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ISM-SCALE DRILLI4P FOR OIL IN SCOTLAND.

On Monday, the Darcy Exploration Co. commenced drilling for oil at Couslartd, near Dalkeith, Scotland. The company hopes to reach a depth of fully 4,000 ft., at which the Roman Camp ridge will be sufficiently tested. The operations will occupy fully six months. The Dalkeith undertaking is the fifth bore which the company has undertaken. It has already completed boring operations in Sussex, near flenfield, and at Portsdown, Hampshire, whilst at Kingsclear, Berkshire, and Aislaby, near Whitby, drilling is approaching completion.

Skilled drillers from Persia are -directing operations under the supervision of Mr. David Burns, London, who has carried through various operations in Persia and in England.

Change-of-business Licence Regtant Contested.

An unusual issue as to the change in character of a business was raised before the Yorkshire Licensing Authority, at Leeds, on Monday last, on an application by J. Bailes (Baildon), Ltd., for the regrant of a licence for vehicles in possession.

It a as stated that the applicant company took over the business from Mr. J. Bailes. Formerly, he was chiefly engaged in transporting goods from Bradford and Leeds to Goole and Hull, but three months before the company took over the business there was a considerable change in its character, and this traffic now formed only a small part of the business.

Eel

Mr. I-L R. Sturge based his -.opposi-. tion, for the L.M.S. Railway, on the contention that the business for which the licence was originally granted to Mr. Bailes had changed as completely as it possibly could. He suggested that if the application were granted, such a decision would meanthat where the character of a business changed the best thing for the operator to do would

be to sell it quickly. He submitted that the company ought not to he in a better position than that of Mr. Bolles if he had been applying for a regrant. If Mr. Bailes were making the present application, it would, be added, undoubtedly fail.

Mr. W. R. Hargrave, for the applicant company, said it was not asking for the grant of an unexpired part of Mr. Bailes's licence; but for the regrant of its own licence.

Decision was reserved.

Death of London Bus Pioneer.

With the death of Sir (John) Lulham Pound, who died on Tuesday last at the age of seventy-five, there passes a member of a family which has been connected with bus transport almost since its inception. Sir Lulham was a director of the old L.G.O. Co. from 1891 to 1912; his father at that time being chairman.

An incident which he used to recall with some pride, related to a reduction in the time for a complete overhaul of a bus from a matter of months to three weeks, due to his organizing ability_ In those days it was undoubtedly an achievement of outstanding note. SILENT CHECK ON DRIVERS' HOURS.

A driver's-records prosecution which raised the question of silent cheeks by the Ministry of Transport's examiners came before the West Riding Police Court at Bradford on September 2— tour months after the date of the alleged offence. The driving-record sheet of the defendant, Mr. Fred Starkey, Halifax Road, Liversedge, stated that on April 27 last he left Cleckheatou at 6.30 a.m, and arrived at Tyseley, near Birmingham, at 12 noon, that he left Tyseley on the return journey at 2.10 p.m., and arrived at Cleekheaton at 7.30 p.m. On the other . hand, Mr. E. Elkington, Ministry of Transport examiner for the West Midland Area, said that on the date in question he, in company with another examiner, checked the vehicle at Lichfield at 7.3 p.m. It was travelling north.

Mr. Wurzal, who conducted the ca--te for the prosecution, said defendant's record sheet showed that after allowance had been made for the two-hours' stop at Tyseley, defendant had worked 11 hours. The suggestion of the prosecution was that he had worked in excess of 11 hours, but had put that number on the record sheet so as to keep within the law. •

Mr. S. E. Pitts, solicitor to the Yorkshire Area of A.R.O., who appeared for the defence, said defendant could not remember the details of a journey of four months ago, but there were the times on his record sheet, and defendant maintained that his record sheet was correct. As to the prosecution's evidence that a silent check was taken at Lichfield, he (Mr. Pitts) suggested it would be better if examiners stopped drivers at the time that checks were taken. They could call a policeman to stop a vehicle.

The magistrates found the charge ot tailing to keep a proper record proved, and defendant was fined Li and ordered to pay Li 18s. 6d. costs. PUBLIC CARRIERS' BUSINESSES REQUIRED.

We have received an inquiry for details of transport concerns operating under A licences wishing to dispose of their businesses, whether these be large or small, and wherever in England they be situated. Letters addressed "Transport Sales," care of the Editor, will be forwarded.

