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WHEELS of INDUSTRY 4, The wheels of wealth will be

slowed by all difficulties of transport, at whatever points arising, as a carnage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs"—John Beattie Crozier.

RAILWAY OFFICIALS EXAMINING DRIVERS' RECORDS?

A remarkable story was told by Mr. Alexander Fallon, of Penzance, when presiding at an open meeting of Cornish hauliers, at Camborne, on Monday. Warning all hauliers to be on their guard against showing their daily records to any but authorized persons wearing badges, Mr. Fallon said he had been told that a lorry driver had recently been stopped by an official person who demanded to see his records. The driver obeyed. The records were carefully examined and full details copied by the stranger in a notebook which bore the initial letters of a railway company's title.

Mr. George A. Hotter, national organizing officer of the Road Haulage Association, said it was his firm belief that railway companies had been making objections merely to obtain records.

Conflicting Evidence on Appeal.

The hearing of the appeal of Mr. j. Charman, against the Metropolitan Licensing Authority's refusal of a B licence for one vehicle, and against conditions attached to a B licence for another vehicle, was continued at a sitting of the Appeal Tribunal, in London, on Friday last. Some confusion as to the correct titles of certain brick concerns provided conflicting evidence and Mr. R. A. Matthews, one of the objectors, stated that he had carried for the Auclaye Brick and Tile Co., Ltd., but not for the Auclaye Brickfields.

The manager of the Auclaye Brick and Tile Co., Ltd., stated, however, that Mr. Matthews had not been employed by that concern. On behalf of the appellant it was said that the Licensing Authority had not had this evidence placed before him, and it pointed to the fact that Mr. Charman had not taken this business from Mr. Matthews.

Regarding the centre from which Mr. Charman was permitted to operate, the appellant wished to alter this from Dorking to Forest Green. Mr. K. Greer Jackson (for Mr. Matthews) said that on this point there was no case for the appeal, as application for the alteration should have been made to the Licensing Authority.

Guy Capital Reduction Scheme.

A practical scheme for the writing down of share capital and the reduction of the bank debt, which, together, amount to approximately £474,000, may enable the adverse balance of Guy Motors, Ltd., to be eliminated and leave 4137,000 for the reduction of the book value of certain assets, thus permitting dividend payments out of any profit available later.

It is proposed to reduce the £1 preference shares to Ss., and the 10s. ordinary shares to Is. The unissued shares will be subdivided accordingly. To provide working capital, 1,000,000 one-shilling ordinary shares will be issued.

Co-operative Agreement on Wages.

The agreement between the unions and the National Wages Board, which provides, among other points, for a minimum wage of 60s. for motor drivers, and two years' apprenticeship for all drivers, has been generally approved by the joint conference of the Scottish co-operative societies.

Changing Vehicles Without Consent.

A warning against the changing of goods vehicles without the consent of the Licensing Authority was recently given by the Yorkshire Licensing Authority (Mr. Joseph Ferndale) at Leeds. A Hull haulier admitted having done this, and Mr. Ferndale remarked to Mr. F. H. Whitaker (representing. the Commercial Motor Users Association) : "The officers of your Association must make it clear to these people that they cannot do this." LONDON FIRE BRIGADE TO BE REORGANIZED.

On Tuesday last, the London County Council approved recommendations of the fire brigade and main drainage committee for the reorganization of London's fire brigade. It is proposed that, as escape vans become obsolete, they shall be replaced by dual-purpose appliances, consisting of escape vans with 500-gallon pumps. Instead of the 130 pumps and escape vans now in use. there will be 112 appliances, all equipped with pumps, 58 carrying 50-ft. escapes and the remainder 40-ft. extension ladders.

Last-minute Conciliation Meeting.

An illustration of the importance attached by the enttployers' panel of the Yorkshire Area Conciliation Board to the amendment of the report of the National Joint Conciliation Board is the fact that it held a Sunday meeting last week-end, in Leeds.

It is understood that the purpose of the meeting was to give final consideration to the observations of the panel on the recommendations of the National Board, these observations being due for submission by Monday last. Discussion also took place with reference to the meeting, in London, on Tuesday last, between the chairmen of the various employers' panels of the Area Boards and the members of the employers' panel of the National Board.

Oil from Coal Progress.

Extensions to what is claimed to be the world's largest low-temperature plant for producing petrol, fuel oil and smokeless fuel from coal are to be officially opened by Mr. Ernest Brown, Secretary for Mines, at Askem, near Doncaster, on December 19. The seventh and eighth batteries of retorts now being completed will constitute an addition to the works of 72 retorts. The extensions will, it is said, increase the Askern output by 33* per cent. BIG RATES MEETING.

