WHEELS OF INDUSTRY
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LOWER REVENUE FROM TAXATION.
The gross amount received in payment for road-vehicle licences, issued during the nine months ended August 31, .1935, was £27,620,406, compared with £29,304,918 in the corresponding period of 1934. The average receipt in respect of a whole-year licence was £28 5s. 6d. for internal-combustion and steam-driven goods vehicles, £31 4s. 6d. for electric goods vehicles, and £54 10s. 6c1.. for hackney vehicles.
The return containing these figures, which has recently been issued by the Ministry of Transport, also shows the number of licences issued and surrendered during the nine months ended August 31 last. The total number of motor-vehicle licences was 2,511,090, as against 2,358,790, this. year's total including 414,760 goods vehicles and 85,223 hackney vehicles, figures which contrast with 401,479 and 85,388 respectively for last year.
A.R.O. Deputation to Home Secretary on Silent Traps.
Associated Road Operators is continuing -a campaign against the use of silent traps used by the police to trap commercial-vehicle drivers. Major Eric Long, T.D., J.P., who is leading the campaign, tells us that recently 72 drivers were summoned at a town in Lincolnshire, the silent-control method being employed.
It is grossly unfair, said Major Long, , that drivers should be persecuted in this way, and it is against the laws of common justice that drivers should not be given the opportunity of producing witnesses.
Arrangements are being made for a deputation to wait upon the Home Secretary on this imperrtant question.
Politicians Forget Taxation Promises At a meeting of the southern section of the Metropolitan area of Associated Road Operators, on Monday, Mr. Norman Letts spoke on the achievements in the past year of the two associations now represented by A.R.O. Particularly striking, he said, was the altered attitude of the B.B.C. since protests regarding railway broadcasts were made. Mr. Letts, commenting on the Association's plea for a national system of roads, remarked that the continued propaganda at last appeared to be bearing fruit.
Mr. R. W. Sewill dealt entirely with political problems. He reviewed the history of the Road Fund and quoted Mr. Lloyd George's speech when introducing special taxation on motorcars in 1909. He also emphasized the statement made at that time by Mr. (now Sir) Austen Chamberlain. Speaking for the Conservative Party, he said that if a special tax were going to support the roads, his party thought it a fair proposition. If it were intended for 816 general revenuepurposes, the party would oppose it.
The industry should, declared Mr. Sewill, beware of giving blind allegiance to any political party, hut should insist that all candidates at the next election should undertake to press for the alleviation of motor taxation.
Exhibitors at the Ford Show.
At the Ford Motor Exhibition, which opens at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on October 17 and continues until October 26, there willbe 33 exhibitors. The stands occupied by the following concerns will be of chief interest to our readers, .their exhibits being given in parentheses:—H. E. Norm and Co., Ltd. (Ford V-8 passenger chassis with special coachwork); Harold J. Willett, Ltd. (bus); Wallace Carr and Co., Ltd. (Fordson forwardcontrol chassis with special truck body); Arthur E. Gould, Ltd. (chassis with special market utility body); A. Ferraris, Ltd. (commercial vehicle); W. Harold Perry, Ltd. (Ford V-8 passenger model); Stanhay, Ltd. (tractor with special attachments); Miller Wheels, Ltd. (Fordson tractor); Briggs Motor Bodies, Ltd. (sections of bodies).
A 6-TONNER WEIGHING UNDER 50-CWT.
Among the machines to be exhibited at the forthcoming Show by G. Scaminell and Nephew, Ltd., Fashion Street, London, E.1, will be a Bedford 3-tonner, converted by this company to a rigid six-wheeler, and equipped with a cab and platform body built bythe same concern. In this form the complete vehicle weighs under 2i tons, whilst it is rated as a 6-tonner.
We believe this to be the largest payload capacity that has yet appeared in the 30 m.p.h. class.
Another interesting machine to be shown by this company is an A.E.C. Mammoth Mark II with a Scammell light platform body. It can carry a 14-ton pay-load without the 19-ton legal maximum being exceeded, Railway Canvassing Hauliers' Customers? .
An allegation that a railway company had used information submitted as evidence by applicants for licences for the purpose of trying to obtain traffic from applicants' customers, was made before Sir William Hart, Yorkshire Deputy Licensing Authority, Sir William said that if the allegation were true, he would look upon it very seriously. The railway representative denied the statement, but an offer was made to bring evidence in support of it.
Yorkshire A.R.O. Propaganda.
Road transport is well advertised on thousands of gum-labels which are being issued by the Yorkshire Area of Associated Road Operators, Ltd. They are printed in colours, and although small enough to place on letter envelopes, carry their message effectively.
One design, printed in blue and red, on white paper, shows an arrow striking the centre of a target, and bears the words "Road transport delivers on the spot." The other design features a green arrow on a white background, with these words in blue lettering : " Swifter than an arrow when delivered by road transport."
Record Profit of Joseph Lucas, Ltd.
The report of Joseph Lucas, Ltd., for the year ended August 7, 1935, shows a record net profit of £263,068. Adding the sum of £77,383 brought into the accounts, there is a total of £341,051 available. Interim dividends on the A and B preference shares absorbed £5,367, whilst a 21 per cent. payment on the ordinary shares accounted for £,37,987. A final dividend of 10 per • cent. (less tax) on the ordinary shares absorbs a further £151,947, whilst the final payments on the preference shares will absorb another £5,367. A sum of £56,007 is transferred to the res6ive, bringing it up to £500,000,whilst £10,000 is transferred to the Work.. people's funds. The amount to be carried forward is £74,377.
