a special trolley and are then lifted bodily from this by a girdle and inverted to an angle of about 60 degrees, so that the contents can be discharged hygienically through an opening at the rear-end of the roof. This orifice is opened and closed automatically, and the exposure of the refuse already in the vehicle is only momentary, whilst the diaphragm fits closely around the containers during discharge, so that loading is practically dustless. Each container has its own detachable cover, which is not removed while it is being lifted or lowered.
When used for dealing with ordinary dustbins, these are emptied into a rectangular container, which will take the contents of some 12 average bins.
Import and Export Values Slump.
COMMERCIAL vehicles, chassis, cars and accessories imported during January had a value of £383,461, which contrasts with £549,020 in January, 1938, according to Board of Trade returns.
• After the excellent figures for November and December last, the January returns for exports of commercial vehicles are somewhat disappointing, particularly in the matter of their value, which was occasioned by the big fall in the value, from £78,463 to £6,624, of exports to South Africa. The actual figure for January last was 171, as compared with 230 in January, 1938, the respective values being £42,973 and £134,502. It is worth harking back to January, 1937, when 655 vehicles were exported, their value being £105,855.
There was also a marked drop in the value of commercial chassis, despite the fact that there was little change in the number exported. The figure was 859 chassis, having a value of £147,811, the previous year's totals being 857 and £240,421 respectively. In this case, too, a big decrease was to be noted in the quota received by South Africa.
POSITION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES' IN NATIONAL CRISES.
PRESIDING at a luncheon of the Associated Electric Vehicle Manufacturers, held. in Glasgow, last .week, Lieut.-Col. L. P. Winby, chairman of Associated Electric Vehicle Manufacturers; Ltd., said that electric vehicles were becoming increasingly popular because of the hygienic and economical transport they provided. Electric vehicles were now being used by 119 co-operative societies, 87 municipalities, 10 Government Departments, and by Glasgow Cleansing Department.
Mr. Colin Macfarlane, president of the Institute of Public Cleansing, commented upon the predominant position that would be held by the electric vehicle in times of national emergency.
Cable-trailer Tenders Sought.
1T is reported from Johannesburg that !the Union Tender and Supplies Board of South Africa is calling for tenders for the supply of two cable-hauling trailers. Each vehicle must be designed to carry a cable drum of 44 tons, having a maximum overall diameter of 90 ins, and a maximum overall width of 46 ins. Tenders have to be delivered by April 6, and fuller details may be obtained from the Department of Overseas Trade, 35, Old Queen Street, London, S.W.I, reference T./ t9177/39 being quoted.
Lorry Owner Tells Bench of His Earnings.
VVITEN a claim for £.1 15s. costs by VY a witness was queried as being somewhat excessive by the magistrates at Horncastle (Lines) Police Court, on Saturday last, the witness said he was the owner of a lorry, and, through having to come to the court he had lost a £2 job that morning. lie allowed 5s. off for the petrol he would have used, and asked for £1 15s.
Mr. G. R. Forbes (a magistrate): — Do you say you earn £2 every morning and £2 every afternoon with your lorry? It is £24 a week. Do you tell us you get £24 a, week profit from your lorry?
Witness : —Yes, less wear-and-tear and petrol.
The Bench allowed witness £1 10s. expenses.
Mechanical Testing of Bituminous Road Materials.
(INE of the most important tasks in X./road research is the development of satisfactory methods of. testing bituminous road materials, so as to give a true appreciation of their behaviour when used as surfacings. The obvious preliminary step was to sift the voluminous world literature on the subject of mechanical testing of bituminous materials and to make a critical study of all tests which have been proposed and adopted.
The results of such a survey are lucidly presented in a report entitled
The Mechanical Testing of Bituminous Road Materials," which has recently been published and is avail
able from His Majesty's Stationery Office, price Is. net The tests are classified into four main groups:—(1) Those involving plastic properties; (2) those involving elastic properties; (3) miscellaneous tests; and (4) service tests, The report contains a bibliography of 197 references and an appendix giving a classification and brief description of the main types of bituminous road construction,
British Ladder for French Fire-fighters.
THE Paris Fire Brigade (Regiment de Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris) has adopted the Merryweather steel turntable ladder for regular duty and for A.R.P. work.. The 100-ft. all-British ladder and operating mechanism will be mounted on a well-known make of French chassis—the Saurer.
1939 WORLD AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING CONGRESS.
THE Society of Automotive Engineers, 29, West Thirty-Ninth Street, New York, has asked us to draw attention to the 1939 World Automotive Engineering Congress, to be held frIm May 22 to June 8, with session in New York, Indianapolis, Detroit, and San Francisco.
The American Express Company is making arrangements. for transport and 'hotel reservations for visiting engineers.
The advisory board includes such names as Henry FOrd, Lord Austin, and E. G, Budd, and every professional actiailty of the Society will be repreSeated in the 60,technical sessions.
Plans for War•time Food'Distribution.
C1-1AIRMAN of the Sonthern Scotland Traffic Commissioners, Mr, Archibald Henderson, has distributed index sheets to all holders of A, B and C licences to be filled up by the holders, setting out full particulars of goods vehicles and their uses.
The South-east Scotland Divisional Food Officer, Mr. Erskine Dods, calls the attention of all food traders who hold such licences to the importance of carefully filling up and returning the index sheets. It is particularly important to food traders that the last item on the sheet—namely, "usual work" of the vehicle—should he accurately described : for example, distribution of meat, bread, milk, groceries.
Big Additions to Fleet of A.E.C. Operator.
ONE of the largest operators of A.E.C. vehicles in this country— the London Brick Co., Ltd.—has recently placed an order with the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., for a new fleet, comprising 14 Mammoth Major eight-wheelers, 14 Monarch fourwheelers and a Mammoth Major sixwheeler. This is the 16th repeat order which the company has received from this source since four Monarchs were delivered in 1936. The expansion of the fleet has been most marked since that date, and 156 vehicles have been ordered within 2/ years.
Experienced Transport Manager and Engineer Available.
WJE know of an experienced trans port manager and engineer, age thirty-nine, who is available for a similar post, in or near London, which will give scope for his undoubted abilities and afford opportunities of advancement.
His experience includes the construction and maintenance of agricultural machinery, stationary engines, tractors, vehicle overhauling and maintenance, body construction, costs and general operation, the erection of bulk-fuel installations, purchasing, and, for many years, the control of a large fleet of commercial vehicles.
Letters should be addressed " Manager and Engineer,." care of the Editor.