Preparing for Christmas Rash.

An application for short-term A licences has been made to the Metropolitan Licensing Authority by Carter Paterson and Co., Ltd., in respect of 88 vehicles of a total of 293 tons 6 cwt. The application covers the carriage of general goods in London. and the Home Counties for the period from November 1 to December 31.

' 14,000 Records Examined.

A number of lorry drivers was fined at Kesteven Sessions, at Lincoln, on September 3, for not keeping current records. For the East Midland Licensing Authority, Mr. T. E. Lewis said an intensive check had taken place on vehicles between London and Carlisle, involving the examination of 14,000 records. It had cost the authorities a good deal of money, but the result was a most comprehensive survey.

Rome is Still Burning!

Captain E. H. B. Palmer, 0$.E., who wrote the article "Rome Is Still Burning ! " published last week, has asked us to point out that the paragraph in it dealing with "the divine right of the railways" should have referred to this right as the railways' point of view, and not as the official viewpoint.

Centenary-year Changes at Blackstone' s.

Over 1,100 men—a record for the company—are now employed by Blackstone and Co., Ltd., of Stumford. Lincs, which this year celebrates its centenary. Some 16 months ago, the company was taken over by, R. A. Lister and Co., Ltd., Parsley, Gloucestershire, and many far-reaching changes have since been made in the organisation. Instead of building engines, both of the horizontal and vertical types, individually, the company now builds them in batches on mass-production lines. The shops, some of which are new, are laid out on modern lines.

Protection for the Small Operator.

An application by J. and J. Tod, Ltd., for permission to carry goods other than its own and those of James Macdonald, Ltd., on its own lorries was refused by the Northern Scotland Licensing Authority. A renewal of the existing licences was granted, subject to the present condition, that the vehicles are to . be used for only the carriage of goods belonging to these two concerns.

Mr. Williamson, for applicant, said the company was frequently asked by people to whom it was delivering to bring goods from outside sources, but under the terms of its existing licence it could carry only its own goods, and it was losing custom in that way.

Mr. Donald Macleod explained that the company did not wish to take business from other operators, but merely to oblige its own customers.

The Authority said that the licence would be restricted as before unless good reason could be shown for taking traffic from other carriers. Some of these hauliers were struggling 'to make ends meet, and even 5s. to 10s. a week might make the difference between a loss and a small profit.

Leyland Service in Glasgow.

Leyland Motors, Ltd., 19, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, has been granted permission to erect a service depot and offices at Saikeld Street, adjoining Stromness Street, Glasgow.

Experienced Salesman Available.

We know of a man with excellent qualifications in commercial-vehicle salesmanship who requires a position in a similar class of work. Letters should be addressed "Salesman," care of the Editor.

HAULAGE CONCERN LIABLE TO £840 HOURS FINE.

A Falkirk transport concern was liable to a fine of £840 at Falkirk Sheriff Court, when it was admitted that two employees had, on 42 different occasions, worked as drivers for continuous periods of more than five and a half hours. The fine liable to be imposed for each offence was £20. The company concerned was the Swift Tra.nsport Co., Ltd.

It was stated that when the log sheets were examined it was found that the drivers had worked on the occasions mentioned for continuous periods of six hours. One driver was concerned in 41 of the 42 cases. Ori the company's behalf, Mr. R. W. Dean said that this driver was under the impression that the maximum period was six hours ; with two exceptions all the specified times were of this duration. It was stated that steps had now been taken to rectify the matter.

The Sheriff-Substitute imposed a fine of £3 on the company.

Factory Scenes at a Motor Show.

In connection with this year's Ford Motor Exhibition, which takes place at the Royal Albert Hall, London, from October 14-23, the organizers are planning an original feature in the form of replicas of some of the most interesting departments at the Dagenham works. One of these demonstrations will depict a grading room, i.e., an air-conditioned section in which such components as pistons and connecting rods are matched and assembled in sets. It will form a good example of the precision methods used in modern vehicle production.

Stewart and Ardern's " Movie "

Show.

To judge by the enormous attendance, the special display of Morris sound films by Stewart and Ardern, Ltd., is one of the most popular events Of the year. The four days' showing, completed last Friday, was augmented by an excellent cabaret. The majority of the visitors afterwards examined the exhibition of Morris vehicles, including the popular light vans. In all, nearly 4,000 people attended.