"I have never before seen such a large gathering at a first meeting," said Mr. C. W. Morton, former secretary of Leeds, Bradford and Halifax Rates Tribunal, speaking at the first meeting of the Doncaster Tribunal, on Tuesday evening. Over 750 rates had. been stabilized in the Bradford area and it was hoped that 250 could be similarly treated in the Doncaster district.. Unity was the only salvation of the industry and service was to be the haulier's main asset in the future.

Mr. H. W. Burrill, a member of the North-western Area Conciliation Board, said that anybody who thought that the task of fixing rates was easy had only to consider that the railways had not, after 100 years, definitely arrived at a solution of the rates problem.

• Mr. J. Gornersall, secretary of the Halifax Tribunal, also addressed the meeting.

Road-accident Returns.

The Ministry of Transport returns of persons killed • or injured in road accidents during the week ended December 1, 1934, show that in England 95 persons were killed and 3,552 injured, whilst 29 died as a result of previous accidents. The figures for Scotland were nine killed and 386 injured, and for Wales three killed and 135 injured.

More Applications for Transfer of Irish Hauliers' Licences.

It was officially announced, last week, that the Great Southern Railways, Ireland, have applied to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce for the compulsory transfer of the Leix and other Midland haulage services owned by Mr. J. Fitzpatrick, Xountmellick, and the service operated by Mr. J. Pratt, Portarlington. The Great Northern Railway has applied for the transfer of the services operated by Mr. T. Cooney, Drogheda.

Extra Vehicles for L.E.P.

Described as the largest organization of shipping and forwarding agents in Europe, L.E.P. Transport and Depository, Ltd., successfully applied to the Yorkshire Licensing Authority, on Monday, for A licences for additional vehicles. The full application was in respect of 20 vehicles of a total claimed tonnage of over 48 and four additional vehicles and a trailer (14 tons).

In addition to its head office in London, the company has 18 branches in this country, and on the Continent it controls several subsidiary concerns with 284 branches. The Goole branch --in connection with which the application was made—was the base for the area from the Midlands to Newcastle.

It was stated that in the year beginning November 1, 1933, the Goole branch handled 6.237 tons for export and 5,657 tons for import, and the Hull branch handled 6,284 tons for export and 3.507 tons for import. In addition, 44,000 tons of strawboards were dealt with at Goole, These were bet

ter figures than for the previous year, and further improvement was expected.

The difference between the rates which the company charged its clients for haulage and those paid to hauliers employed by the concern was 10 per cent.

Manufacturers Visit Accles and Pollock Works.

On Friday last about 40 representatives of private and commercialvehicle manufacturers visited the Oldbury works of Accles and Pollock, Ltd. The party was conducted through the concern's three factories, which include the metal-sections department, the works of Pel, Ltd., maker of tubular furniture, and the seamless steel-tube mill.

The patent rolling plant in the metalsections department was a source of great interest, and hundreds of different designs of metal section were in

spected. This plant is busy on the•production of sections for coach and

bus bodies and for many other purposes. Exhibits of framework for single and, double-deck bodies were inspected.

The party was entertained to luncheon by Major Scott and Mr. Walter Hackett, Junr., managing directors. PERSONAL PARS.

Mr. A. B. Fuller, who for many years has been the chief inspector of Doncaster's municipal-transport undertaking, has resigned owing to ill-health.

Mr. H. C. Manley, works superintendent of the Bourneznouth municipal passenger-transport undertaking, has resigned his position to take up another appointment.

Mr. Percy Lister, who, for the past 10 years has acted as managing director of R. A. Lister and Co., Ltd., has been appointed chairman of the company, in succession to the late Mr. Austin Lister, who died in October. He joined the company nearly 16 years ago, and has travelled extensively in its interests, both at home and overseas.

Recognition of 40 years of service with Glasgow Corporation transport department was made last week to 18 employees, each of whom received a specially struck medal, a certificate and 42 in cash. Among the recipients were three of the principal officials of the department, Mr. Lachlan Mackinnon, general manager; Mr. Wilson, deputy manager; and Mr. Smith, traffic manager.

Mr. J. M. Armel, manager of the Birkenhead works of the Vacuum Oil Co., Ltd., has retired after. 28 years' service in that capacity. He saw the beginning of what is now claimed to be the biggest grease-making plant in Europe. He is being succeeded by Mr. W. S. Church, who for many years has been assistant manager.

Mr. Alfred Marsden, one of the company's Glasgow representatives, who completed 45 years' service in February last, has also retired.

