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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

"71e wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of •the roads over which it runs."--john Beattie Crozier.

The New Subsidy Scheme.

With a view to encouraging the use of 30-owt. lorry fitted with giant pneumatic tyres, a subsidy of £40' pea' annum will be paid by the War Office to purchasers. of approved vehicles or chassis; of British manufacture, who are prepared to enrol such vehicles under the scheme.

Tim vehicle required is one built to the specification governing War Department purchases. The following fire's have .recently..supplied such vehicles • to the War. Office :—Clement-Talbot, Ltd. (whose product was described in our last issue), Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., Crossley Motors, Ltd., and •Karrier Motors, Ltd.

These vehicles have been submitted to exhauStive trials, as a result of which it has been decided to accept theee.makes for enrolment.

Enrolment entitles the War Department to purchase a, vehicle in a national _emergency at a price fixed by agreement on enrolment.

Enrolment will be from year to year, up to two years, and, in exceptional cases, dependent upon the condition of the vehicle and other circurestances, may be extended im to aenaximum period of three years.

Copies of the agreement will shortly be available, and can be had On application to the Secretary of the War Office, Imperial House (Room 37), Tothill. Street, S.W.1.

Copies of the specification are not availablefor general distribution, but will be supplied • to interested ntakers: We comment editorially on the scheme.

Glass in Passenger Vehicles.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Col. Wilfrid Ashley, stated in the House of Commons recently that he was not aware that there had been any substantial increase recently in the number of injuries caused by broken glass in connection with accidents to public service vehicles.

He said that he was anxious to encourage the use of some satisfactory form. of non-splinterable glass in all passenger-carrying vehicles, bat was advised that the cost was so great that it would not-.be practicable to impose any condition with regard to its use.

Police Action to Check Dangerous Driving.

The Commissioner of Police is veswing ' with much concern the increase in the number of traffic fatalities which has occurred during the months of January to April, 1923 During this period there has been iin increase of 22 people killed as compared with the corresponding

period of .1922. • . .

Whilst making due allowance for an increase in the number of vehicles using the streets, it must be apparent. that drivers should have far greater regard to the provisions of the Lew with respect to dangerous, reckless, or negligent driving, or driving at a speed that is dangerous, having regard to all the conditions which exist, or which may reasonably be expected to exist, at the time.

B20 Considering the serious consequence of many of the accidents, the Commissioner has felt, it to be his duty to direct the police to check by all means hi their power fast and dangerous driving. It is hoped, however, now that the facts have been brought to notice, that employers will see that their drivers• are duly warned, and instructed in the risks they run, and that all drivers in their own interests will see to it. that no act of theirs shall be the cause of danger, or compel the police to take action for breaches of the law.

Rotary Internal-combustion Motor.

Before the war the RAG. had under consideration a suggestion made by a member of its technical committee that the club should encourage efforts to produce as an internal-combustion, motor some useful analogue of. the steam turbine or motor of that order. Some progress was made with a schgme in accordance with. this suggestion, but the outbreak of war prevented its develop, ment: The technical committee is now giving further consideration to the suggestion with the object of ascertaining whether the time has arrived for the institution of competitive tests.

The LA.E. and Insurance Companies.

/An important conference was recently held between representatives of practically all the insuranceecompanies which issue motorcars-policies and the council of the Institution of Automobile Engineers. The .necessity of co-operation between the 'two was' emphasized, though no definite agreement. was .reached as to how this could be carried. into practice.

A first step has, .however, been taken. The council of. the. Institution has 'prepared 'a list of all members who are prepared to undertake work., in connection. with inspections, assessing repairs, and technical work on behalf of the motor insuranee companies. This list has been sent out to the .insurance companies, who have undertaken to make use of the services of members of the. Inetitu'lion wherever possible in preference to those of non-members.

It. is hoped that, by thus ensuring that. such work shall be plated in the hands of responsible and capable engineers, advantage will accrue to the user and to the industry.

Provisional' Traffic Committee.