Dover Road Improvement Scheme.

One of the busiest sections of the London-Dover road, from Brogdale Road, east of Faversham, to the Kent Coastal Road, is to be widened by Kent County Council, at a cost of £104,000. About 12,000 tons of traffic use this section every day during the holiday season. Most of the vehicles comprise through traffic, but many of them travel between Ashford and the Isle of Thanet seaside towns.

The section concerned is about 1 f-mile long and has a single carriageway not exceeding 25 ft. It is proposed to widen the road to 100 ft. and the scheme is expected to take about two years to complete. BOX VANS WANTED BY P.O.

Applications are invited for the provision of bolo/am of about 250 to 500 cubic ft. capacity for the conveyance of mails in Loudon during the Christmas period. Further details may be obtained from the Regional Director (Dept. A.), London Postal Region (Christmas Arrangements), King Edward Building, London, E.C.1.

L.M.S. West Midland Application. The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (Birmingham area) has made application to the West Midland Licensing Authority for 42 vehicles (791 tons) and 30 trailers (421 tons), and to replace one 2f-ton articulated vehicle by a 4i-ton lorry. It is understood that if the application be granted nine horsed teams will be disposed of.

Glasgow Plans Safety Week.

A conference, on September 3, of representatives of the education, police. streets and transport committees of _Glasgow Corporation approved a safetyweek campaign to be held in Glasgow from September 27 to October 2. Various forms of appeal will be addressed to motor users and pedestrians, safetyfirst slogans will be displayed on the municipal-transport vehicles, and talks will be given in the schools by traffic police officers.

Notek Distributor Appointments.

Notek. Electric Co., Ltd., 175, Merton Road, London, S.W.19, advises us that the following concerns have been appointed sole distributors for the Notek.. non-glaring, fog and traffic lamp:—John Ireland and Sons, Ltd., Irelands Lane, Dundee (Scotland); Automotive Components, Ltd., Stoneswood, Tocimorden (Lancashire); Thos. P. Headland, Ltd., 41, Grace Street, Leeds, 1 (Yorkshire).

"The Motor" Map Reduced in Price.

The price of The Moior Road Map of England, Wales and Southern Scotland has now been reduced to 3s. 6d. net. An exclusive feature of this map is that it indicates all the principal places of picturesque and historic interest in the areas covered.

The scale is 10 miles to the inch, and the map, which clearly shows the main and secondary motor roads throughout the country, is well printed in colours. It is available both in atlas form and in a cloth case with transparent front. It is obtainable from all bookstalls and booksellers, or for 3s. 9d., post paid, from the publisher, Temple Press Ltd., 5-17, Rosenery Avenue, London, E.C.1.

Imprisonment for Bradford Haulier.

Charged with driving a lorry while he was disqualified from driving, and with using the vehicle without thirdparty insurance, Mr. Thomas S. Ransby, haulage contractor, of 55, Harrogate Street. Bradford, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment on each of two summonses, the sentences to run concurrently, at Bradford City Police Court on September 1. He pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and not guilty to driving without insurance. For the prosecution, the point was made that, as defendant was driving while disqualified, the insurance policy did not cover him. Defendant said his driver had told him that the vehicle was not pulling properly and he was trying it out to ascertain what was the trouble.

The Stipendiary Magistrate, Dr. F. J. 0. Coddington, said this was the third time that defendant had been found guilty of driving without insurance. As there were only Motor log offences against defendant's character, the Bench was dealing with him as leniently as possible.

Canadian Output Advance.

Canadian motor-vehicle manufacturers report a gain of 21.4 per cent. in the output of vehicles during the first half of 1937, as compared with the corresponding period of 1936, when the output totalled 106,000 units.

Foden's Aluminium Underframe.

Referring last week to the aluminium body underframe on a Paden sixwheeler run by H. B. Everton, Ltd., we said that this underframe was built by the Northern Aluminium Co., Ltd., of Banbury. Actually, that company supplied only the necessary materials; the construction was by Fodens, Ltd. PERSONAL PARS.

MR, WALTER WEST has been promoted to the position of foundry manager of the iron and non-ferrous foundries of Leyland Motors, Ltd.