Captain D. I. Sandelson, 0.B.E., who is solicitor and legal adviser to the North-Eastern Division of the Commercial Motor Users Association, received many congratulations on his excellent speech on the subject of operators' licensing difficulties, which he delivered at the National Road Transport Conference at Harrogate.

In 1916 he was sent by the War Office to establish the organization for the recruitment of Chinese coolies for the Labour Corps in France, later serving as legal and financial adviser to the British Military Expedition to Siberia under General Sir Alfred Knox, K.C.B. He is a partner in the firm of Carr, Sanclelson and Co., a well-known concern of commercial lawyers in Leeds, and several solicitors work under him in legal duties for the road-transport industey. .

Unlicensed Lorry: First South Wales Prosecution.

The South Wales Licensing Authority's first prosecution for the use of an unlicensed lorry resulted, at Swansea, in Sennybridge Transport Co., Ltd., being fined E5 and ordered to pay £4 3s. costs.

MORE DRIVERS' HOURS VARIATION APPLICATIONS.

• The Minister of Transport has received an application from the Sausage Manufacturers Association for a variation of the drivers' hours of working, as laid down in Section 19 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, as amended by Section 31 of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933., The variation applied for is that the period of 11 hours laid down in Section 19 may be increased

to 14 hours during the period from December 17-24, excluding Sunday, December 23. The matter has been referred to the Industrial Court, which will hear parties to the application on December 17, at 10.30 a.m., at 5, Old Palace Yard, London, S.W.1.

The Manchester, Salford and District Grocers Association has also made a similar application to the Minister, but in this case permission is sought to increase the number of hours to 16 during the Christmas period. This application is also being heard by the Industrial Court at the same time as that of the other association referred to above.

Bouts-Tillotson Licences Refused.

The hearing of the application of Bouts-Tillotson Transport, Ltd., in respect of five vehicles, was concluded on Monday last. Mr. J. H. Stirk. the East Midland Licensing Authority, said that so far as the three discretionary

vehicles were concerned, the application would be refused. With regard to two other vehicles for which claims were made, he would take legal advice, because it was a matter of company law and not of the 1933 Act.

In announcing his decision, Mr. Stirk criticized the concern, and said c22 that, so far as drivers' hours were concerned, he believed the evidence given on behalf of the objectors.

Plan to Merge Transport Unions.

The Commercial Motor understands that renewed efforts are being made by the National Union of Railwaymen to form one great trade union for workers in all sections of the transport industry. Last week a farreaching plan to gain this end was submitted to many trade-union executives. It is proposed to form 18 national group committees, with area sub-committees to represent the various sections of transport

A Compendium of Value to All in the Road-transport Industry.

We are publishing in this and our next issue, The Commercial Motor Specifications of Chassis. These comprise 15 Tables, which are grouped in two sections. The first contains all the most usually required information about the internal-combustion-engined goods and passenger vehicles, now on the British market, whilst the second —to appear next week—will deal with steam vehicles, steam and internalcombustion tractors, three-wheeled vehicles, industrial trucks, 'batteryelectric machines, trolleybuses. motor fire pumps, trailers and semi-trailers. Unique in respect Of the numbers of makes of machine, and the variety of types included, these tables have been compiled with the thought in mind that too great a wealth of detail information would detract from their value as a handy reference. In the form in which they are presented, therefore, the information required can readily be extracted. R.H.A. TO APPEAL AGAINST GRANTS TO G.W.R.

Mr. Humphrey Cooke, Devon and Cornwall Area secretary of the Road Haulage Association, announced at a meeting last week that the R.H.A. had decided to appeal against decisions of the Western Licensing Authority in respect of applications by the Great Western Railway Co. for licences for vehicles in areas embracing Bristol and the remainder of the line to Penzance.

The event of the evening was an authoritative address by Mr. E. F. Packer, clerk to the Western Licensing Authority, on the administration of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 103, which is summarized elsewhere in this issue.

A New. Road-users Organization.

A new organization, established in the interests of road users, was recently formed at Cardiff, under the title of the Motorists Protection Association. Mr. J. W. Elliott-Garwood is the honorary secretary, and it is the intention to set up branches in different parts of the country with a national executive council operating in London.

Railway Lorry Services in Outlying Districts.

An insight into railway plans for the use of motor vehicles to speed up goods services was afforded at a sitting of thelYorkshire Licensing Authority, on Tuesday :s when the London and North

Eastern Railway Co., applied for licences for lorries at some 70 bases.

