Future Parades.
Page 1
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The writer is one of several members of the Executive Committee of the Commercial Motor Users' Association who intend to urge a considerable revision of the scheme for parades in 1909 and future years. This journal pointed out, in December last, immediately after the holding of the first competition, that some of the best and most worthy drivers were not brought out at the top of the list under the system of marking which had then been adopted. This year, again, notwithstanding the elimination of at least one obstacle to intelligent work by the examiners, it was obvious that some men with excellent credentials were automatically prevented from obtaining the awards which the judges, had their personal convictions alone been consulted, felt they deserved to receive. There cannot, of course, be all-round satisfaction in such cases; somebody has to go away disappointed. Nobody can honestly assert, however, that there was any element of haphazard or careless observation in the course of last Saturday's inspection on the Thames Embankment, whilst the previous verbal examination was universally agreed to have been of a searching and thorough character.
It is to the nature and completeness of the schedule of particulars for which the owners are held responsible that deliberation ought now to apply, and the matter of the proportion of the marks which are to be allotted for appearance on parade is certainly another point which will come under review. The scales of marking in relation to the numerous heads that were set down, judging from the svstemmic and voluminous " scoring sheets" (which any spectator who witnessed the proceedings was at liberty to note), are analytical to a degree, but it cannot be held that they are incap
able of improvement. We .trust that any contemplated alterations will be made on the basis of experiences in both London and Glasgow, and that the documents for Iwo will disclose the exact possibilities under the separate (.11.WStions, qualities, records or other divisions. Our reports of the two recent parades will be found on pages 82 to 84, and
we are content, here, to add the single comment that thegreat majority of machines on the Embankment were externally untidy, and far below the standard of cleanliness. for which one looks on an occasion of the kind.