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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

"The wheeis of wecatig will be slowed by afl difficulties of tratsport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by ghe roughness of the roads over which it rems."—John Beattie Crosier.

Sentinel Profits.

The report of the directors of the Sentinel Waggon Works (1920), Ltd., has now been published, showing that the trading profit for the year ending December 31st last was 166,689 16s. 6d., the amount brought forward from the previous year being £8,680 5s. 6d., making a total of £75,370 2s.

The amount written off for depreciation.is £17,877 17s., whilst the directors have arranged to transfer to reserve £15,000, leaving a balance of £42,492 14s. The dividend for the year on the preference shares absorbs £15,000, whilst a supplementary dividend on the same shares (making 81 per cent. per annum) takes, £2,000. A dividend on the ordinary shares at 7i per cent. per annum has been declared, absorbing £15,000, leaving to be carried forward £10,442 14s.

Motor Licences for 1924.

The figures in connection with the taxation of motor vehicles for the year ending November 30th, 1924, reached us about an hour too late to enable us to include them in our last issue, which had just gone to press.

They show that the revenue from motor vehicle licences for the period mentioned was £14,783,745, a substantial increase over the figure for the previous year, whilst, adding miscellaneous receipts, and omitting the licence duty on tramcars, "the total revenue from motor vehicles has reached £15,200,000.

There is obviously an appreciable growth in the numbers of all types of vehicles. Goods vehicles have increased by 28,528 to 209,763. Road locomotives now number 1,992, or an increase of 11, whilst, adding an estimated number to represent the machines not in commission during the last quarter of the year, the total is brought to 2,316. Of road tractors 1,358 were registered,

whilst 48 were not registered in the last quarter of the year. These figures show a total reduction of 56 over the previous year. Hackney carriages registered at the end of the year had increased in number from 78.358 to 83,527, an increase of 5,169. We estimate that the number of hackney carriages not registered in the last miarter of the year 1923 was 7,607, and in the last quarter of the year 1924 11,311, Forthcoming Events.

March 2-15. --The Lyons Fair, Lyons, July 7.11.—R.A.S.E. Show at Chester. Oct. 8.17.—Mobor Show, Olympia. Oat. 29-Nov, 7.—Commercial Motor Exhibition, Olympia.

NOV. (latter part).—Public Works, Roads and Transport Congress and Exhibition, Royal Agricultural Hall, London, Accepting -these figures, the total number of hackney carriages now owned in this country is 94,838.

There has been an increase in the number of exempt vehicles, the number in operation being about 13,250. We also estimate the number of vehicles taxed on a horse-power basis and employed in commercial work at 20,000 and of motorcycles and combinations so employed 6,000. These figures total to 347,573, as representing the commercial motors licensed in the 'United Kingdom.

Dennis Bus Price.

With reference to our recent article, entitled "A Bus Chassis to Meet New Regulations," and which describes' the new Dennis bus on pneumatic tyres, we are informed that the pressed-steel channel-section frame is 7 ins. deep at the deepest part, and not 6 ins, as we said.

We are also informed that the price quoted by us should not have included the lighting set with lamps, dynamo and battery, the extra price for this equipment being 150.

L.G.O.C. Figures for 1924.

The annual report and accounts of the directors of the Loudon General Omnibus Co., Ltd., show that an average of 3,510,338 passengers were carried daily throughout 1924, the total for the year being 1,158,411,377, or an increase in the year of 118,475,655. The number of miles run by the buses on passenger service was 187,050,535, the number of buses in operation having been 4,115, which does not include 550 buses worked by, or in conjunction with, the London .General Omnibus Co., Ltd.

The traffic receipts for the year amounted to £8,398,565, an increase of £743,152. Expenditure, however, rose to £8,053,315, being an increase of £907,733. This brought the net receipts down to 1345,250, or £164,581 less than in the previous year. Miscellaneous receipts, including rents, advertising, interest, etc., showed a slight increase, the figure being 1315,206, making a total net income of £660,456, which is 1145,052 less, than in the previous year. The balance from the last account being added, and interest, rentals and other charges deducted, there is a balance of 1519,572, from 'which 1250,000 is appropriated to reserve for contingencies and renewals, or double the figure that was appropriated a year ago.