The London boroughs have their own way of solving the traffic problem. A sub-committee of . the metropolitan boroughs' standing joint committee has conferred with a sub-committee of the London County Council on the question

of the regulation of omnibus routes, etc. On behalf, of the standing joint committee the suggestion was made that the

Government should be asked to intro duce a Bill in the present session of Parliament for the purpose of setting up a provisional traffic committee for London and the Home Counties for one year; that the committee eh.ould consist of one representative, each from the London County Council, the Metropolitan borough councils, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis; the Minister of Traneport, and one for the adjoining county authorities; and should have power to deal with traffic problems, e.g., to define omnibus routes and stoppingplaces, make by-laws, limit the number of omnibuses, and regulate the parking of vehicles.

It was further suggested that the bodies to be represented under the pro posed constitution of the provisional traffic committee should be approached with a view to joint representations being made.to the Government.

The London County Council's representatives intimated that they woulot be prepared to give favourable consideration to the proposal, provided that the.,

provisional traffic committee had power to deal with tramway proposals, and that the' borough councils would agree to forego their right of veto daring the existence of the traffic committee in the ease of new tramway proposals, on the understanding that the London County Council would not go to Parliament with any such proposals which were not approved bythe traffic committee.

The standing joint committee has de cided to approve the setting up of a provisional traffic committee for one year on the lines suggested. •

Dover Wants Trolley-buses. .

The Dover Town Council has decided to apply for Parliamentary .powers to run motorbuses and trolley-buses in all parts of the borough. . It is.praposed to „start witMservicesiover the Viaduct to the Marine Ctation and also to the East. Cliff.

1100 a Mlle for Road Adaptation.

The highways committee of the Durham County Council recommends; the acceptance of an offer of the South Shields Corporation to contribute £700 per mile towards the cost of the adaptation of the Tyne Dock Road for motorbus traffic.

No Prohibition. ,

The highways committee of the East Riding County Council cannot support the request of the Beverley Rural District Council, to apply to the Ministry of Transport for an Order fixing a speed limit and prohibiting heavy motor traffic on the road from Brough Railway Statiou to Brough Toll Bar.

Tyre Tender Acceptances.

The ambulance committee of the Metropolitan Asylums Board recommends that tenders for the supply of motor tyres during the period ending December 31st be accepted as follow :-Pirelli, Ltd., for covers (part quantity); Chas. Macintosh and Co., Ltd., for covers (part. quantity); the Shrewsbury S. T. and Chadliner Tyre Co., Ltd., for inner tubes; and the Leyland and Birmingham Rubber Co., Ltd., for solid tyres.

A New Risk.

Chelmsford Town Council is asking the Home Office to make regulations to ensure the safety of vehicles used for conveying petrol. A vehicle carrying 1,000 gallons of berizole recently caught fire in a public thoroughfare, and it is presumed that the fire was due to a rear oil lamp, the flame of which ignited spirit leaking from a petrol can.

There are, as is generally well known, certain stringent regulations already in force with which velicles used for transporting inflammable liquids have to conform.

Exemption rm. Corporation Buses.

Nottingham Comity Council has been notified by Sheffield Corporation of a proposal to run motorbuses within the urban district of Worksop, and by the Nottingham Corporation of a proposal to run • services in the area of the 'JuanaII 1LTrbah District. Council.

Both corporations have asked for exemption from the payment of mileage charges 'orcosts of road adaptation, and in view of the provisions of the Roads Act, 1020, and the views of the Ministry of Transport, the highways ccrmnaittee of the county council recommends that no 'charges shaukl be levied.

Sharing Costs of Divesting a Road.

Durham County Council reports that The county surveyor and the deputy clerk had attended conferences relative to the question of South Shields motorbus services, when the question of the principle of a contribution by the railway corn

pa.ny and the South Shields Corporation towards the cost. of diverting a road and providing a new bridge was considered: It was understood that both parties were favourably inclined towards the

principle of contribution, but no figures were arrived at.

The Ministry of Transport has promised to go into the matter and to notify the council of the grant which it is prepared to make..

Refuse Collection Costs.

