In Public Service.
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Wimbledon Town Council has now decided to have a tilt against the L-.0.0.C. re alleged extraordinary traffic.
Salford Corporation may follow the lead of Sheffield and other cities by employing motorbuses in conjunction with its tramcars.
We understand that the Boksburg, Germiston and Bloemfontein municipal authorities have specified Continental T-pattern solid tires for certain trolleybuses on order.
Westminster Guardians are purchasing a 10-passenger Leyland motorbus and ambulance, at £485, and the same manufacturing company has secured the order for Hornsey's two motor fire-engines and escapes, at £2109 13s. 4d.
Great interest is being taken, in Edinburgh and district, in the projected Newington circular route, to be initiated and worked by the Corporation, with motorbuses. Three double-deck and three singledeck vehicles are to be put on this four-mile round.
L.C.C. Activity.
Sir John Benn, the Progressive leader on the London County Council, has moved for the appointment of a sub-committee, in .order that a L.C.C. Bill may be promoted in the forthcoming session of Parliament, to give effect to the recommendations of the House of Commons Select Committee on London traffic accidents. Sir John Benn is a, relentless opponent of motorbuses, although he occasionally protests to the contrary effect.
Deductions from Taxi-drivers.
At the Manchester County Court, on the 27th ult., a claim was made by John M'Cormack, a driver lately in the employ of the Provincial Motor Cab Co., Ltd., for the sum of £71 10s., this being the aggregate of deductions at the rate of 6d. per day each for washing the car, uniforms and insurance, and 6d. -per day for station rent. It was stated in evidence that the plaintiff entered the defendant company's service in December, 1908, and left in August of this year. The plaintiff testified that he had signed the agreement under compulsion, and that all the deductions were mentioned in this agreement except that for station rent, and that the agreement was in writing. Counsel submitted that even if the deductions were by agreement, they were contrary to the Truck Act, and that there was power under the Truck Act to recover.
His Ron-our Judge Mellor, K.C., gave judgment for the amount claimed.
B10 Various European cities will complete the motorization of their fire brigades by the years 1916.
The total of licensed motorbuses being operated on the London streets on the 31st of last month was 3158. This shows a decrease of 161 as against the preceding month.
The receipts of the National Steam Car Co., Ltd., for the 10 days ended 31st October, 1913, were 24932. This shows an increase of £2180 over the corresponding period of 1912.
The receipts of the 'T'ramways (M.E.T.) Omnibus Co., Ltd., for the week ended 25th October, 1913, were £8953, and for the Gearless Omnibus Co., Ltd., £595. These show a decrease of £209 and £41 respectively as against the previous week.
32,000 Miles on Faransure Tires.
Very apt is the name which S. Stevenson and Co. have given to their particular productions " Faransure " tires. The company have just notified us that a user in Vancouver has written them stating that his machine ba-s run no fewer than 32,000 miles on this make of tire. The fronts, he adds, " Look as if they will complete 40,000 miles." The company also manufacture " Endswell " patent cushion, and Stevenson band tires, Newport (Mon.) Town Council is being urged to acquire a motor ambulance.
Warrington fire brigade has been testing its new Leyland engine at various important works in the town.
Alresford (Hants.) Parish Council is hoping to be able to secure enough funds to purchase a motor fire-engine for local use.
The Helmsley (Yorks.) Fire Brigade Committee has resolved "to make strenuous efforts to obtain a inotor fire-engine for the district."
It took the Coventry City Council from March to October to decide to spend £2041 on the purchase of a motor fire-engine and a motor firstaid machine.
The Dennis fire-engine now in the possession of the North Somerset Volunteer Fire Brigade gave an interesting demonstration at Taunton, when on its way to Long Ashton, last week.
A petition for a compulsory order for the winding up of the ProVincial Motor Cab Co., Ltd., came before Mr. Justice Astbury on the 28th ult. There was opposition by a number of unsecured creditors, and in consequence of the absence of counsel foe thecompany, through illness, the hearing was adjourned until yesterday (Wednesday).
The National Motor Cab Co., Ltd., is arranging to undertake more and more long-distance transport work. The company intends to organize itself as a London agent for motor transport contractors throughout the taiuntry. Mr. H. J. Thompson, who has been put in charge of this department, wishes to get in touch with owners of motor lorries who will undertake hire work. We reproduce a photograph of a new front lifeguard, intended for use on motorbuses, whieh is being submitted to the authorities in London by its inventor, Mr. K. S. Broom, of Harringay. For .the purposes of demonstration, Mr. Broom last week hired one of the National steam motorbuses, and., previous to proceeding to Scotland lard, he called at these offices, in order to afford us an opportunity to inspect it, and to photograph it if we desired. Of course, at the present time, Scotland Yard and the omnibus companies are having a great number of devices of this kind submitted to them. The apparatus constructedlay Mr. Broom, as will be seen, is of wood and steel, and is so devised that, if any obstruction should strike the front rack, a tray is automatic.ally released on to the ground. Mr. Broom was good enough to allow himself to be scooped up by his lifeguard for photographic purposes, but, of course, it must be borne in mind that any demonstration of this kind is not altogether realistic, because the " victim " is always aware of what is about to happen to him, and it is, therefore, impossible for him to avoid making
the best. of his opportunities to save himself, which is just the difference between .demonstrating any device of this kind and bringing it into action in emergency.
Mr. K. S. Broom, the inventor, is a. partner in the firm of W. and K. Broom, van .aud body builders, Duncan Street, Tolington. At Folkestone.
The chief officer of the Folkestone Fire Brigade, Mr. H. 0. Jones, is hopeful that his Council will before long agree. to purchase a motor fire-engine. The Counoil, we observe, has appointed a subcommittee to organize the means of motor ccatnmunication in conjunction with motorbus proprietors in and around the borough.
Cab-rank Telephones.
The pioneer work of the C.M.U.A.., in regard to the installation of cabrank telphones in London, continues to bear fruit. The latest telephone sets of this kind, which are installed in every ease at the cost of the Postmaster-General, are to be found in Pall Mall, St. James's Street, and Lower Regent Street. The telephone numbers for these-call-boxes, which can only be used to receive calls, .are 731, 1166, and .1174, Regent, respectively. In each case an alarm gong is fixed above the receiverand-transmitter box. A future improvement may he found in suitable electro-magnetic mechanism by means of which the door of the box is automatically released when the bell rings. The first cabrank box was installed in November, 1010, at the corner of Melbury Road, Kensington.