Traffic Congestion.
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The Joint Industrial Council for the Road Transport Industry is interesting itself in the present serious traffic congestion, particularly at the docks, one result of which will be to bring about a. further increase in the cost of • living, unless the situation is speedily relieved.
The Council, which consists of representatives of the Motor Transport. Employers' Federation, the National Alliance of Commercial Road Transport Associations, arid the National Union of Horse and Motor Owners' Associations on the employers' side, and the National
Transport Workers' Federation and its affiliated unions on the employees' side, has already interviewed the Government departments dealing .withl.the matter, and is prepared to place its organization at the disposal of these departments to assist in relieving the congestion as expeditiously as possible.'
The Institute of Metals.
An important addition has just been made to the list of papers that are to be presented at the annual autumn rnoeting, of the Institute of Metals in Sheffield on Wednesday' and Thursday, September 24th and 25th. As originally pub-' Balled, the list included nine :papers; there are now ten, the latest commtinibation being a note by an American metallurgical engineer, Pr. Zay Jeffries, of Cleveland, Ohio, on " The' MicroMechanism of the Aging of Duralumin," 1128 a subject of great practical interest to all concerned with the working or use of an aluminium alloy that has played a vastly important part in aeronautical engineering during the war, Dr. Jeffries has come over in this country in order to be able to present his communication in person to the Institute at its Sheffield meeting, at which a record attendance of home and overseas members is assured. Copies of the note are now in the press and will be forwarded to all members and applicants for membership upon application being made to Mr. G. Shaw Scott, M.Sc., Secretary, Institute of Metals, 36, Victoria Street, S.W.1, from 'whom also there can be obtained membership forms.
Stirling Tramway System.
The Stirling and Bridge of Allan Tramways Co., who still use horse haulage, have decided that the abnormal conditions which prevail preclude the possibility of carrying out a scheme of electrification. They have, therefore, placed an order for a number of highclass motorbuses. -•
The Barcelona Chambre Syndicate de PAutomebile is organizing trials, which will be held in the autumn, and will be for vans only_ The circuit will be Barcelona, St. Sebastian, Bilbao, Santander, Burgos, Madrid, Saragossa and Barcelona.
Seaplanes for Scotland.
It is stated that a service of seaplanes is to he established on certain routes in Scotland. In the first instance, it is to be a post office enterprise, but it is expected that it will soon be employed for the conveyance of passengers and for the commercial development of the Highland districts. The project is being elaborated under the supervision of Mr. Hugh Duncan Grant, F.R.A.S., superintendent of the Admiralty Meteorological Service. The first route which it is proposed to open up is from the Clyde by way of Loch Lomond to the Caledonian Canal and along the Great Glen
to Inverness. At a later period the island of Lewis and a number of the west coast sea lochs would be brought within the scheme. The seaplane is peculiarly well adapted to coastal traffic.
Fhe Gattie System in Scotland.
We are informed • by Mr. Roy Horniman that, under the Gattie system, two clearing houses are to be erected in Scotland—one in Edinburgh and one in Glasgow. The sites chosen in each case are centrally and "stratagetically " situated so that they can be linked up by short underground lines with all the railways in each city. Each clearing house will cover several acres, and the cost of construction will run into millions. It is proposed to relieve the congested streets of Edinburgh and Glasgow of the several thousands of motor and horsed vehicles now employed in haulage 'between the different terminals and the goods stations. In their place will be introduced a fleet of fast motor lorries that will convey goods between• the clearing houses and the consignors or consienees.
Leyland Motors Athletic Club.
Amongst recent reports of welfare activity on the part of the leading manufacturing concerns of this country, we learn of the launching of the Leyland Motors Athletic Club, of which it seems likely we shall hear a good deal in the future.
Arrangements are to be made for a new permanent athletic field for various• sports purposes, including, of course, football and cricket. In the meantime, the football club, which will run several very strong teams, is completing its list of fixtures in connection with the West Lancashire League championship. Leyland Motors, Ltd, is to provide an inter-departmental cup, and a. programme is to be arranged Of matches between the various Leyland works, as well as between the various departments.
" To Palladium Inquirers.
All inquiries and communications regarding the Palladium 4-ton commercial chassis and the -Palladium light car should in .future be addressed direct to Palladium Autocars, Ltd., Felsham Road, Putney, S.W.15. Correspondents who have not received replies to their inquiries sal:mid repeat same to the company at the address given.
Messrs. A. Duncan and Co., '26, Page Street, Westminster, who specialize m the manufacture and repair of road springs, wish to know of any London merchants carryin,„0varied stocks of bast quality spring steeL
Motors in Cottonopolis.