MR. J. H. ST1R1+, J.P., East Midlands Licensing Authority, spent his vacation, from which he has just returned, touring 12,000 miles in the United States and Canada.

MR. W1LL/AM TAYLOR, junr., has been appointed deputy-firemaster of Kilmarnock. His father is at present firemaster in Greenock, and his grandfather previously held this post.

MR. ROBERT F. SMITH, the present deputy-manager of Glasgow Transport Department, has been appointed general manager, in succession to Mr. James N. Wilson, who retires from this post on November 13.

MR. ALFRED HARVEY, A.M.I.A.E., whose portrait appears on this page, has taken over control of the drawing office of Maybach Gears, Ltd. For the past three years he has been aleading designer in Vickers-Armstrong's tank and traction department. He has for some time specialized in transmission and gearbox development and was associated with Major W. G. Wilson, C.M.G., when the first " self-change " gearbox was introduced some 10 years ago.

The Master Cutler Elect of the Cutlers' Company of Hallamshire, in the County of York, is Cot_ F. A. NEILL, D.S.O.. T.D., chairman and managing director of James Neill and Co. (Sheffield), Ltd., the well-known steel company of Sheffield, with which he has been associated since 1910. He was appointed a director in 1916 and, on the death of his father, in 1930, became chairman and managing director of the company. He has travelled extensively and visited practically all the European markets on behalf of the company.

Shipping Guide for Hauliers.

The following is the number of ships arriving in the London docks, wharves and jetties named, from September 10 to 18 inclusive :—DocKs : King George V, 5 ; Royal Albert. 12; Royal Victoria, 4; Surrey Commercial, 9; West India, 1; South-West India, 1: Tilbury, 5; Tilbury Stage, 4; Millwall, 3; London, 2. WirwavEs : Hays, 0; Middleton's, 1: Mark Brown's, 1; Butler's, 1. Tilbury. Jetty, 3. Regents Canal, 1.

Dodge Dealer's Agreement.

Dodge Brothers (Britain), Ltd., Mortlake Road, Kew Gardens, Surrey, advises us that its distributor, Loxba.ms Garages (Barrow), Ltd., has signed a dealer's commercial sales agreement with Mr. D. C. Benson, Newtown Garage, Whitehaven, Cumberland. PETITION SUPPORTS LICENCE APPLICATION.

A petition to Mr. Henry Riches, Northern Scotland Licensing Authority, signed by a large number of residents, supported an application by Mr. Donald Macleod, Bala'Ian, on the ground that the vehicle was necessary for the carriage of peats. The applicant explained that he had also been approached to take on work for Tawse, Ltd., in connection with the road reconstruction. A licence was granted for the carriage of peats within a 15-mile radius, and for road material anywhere in the island for Tawse, Ltd.

Rivals Shake Hands in Court.

Two rival Mallaig merchants, at the end of a three-hours dispute before the Licensing Authority, sitting at Mallaig, shook hands on the suggestion of thechairman, Mr. Henry Riches. Mr. Paul Johnstone, employed by Johnstone and Co., asked for a licence to carry nets, oil, coal, fish, wood chips, wood dust, salt and ice.

It was stated on behalf of the applicant that, on account of the lack of transport facilities, there was considerable delay in getting fish from the pier to the kippering sheds. The insufficiency of vehicles, it was stated, also caused excessive loading,, contrary to the weight restrictions imposed on vehicles using the pier.

Objections to the granting of the licence were made on behalf of Messrs. Simpson and Sans, who carried on a similar business. They claimed that the fish trade in Mallaig was falling off, and that there was no congestion on the pier . and, therefore, no need for another vehicle.

The application was granted for the conveyance of all the goods stated, except fishing nets, Tractor Beats Dogs on Expedition.

The British Graham Land Expedition, which recently returned to this country after spending 2-} years in the Antarctic, took with it a Bristol tractor which, in the main, was used for general haulage around the base.canip. It was utilized for hauling boats out of the water, for towing sledge loads of ice for domestic use, for bringing in seals, and for work in connection with the expedition's aeroplane. It is said that the work was done quicker and more efficiently with the tractor than with dogs.

During the first year the Bristol fell through a patch of thin ice and sank in 30 ft. of water, and when it was salvaged 3i months later, it performed as well as ever after being overhauled.

Revised Traffic-control Light Signals.