The works committee of the Willesden Urban District Council has had under consideration a letter from the Metropolitan and Home Counties Road Transport Contractors Association with regard to the removal of house refuse, and has requested the engineer to prepare a comparative estimate of the current cost of removal by electrically propeIled,vehicles and horse traction :t'

Cheapening Transport Costs.

A road is to be constructed from Tredegar (Mon.) to "Talybont (Brecon), a distance of some ten miles, at an estimated cost of £80,000_ This highway will facilitate the transportation of the produce of agricultural areas to the markets of the mining towns of North Monmouthshire.

A scheme has been prepared for the cost of construction to be borne by the joint authorities, the principal contributors being the Monmouth County Council and the Tredegar Urban Council.

Some time ago farmers along the route of the proposed road made complaints to various local authorities of the lack of road facilities for conveying produce to market, and it is hoped to meet their needs by the construction of the new highway, which will materially help to reduce transport costs.

Defective Paving Claim.

At a meeting of the Glasgow Corporation. Highways Committee, the town clerk stated thathe had received a letter front Messrs. Brown and Lynn, 48, Lightburn Road, Cambuslang, intimating a claim ij . respect of damage to goods, etc., caused through the wheel of one of their lorries Sinking in a defective portion of Summerfield Street East, and that, in view of the terms of a report by the master of works, he had settled the claim.

Lincoln Buses and County Charges.

Complaints as to excessive charges proposed to be made by the Lindsey County Council for the running of corparatimi motorbuses 'upon roads contIgueas to the municipal area were forthcoming at the last meeting of the Lincoln City Council.

It transpired that the county authorities proposed that 3d. should be paid for each of the first 1,000 miles -run, 4d. for each mile exceeding 1.000 up to 2,000, 6d. for ouch mile exceeding 2,000 up to 3,000, and is. for each mile exceeding 3000. The committee had, however, offered to Day 1,c1. only for each mile.

Aid. W. S. White directed attention to the fact that the council was already paying £660 a year forlicences on its buses.

The minutes of the eleetriciteand tramways committee as to the offer of Id. per mile ware confirmed, it being felt that the charges proposed to be levied by the county authorities would impose a hopeless handicap on toe municipal undertaking. Cheshire Road Speeds.

The question of speed limits for Cheshire county roads has again been engaging the attention of the county council, which has been approached by the inhabitants' of several village's and hamlets to make regulations for certain roads.

The main road and bridges committee

of the ,county council has been giving consideration to the matter, and the chairman told the council recently that some of these .local bodies had appruached the authorities and courts had been established and a great. deal of expenditure had beenentailed, without, in some •aases, gaining consent to impose• the limit. • It had been thought that sufficientpower was already vested in, • 'and existed by, the statuts for the police force to exercise control, and the Clhief Constable of Cheshire held that view. Notices were being put :up at various points, and the Chief Constable said thit they would do the utmost to deal with reckless drivers who passed through the areas 'concerned.

Warning the L.C.C.

Greenwich litoroOgh Connell reports that a motor wagon belonging to the L.C.C. 'emitted large volumes" of black smoke as it passed through the borough. The matter at brought to' the•notiee the .county. council, -which stated that . the smoke Wa's caused by the use of • suitable oil, and .expressed regret at the occurrence, 'adding that arrangements hadibeen made to guard against a repeti tion of the nuisanCe. • . . In 'view of the circumstances the borough. council did not prosecute, but sent a Warning letter to the L.C.C..

. The August T.B.R. Guide.

The August issue of the T.B.R. Guide (which is 'published by Riess, Wiley and Co., 123, Pall Mall, monthly, at 6d. net) shows some of the routes by which the holiday-maker can get to the sea from London. He can go to Brighton in just ever five hours, to Southend in :=11hours, to Hastings, or to Eastbourne, in a little over six hours. These are only a few examples out at hundreds of journeys that can comfortably be made by motorbus.

With the aid of T.B.R. Guide, its index and its local maps, routes may be worked out from any centre in all diree: B22' [ions; and .holiday-makers will find the guide an inestimable boon either for long-distance journeys or for daily excursions.

