WHEELS of INDUSTRY
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"The 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.
A RECORD SUGAR-BEET SEASON.
It is of interest to note that the 1933-34 beet-sugar campaign recently closed constitutes a record as regards acreage, yield and total deliveries of beet, as well as in the production of sugar and molasses. The actual figures are as follow, the data relating to the previous campaign being given in parentheses : —Area under beet, 366,000 acres (255,648); quantity of beet delivered, 3,306,000 tons (2,232,061); yield of beet per acre, 9.0 tons (8.7) ; sugar produced, 9,262,000 cwt.
(6,606,490) ; molasses produced, 2,552,000 cwt. (1,568,828).
• The actual sugar content of the beet was slightly less than the previous campaign, being 16.4 per cent., as against 16.9 per cent.
Vauxhall's Good Report.
The report of Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., for 1933 shows. a trading profit of £872,749, and after deducting depreciation, maintenance, debenture interest, etc., there is a net profit of £461,427, the balance available after deducting the deficit brought forward being £192,431.
It is proposed to pay the arrears of preference dividend (less tax) from October 1, 1928, to September 30, 1933, which will account for £67,500 and the half-year's preference dividend (less tax) to March 31, 1934, absorbing £6.750, and to carry forward the balance of £118,181.
An Uninsured Vehicle on a Private Road.
A curious case arose at Dornoch Sheriff Court last week, when Mr. A. M. Sutherland, a road contractor, was charged with allowing an uninsured lorry to he driven on a road. The defendant stated that the road was not a public highway until he had finished work upon it. It was closed to all traffic. The lorry did not, he argued, require even a Road Fund licence.
The Sheriff (Sheriff Forbes) said it was a curious state of affairs that Mr. Sutherland's vehicle did not need a Road Fund licence and yet required an insurance certificate. The principle was one calling for inquiry. He dismissed the defendant with an admonition.
Purchase Price of Carter, Paterson and Pickfords.
At the recent annual general meeting of the Southern Railway Co., Mr. Gerald W. E. Loder, who occupied the chair, mentioned that the cost to each of the four railway companies concerned in the acquisition of the businesses of Carter, Paterson and Co., Ltd.. and Pickfords, Ltd., and their subsidiaries was 2545,000, the companies having purchased, in equal proportions, the whole of the ordinary share capital and practically all the preference shares of these concerns.
The railway companies believe -that the acquisition of these businesses will be a great advantage from the traffic point of view and will lead to coasiderable economies in cartage expenses.
BRITISH OIL ENGINES IN SOVIET TRIALS.
It is reported that 19 different types of oil engine have been entered for the trials of such power units, mounted in Russian-built chassis, which are to be held by the Soviet Government during May next. It is also stated that six of the engines are British, seven German, two Hungarian, two American, one Italian and ORC Swedish.
Road Fund Accounts.
An abstract account of the receiptsinto and payments out of the Road Fund in the year ended March 31, 1933, has recently been issued by His Majesty's Stationery Office, price 2d. Of the total receipts, £22,910,000 was in respect of duties for motor vehicles, etc. The payments out of the Fund totalled £24,394,659, being £1,244,967 in excess of the receipts.
Under the heading of payments, £7,935,823 represented grants in connection with the maintenance and minor improvement of Class I and II roads and bridges, whilst £2,062,808 comprised grants for major improvements and other road purposes. Special road programmes for the relief of unemployment—works carried out by local authorities. — accounted for £4,928,204.
The balance-sheet shows that the deficit of the Road Fund at March 31, 1933, was £6,825,233. NEW HEAVY-DUTY VULCAN.
The Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co. (1906), Ltd., Crossens, Southport, announces that it is proposing to market a heavy-duty 5-tonner, for which the company's guarantee will be valid for pay-loads up to 6 tons. The unladen weight for licensing will be less than 4 tons.
The company has already delivered a fleet of lorries guaranteed for a 6-ton pay-load, but the final specification cannot yet be published. It is understood that a most satisfactory performance has been obtained.
Continuous Traffic Lights in London.
Within the next week or two it is likely that traffic signals in the London area will be in operation for 24 hours per day. Representations on the matter have recently been made to the Ministry of Transport, when the desirability of securing uniformity of practice was stressed, it being pointed out that accidents had been attributed to the fact that signals at some busy points have not been worked after midnight.
An Attractive Mobile Showroom.
A striking travelling showroom, of which an illustration appears on this page, has recently been supplied by Commer Cars, Ltd., Luton, to George Bassett and Co., Ltd., the well-known confectionery maker of Sheffield. The van has five large windows, two at. each side and one at the rear, each heing 3 ft. 4 ins. by 2 ft. 6 ins., and enabling an effective display to be presented. The entrance to the interior is via folding doors in the centre of the near side.
Around three sides of the interior are fixtures for the display of stock, whilst there are two additional fixtures in the front section. A comfortable seat is provided for customers, and for the use of the travelling representative there is a folding seat and a desk behind the bulkhead, whilst lockers are also provided for accommodating stationery and advertising matter. The clerestory roof provides ample head room. The floor area measures 12 ft. by 4 ft.