The balance available for dividend on ordinary shares is thus £269,572, or 152,686 less than the results for the year 1923. It has been decided to pay a final dividend which will constitute a dividend for the whole year of 6 per cent, free of income tax, A balance of 160,502 is being carried forward. This compares with a dividend of 9 per tent. free of income tax for the year 1923, with a carry-forward of £04,641.

Oil Prospecting in B.W.I. ,

We have just received from Mr. Alexander Duckham, of Alexander Duckham and Co., Ltd., the interesting illustration which we publish on this page, and which shows ancient and modern forms of traction in use in a clearing hi virgin forest in the British West Indies. These two methods of traction, says Mr. Duckham, are generally considered to be the best for haulage purposes, when worked together, in preparing such sites and equipping them for oil drilling.

The bulls are used where trees and other obstacles, such as deep, soft mud, debar the use of tractors. The intelligence of the bulls and the skill with which they do their work are remarkable, and in many respects they resemble the trained. elephant, being, like the latter, slow in their work, but sure.

Incidentally, Mr. Duckham says that he has never known a tractor bull to pay the slightest attention to the trader. A Guy Appointment.

Guy Motors, Ltd., Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, have just appointed

Mr. J. Lamb to -be general works manager of the company. Mr. Lamb has been works manager for the Swift Co. of Coventry, for the past six years, and has had much experience in various sections of the motor trade. Petrol Prices in Ulster.

Some time ago the Belfast Wholesale Merchants' Association and the Belfast Chamber of Commerce sent deputsr tions to_ London to urge the reductiok of petrol prices, and a few days ago a further deputaticin consisting of the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce for Northern Ireland, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Commerce, and a representative of the Belfast Wholesale Merchants' Association waited on the President of the Board of Trade to discuss the prices charged for petrol in Northern Ireland.

It is stated that there is no part of the three countries where the consumption of petrol is so great per head as in Northern Ireland, where the charge for this commodity is 2d. in excess of that charged in England generally and 31. above the figure ruling in London. Dur ing 1924 about 6,500,000 gallonsof petrol were imported through the port of Belfast alone, which, it is stated, possesses good facilities for handling adequate supplies.

We are told that the President of the Board of Trade was impressed by the facts. placed before him by the deputation, and that he is to give the matter due consideration.

Large Sums for Road Works In few counties is the need for main road maintenance of such paramount importance as in Durham and Northumberland, the highways of which carry considerable through traffic between

England and Scotland.idea of the magnitude of the ask of keeping these roads in a state of repair will be gathered from the estimates prepared by

• the Durham County Council for the year ending March 31st, 1926. In these the large sum of £716,628 is earmarked for highway worts, of which £290,065 will be borne by the Ministry of Transport. In Northumberland, the vast sum of £1,565.000. has been spent upon main roads and bridges in .the course of the past four years, and further work in hand by the county council includes the reconstruction of the Newcastle to Carlisle, and the Gateshead to Ilexham, main roads, at an estimated cost of £112,143, of which sum one-half will be contributed by the Ministry of Transport.

American Production In 1924.

It is announced by the Deportment of Commerce at Washington th5t 375,396 commercial vehicles were produced in the United States sad Canada in 1924, as against 376,444 of this type built in the previous year.

Ipswich Favours Trolley buses.

A meeting of the ratepayers of Ipswich was recently held to consider passenger transport in the town, and by an overwhelming majority they east their seal of approval op the town council's Parliamentary Bill to substitute trolley-buses for the tramcars at present in use. Certain opposition was raised by those who favour the use of petrol• buses; and a poll was taken in the town, but this showed that the vast majority of electors who voted favoured the trolley-bus.

Albions for Rangoon.

Commercial vehicles 'are now being steadily adopted by a number of municipal authorities in some of the principal towns and cities in the British Colonies and Dominions. In this connection it is interesting to note that the Rangoon Corporation has recently slaced an order for six Albion tipping wagons for refuse collection, which will oust the bullock-drawn wagons hitherto employed for this purpose.