It is stated that a syndicate is about to start a fleet of 30 or. 40 heavy motor lorriea,. which will travel between Liverpool and various cotton spinning and manufacturing towns in central and south-east Lancashire. The motors will carry cotton from Liverpool Docks to the mills and finished goods back to the Mersey side for exportation. In competing with the railways, which are still congested, the new vehicles will help to solve a problem which has given a good deal of trouble to traders.
Road Rates in the • Highlands.
The cost of road upkeep is increasing very considerably in the Scottish Highlands, In the Lorne district, of ArgylLthe road rate has more than doubled in ten years. In 1908 it was 8 5-12d. per R, while in the year coded May 15th, 1918, it was Is. 6d, in the R. It has now to be raised to 2s. 68. per L, and the district committee...are to inform the.Guvernment that they cannet maintain the roads without huge grants from the Treasury. To add to the perplexity of the Highland road problem, it must be remembered. that the highways are used mostly by non-residents.
Engineering Pupils of Leyland Works.
At the Presenttime, when these never has been greater need to ensure an adequate future supply of highly4rairreal experts, of whani the best will be available to prosecute the future industrial activities of this country, it is very gratifying In learn of the compre.hensive steps that .tavo been taken by that .enterprising concern, Leyland Motors, Ltd., to provide for the adequate training of.suitable
• pupils at their works in future: There have, of course, always been a certain number of young learners of this class at the company's works, and the training they have received in the past was a very thorough one, but in future, land particularly on account Of the need of somewhat. more intensified and thorough methods, the company is now establishing a aery well equipped hostel, where its pupils will not only find comfortable living accommodation, but will be able to secure proper attention to their requirements so far as technical training is concerned.
A commodious house, well known in the district as Wellington House, and itself standing on at least a quarter of an acre of around, has been purchased by the company, and is now actively being convertel•and refitted to give comfortable living -accommodation for 36 Electric lighting is being established, and the latest arrangements being made for a large dining room, adequate bathrooms, lavatories, a lecture hall, etc. The house itself stands in grounds that are seven -acres in extent, and these will provide accommodation for general recreation grounds, and as part of the building there will be a commodious .trintor house with accommodation for pupils' motornycles, etec-., and a model workshop electrically driven from the company's own central power .station.
It is the intention of the company, to engage a house master with university and other suitable qualifications, and he will superintend the pupils' training in oonjunctioai with specialists Who are at present on the company'sstaff,in all the particular range -of subjects to -which attention has to be -given. as a suitable supplement to the practical training that is, of course, quite" readily available in the works.
Auctioned Vehicles.
The demand for Government motor lorries still exceeds the supply, and good prices were realised recently for vehicles offered at auction at Olympia. Semi-& lorries in need of repair were sold at prices from 100 guineas to 175 guineas, and a Daimler and a Halley lorry, both of which needed a. good dert.,1 dope to them, reached 245 guineas and . 200 guineas respectively. A few starred lots —machines in running bides—brought about double these prices. An example was a Peerless which was knocked down for a bid of 400 guineas.
Local .Proceedings.
Leyland Motors, Ltd., are supplying the Yaignton with a motor fire engine.
Southam R.D.C. ha 8 decided to purchase a roller and tractor, two trailer wagons and a tip cart. .
Todrnorden Motor Buses Committee is making inquiries with a view to purchasing two additional vehicles.
A recommendation to purchase a motor fire engine is to be considered by Petersfield R.D.C. at its next meeting.
The London County Council proposes, in view of the increasing cost of horse hire, to Xbolish horse-drawn tower wagons and. to purehate four electrie tower wagons at a cast of £7,000.
Chassis Prices Up.
In view of tite increase in manufacturing costa brought about by the Government wages award to the miners •last July the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., of GlasaoW, have been compelled to advance their prices by £20 per chassis..
Tyre Presses for Quick Delivery.
It will probably interest our readers to knob' that Hollings and Guest, Ltd., Thimble Mill Lane, Birmingham, are turning out a large number of hydraulic tyre presses at the present time. They are oompleting a number every week, so that any garage thinking of installing a press cannot do better than apply to this company. At the present moment eve believe they have about ED in hand so that they should be able to give a very quick delivery to any intending purchasers. They have orders at.the-pressrit time for the Dunlop, Goodrich, North British, St. Helens and Henley, to mention only a' few .well-known .tyre companies, in-addition to numerous garages.
Agricultural'motor trials touk place at Chalon-sur-Saone on August 24.c., but only four machines 'took 'part": a Tltan, two MolineS and one S..O.M.U.A. tractor.