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THE MINISTER AND " VEHICLESONLY " ROADS.

At a luncheon in Liverpool, last week, the Minister of Transport spoke of the demand for action with regard to trunk roads, and said that the urge for improvement of a by-pass was "exactly equalled by the reluctance cf any landowner to have the by-pass through his land."

" My mind is drifting," he said, "towards the idea of seeing whether it may be possible, as an experiment on a length of road, to have a good motorway with no intersections, limited to power traffic only, and yet built, for the greater part, at public expense." He did not apprehend a demand in the north for a road limited to private traffic, he said, but, at most, a demand for the segregation of traffic between power and non-power. The proposal that all should pay, but that some should use and others be barred, wa,F a revolution in the English conception of highways.

Earlier in his speech the Minister had mentioned that in East London an interesting experiment was being carried out, on a 20-mile stretch of road, where, by a synchronized light system, a motor user would be able to continue at an even pace throughout the whole distance.

Tender Calls from South Africa.

The British Trade Commissioner at Johannesburg reports that the Union Tender and Supplies Board is calling for tenders for the supply of three cable-carrying-trailers, capable of dealing with drums up to a weight of 4f tons and with an overall diameter of 90 ins, and an overall width of 46 ins. Tenders have to be delivered in Pretoria by April 21.

Another call for tenders from South Africa comes from the City of Durban, General Stores Department, which requires two touring coaches with either six-cylindered petrol or oil engines ; each coach has to seat 21-23 persons. In this case, tenders have to• be delivered to the town clerk, Municipal Buildings, Durban, by April 22.

Further details may be obtained from the Department of Overseas Trade, 35, Old Queen Street, London, SAVA.

A New C.A.V.-Bosch Switch Panel. A new switch panel, designed for mounting on the steering columns of commercial vehicles, has been introduced by C.A.V.-Bosch, Acton, London, W.3. It is a compact unit known as type No. 117 and is constructed of cast aluminium, to give the adequate strength and rigidity necessary under heavy working conditions. Despite the small dimensions of the panel it houses the main switchboard for driving lights and ignition, speedometer, oil gauge, vacuum gauge, starter switch, dip switch, horn push and inspection-lamp sockets, as can be seen from the accompanying illustration.

Particular attention has been paid, to make the panel adaptable to various requirements. Internal illumination for the instrument 'dials is provided. ENCOURAGING ARC WELDING.

In connection with the . open competition in welding organized by The James F. Lincoln Arc Welding Foundition, a London office has been opened at Thames House, Millbank, London, S.W./. This will deal with the British inquiries concerning the 240,000 to be awarded as prizes for papers on welding subjects. An illustrated book describing the many classifications and giving examples of subjects can be obtained on application to the secretary.

Dual Carriageway for Southend Arterial Road.

Further lengths of the Southend arterial road, on which there is at present, only a single carriageway, will he converted this year to the dualcarriageway system Whilst work on the second carriageway is proceeding steadily from the London end, preparations have been made for similar work to begin immediately on a section, about l miles long, within. the Southend borough boundary. This section is estimated to cost about £50,000.

The Southend arterial road was completed in March, 1925, and space was left for the provision of a second carriageway, when required. Between 1931 and 1935, when the last census was taken, traffic on the Southend side of the boundary increased from 7,600 tons to 9,800 tons per day.

'Crosfield Drivers Win Safety-First Awards.

Last year a number of drivers employed by Joseph Crosfield and Sons, Ltd., Warrington, won several awards under the National Safety First "Safe Driving Competition." Further presentations were made last Saturday by the chairman, Mr. J. Inglis. These consisted of diplomas, silver medals, silver bars, gold medals, and oak-leaf bars to 13 men. It is estimated that the five men winning oak-leaf bars had each driven 330,000 miles free from accident.

The transport manager, Mr. G. F. Ricketts, and the motor department manager, Mr. J. Tweedle, are also to be congratulated upon this achievement.

" Bantam " Sweepers for London.

Karrier Motors, Ltd., Luton, has recently supplied a trio of Bantam sweepers to the Corporation of London. It may be recalled that this model was introduced recently to meet the needs of those municipalities which, whilst desirous of employing motorized sweepers, still preferred the method whereby refuse is swept towards the gutter for subsequent collection.

Apart from the frame, rear axle and steering, which is left hand so as to give the driver an uninterrupted view of the kerb, the chassis resembles that largely used by the maker for other municipal duties.

• The wheelbase has been extended and the size of the tyres increased to permit the road brush to be carried under the frame at an angle of 20 degrees. Another interesting point is the suspension of the brush at its extremities on spring-loaded levers. The, road brush is built up in five sections and sweeps a path 6 ft. 5 ins. wide.

