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The Start of the Steam-wagon Demonstration.
Page 76
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AA 74 refer again in these columns to the Steam,
V wagon Demonstration because it begins at Liverpool to-morrow (Wednesday) morning, and will conclude at Olympia, London, on Thursday of next 'week. The opinion was editorially expressed in these pages that the steam wagon should in some way be encouraged and not allowed to wane in popularity. We had the vision of the steamer falling into line alongside the tramcar at the rear of the transport facilities of this country because, when Mr. Churchill, in introducing his Budget in 1926, definitely ranged himself alongside the railways 'and aimed his own blow at their enemy— road transport—the steam wagon was the one which caught the full force of it: The increase in taxation was a staggerer, and, although the petrol vehicle (if the looseness of the term will pass) was hit, it quickly recovered under the administration of copious doses of "petrol-price reduction "—a remedy denied to the steam wagon. Our argument was supported in letters received from our readers, and we were thus encouraged in our issue for August 2nd to advance the suggestion for a demonstration of steam wagons on simple lines, to start at Liverpool out of conspli • roent to the action of that City in fostering the heavy-vehicle movement in the last years of the old century, and to traverse industrial Lancashire and Yorkshire and the Eastern Midjands.
Somewhat to our surprise, the Steam' Vehicle
.1 Committee of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, at its first meeting after the summer recess, found the idea acceptable and suggested 'that The Commercial Motor should co-operate in its organization, even advocating a longer route through the Potteries and the Western Midlands. It has not proved an easy task, and if the manufacturers, the Steam Vehicle' Committee and the Mining Association of Great Britain had. not been so enthusiastic and so helpful, it would have been far more difficult to presage success for the Demonstration. We have had a certain amount of valuable help from the officers of the Commercial Motor Users Association, although that body has had no opportunity to discuss in council the question or giving it wholehearted support. Among those who .wil1 receive the Demonstration and will welcome the participants at different towns en route will be the chairman and officers of the four Divisions whose territory is traversed—the North-Western, the North-Eastern, the East Midlands and the London and Home Counties Divisions.
From the civic and municipal officials we have had the greatest possible encouragement and help. From the Lord Mayor of Leeds and the Mayors of other cities and towns, from the Town Clerks, the City , Surveyors, the Borough. Surveyors arid the Traffic Managers we have received most cordial letters of acceptance of our invitations to visit the wagons on their arrival, and in the majority, of the cases the Demonstration will be received at the Town Hall. The Chief Constable in every case has helped by approving our plans and allocating standing space for the wagons during their brief halts. Finally, it is hoped that an official welcome will be accorded to the vehicles immediately after the official opening of the Commercial Motor Show at Olympia.
Our readers Will be rendering a distinct service to The Commercial Motor if they will make a point of visiting the wagons at any of the stoppingplaces on the route that may be convenient to them.