Passing Comments
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THE unsatisfactory system of placing the expense of traffic control upon the shoulders of motorvehicle users who infringe the law is in force in Cape Town, South Africa. Some time ago the Government decided to pay over to local authorities all fines received in respect of traffic offences, but traffic control in Cape Town is already costing £10,000 to £12,000 a year in excess of the revenue derived from fines, the actual expenditure being £22,000 a year. It is expected that, in the near future, the cost will be £40,000 to 160,000 a year. A committee of Cape Town Corporation urges the Government to contribute a fixed annual grant for traffic control. ON several occasions reference has been made to the G.E.C. Osira system of road lighting by high
pressure electric discharge mercury lamps. This has now been developed for industrial lighting where there is ample height, no fast-moving machinery, and no need for strict colour discrimination. The reason for the. second proviso is that the very slight flicker of the lamps causes a stroboscopic effect, which makes rapidly moving machinery appear to slow up. This type, however, is excellent for steel works, foundries, car parks, etc., a 400-watt bulb developing a light equal to a 1,000-watt gasfilled bulb, whilst the burning life is 1,500 hours.
T IIE chairman of the Road Haulage Association,
Mr. R. W. Sewill, M.A., was in excellent form at the annual luncheon of the Association. His remarks on the effects of the new law and on sevekal points which needed attention were forcible, lucid and logical, and the Minister of Transport appeared to be listening to them with the greatest interest.
ALLUDING to requests which had been received by the Association, Mr. Sewill mentioned one applicant who wrote, "I have heard of your Road Traffic Act. How much is it to join?" Another said "I think I want a C licence because I am a fishmonger," while a third, apparently interested in the catering trade, wrote "Please apply for an
• A B C licence for me."
THERE is no doubt that the setting of a stand at an agricultural show can be an important factor in attracting visitors, and in this respect the Dodge stand at the Devon County Show was particularly pleasing. It carried out the scheme of an old castle, the office being constructed in the form of a drawbridge, whilst a scenic canvas at the back added to the effect. Variety was also shown in the vehicles, each of which represented a special trade. This exhibit will be seen at other shows throughout ilk country. CONSIDERABLE activity is being displayed by %--"London Transport: The latest move is the production of a Travel Guide, the first number of which will appear on July 1. It will contain much information hitherto not available in book form. All the General routes, Tramways, Underground, Metropolitan and Green Line services will be detailed in a simple manner, and the price will be only 3d.
AT the recent annual mebting of the Ocean Coal and Wilsons, Ltd., the chairman, Lord Davies, put forward a strong plea for lower taxation on steam wagons. He remarked that the company's trade has suffered a severe blow as a result of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933. The taxation of steam-driven vehicles has been increased to such an extent that numbers of them have become uneconomic and have been forced off the roads. It is estimated that formerly this class of vehicle consumed annually nearly 1,000,000 tons of coal. All possible pressure was brought to bear on the Government by the industry in an attempt to prevent the Bill becoming law, but to no avail. It is, however, not yet too late for the Government to withdraw this discrimination against steam-driven vehicles and thus to remove a grievance which it has inflicted upon the coal trade.