For use when sweeping, a sprinkler pipe, controllable from the driver's , cab, is mounted forward of the brush, and it has a series of water jets which spray to a width equal to the track being cleansed.

This Issue and the Next.

As this issue is devoted to a specialized subject, we have endeavoured to cover all phases of it by the inclusion of a large number of authoritative articles. It has been necessary to withhold certain regular features and, in addition, space is not available for the inclusion of the Analysis of the recently issued Ministry of Transport returns on road accidents in Great Britain, and of the registration returns for January. Regular features will be resumed in our next issue, which will also contain these analyses. I.A.E. REPAIR CERTIFICATES.

One of the features of the 'practical tests for the Repair Certificate of the Institution of Automobile 'Engineers is' the system of "referring back." Thus, should a candidate obtain sufficient aggregate marks to pass in the whole test but fail to obtain a certain minimum in any subsection, then he can take that particular section again at a reduced fee of 10s. A higher minimum than in the original test is then set. If a candidate fails in more than one subsection he must submit himself for a complete retest at a reduced fee of El.

Liverpool Haulage Acceptances.

Liverpool Health Committee has accepted tenders from the following for haulage at day rates :—Wellington Haulage Co., F. L. Kirk and Co., J. Stansfield, Ltd., L. F. Briggs (1932), Ltd., The Larkfield Motor Co., George Wright, James Chandler, Vincent Stansfield, John Arthur Leece, J. Wallace and Co., and John Mason, all of Liverpool. GERMAN SALES DECLINE.

There has recently been a slight falling off in the saleS of new commercial vehicles in Germany. Thus, the first-time registrations during December last amounted to 3;803 units, as contrasted with 4,157 in the final month of 1936, whilst during 1937 a total of 43,221 units was reached—a decrease of 393 vehicles as compared with the previous year.

Shipping Guide for Hauliers.

The following is the number of ships arriving at the London docks, wharves and jetties named, from March 18 to 26 inclusive:—Docxs: King George V. 9; Royal Albert, 5; Royal Victoria, 4; Surrey Commercial, 6; East India, 1; West India, 4; South-West India, I; Tilbury, 7; Tilbury Stage, 3; Millwall, 7; London, 1; Royal, 1. leVnaavss: Hay's, 6; Butler's Wharf, 2; Tilbury Jetty, 3; Regent's Canal, 1.

French Industry Disappoints.

The French motor-vehicle industry did not, it is reported, develop aS much as was hoped in 1937. The number cf new French-made commercial vehicles registered in 1937 was 19,522, compared with 20,593 in 1936, and that of foreign vehicles 1,509, compared with 1,146. Total registrations of new motorbuses in 1937 were 2,17p, a slight increase on the 1936 figure of 2,166.

Total imports of commercial vehicles in 1937 Were 1,204 (22,323,000 francs), compared with 276 (2,907,000 francs) in 1936. The number of lorries exported to foreign countries was 2,527, in 1937, against 1,312 in 1936, and to French colonies and protectorates 1,200 in 1937, compared with 1,246 in 1936. the values being 34,016,000 francs and 35,214,000 francs respectively.

Ambulance Contest in July.

It was revealed at a recent meeting of the Nottingham Passenger Transport Committee that the final of the national road-transport ambulance competition will take place in Nottingham in July.

New Oil on the Way.

We learn that, at the end of this month, a leading' oil concern will market a new oil which, it is claimed, will effect changes in present ideas on engine lubrication. Although no details are, as yet, available, it is suggested that the oil will be much thinner, when cold, than is usual.

LOWER MERSEY TUNNEL TOLLS?

The special sub-committee, appointed by Mersey Tunnel Joint CoMmittee, has been deputed to examine the situation with a view to reducing the Mersey Tunnel tolls charged on commercial vehicles. It is contended that the high charges are having a detrimental effect on trade.

Death of Mr. A. W. Willis.

We regret that pressure on oar space prevented us from referring last week to the death of Mr. A. W. Willis, a director of The Carriers Publishing Co., Ltd. He was a brother of the Editor of The World's Carrier and Carrying Trades' Review. He was a man of high integrity and, despite a quiet disposition, made many friends in the industry.

More Money for Glasgow Drivers.

Glasgow Corporation wages committee agreed, on Friday last, to grant a 3s. weekly increase to members at the Scottish Horse and Motormen's Association employed by the corporation as carters and drivers. It was agreed that, in future, wages should be regulated in accordance with the decisions of the Joint Council for Manual Workers.