POWER-FARMING CONFERENCE.
A power-farming conference will be held in Oxford in January next, under the auspices of the School of Rural Economy, the Institute for Research in Agricultural Engineering, and the Economics Research Institute. The dates provisionally fixed for the conference are January 7-10.
C.M.U.A. Branch for Hull?
For some time, the committee of the North-easternDivision of the Commercial Motor Users Association has had in mind the question of 100,1 service to C.M.U.A. members indistricts a long way from the divisional office in Leeds.
A proposal to open an office in Hull is under consideration, and in this connection a meeting of members will be held on October 15 at the Grosvenor Hotel, Hull, at 7.30 p.m. The speakers will be Mr. F. G. Bristow, general secretary, Mr. J. L. Kinder, national organizer, and Mr. Charles Holdsworth, of Halifax, acting chairman of the Yorkshire Conciliation Board,
An Oil-engine Development.
The Ferry Engine Co., Ltd., Woolston, Southampton, wishes to get into touch with builders of goods or passenger vehicles, with a view to marketing for the company an oil engine which is claimed to be a highclass fully tested unit of 35-50 h.p.
Heavy Loss in L.M.S. Fish Traffic. . When Mr. John Craig, of Messrs. Craig's Transport Service, Aberdeen, applied for two additional A licences, striking details were given regarding the decline in railway traffic from Aberdeen. The London and NorthEastern and London, Midland and Scottish Railway Companies objected. It was stated that the L.M.S. used to carry 9,000-11,000 tons of fish per annum from Aberdeen, whereas only 1.000 tons were now transported.
The applicant said that between 6 p.m. on Saturday and Monday morning, there were no railway goods trains to carry fish from Aberdeen to Glasgow, on which route he operated, carrying chiefly fish. Be also ran between Aberdeen and fishing ports in the north and west. It was cheaper to convey ice from Aberdeen. to these ports than from Glasgow. Mr. Craig maintained that he was the first to convey fish by road, commencing in November; 1930. A better price was realized for the fish if carried by road, for it arrived earlier at the market and was in better condition.
The hearing was adjourned.
E.R.F. Distributors in Lancashire and N.W. England.
North British Motors, London Road, Walton-le-Dale, Preston, are acting as sole distributor throughout Lancashire and the North-West of England for E.R.F. commercial vehicles. The firm report a satisfactory volume of sales in a territory where many users have hesitated to change the constitution of their fleets.
The premises are situated on the main Manchester-Preston and Scotland road, and are in a position to deal with E.R.I. service requirements on behalf of the many users passing the doors.
Irish Minister Orders Road Conveyance.
The Irish Free State Minister for Local Government has informed Mallow Urban District Council that he will not sanction a clause in a contract concerning a local building scheme, requiring the contractor to convey materials by rail to Mallow Station. Existing legislation,. the Minister has pointed out, provides amply for the benefit of the railways.
British Industries Mission to Poland.
The Federation of British Industries is despatching a mission to Poland to follow up the benefits offered to England by the Anglo-Polish Agreement. It is expected to leave for Warsaw on November 2, and will include representatives of the motor industry.
PERSONAL PARS.
Mr. Angus S. Glover has been appointed a director of John Gibson and Son, Ltd., a concern of motor engineers and coachbuilders, Jameson Place, Leith Mr. Patrick N. Shinnie has been reappointed chairman of the Aberdeen branch of the Institute of the Motor Trade, whilst Mr. G. Bennett Roger, of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., has been elected vice-chairman.
On the occasion of his departure from Ayr, Mr. William Alexander, cleansing superintendent, received a presentation from members of the town council. Mr. Alexander is taking up a similar position in Aberdeen.
At a meeting of the Aberdeen centre of the Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund, Mr. Walter S. Scott, of Aberdeen Motors, Ltd., was reappointed chairman, and Mr. Alex. Cheyne, vice-chairman.
Mr. Frank G. Bibbings, general secretary of the Yorkshire Stage Carriage Operators Association and a member of Horsforth Urban District Council, has been elected a member of the Yorkshire panel of Traffic Commissioners.
Mr. J. C. Blakey, secretary of the Newcastle Road Transport Employers Association and Northern Area secretary of the Commercial Motor Users Association, has been elected joint secretary of the employers' panel of the • Northern Conciliation Board.
• Mr. Jack Feathers, who has for some years been associated with Hubert Dees, Lid., the South London Ford dealers, has acquired excellent premises at London Road, Thornton Heath,. Croydon, where he will continue to deal in vehicles up to 3 tons capacity.
Mr. G. F. Bedford, B.Sc., has been appointed London manager of -Partridge, Wilson and Co., Ltd. He is in direct control of the company's activities at its London office at 167, Shaftesbury Avenue, W.C.2, which includes the sale of Wilson electric vehicles.
Mr. William Foden, who is the eldest son of the founder of Fodens, Ltd., and has had a lifelong practical experience in the manufacture of commercial vehicles, has been appointed managing director of the company.
Mr. F. J. Poole, who has been its chairman since 1916, has, with a view to broadening the basis of management, suggested that he should retire from thie position and the directors have accepted his resignation with regret. Sir Edwin Stockton, who joined. the board in December last, has been appointed chairman, and Mr. Poole has accepted the position Of deputy chairman.