Petrol Pumos Without Permission, The Middlesex County Council has refused to approve of the erection of petrol pumps on the footpaths of the main roads in the county. Nevertheless the eosineicil's highways committee reports that Mr. F. L. Cranmore, of Potters Bar, 'who has twice been refused permission to 'erect a pump, has done so, and has been :called upon to remove it.

. Henley's Dividends.

The directors of W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Co., Ltd.,' have "dedared a dividend on the preference shares of the company at the rate of per cent. per annum, less income-tax, for the half,year ended June 30th, and an interim dividend on the ordinary shares of 1.s. per share, less income-tax, both to be paid on September 1st.

Fire-engine at £5 an Hour.

At a mee,ling of the Blackpool Watch Committee the chief Constable reported on' the scale of charges at present in force for the services of the fire brigade in the borough B nd adjoining distr3cts, and the committee, with a •view to unifortuity, fixed the charges as follow :—

Motor fire-engine, 25 first hour; 21 per 'hour for each subsequent hour. Officers, 10s. firtt hour; 5S. per . hour for each subsequent hour. Firemen, 3s. first. hour; per ho.ur for each subse(pleat hour.

Another Runbaken Depot.

Yesterday (Monday) time Runbalsen Magneto Co., Ltd., opened a new branch at '107, Northumberland Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne. This branch is fully equipped to deal with magneto, dynamo, starter and accumulator repairs, and has a staff of trained:Mechanics from Man chester, .

A full stock of spare parts is being held for all British and Continental makes of magnetos, dynamos and starters, and also spares and sundries for batteries.

This now snakes the tenth -fully equipped branch service depot Which has been opened by the company. Mr. S. 1-1. Flynne, one of the directors of the company, will be in charge at Newcastle.

Spencer,. Moulton at Bristol.

The address of the Bristol depot Of George Spencer, Moulton and Co. Ltd., has been changed from 141,. Victoria Street to 28, Temple Back. At the new premises the company have a-floor spice of over 5,000 sq. ft., with full facilities far pressing-on solid tyres. -A powerfultyre-fitting press has been installed and vehicles can be driven straight into the tyre-fitting department.' By the aid of an overhead track, 'wheels can be lifted straight on to the press, thus rapidly dealing with the 'work of tyre removal and fitting.

Full stocks of pneumatic and solid tyres, together with a range of motor accessories, are being carried. •

Overseas Bus. Developments.

It is stated by H.M. Commercial Secretary at Buenos Aires that the Municipality of Rosario has before it four proposals for a motorbus service, but that before coming to a definite decision it has decided to nominate a commission to inspect the services of Buenos Aires. The idea is to organize an efficient service to serve the town and suburbs, and it is intended to use buses of uniform pattern and make.

A year ago there were no hue services in Buenos Aires, but within this period a number of small and light buses have been put into service which have cheap coachwork mounted on Ford chassis and provided with accommodation for 12 persons.

British manufacturers who , may care to keep in touch with this development, and who are not represented inthe Argentine; Will 'do well to communicate with the Department of Overseas Trade, which can furnish names of :local agents.

A Fire-engine or a Trailer Pump?

A Movement is on foot to provide a motor fire-engine for the Ripon district, which at present depends upon a steam fire-engine, drawn by horses. A joint committee of the Ripen City and the Ripon and Wath Rural District Councils has gone very carefully into the whole question, and recommends the purchase of a modern fire-fighting machine at a , cost of £1,250. The city council, which discussed the matter subsequent to the proposal, is somewhat divided, however, at the moment, and an alternative suggestion is to the effect that a motor trailer, at half the cost, would be sufficient to meet-the needs.

Tractors for Mahogany Hauling.

Owing to the fact that British Honduras, has been exploited for more than 200 years by mahogany lumberer's, this valuable wood is becoming more and more difficult to obtain. To overcome the handicap of inaccessibility the largest mehoganky contractor in the colony has invested £20,000 in tractors during the present season. Although this contractor is operating more than 70 miles from Belsize lie hopes, with the aid of 70 tractors, to haul 5,000,000 ft. broad measure of mahogany to be ship-pad this year. Two other companies are using tractors in a similar way, and :an unofficial estimate puts down the number of tractors imported during the past 12 months at 75, machines.

