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WHEELS of INDUSTRY d ` The wheels of wealth will be

slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughgess of the roads over which it rans."—John Beattie Crozier.

TILLING AND B.A.T. REPORT.

The report of Tilling and British Automobile Traction, Ltd., for the year ended December 31, 1933, shows a profit of 2225,265, after charging debenture stock interest to May I, 1933. Adding the balance brought forward from the previous year, a sum of 2372,173 is available.

A dividend on the participating preference shares for the half-year absorbed £8,000, and an interim dividend on the ordinary shares £72,000. Of the balance of £292,173, a dividend on the participating preference shares for the second half of the year will account for .£8,000, a further dividend of 2 per cent, on those shares (making 10 per cent. for the year) £4,000, whilst 21.08,000 will be absorbed by a final dividend on the ordinary shares at the rate of 6 per cent. (making 10 per cent_ per annum). After 'these allocations and the transference of £10,000 to the reserve, there remains a sum of 2162,173 to be carried forward.

This Issue and the Next.

As this Special Issue is devoted, in the main to articles dealing with different aspects of the passenger-transport industry, it has been necessary to withhold certain regular features and to abridge others, in spite of the fact that the number of editorial pages is much greater than usual, but these will be resumed or extended to their full length in our next issue. Amongst other articles held over is one dealing with a new eight-wheeler just officially introduced by the A.E.C. concern. This is a development of the Mammoth Major six-wheeler and embodies interesting features of steering.

Institute of Public Cleansing Meeting.

A quarterly meeting of the Institute of Public Cleansing will be held at Birmingham on March 1 and 2. On the first day the general purposes committee meets at 4 p.m. at 161, Corporation Street. On the following day an examination board meeting at 9.30 a.m. is followed by a council meeting at 10 a.m., and at 11 am. there is an official welcome to members and delegates by Alderman Sir Frederick Smith, J.P., chairman of the salvage committee. This is followed by an inspection of the new salvage and refusedisposal works at Rotton Park Street, and at noon members will be taken to the British Industries Fair at Castle Bromwich, where a luncheon will be held at the invitation of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. Members and delegates will be able to tour the Fair during the afternoon.

An entrance fee of 2s. per visiting delegate will be made, and members are requested to apply to Mr. J. H. Codling, A.M.I.Mech.E., salvage depart a20 merit, 161, Corporation Street, Birmingham, for luncheon tickets, etc., not later than February 29.

New R.H.A. Branch at Wellington.

A representative 'meeting of hauliers and others interested in goods transport by road was held at Wellington a few days ago, when the " advisability of forming an association to protect the interests of hauliers in the district was discussed. The meeting was addressed by Mr. Beresford, of TunstalI, as well as by Mr. J. Foley Egginton, of Birmingham. The chair was taken by Mr. O. C. Sacton, of the Wellington Transport Co.

After much discussion, it was decided to form a branch of the Road Haulage Association, to be known as the Wellington (Salop) District, and some 50 of those present indicated their intention of joining the branch. Mr. G. L. Peace, Bank Chambers, Wellington, was appointed secretary.

Another Scottish Association?

The motor-haulage contractors of Stirling and Clackmannan, Scotland, have resolved to form an association.

A Commer Fleet for South Wales.

Commer Cars, Ltd., Luton, recently received from Messrs., Thomas and Evans, the mineral-water manufacturers, of Porth, South Wales, an order for 30 20-25-cwt. vehicles. This is a repeat order, as the firm are running a number of this particular model, as well as Commer Raiders.

LATEX-CLOTH UPHOLSTERY.

A new and interesting material for the upholstering of motor vehicles, both commercial and private, was introduced last Tuesday by William Baines, Sons, Ltd., of Leeds, the sole distributor being Mr. Ernest Turner, Northdown House. Northdown Street, London, N.I, from whom samples can be obtained.

The objects have been to produce a cloth which, whilst being softer, wanner and more durable than leather, can be marketed at an appreciably lower price, this being actually about two-thirds of that of leather. Whether these objects have been attained remains to be seen, but the samples of the cloth which we have examined are certainly of excellent quality, unusual strength and supple.

At the meeting a film showing the manufacture was given. In the processing of the cloth latex (milk-rubber) and wool are utilized as a liquid, and a good range of colours is available. Many years of research work, aided by Dr. S. G. Barker, Ph.D., and approximately £100,000 have been expended in developing the process.

The material has been launched at the suggestion of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, in order to encourage a 100 per cent. British product and to provide an efficient sub stitute for high-priced leather. It is claimed that approximately 25 can be saved oil a private car costing £300, so that the saving would be considerably greater in the case of, say, a coach.

The Maudslay Moratorium.

