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Getting a Useful ALTHOUGH the chief purLift from a Fork 'pose of a fork lift truck is
Truck the stacking of packages,
useful employment can be found for it in many other ways. This was impressed upon us recently when we visited a large repair depot in the Home Counties. Here is employed an American Clark lift truck on many varied jobs. The engineer in charge or the depot considers his Clark one of the most useful pieces of equipment that he has; as a time-saver, he said, it is quite unlike anything else. This vehicle carries engines and other large components from one part of the depot to another, and, as an instance of ingenuity in its use, when lamp bulbs, banging from the ceiling, have to be changed, no longer is it necessary to manoeuvre a clumsy ladder into position—all that a man has to do is to stand on the forks of the truck while one of his mates elevates him to the desired position. " The sooner British manufacturers begin to make something like this," said this engineer, "the better it will be." Unfortunately, he was not one of those people who could obtain a copy of "The Commercial Motor" each week, and so he was not up to date in his information. When we informed him that
several British companies were now making fork lift trucks he was agreeably surprised. Other engineers in charge of large maintenance depots would do well to consider employing one of the latest British products.
Prevention of Danger EPRESENTAT1ONS have from Overhanging " been made to the Trees Ministry of Transport by the Highways Committee of the N.R.T.F., drawing attention to the damage which may be caused to large road vehicles as the result of contact with untrimmed hedges and the overhanging branches of trees. In response, the Ministry has stated that, under Section 23 of the Public Health Act, 1925, county councils or local authorities can require owners ot occupiers of premises on which such trees or hedges are growing, to lop them if they obstruct or endanger the passage of vehicles or pedestrians. In known cases of obstruction, the matter should, therefore, in the first instance, be taken up with the responsible authority; failing action, the appropriate divisional road engineer of the Ministry should be consulted. The Editor "Gatecrashes" a Strange Cocktail Party . . . RECENTLY the Editor of this journal was invited to a cocktail party at a London
hotel On arrival there, he presented his card of invitation, was shown to a room, his name announced, and he was heartily welcomed. After enjoying considerable hospitality and following introductions to a number of people, he began to realize that something was wrong. Upon inquiry he discovered that he was in another party, so he quietly retired in search of the correct one. However, there appeared to be a need for some apology, and, therefore, later; having overcome a natural embarrassment, he returned, was again warmly Welcomed, and inquiries were made as to where he had been during the interim. He explained the contretemps and was in,duced to remain, finally joining the party as a guest at supper at another restaurant The whole incident caused great amusement to the hosts It appears that the "crashed" party was one to welcome a well-known banker in the Empire.
Should a DoubleP WALLING the fictional decker be produced " case of Barden v. Pick
in Court ? . . . . wick for absurdity was a re cent true case in a Dundee court, when a motorist and a bus driver were charged
with dangerous driving after a collision. A witrless was describing what he saw from the front seat on the top deck of the bus, when the motorist's lawyer said: "We cannot accept what the witness says he saw unless the bus is produced to show what the view is from his seat." The Sheriff: "We all know what a double-deck bus is like, and what can be seen from it." Lawyer: "I don't, my lord. I have never been on a double-deck bus in that part of the town. When there are charges of overcharging fos furniture, the furniture is produced in court. The bus ought to be produced." Further involved argument on fine legal points followed, and finally the Sheriff, with all the sagacity born of many years of study of the law, held that no useful purpose would be served by the production of the bus. No doubt this case will cause much discussion amongst legal men.