New Midland Passenger Vehicles.

It was a remarkable sight to see the coaches and buses owned by the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co. leaving Birmingham during the August Bank.Holiday for seaside resorts and other distant places, such as Blackpool, Rhyl, Llamludno Weston-superMare andsTorquay. Among the vehicles were to be seen,a number of new coaches and saloon buses of a lnxurious type equipped with giant pneumatic tyres. These vehicles do not run on the echedufed routes yet, being so far used almost entirely for special hire work. The company favour the Tilling-Stevens chassis for passenger work, and the chassis of the new vehicles are of the company's well-known gear-driven

model. Nothing that, would add to the comfort of the passenger has been overlooked iii the design of the new vehicles, which give an increased seating accommodation per vehicle.

Parking at Burnham.

In view of the recent police prosecutions against drivers for obstructing the highway, the Burnham-on-Sea Urban District Council has now decided to permit certain less-frequented streets to be used for parking motor vehicles without any risk of prosecution for obstruction.

London's Congested Traffic Centres: Southwark Borough' Council has received a letter from the Ministry of Transport acknowledging the request of the council that a deputation should be received upon the question of traffic congestion at the Elephant and Castle headway, and stating that the divisional road engineer, London Division, had been asked to confer with the borough council on the question of improving the roads in the vicinity. When the report at the divisional road engineer has been re• calved the question of the attendance of a deputation from the council will be further considered.

Hiring by Time.

At a meeting of the. Blackpool Watch Committee ' correspondence with the Ministry of Health, with reference to the proposed alterations in the hackney carriage by-laws, was read, and the committee decided to adhere to its decision With reference to the fares by time for motor hackney carriages, but, in view of the :Ministry's letter, it will be prepared to revise the time fares should experience sthow this to be desirable.

The Value of the Motor Ambulance.

The value of the motor ambulance for country districts was emphasized at the annual meeting of the Consett and District Motor Ambulance Association, when it was stated that 'during the year its vehicle had made 289 journeys and covered 6,315 miles in conveying to hospita15 312 patients. Its utility for reaching street and other accidents 'was commented upon.

Personal Pars.

Mr. T. W. Victor Rowe, of the Garford Motor Truck Co., of Long Island City, New York, informs us that he is shortly starting from San Francisco on a five-year world tour in connection with the sale a commercial vehicles.

Mr. A. H. Jackson has resigned his position as traction representative to the English Electric Co., Ltd., on being appointed sales manager of the electric traction department of the General Electric Co., Ltd., Magnet House, Kingsway.

Mr, Jackson, who was formerly traction representative to the British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co. and who received his technical training at. the City and Guilds of London Technical College, Finsbury, under the late Professor Silvanus P. Thompson, has had a wide and specialized 'experience in all branches of electric traction work, having been identified during the past 22 years with the Brush Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd., the London . Underground Railways, the British Electric Traction Co., Ltd., the London County Council Tramways, the British Westinghouse Electric 'and Manufactering Co Ltd., and the English

Electric Co.

Congestion in Lancaster.

Lancaster Corporation tramways committee has considered reports of the congestion of traffic in Cheapside caused by heavy through traffic travelling by that route -instead of by Thurnham Street and Stonewall, and called the attention of the watch committee to the seriouscongestion -in Penny Street and Cheapside and asked it to take all possible steps to relieve the existing state of affairs.

A Brampton Chain Number.

Brampton Brothers, Ltd., of Oliver Street, Birmingham, point out that in their list of chains for ,commercial vehicles, which is now in extensive circulation, the Brampton chain number for the Mack five-ton lorry should read E. 3213, and not E. 32 as stated.

West Sussex County Council is considering if anything can be done to pre, vent the custom of trailing paper streamers from chars-a-basses.

The Transport of Fruit.

This is the season of the year when fruit growers are extensive motor hirers. h is a seasonal trade, and between the various fruit-growing areas and the markets there are very constant road transport services. Much of this traffic now comes by road because of the fragility of the frpit and the perishable nature of the load, and the distributive services from the markets to the :shops are almost entirely sustained by motors owned by retail fruiterers.

i

There s, however, another aspect of .fruit transport which is in evidence practically all the year round, namely, the distribution of apples, oranges, pears, grape's, bananas, etc., which come from overseas.