At a meeting of the moratorium creditors of the Maudslay Motor Co., Ltd., Coventry, held a few days ago, a resolution was proposed and carried unanimously to extend the moratorium for 12 months from January 31, 1034, on the condition of a cash payment of Is. 6d. in the pound being paid' forth with. By the acceptance of this further cash payment, 4s. in the pound have now been paid.

Meadows' Works Extensions.

Important extensions have recently been carried out to the Wolverhampton works of Henry Meadows, Ltd., and the new offices and workshops, finished and rough stores, are now in occupation. The company is at present installing a large amount of the latest type of machinery, which is being jigged and tooled up for specializing in the production of engines and gearboxes. With this large additional plant the company hopes practically to double its output and to meet the increasing demand for its products for use on commercial vehicles and private cars. A NEW ANTI-KNOCK FUEL.

A new fuel, for which many advantages are claimed, is shortly to be made available to motor-vehicle users. We are told that it will sell from the pump at Is. ed. per gallon, and will be marketed in summer and winter grades. It is known as ClevelandDisco!, and is being marketed by the Petroleum Storage and Finance Corporation, Ltd., which is the proprietor of the well-known Cleveland spirit, and the Distillers Co., Ltd. The latter concern has produced an alcohol which is guaranteed 99.5 per cent. pure spirit, and this is blended with petrol to form a motor fuel which possesses a high anti-knock value.

Buses and Railcars for Egypt.

The Egyptian State Railways invite tenders for the supply of buses and chassis, and for internal-combustionengined railcars. The tenders will be received by the general management, Cairo Station, and have to be delivered by March 17 and March 31 respectively.

The Gearbox on the Cub.

All Leyland Cub passenger models are now, being fitted with a new type of gearbox. It forms a unit with the engine and has four forward speeds and a reverse. A silent third speed is provided, the teeth of the constantmesh gears and the third speed being single helical in form. All gears are ground and the shaft is of 14 in. diameter. The gearbox is of robust and compact design.

Commers Aid Tea Sales in Ceylon.

Useful work is being performed by three motor caravans in Ceylon, where they are being employed for propaganda work in connection with tca sales, not only in the cities and towns, but even in the rural and jungle districts. Commer Raider 30-cwt. chassis are used,the special bodies which they carry being made of teak, whilst the flooring, canvas, seats, and all perishable equipment have been treated with corrosive sublimate to prevent depredations by white ants.

The vehicles are equipped with loudspeakers and microphones, the current being supplied by special generators and batteries. Tea-making equipment is also carried, and can cope with 2,000 cups per day ; the tanks carry about 50 gallons of water.

Wireless on Coaches: Evidence of Demand.

On the subject of the fitting of wireless receiving sets in motor coaches some interesting information is to hand from Phiko Radio and Television Corporation of Great Britain, Ltd„ Aintree Road, Perivale, Greenford, Middlesex.

Mr. Alan F. D. Knight, manager of the Transitone Division of the company, tells us that the demand for Transitone sets has shown a marked increase quite recently, and it appears that operators are finding the amenity

of wireless -to be particularly popular on coaches used for contract work.

We have been given a list of nearly 60 operators who have had one or more coaches equipped with Transitone, this including A. Kitson, Ltd., of Sheffield, which has just ordered approximately 20 sets.

A Birmingham Concern's Extended Haulage Facilities.

Red Arrow Deliveries, Ltd., Birmingham, advises us that it has made arrangements for still further extending the road-transport service which it is giving from Birmingham. The company has now arranged for the interchange of traffic with Grimsby Roadways, Ltd., Grimsby ; Messrs. Venn and McPherson, Newport ; Messrs. Smart Transport, Bristol ; Messrs. London-Cambridge Express Carriers, and Messrs. Astral Transport (covering Surrey).

New Ferries for the Forth.

Two nevi ferry boats were launched last week for service over the Forth at Queensferry. The service will be in full operation in a month, with a halfhourly service from 7.15 a.m. until midnight The fee for a motor vehicle win be 7s. 6d. PERSONAL PARS.

Bolton Watch Committee has appointed Mr. Herbert. Blackledge. of Bury, as chief officer of the fire brigade.

Mr. Malcolm Wilson has been appointed travelling representative of R. H. Cook and Co., Ltd., Hendon, London, a maker of garage equipment, for Northern Ireland.

The Belfast branch of the Institute of the Motor Trade has elected Mr. James B. O'Hara, A.M.I.B.E.,

works manager of the Clarence Engineering Co., Ltd., Belfast, to take charge of the publicity section of the Institute in Northern Ireland.

Mr. J. M. Ainsworth, A.I.S.A., has been appointed secretary of the Vacuum Oil Co., Ltd. He joined the Vacuum concern in June, 1918, and, after filling a variety of posts, was appointed to the secretarial and legal department, and has been assistant seeretary since April, 1930.