The revision of B.S.S. No. 505, Road Traffic Control (Electric) Light Signals, which has just been issued by the British Standards Institution, is a revision of the clauses dealing with the failure of controllers and the tolerance on performance. It was felt that the variations in timing permitted by the specification, if met with in prac rice, would result in loss of efficiency in the control of traffic and, therefore, at the request of the Minister of Transport, the present revision was undertaken.

A revision of the Post Officer conditions to be observed when Post Office plant is used in association with roadtraffic control light-signal systems, is contained in the appendices.

The committee is, at the present time, looking into the question of patchiness and phantom signals. This work will take some time, but it is hoped when it is completed that some addition can be made to the specification.

Copies of this British Standard Specification (No, 505-1937) may he obtained from the British Standards Institution, 28, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1, price 2s. 2d., post included. AMERICAN GRIP ON NORWEGIAN MARKET.

A return lately to hand shows that 2,388 new commercial vehicles, including buses and coaches, were sold in Norway during the first half of the current year. The extent to which the Norwegian market is dominated by American vehicles is indicated by the fact that no fewer than 2,019 units, or 84.55 per cent, of the total, came from the United States (20 makes), Germany with 152 (6.37 Per cent. and 10 makes) was second, followed by Sweden with 80 (3.35 per cent, and two makes), Great Britain 69 (2.9 per cent. and six makes), and France 32 (1.37 per cent and three makes).

The British total included 52 Bed ford, eight Austin, four Morris-Commercial, and three Karrier vehicles, and one each of Singer and Standard makes. SETTLING THEM AT SETTLE.

For carrying more than two persons, in addition to the driver, in a vehicle under a limited trade licence, Edward Townley, motor salesman, of Lancaster, was fined £2 at Settle (Yorkshire) Police Court, on Tuesday last. He was also fined 10s. for not carrying a duplicate. entry relating to the use of the vehicle. His employer was similarly fined for permitting the two offences,

At the same sitting, five drivers of heavy vehicles were each fined £.1 for exceeding the speed limit. Another driver was fined 5s. for driving a commercial vehicle for a continuous period of more than 5f hours. He pleaded ignorance of the regulations.

Effect of Increased Cab Fares.

The French Government recently decreed that Paris taxicab fares were to be increased by 20 per cent. This was mainly to prevent excessive competition with other means for transport. The Popular Front Government has, on its own figures, raised the cost of living, and, in particular, that of food, by 30 per cent. The combined effect on the cab industry is that there has been a decrease of 20 per cent: in the total takings, whilst the number of people travelling by this conveyance has dropped by 30 per cent. The cab industry of Paris employs over 25,000 people, who serve the public well, but both it and the public are opposed to the increase in fares, and the Minister Of Labour is to receive a delegation from the industry on September 13.

£170,000 By-pass for Kilmarnock.

Kilmarnock Town Council has embarked on a big undertaking in the construction of a by-pass road, with a view to relieving congestion in the main streets of the town. The scheme includes a double carriageway 100 ft. between the fences, each carriageway being 20 ft. wide, with a centre grass verge of 15 ft. The full length of the road is approximately four miles, the estimated cost being £170,000. It is understood that the work will take about four years.

No Speedometer: Lorry-owner Criticized.

When a Glasgow lorry driver was fined 10s. at Carlisle County Police Court for driving at an excessive speed. police evidence showed that there was no speedometer on the vehicle. Colonel A. B. Johnson, the chairman, said that the driver's licence would not be endorsed, and added: "The Bench feels it is wrong of the owners of the lorry to send it out without a speedometer, and we are asking the clerk to write a strong letter to the firm." OIL SEARCH IN NEW ZEALAND.

Government plans to promote an extensive search for off in New Zealand were forecast by the Minister of Mines, Mr. P. C. Webb, in a recent speech at New Plymouth. He said: "If we spent £.500,000 in the search for oil—and the indications are such that we would be justified in spending this sum, or even £1,000,000—then that money would be well spent, because once we get a flow of oil it is going to be a great asset."

It is understood that State ownership of the potential oil resources of New Zealand would not necessarily imply a State monopoly of the actual production of oil. It is believed that the legislative action hinted at by Mr. Webb will transfer to State ownership any oil which may be found on any type of land in New Zealand, and that the Government will then allow oil companies to carry on the industry, under licence, on the payment of a royalty.