The Philippine Islands Market.

It is estimated that there are now 2,241 commercial vehicles registered in the Philippine Islands. The imports of light vehicles during the past year show an increase, but there are said still to be large stocks of heavy vehicles on hand which were carried over from the boom years of 1920 and 1921.

Orders for Bristols.

That trade conditions continue to imProve is certainly suggested by the number of orders which have been placed for commercial-vehicle chassis, and particularly those for bus work, during the past few months. Many of the prominent British manufacturers have lately secured extensive orders, amongst them being the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., who have recently received repeat orders for their chassis from the following users :—Sunderland District Tramways, 24 3-tonners ; Rhondda Tramways, Co., three 4tonners ; Rotherham Corporation Tramways, two 4-tanners; Anglo-American. Oil Co., Ltd., ten 2-tonners; Shell-Mex, Ltd., seven 4tonners ; and A. and R. Graham, of Kirkintilloch, one 2-ton omnibus model.

Reo Coach Models for 1925.

Harris and Hasa 'Ltd., of Bristol, who handle Reo commercial models in this country, have just announced details of their. 1925 programme co far as motor-coach bodies for vehicles of this make are concerned.

As in 1924, the standard Speed Wagon chassis, with au. Excelsis 14seater body, is available at the attroctiVe price of £495, a'spare tyre and tube being included in this figure.

A new Rapide model, the features of which are a swept dashboard, a taper bonnet, disc wheels, framed side screens and spare tyre, is being marketed at £545. An 18-seater model of this type, on an extended chassis, sells at £625.

The Rapide 22-seater body is mounted' on the Reo Major chassis, and this model, fully equipped, sells at £740. In the Rapide models the seating arrangements have been redesigned, and folding tip seats are now provided on each side of a gangway 16 ins. wide.

Licences in Durham.

Durham County Council reports that during the quarter ended December 31st last, 6,387 licences to the value of £19,752 8s. 2d. were issued at the local taxation office, under the Road Fund Act, 1920, and fees for duplicate licences, etc., amounting to £104 8s. 9d. were taken, making a total of £19,856 36s. 11d. This is an inerease of £2,624 lie. 5d. over the amount received in the corresponding period of last year.

The value of licences issued at the local taxation office during the 12 months ending December 21st amounted to £145,955 12s. 5d., as compared with £122,271. Gs. 11d, for the corresponding period of last year.

How Road Accidents are Caused.

The chief constable of Oxford reports that in 1924 there were 136 street accidents, in which 148 persons wore injured, the injuries proving fatal in 8 cases. In 1923 there were 95 stss.et accidents, in which 101 persons were injured, the injuries proving fa:sil in 3 cases.

The accidents, it is stated, are mainly attributable to errors of judgment, skidding, and the running down of cyclists. ..The. chief constable says that.. in the last-mentioned category,the accidents are mainly attributable to the.

absenee of rear lights on cycles. A point which should not be Overlooked.

by,those officially concerned. "

Oxford's Parking System.

Oxford City Council has arranged a parking system on the following lines: Owners and drivers of motor vehicles who desire their vehicles to remain in the city for longer than two hours are requested to place them in one of the garages whenever possible. Vehicles not remaining longer than two hours, for which accommodation in a garage cannot be found, may be parked in St. Giles' Street and Magdalen Street East, where offieially appointed attendants are in charge, and are authorized to demand fees in accordance with the fallowing scale to cover expenses: CharsA-bancs is. per hour; cars and motorcycles 6d. per hour ; maximum 2s. fid.

Grants for Collecting Licence Payments.

The Cardiff City Council has instructed the borough treasurer to inquire of the Municipal Corporations Association if a revision of the system of allocating grants in connection with the col lection of payments for road fund licences should not be made in view of the great increase in the number of licences issued in certain areas.

This decision arose from a report of the treasurer, which stated that in 1924 the yield of the road fund licences issued at Cardiff for the city only, and having no regard to the number of county licences issued, amounted to £84,473, as against ntuus in the previous year.