The body was built by Messrs. Samuel Wilson and Sons.
Fordson Tractor Prices Down.
The Ford Motor Co., Ltd., announces that the prices of Fordson tractors made at Dagenham have been reduced
by from £6 to R40. The agricultural model with cleats, now sells at £150, and the industrial Fordson With twin pneumatic-tyred wheels at the rear at
Buses Wanted in Egypt.
His Majesty's Consul-General at Alexandria reports that the Ramleh Electric Railway is calling for tenders, which have to be presented in Egypt by April 20, 1934, for the supply of 10 30-36-seater buses. Those concerns in a position to offer vehicles of United Kingdom manufacture may obtain further details from the Department of Overseas Trade, 35, Old Queen Street, London, S.W.1. The reference GY13542 should be quoted when making application. PERSONAL PARS.
Mr. A. Terence Maxwell, a partner in Glyn Mills and Co., has been appointed a director of Vickers, Ltd.
Mr. C. B. Nixon, deputy managing director of Leyland Motors, Ltd., is shortly leaving England on a tour of the Near East, with particular interest in the Egyptian market.
Mr. F. G. McKim, a director of Citroen Cars, Ltd., who left in November last to make a rapid survey of the Australian market and to discuss sales with prominent distributors, has now returned to London.
Mr. H. Pell Thompson, managing director of Sternol, Ltd., has, for the sixth year in succession, been elected to the Grand Council and Executive Committee of the Federation of British Industries, on which he will represent British oil manufacturers.
Mr. F. Highfield, of Liverpool, who has had many years' association with the motor industry, has recently joined the sales staff of E. R. Foden and Son, Sun Works, Sandbach, as a representative for the sale of E.R.F. oil-engined lorries in the Midlands and the north.
Mr. W. E. Brown, a director of Duple Bodies and Motors, Ltd., is at present on a trade and pleasure cruise to the Near East, and has called on coach and bus operators in Athens, Alexandria, Cairo, Syria, Palestine, Cyprus, Morocco, etc. Mr. Brown is making a study of the requirements of these particular markets, and is expected back in England at the end of this month.
Mr. W. J. Bancroft has been awarded the gold medal for the highest percentage of marks gained in the 1933 examinations of the Institute of the Motor Trade. He is a Student of the Automobile Engineering Training College (correspondence course section), of Chelsea, London. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that 89 students of the college passed the I.M.T. examination held in November last.
In view of the world attention being paid to the development of the internal-combustion-engined railcar, it is interesting to learn that Mr. S. Markland, the research engineer of Leyland Motors, Ltd., who has taken a large share in perfecting the torque converter for the railcar and for bus work, recently sailed for Australia and New Zealand. Through the company's branch managers, his services and technical knowledge will be at the disposal of railway officials.
Mr. Markland has had a long association with the Leyland concern and, apart from his experience in railcar development, he has a wide knowledge of the commercial-vehicle field and, in particular, of the oil engine. RAILWAY ROAD-MOTOR SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS.
In connection with its policy of establishing country lorry services, the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co. has now in operation a specialized system of local distribution in North Wales. A chain of centralized depots has been completed at key points on the railway, stretching from Chester into Anglesey and Carnarvonshire.
Warehouse accommodation has been provided at Holywell, Llandudno, Llangefni, Rhyl, Abergele, Bangor, Carnarvon, Denbigh and Ruthiu. A fleet of motors penetrates from each of these depots into the surrounding country up to a radius of 10 miles, thus serving many small villages and isolated farms. Goods can be booked to the nearest railhead for immediate delivery therefrom by road motor. The scheme has been a means for attracting much business to the railway, especially in such commodities as cattle food, grain, flour, cement, etc. The motors are also available for collecting produce or other merchandise for dispatch by rail.
Advice on Applications for Class A and B Licences.
'Members and prospective members of the Alliance of Owner Drivers, Room 328, Coastal Chambers, 172, Buckingham Palace Road, London, S.W.1, may obtain assistance and advice in the completion of applications for Class A and B licences. Those who are able to do so should call in person, bringing the necessary forms with them. Captain E. H. B. Palmer, honorary organizing secretary, is in attendance daily between 10 a.m. and noon.
Brown Brothers' Trading Results.
The report of Brown Brothers. Ltd., for the year ended January 16, 1934, shows a net profit of £71,141, the amount available for disposal being £112,579, after adding the balance brought forward. The dividend on the 7* per cent. cumulative preference shares absorbs £12,656, whilst the payment of a final dividend of 7* per cent. on the ordinary shares, making 10 fier cent, for the year, takes £28,125, in each case after deducting income tax. After dedupting £20,000 transferred to the reserve, bringing it up to £210,000, and £5,000 allocated to the reserve for staff past-service pensions, a sum of £46,798 remains to be carried forward.
Bodybuilder Experiences Price-cutting.
The staff of Short Brothers (Rochester and Bedford), Ltd., recently held its annual dinner in London, when 125 members were present. Mr. H. 0. Short, in replying to the toast of "The Firm," proposed by Mr. A. Gouge (general manager), said that the works were busier now than they had been for some considerable time, and he believed that these activities would continue and, in all probability, increase in the future.