It was stated that the vehicles were to be used almost entirely for railborne traffic. The company were opening up lorry services in many outlying districts, taking all . goods to a railway base, so as to give the districts the benefits of main-line facilities.

The applications covered claimed tonnage and additional vehicles and trailers. In sorne cases the Licensing Authority granted the applications and in others he reserved his decision. '

RAILWAY REPRESENTATIVE REBUKED.

A protest by a barrister appearing for the railway interests brought a sharp 'retort from the Yorkshire Licensing Authority (Mr. Joseph Farndale) last week. It was complained that in some cases evidence had been put to witnesses, and at such a speed that it had been impossible to take note of all the points. After the presentation of one application, the barrister said: " In this particular case we are in a difficulty. " We know the final result; but it is quite impossible for us to follew what -the application really is."

Mr. Farridate: " I understandit. I am in charge of this inquiry, and if the evidence is not brought before me as it should be I will correct it."

fine for 50-yard Run.

The first prosecution he MancheSter for using ,a vehicle under prohibition was heard by the City Stipendiary T. WellesleyOrr) on Friday last, when Mr. Harry Butterworth was fined £1 for the offence and a further 10s. for failing to keep records. The defendant said that he had remedied -the vehicle's defects and, while waiting for the examiner, used it to carry some potatoes from one stall to another in the market, a distance of 56 yards. As to the reccirds, he declared that he had kept a logbook, but had not been asked to produce it.

Old Taxicabs Under Notice.

Owner-drivers of taxicabs in London have been notified that on and after January 1, 1935, all taxicabs which were registered before January 1, 1924, will be deemed to require a special examinatioh. It is stated that the examination will be carried out at the Public Carriage Office at Lambeth, and those vehicles which, by virtue of long service, obsolete design or for other reasons, are found to be unsuitable ifor present-day needs will not be relicensed. The authorities have hitherto regarded -the life of a London cab as about 15 years, so that the new decision shortens the period by five years.

Petrol Company Wins Driver's Hours Case.

A summons against Shell-Mex and D.P., Ltd., alleging the employment of a driver for more than 11 hours in a period. of 24 hours was recently unanimously dismissed by the Narbeth magistrates. The police contended that a driver, who denied "the charge, was employed for 12i hours, excluding meal times.

The driver stated that he commenced work at 7.30 a.m. and finished at 10.30' p.m., during which period he had two hours for dinner and tea and half an hour free during the morning while his vehicle was being inspected. At about 7.30 p.m. he had to take his lorry to a garage for attention, which occupied an hour—another free period.

At 9 p.m. the vehicle became in.volved in a slight' accident and another honesdelay was caused. Moreover, the driver had half an hour " off " in the afternoon while .barrels were being filled with oil. The driver said that he had also rests between journeys and had worked 91 hours during the day.

The prosecution argued that hours of duty commenced at the driver's arrival at the depot in the morning and finished with his departure in the evening, less time for meals, because during that period he was responsible for the lorry. The company refuted this contention, and pointed out that the driver had covered only 52 miles during the day. No-such complaint had ever before been lodged against the concern..

Motors to Reduce Cleansing Costs.

Estimates presented to Northwich Urban District Council show' that the costs of '-the eleansitig dz.partment; at present £2,943 per annum, can be reduced to £2,671 by the use of two

motors. A vehicle is shortly' to undergo trials.

Glasgow '13tis Contract Approved.

At a meeting of Glasgow Corporation's transport committee, on December 7, approval was given to the special sub-committee's-allocation of the contract for 110 oil-engined buses. The, concerns sharing the order were enumerated in last week's issue.

TWO SITTINGS OF THE APPEAL TRIBUNAL.

On. Monday next, at noon, the Appeal Tribunal will sit at King's Buildings, Smith Square, London, S.W,1, to give its decision on the appeal of Mr. J. Charman, of Ockley, Surrey, which is briefly reported elsewhere. The next sitting will be held at the Guildhall, Nottingham, on December 19, at 10.30 a.m., when the appeal of Mr. R. Hughes, of Pickworth, Lincs., against the refusal of an A licence by the East Midland Licensing Authority, will be heard.

New Plant for Leyland Works.

Much new plant has recently been passing into the works of Leyland Motors, Ltd., at Leyland, Lancs. This is particularly the case in connection with the torque-converter shop and the Sheet-metal machine shop, the latter being devoted to the manufacture of the company's steel-framed passenger bodies. So great has been the demand for torque converters that the existing plant, which has only recently been installed, will probably have to be duplicated.

It is believed that, to cope with the extensive programme which the company has planned for 1935, orders for machinery of a value in excess of £4,000 have been placed.