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Answers to Queries.

14th September 1916
Page 20
Page 20, 14th September 1916 — Answers to Queries.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Has Employment to Offer to a Wounded Soldier.

[3093] (Flour Miller).—You should address A. Armitage_ Esq., J.P., Chairman, Central Committee for Employment of Wounded Motor Drivtars and Mechanics, 83, Pall Mall, London, S.W.

Inclusive Working Costs: Paraffin Carburetters.

[3094] (Furnishing).—We have mailed one of our pre-war standard working costs sheets. We must point out that these costs are not applicable to present-day conditions. There are so many abnormalities that the average working costs have gone up by anything in the vicinity of 30 per cent. You should find the Smith-King paraffin carburetter a simple proposition. This carburetter is supplied by S. Smith and Son, Ltd., 179-185, }Great Portland Street, W.

Can He Use Headlights?

[3095] (Llanelly).—Yoa cannot use headlights on any motor, vehicle, and the rules about dimming the side lights vary according to the area. In most areas, tissue paper is sufficient, but in other areas an opaque disc, inside each lamp, which must have a face of not more than 6 ins. in diameter, is the rule, with holes of specified size through the disc. We have mailed to you direct a copy of the issue in which we originally dealt with the matter. You had better apply to a local garage for detail assistance.

From Summer Time Back to Greenwich Time.

[3096] (Time Schedule).—The position which will arise in the early hours of the morning of the 1st prox. is certainly less difficult than you appear to imagine. The official instructhsns provide that the change is to take place at 3 a.m. Summer time, or 2 a.m. Greenwich time, on that date. At that hour, all clocks which have not been altered before those who are concerned with them have retired for the night, and certainly all clocks under public Control, on railways, in post offices, etc., will be put back one hour. This alteration does give rise to a repetition of the face time 2-3 a.m. The first period of 2-3 a.m. will be differentiated from the other period of 2-3 a.m.; we shall first have 2-3 a.m. Summer time, and this will be followed by a period of 2-3 a.m. Greenwich time. There is no difficulty as to distinguishing between them.

.Condition of the Permanent Way on Railways.

• [3097] (Season Ticket).—Your view is no doubt a correct one. We have heard opinions expressed which show that a certain amount of uneasiness does exist in the minds of railway engineers concerning the state of the rails. There is a notorious dearth of steel rails, and it is admittedly of the highest importance that those on heavily-used tracks, and above

• all on the fast tracks, should be replaced after a 'definite term of use. We believe that there is an accepted percentage loss in the sectional weight which fixes that normal obligation on a railway company. Steel rails cannot be produced in this country at anything like the rate of demand, and there are, of course, considerable difficulties in the matter of securing freight at reasonable rates to allow of their purchase from America. It does not require an expert eye, on the part of any regular traveller, to realize that track maintenance and renewal have not been undertaken systematically during the past 18 months. We do not suggest that maintenance work has been entirely neglected, or that the difficulties which have arisen could have been surmounted better than they have been. The trouble is likely to become acute, unless a remedy is found in the next few months. Tramway undertakinqs in the country are no doubt feeling the effects of the same shortage.

B31 His Contract for Petrol.

[3098] (Buyer).—We have returned the documents which were covered with your inquiry. We have • carefully considered the position, and are of opinion

that you must fail if you try to establish any claim on the company in respect of a delivery in any month, at contract rates, in excess of 250 gallons. Had you

shown any such excess in any of the earlier months, you might possibly have had some claim, but you are not entitled to convenience yourself now, or to benefit yourself financially, in the circumstances which are disclosed, and under the terms of the contract.

The Drastic Char-a-banes Regulations.

[3099] (South Coast).—We have carefully read your letter. In our opinion, you will be justified in using paraffin, provided it does not flash below 73 degrees ..Fahrenheit (Abel closed test), and does not have a specific gravity of less than 0.800. Ordinary burning oil complies with this specification. We feel that, in the present state of -public opinion, owners of chars-a-banes should bring themselves within one of the three exceptions, -or make arrangements tohire their vehicles to other owners who can do so. Alternatively, the vehicles might be used for other haulage

purposes, until the exigencies of the situation due to the war are made a little clearer. , Contrary to your apparent belief, the matter has received the very closest consideration at our hands, although we cannot pretend that we fully understand all the influences which have been brought to bear -upon the Government. Questions of State compensation can be raised. See, also, the first page of this issue.


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