Referring to the coachbuilding side, he said that the past year had been a difficult one and that the severe price B20 competition experienced had, on some occasions, compelled the company to refuse orders. This state of affairs had, however, improved.
Speaking of the work of the Air Ministry officials attached to the company, Mr. Short paid tribute to Mr. P. H. Harrower, chief A.I.D. inspector, and Mr. J. A. C. Manson, resident technical officer.
Sales Opportunity in Berkshire.
A leading British commercial-vehicle maker requires a sales representative for Berkshire and the surrounding territory. He must reside in the area and have had commercial-vehicle sales experience. Letters addressed "Berkshire,' care of the Editor, will be forwarded.
Trent Motor Traction Report.
The report oP the Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd., for 1933 shows a net profit of £28,923. Thei general reserve receives £5,000 and a dividend of 10 per cent. is, to be paid for the year, leaving 416,418 to be carried forward, as against £19,295 brought into the accounts. During the year the total , revenue amounted to £394,655;,.as compared with £406,107 for 1932.
Transport Meeting at Morris House, Acton.
We have been asked by Stewart and Ardern, Ltd., to announce-that a meeting of the utmost importance to transport owners and users will be held at 7.30 p.m., on Wednesday, March 21, at the showrooms of Stewart and Ardern, Ltd. (Morris-Commercial distributor for the Metropolis), Morris House, The Vale, Acton, London, W.3. Mr. F. G. Bristow, C.B.E., will explain the provisions of the Road and Rail Traffic Act and answer questions concerning different aspects of it.
Rontes' Forthcoming Show.
The 14th annual motor show organized by Rootes, Ltd., will he held from March 19-24 at the company's works at Maidstone. A comprehensive selection of vehicles will be on view, and on the commercial side there will be an attractive display of Commer vehicles, ranging from the 8-cwt. van to the 4-tonner. Normal and forward' control models will be on view, together with the latest oil-engined types. Incidentally, it can be mentioned that all the Commer vehicles of 15-cwt. carrying capacity upwards can now be supplied with compression ignition power units.
East Lancs. R.H.A. Chairman Re-elected.
Mr. J. Demaine (Bolton) was reelected chairman at the first annual meeting of the East Lancashire Section of the Road Haulage Association, held at Manchester. During the past year 200 members have been enrolled, and it is hoped to double this figure within the next 12 months. Mr. B. Winterbottom was elected secretary in succession to Mr. Hindley. NORTHAMPTON R.H.A.
. FORMS RATES COMMITTEE.
Haulage rates were again considered by the Northamptonshire branch of the Road Haulage Association at a meeting at Wellingborough, on March 9. Two sub-committees were appointed in that connection—one to deal with long-distance haulage and the other short-distance haulage.
These were as follow :—Long-distance: Messrs. H. G. Harrison, A. Valentine, 0. Goodey, R. Paragreen, S. Owen, H. Dunnett, Messrs. Peck and Lack Bros. Short-distance: Messrs. S. Challis, W. G. Eales, A. E. Craddock, L. Riches, H. Bilson, W. Coe, M. Garner, R. Boswell, and Wardle.
Mr. B. J. Bagshaw, chairman, who presided, said that of the 7,500 haulage contractors in the country nearly 4,000 were members of the Association, Yorkshire Association Chairman for R.H.A.
Mr. A. H. Buttenvick has resigned from the position of chairman of the Yorkshire Motor Coach and Transport Owners' Association, having accepted office as chairman of the Leeds subcommittee of the Road Haulage Association. Mr. Butterwick has been chairman of the Y.M.C.O. since its formation about three years ago, but he pointed out to our correspondent that his business is solely haulage.
Receiver Appointed for Strachens.
We are advised that Mr. H Tansley Witt, F.C.A., has been appointed receiver and manager of Strachans (Acton), Ltd., and that at present he is carrying on the business as a going concern. On March 5, Mr. R. W. Frost, formerly works manager, was appointed general manager.
New Laystall Spring-repair Works.
The Layst all Motor Engineering Works, Ltd., which has its headquarters at Ewer Street, Southwark, London, S.E.1, has opened another works in Gravel Lane, S.E.1, this being devoted entirely to spring repairs. It was only last year that the company entered this field, and it is significant to note the rapidity with which this new department has developed.
The New Act: Birmingham Meeting.
A special meeting has been arranged by the West Midland Division of the Corarnercial Motor Users Association, in con unction with the Colmore Depot, to take place on March 20, at 7.30 p.m., at the Colmore Depot Service Works, Cherrywood Road, Bordesley Green, Birmingham, when the effects of the Road and Rail Traffic Act upon the transport user will be explained. The speaker will be Mr. F. G. Bristow, C.B.F,., general secretary of the C.M.U.A., and the chair will be taken by Mr. F. N. Macadam, A.M.I.A.E. Admission to the meeting is by invitation, which may he obtained by applying to the Colmore Depot, 83, Station Street, Birmingham.