We learn that Mr. A. W. Jackman has been appointed clerk to the East Midland Traffic Commissioners, as well as clerk to the licensing authority set up under the Roth and Rail Traffic Act. He was born in London aud, after some years in the customs department, linked up, in 1919, with the Ministry of Transport.

We learn that Mr. L. A. Mitchell, who is well known throughout the commercial-vehicle trade As being one of the founders of Blue Belle Motors, Ltd., and has been acting as general manager for that company's coach services, has resigned his position and will no longer be its charge of the London Terminal Coach Station, Clapham Road. He hopes shortly to be opening in business on his own account, returning to the sales side and handling all types of new and second-hand vehicles.

New P.O. Garage at Chester?

In our issue dated January 26 we published a paragraph intimating that the transport committee of Chester Corporation proposed to sell land to H.M. Office of Works for a garage for Post Office vehicles. We understand that the facts are, that the Post Office authorities have approached the corporation on the matter and the transport committee is now considering whether it has any land near the transport depot for disposal.

A Book on the Road and Rail Traffic Act.

A valuable explanatory handbook on the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, has been written by Arthur G. Dennis, LL.M., and T. D. Corpe, two wellknown solicitors. The work contains a general summary of the Act. followed by the text fully annotated and with points of difficulty explained. It is published by the Solicitors' Law Stationery Society, Ltd., 22, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.2, at 7s, 6d., or Ss. by post. R.H.A. MEETING AT SHEFFIELD: MEMBERSHIP GROWING.

A vte11-attended meeting of hauliers was held in Sheffield on February 2, under the wgis of the Road Haulage Association, when Mr. ii. Grocock presided. Mr. J. Simmons, of Rotherham, and Mr. G. Phillips, honorarysecretary of the Sheffield and Rotherham subarea, were also present.

Mr. George A. Hotter, the general secretary of the Association, gave an address on the Road and Rail Traffic Act, and dealt in general with the activities of the Association.

Mr. Hotter said that Mr. C. Pike, M.P., at a recent meeting in Sheffield, declared that the Act was designed purely in the interests of the railway companies. Had the Salter Report been adopted in its entirety, he would have been inclined to agree, but with the Act as placed on the Statute Book he was not inclined to acquiesce entirely. He agreed, to some extent, that it gave the railway companies a certain amount of security, but it also regularized the road-haulage industry.

Mr. Hotter expresed the view that, once they became accustomed to being a licensed trade, the Act would have a good effect on the industry.

Membership of the sub-area continues to increase, and the century mark has now been reached.

Representation Required in Manchester.

In a paragraph appearing in our issue dated January 26. we intimated that a well-known company of proprietary motor-accessory manufacturers wished to obtain representation in Manchester. The company asks us to state that it requires ' someone with established premises and a trade connection who is already acting as a manufacturers' agent and would handle its products along with existing lines. Letters addressed "P.," care of the Editor, will be forwarded.

A Passenger-vehicle Seating Specialist.

A company which has given close study over a period of years to the subject of seating on buses and coaches is G. D. Peters and Co., Ltd., Slough, and a variety of styles of seat is produced for use under different conditions of operation, the types available ranging from those suitable for service vehicles to' those for luxury-type coaches for long-distance work. The latest development in the company's lightweight seats is lltfodel No. 1445. To maintain the usual standard of strength at a reduced weight, chrome-molybdenum steel is used, and, although the scat weighs only 28i lb. when trimmed, it is more generously designed than the usual type of lightweight seat, the recessed back giving plenty of knee room. Special attention has been given to upholstery details, and the rolls are sprung.

A feature of this seat is the use of the Peters combination cushion, which consists of a shaped unit made of vulcanized hair, moulded with a number of cavities to house the springs, 32 being employed in the standard seat.

E22 It has a die-cast adjustable pedestal, which can be moved to any point along the seat width. The cushion 'is kept cool, as air is drawn in through the base. It can be varied in its. degree. of hardness to suit different conditions and is available in a variety of shapes.

More New Vehicles in Northern Ireland.

During 1933, 4,407 vehicles were registered for the first time in Northern Ireland, whereas in 1932 the number was 3,999. Last year, 923 goods vehicles were registered, an increase of four on the figure of the previous year. SPECIAL BODYWORK AT FORD EXHIBITION IN MANCHESTER.

Amongst the commercial bodywork to be shown at the Ford Motor Exhibition to be held at the City Hall, Manchester, throughout next week, is a special hydraulic tipper produced by H. E. Nunn and Co., 282, Bury New Road, Manchester.

H. and J. Quick, Ltd., Old Trafford, will exhibit a Muir-Hill-converted forward-control 2-ton lorry, the features of which are a roomy and wellventilated cab, easy accessibility of engine and dimensions behind the cab of 14 ft. by 6 ft. 6 ins.