Fruit-carrying steamers are regular arrivals at our shipping ports, and loads are conveyed by motor to towns, many miles inland. Sometimes a cargo will

be disposed of by auction at the Port of landing, but in other cases arrivals may be forwarded•direct to wholesalers.

Our illustration shows a typical load of bananas from the Canary Islands in transit from the Liverpool Docks to Manchester. The 4-ton Karrier machine is carrying a load of 126 crates, whilst the trailer is carrying 82 crates. The owners of the vehicle and: load are Messrs. Lea and Sons, of Rusholme.

Nottingham Motorbus Developments.

Amplifying a recent welcome develop,ment of its enterprise in instituting a service of well-equipped Dennis motorbuses to cater for the needs of the .residents of Beeston, Nottingham Corporation has now turned its attention to

Hucknall Torkard, one of the oldest oentres of colliery• enterprise in Midland areas. The corporation has Provided a similar means of communication between the city and this historic township.

The only criticism which has been ESO far forthcoming in relation to the new venture of the municipal authorities is that the tramway& committee of the corporation has riot brought into use

double-deck buses.

Tramcar Depot as Bus Garage.

The South Wales Transport Co., of • Swansea, have arranged to garage buses used on the Neath and eastern area services at the old tramway depot of the Neath Town Council, on payment of an annual rental of £200 to the council.

At. present the company's vehicles run from Swansea before setting out on the daily service, and it is hoped to effect improvements in the service by the centralization of the vehicles at, the Neath garage.

Retaining a Fire Brigade for £50.

Blackpool Watch Committee has agreed to offer the services of the borough fire brigade to the Thornton Urban District Council, subject to the payment of a fee of £50 per annum.

Change of Address.

The Lancashire Trading Co., of Liverpool, inform us that owing to increasing business requirements they have taken new offices and works at 1-3, Bridge Road, Seaforth, whilst they have also erected a new garage at Holmes Lane, Litherland Rom, near the city.

Local Proceedings,

Southhoro' Urban District Council has purchased a motor lorry.

Haslirigden Town Council has rece sanction to a loan of •21,0130 for the purchase of a tipping wagon.

Thornton Urban District Council is considering the provision' of a motor ambulance.

The Haverfordwest Borough Council is to levy a toll on motor and horse vehicles parked during the night at Jubilee Park.

The Bournemouth Corporation has accepted a tender of £330 for an ambulance on a Ford chassis.

Sydney Municipal Council, New South Wales, is purchasing Ford lorries for the electricity department.:

The Bridgend Urban District Council has accepted the tender of Leyland Motors, Ltd.; for a motor fire-engine at £1,525, .

It was stated at a meeting of the Llanelly Borough Council that the management committee of the -local hospital intends to purchase a new,motor ambulance. • The Port Talbot Town Council has adopted a recommendation that modern equipment should be obtained for the fire brigade in all its departments, including the provision of a motor engine.

West Ham Corporation has decided to purchase a motor fire-engine at a cost of £1,660, an emergency motor chassis at a cost of £500, and turntable water-tower appliances.

_The Health Committee of St. Helens . Town Council has resolved that a joint committee of health and horses and motor committees should be formed to go into the whole question of the collection arid disposal of house refuse.

Leeds Watch Committee suggests that as an experiment the improvements committee Should provide accommodation for the parking of motor vehicles on a. portion of the vacant land in Cookridge Street.

Leeds Watch Committee has decided • that in connection with the licensing of mechanically driven hackney carriages the chief constable be authorized, in suitable cases, not to enforce tharequirement for the provision of accommodation for luggage on the front of the vehicle.

Kendal Corporation CleanSing Committee is asking the council to rescind the resolution authorizing the committee to purchase a two-ton lorry at a maximum price of £735 and to purchase a one-ton .Ford motor lorry from Messrs. Atkinson and Griffin at the price ol £180 14s.