A Novel Holiday-pay Scheme.

A novel holiday scheme has been inaugurated by the Dunlop Rubber. Co„

Ltd., at Port Dunlop. rt has just been put into operation and will continue until the end of July.

The complete period is divided into six sections of four or five weeks, for each of which an employee becomes entitled, where no time has been lost, to one-sixth of the holiday week pay, calculated on the rate paid to the particular worker in the middle of July next. Those who fail to keep perfect time will be held to have failed to qualify for any section, but no disquali B22 fication arises in cases of enforced, or granted, absence.

The plan has been advocated from time to time by the factory council and works committees, and its institution is considered to be of mutual advantage to employers and employees.

Six-wheelers in Sweden. To meet the requirements of the Swedish road law, which limits the total load on each wheel to 2,000 kilos.

(4,400 experiments are now being made in Sweden with six-wheeled vehicles.

A Bradford Traffic Suggestion.

At a meeting of the cleansing committee of the Bradford Corporation the chief constable reported that the watch committee had considered the suggestion that commercial motor vehicles of more than 1-ton capacity should be prohibited from entering or proceeding along Isegate and that the watch committee

found that it had no power to deal with the mutter. However, it was Stated that power to regulate street traffic is being sought in the _Corporation Bill to come before Parliament in the present session.

Inst. P.E. Meeting.

A general meeting of the Institution Of Production ;Engineers will be held on February 20th in the council room of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, 83, Pal/ Mall, London, S.W.1. On this occasion Mr. H. A. Dean, of Alfred Herbert, Ltd., of Coventry, is to read a paper on "Grinding Practice," to be illustrated by lantern slides.

Agricullural Tractors In Ireland.

The official -returns lately to hand show that the number of agricultural tractors imported into the Irish Free State during the 11 months ended November last amounted to 148 of a value of 117.346. The major portion of the machines-131 of a declared value of £11,956—are credited to the United States, and 17 (£5.390) to the United Kingdom.

London Coachbuilders D:ne.

After an interval of five years, a fulldrew; dinner "Was given at the Carpenters' Hall, London, on Monday of last week by the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers of London, to meet the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor and sheriffs. In addition to motor bodybuilders and tyre makers, some motor manufacturers have already joined this City company, and an invitation was extended to other heads of the motor industry similarly to associate themselves.

We noticed at the dinner Col. Sealy Clark (president, S.M.M. and T.), Sir William Letts, K.B.E., Mr. A. E. Gelder (president of the Institute of the Motor Trade), Mr. E. S. Shrapnel-Smith (president of the (IM.U.A.), Sir Herbert Austin, Mr. J. D. Siddeley, Mr. Graham Reece, Mr. W. J. McCermack. Mr. J. W. Connolly, and Mr. Lawton Goodman.

Chorley Bus Conference.

Chorley Town Council has approved the extensive recommendations made at the recent conference of local authorities in the Chorley district, which was held to consider the better regulation and control, in the public interest, of the Motor omnibus services in the district. These recommendations dealt with the adoption of timetables to fit the requirements of each district, and conditions attaching to the issue of licences which aim at securing public safety.

CarEsle's Ambulance.

The fire brigade committee of the Carlisle Corporation reports that during the past year the motor ambulance was called out on 200 occasions for accidents and surgical removals, an increase of 42 as compared with the previous year. Of these, 249 were in the city and 51 in the Country.

The ambulance has travelled 4,087 miles during the year, and fees amounting to £141 17s. have been paid for its services.

Walton Bridge Under Repair.

The Commissioner of Police has just issued a notice to transport contractors, motor vehicle owners and others to the effect that only one line of traffic will bat able to proceed across Walton Bridge, Shepperton, during the period of excavation and reconstruction which is now in band, and expected to continue for the next two months. Road users who wish to avoid delay should make use of an alternative bridge.

A New Vandervell Director.

C. A. Vandervell and Co., Ltd., inform us that Mr. F. S. Hooker, who for over 23 years hug been connected with the Stirling Telephone Co., has joined their staff as a director, and he will play nu important part in the management of the company. Mr. Hooker has had much experience in the wireless industry.

