News and Comment.
Page 13
Page 14
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Tilis journal is extensively real by the heads of many wealthy commercial houses.
Tim report which we • give on pages 573-375 is published by arrangement with Messrs. Harrison, Government printers, of 45, St. Martin's Lane, E.G.
Topical Subjects.
Our leading articles this week deal with the following topical subjects : (1) " For State Service ; " (2) " Manchester's Motorbus 1.)0wers ; " and (3) " Interest in Wales."
Prohibited Exports.
We observe that, amongst articles of ■vhich the export. or re-export is prohibited, are benzole and all grades of motor spirit. Internalcombustion engined chassis for loads of 25 cwt. and upwards, or parts thereof, are also included in the proclamation of prohibition.
Varying the id. Toll.
The Committee of the House of Lords of which Lord Haversham was chairman decided that Sheffield Corporation shall contribute i;d. per omnibus-mile in respect of routes outside the city boundaries, that this shall be subject to revision after a three years interval, either by agreement, or, failing agreement, by arbitration, the consents of the counties to be removed on that condition. In the event of State contribution to road mainten ance hereafter, the city will only benefit pre rata. This means, in the event of a 50 per cent. contribution, Sheffield will pay *,d. per omnibus-mile, instead of nothing as the Coimnons provided.
At the usual monthly meeting of Council of the R.A.S.E. for July, which meeting took place on the 20th ult., a letter of thanks was read from Mr. J. A. Neser, President of the South Africa Farmers Agricultural Tour, in respect of the reception which was accorded at the Royal Show at Shrewsbury to a party of which he was the leader.
Westminster Contract, The tender of Leyland Motors, Ltd., has been accepted by Westminster Highways Committee at S.!185 for the supply of two petrol motor wagons, exclusive of tires and rims. Under the contract. the company will maintain the wagons for :5, 8 or 10 years, as the Council mny from time to time determine, at E30 per wagon per annum for the second, third, fourth and fifth years, .C35 per wagon per annum for the sixth, seventh and eighth years, and £00 per wagon per annum for the two remaining years. The company also proposes to reduce its present maintenance charges on l2 other motor wagons by in per wagon per annum, as on and from the date of the contract for the supply and maintenance of the two new wagons. Altogether five tenders were received for the supply of the wagons, at prices ranging from £600 per wagon to £765. Taking into account both the initial cost of the wagons and the cost for maintenance over 10 years, the lowest tender was that of Leyland Motors, Ltd.
The Morris Carburetter.
We wish to make it clear that the Morris Patent Paraffin Carburetter is handled solely by the Morris Carburetter Co., of 4, Broad Street Place, E.C., and not by the Stewart Precision Carburetter Co., as stated in our issue of 30th July.
Brighton Licenses.
The Brighton Town Council has refused to grant a number of licences to the London and South Coast Haulage Co., Ltd., on the ground that there are sufficient local motorbus interests, and that they should not be increased. Traffic Prosecutions.
We have been interested to observe that the London police have been taking out summonses lately, in several instances, in order to improve traffic conditions. Amongst these, the following case may be mentioned.
A tramcar driver named Thomas O'Regan was summoned, at Greenwich, for following another tramcar at a distance of less than 50 yds. He was fined 2s. and 2s. costs, the apparent inadequacy of the fine being due to his being also fined 10s. Gd. on another summons for failing to bring his car to a standstill when necessary to avoid impending danger.
£1290 for a Second-hand Commer.
We have been interested to re. ceive an adhesive-stamp advertise ment of " Commercars for goods and passengers" from the publicity department of the Luton works. We understand that many thousands of these stamps are being issued to all parts of the world, in the course of COMMOteal correspondence. They portray a fullyloaded Commercar, climbing a steep hill, with two gentlemen of the road comfortably ensconced on the tailboard. No licensing complications are likely to arise, if the device is based upon a real in cident, because the passengers are obviously not of the fare-paying type.
By the same mail, we have re
ceived a copy of a letter from Mr. W. E. Searle, of Oamaru, New Zealand, addressed to Commercial Cars, Ltd., in the following terms:—
"One of the greatest compli ments possible has been paid to Commer Motor Lorries' in this country. The owner of the Man
chester ' P.C. 7-ton type, which we supplied some time ago, was accidently drowned, and the lorry was sold by auction, and, notwithstanding the fact that it had already done 2.5 months' service under very severe conditions in rough country, it realized no less a sum than £1290. This, surely, constitutes a world's record for a second-hand lorry. Moreover, it was competed for at the auction sale by men who knew its tenability, having watched it closely during the whole time it was in service. The purchaser was the owner of a large number of tenhorse wagon teams, and he does a considerable carrying trade for a distance of 50 to 60 miles, away back from the terminus or the railway inland. Although the buyer has persistently held on to his faith in horse wagons, and has refused for a long time to believe that any motor lorry can do the work, he has at last reached the conclusion that
c4 the Commer' is to be trusted for severe service, and, like a wise man, has invested."
Depots for Water.
A contributor draws attention to a proposed modification of earlier suggestions for roadside supplies of water. The novelty of his proposal (page 56) lies in the suggestion that each owner of a steam wagon or tractor should be prepared to furnish supplies of water to fellow owners. So far as the Metropolis is concerned, we believe that the Metropolitan Water Board is willing to meet owners in every possible way, as the Board is desirous to see the problem solved. The has from time to time occupied itself with comparable proposals, but none of them has been characterized by the feature of access to owners' premises in order to pick up. We hope that the C.M.U.A. will take this fact into consideration, and we see no occasion to form any new Association for the co-operative supply of water.
The privilege of obtaining water whenever a. driver requires it can not be effectively secured merely by the assent of the owner of the premises where water is available. It will be necessary, in any area, for terms to be made with the proprietors of the local supply, hut the charges of the Metropolitan Water Board for a permit are nominal2s. 6th per annum in the case of a petrol vehicle, and Ss. per annum in the case of steam vehicles. We have specially communicated this proposal to the secretary of the C.M.U.A., and we understand that he is taking the matter up mom amore,