Finland's Import Duties.

The duty on commercial motor vehicles imported into _Finland during the present year has been fixed at 14 per cent, ad valorem with a minimum of 21 Finnish marks per kilog. Parts are dutiable at 20 per cent.

Douglas (I.O.M.) Corporation Tramways Committee has decided to purchase four new motorbuses. Testing a Wood Hoist.

The Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., have recently carried out tests of a Wood hydraulic hoist operating a special tipping body with a tailgate locking device. The hoist was fitted to a 2-ton chassis and, judging from a report which the company made on the test, the tipping apparatus performed its work remarkably well.

The body of the tipper was loaded with 2i tons, and was tipped in all on 1,231 occasions, the tips being performed continuously at the rate of three complete tips every two minutes. The behaviour of the tipping gear throughout the test was very satisfactory, and the company commented upon its general efficiency. During the tests the rotary pump remained perfectly cool.

When the tests were conducted the engine was running at just over ticking. over speed, and it is said that there was no noticeable reduction in its speed when the tips were being made. The tests were completed by driving the vehicle round the factory yard and tipping the body whilst the vehicle was travelling.

Modernizing a Fire Brigade.

Steps are being taken by the West Hartlepool Corporation in order to reequip the local fire-brigade in a manner which will render it sufficient to meet any calls likely to be made upon it. At the present time the fleet includes one Leyland motor fire-engine and two steam engines, and it is now proposed to secure tenders for the supply of a 250gallon trailer motor pump. The corporation is also to purchase, for use by the brigade, a Ford chassis at a cost of £115, and this is to be fitted up with first-aid appliances, etc.

A Cardiff Road Scheme.

The Cardiff City Council has, at great cost, abolished the Duke Street " bottleneck " on the main east-west route through Cardiff, and it now has in hand plans for continuing the widening from Castle Street to the Cathedral Road end of the Cowbridge Road—the main artery to Swansea and the west from Cardiff.

The city engineer has submitted an estimate of £70,000 for the cost of the road widening, this sum excluding the cost of acquiring the necessary land. Of the total sum £40,000 would be spent on the widening of Canton Bridge. If the plans maturq. it will be possible for the

road to be widened up to 72 ft-80 ft., and negotiations are now proceeding for the purchase of the land.

Accessory Agencies Wanted.

We know • of a man, a popular personality, who has been engaged for many years in the London motor business and who is opening an office in Central Lon don, where he is desirous of taking up agencies for London and the South of England for motor accessory specialities. Any company who desire London representation will be well advised to get into touch with "Holborn," care of the Editor of this journal.

Buses on a North-East Coast Road.

Durham County Highways Committee has had an application from the West Hartlepool Corporationfor permission to run a service of buses along the new coast road from West Hartlepool to Easington, and recommends that the consent of the county council be given. The authority is being granted for a period of one year and is given without prejudice to any possible claim by the county council in respect of extraordin

ary traffic. •

Small Buses Favoured.

The great economies which have been effected by small types of motorbus promise to 'enable the Wigan Corporation to extend the services now being operated. Some time ago the corporation had under discussion the question of a smaller capacity motorbus for the Aspull route, and it was stated that the bus which was being operated at that time had been worked at an operating cost of 14id. per bus-mile. The intro duction of smaller vdhicles on the Aspull route has made it possible for the aver age operating cost of the whole bus service maintained on the route to be reduced to 11d, per bus-mile.

It has now been decided to extend the bus service from Aspull to Blackrod, the corporation having powers under the last Parliamentary Bill for running over this route.

London Street Accidents.

From statistics recently issued it is shown that the number of streets accidents to persons and property in London during 1924 was 82,976—a figure which represents an increase of 13,163 over that for the, previous 12 months. Fatal accidents numbered 845, as compared with 667 in the previous year.

In considering these figures, one must give due thought to the large increase in the number of vehicles of all types now using the streets of the Metropolis.

Trackless Traction for. Bradford.

Bradford Corporation Tramways Committee has now received estimates from the general manager for equipping the Idle and Thazirley tramway sections, from the outer termini to the city, for

trolley-bus operation. The reinstatement of roads will cost £22,639, the provision of 12 railless ears 121,000, and overhead equipment £7,210, making a total expenditure of £50,849.

Licences in East Ham.

East Ham Corporation reports that last year 9,089 motor vehicle licences were issued, yielding £24,776 in duties, as compared with 7,464, yielding 121,127, in 1923.

Local Proceedings.

Grantham Corporation has decided to purchase a motor fire-engine for 1960.

Smethwick Corporation has decided that a petrol lawn mower be purchased for use in the parks, Bradford-Corporation electricity committee has decided to purchase two motor tipping lorries.

Inverness Town Council is to purchase a motor fire-engine with fireescape at a cost of £1,050.

East Barnet Urban District Council is to consider the provision of a motor ambulance for the district.

Rawmarsh (Yorks) Urban District Council is seeking sanction to a loan for the purchase of a motor fire-engine.

The governors of the Watford Boss' Grammar School have decided to putchase a motor lawn mower at a cost of about £75.

Wakefield City Council has empowered the medical officer of health to obtain prices for the supply of a motor ambulance.

Truro City Council is negotiating with neighbouring authorities with a view to the joint purchase of a motor lire-engine,

The captain of the fire-brigade is asking the Woking District Council to consider the provision of a trailer pump and a motor tender.

In order to expedite a proposal for the institution of an up-to-date motor fire-brigade service, for the town and surrounding district, the Chester-leStreet Urban District Council is convening a conference of adjoining local authorities. The highways committee of the Basingstoke Corporation recommends the purchase of a Thornycroft motor lorry at a cost of £583 10s.

Stretford Urban District Council has accepted the tender of H. and J. Quirk, Ltd., for the supply of a 1-ton motor lorry at a cost of £175 10s.

The electricity committee of the Plymouth Corporation has accepted the tender of Messrs. Mumford for a 1-ton runabout lorry, and Reeds (Plymouth), Ltd„ for a Fordson tractor.

Bradford Corporation health committee has accepted the tender of Wilson and Stockall, Ltd., to supply a 21 h.p.

Daimler motor ambulance withbraking, at a cost of £1,053.

A light motorvan—to cost £420—is to be purchased by the standing joint committee of the Durham County Council for the purpose of conveying prisoners to and from the county gaol. The committee has also resolved to secure a 2-ton vehicle, at a price of £796, for general duties.

To further the scheme for the joint purchase of a motor fire-engine and modern equipment for the adequate safeguarding of the district, a special committee consisting of members of the Morpeth Town Council and Rural District Council is to go into the cost of the proposal.

Rotherham Corporation Tramways Committee has received tenders for two 32-seater petrol buses, and has decided to accept the tender of the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., for chassis at £805 each, and that of Messrs. Chas. H. Roe for bus bodies at £450 each.

More Buses for Plymouth.

Plymouth Corporation has accepted the following tenders:— H. G. Burford and Co., Ltd., for three buses consisting of Burford chassis and Hickman bodies, at 1965 each.

Guy Motors, Ltd., for three Guy buses at £985 15s. each.

Shelvoke and Drewry for three singledeck buses at £860 each.

B.A.T. Traffic Rece'pts.

The traffic receipts on the passenger vehicles run by the British Automobile Traction Co., Ltd., and their associate companies for the month of January amounted to £119,341, this figure representing an increase of £14,257 as compared with the corresponding month of 1924. This is an additional proof of the popularity of bus travel.

A.E.C. Spare Part Prices.

Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., advise as that the prices of spare parts for the standard A.E.C. 3-4-ton chassis have recently been revised, and details of the new prices can be obtained by communicating with the company at Walthamstow, London, E.17.

Reconstructing a Bristol Bridge.

It is stated that the Cumberland Basin Bridge, Bristol, is closed as from yesterday (February 16th) until further notice to all traffic during the period of reconstruction. Heavy motor vehicles will not be permitted to use the lower bridges, which are only available to light traffic, and drivers of such machines will find that the shortest alternative route is by way of Prince Street Bridge.