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NEWS of the WEEK

" 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.

AMENDMENT BILL REPORTED TO HOUSE.

On Tuesday, a Standing Committee of the House of Commons considered the Road Traffic Bill introduced by Sir Assheton Pownall, to regularize the sharing of taxicab fares and to extend the currency of carriers' licences. Two amendments were rejected and the Bill was ordered to be reported without amendment to the House.

One amendment was designed to remove difficulties and facilitate the use of cars for taking children to and from private schools. The second amendment was to extend the currency of A, B and C licences to five years.

Captain Hudson, in resisting the latter amendment, said that the clause as it stood gave the Minister power to lengthen the period of validity.

The Ministry intended to make regulations extending to three years the currency of stage-carriage licences. As to A, B and C licences, the Department was not certain that five years was the correct period for all three licences. By statute, it had to consult the industry and it proposed to do that at the earliest possible opportunity, also to consult the Transport Advisory Council.

Silent Progress in Stabilizing Rates. "Deeds—not words" is a slogan which apparently is being followed in rates stabilization in Yorkshire, under the auspices of the employers' panel of the Yorkshire Joint Conciliation Board. Little is being said, but it understood that behind the scenes considerable progress has been made towards linking up rates committees and co-ordinating and extending their activities. '

The linking-up of such machinery with that in other Traffic Areas is also receiving attention. It is understood that a simple formula for a basis of rates calculation has been evolved.

Licensing " Home Rule " Plan in Wales.

Appointment of a Welsh-speaking chairman of Traffic Commissioners and Licensing Authority to adjudicate throughout Wales is, it is understood, beine suggested as desirable.

c20 For licensing purposes Wales is now divided between the North-Western and South Wales Traffic Areas and it is stated that a number of licence-holders is urging the desirability of the creation of a separate traffic area for Wales, with a Welsh-speaking chairman and Licensing Authority, also a deputy.

Mr. Charles H. Parrish, secretary of the Montgomeryshire " and District Bus and Road Haulage Association, said to The Commercial Motor: "It should be emphasized that there is no personal dissatisfaction whatever with those authorities with whom we have to deal."

Public Cleansing Conference.

The 39th Annual Conference of the Institute of Public Cleansing (160, Buckingham Palace Road, London, S.W.1) will be held at Margate between June 14 and 18. The preliminary pro gramme is as follows:—

Jane 14: 8 rim. civic reception. June 15: 10 a.m., official welcome, installation of President, Presidential address, and paper, "The Need for a New Code for the Public Cleansing Bet-vice," by Mr. F. E. Browning, Islington' 2.30 p.m., paper, "Economics of Refuse Cchle tion, having Regard to (al frequency, Jb) vehicle capacity," by Mr. A. E. Kennedy, Kensington; June 16: 10 am., paper, "Some Technical Observations on the Treatment of Organic Refuse." Mr. 3. IL Codling, Birmingham; paper, "Problems Associated with the Changing Character of House Refuse," Mr. H. Edridge, Chesterfield; '7 p.m., annual dinner.

June 17: 10 a.m., exhibition of publiccleansing vehicles and appliances; 2 p.m., demonstration of vehicles and appliances, followed by ,a demonstration of anti-gas equipment.

JUTIO 18: 10 a.m., paper, 'The Public Health Act 1956. ct,_ 1956, as applied to Public

Cleansing,' r. F. Fitton. Wembley; paper, " The Installation and Management of a Mechanical Refuse Disposal Plant," Mr. W. H. Sagar, Dundee,

HEALTHY IMPORT AND EXPORT FIGURES.

The Board of Trade returns for February last show that the value of commercial vehicles, cars, chassis and accessoriesimported was £432,181, contrasted with £390,763 in the corresponding month of 1936.

The number of complete commercial vehicles exported in February was 590, valued at £133,132, the comparable 1936 figures being 238 and £67,954 respectively. The number of vehicles exported to "foreign countries " (408) was more than six times the 1936 figure.

The exports of commercial chassis show another material increase, the 1937 total of 1,283 contrasting with 1,129 for the previous year, the values being £192,571 and £157,090 respectively.

" Plastics "--New Journal to be Published by Temple Press Ltd.

A new high-class monthly journal, Plastics, is announced and will shortly be published, at Is,, by Temple Press Ltd., the proprietors of The Commercial Motor, The Motor, The Aeroplane, etc. Plastic materials are being used to an increasing extent in all classes of motor vehicle, aircraft, and in many other manufacturing fields. The new journal, whilst covering the activities of the plastics industry, will illustrate and explain to as wide a public as possible its products, and assist in the promotion of their use in many new fields.

FRENCH EXPORTS UP.

Exports for motor vehicles from France in 1936 consisted of 21,401 units, compared with 18,933 in 1935. This figure was made up of 17,754 :ars, buses and railcars, 2,558 lorries and 1,089 chassis. In 1935, 16,387 cars, buses and railcars, 1,307 lorries and 1,239 chassis were exported.

At present, official statistics for the production of motor vehicles are not available, but a rough idea may be obtained by adding the number of vehicles registered during the year to the number exported. The number of cars registered in 1936 was 162,466-and that of lorries 20,493, making 182,959. to which must be added exports-21,401—giving a total of 204,360.

Birmingham's New Buses Have Rubber Wings.

A redesigned staircase and rubber wings at the front and rear are some of the features incorporated in the five double-deck buses now under construction at the works of Leyland Motors, Ltd., for Birmingham Corporation. The bodies will seat 54 people and will be mounted on oil-engined chassis with hydraulic transmission.

Railways Withdraw Trunk-service Appeals.

The railway appeals against the recent licence grants by the Yorkshire Licensing Authority to I. W. Holdsworth, Ltd., Halifax, and J. Hanson and Son, Ltd., Huddersfield, have been withdrawn. In both cases the railway companies raised the trunk-service issue at the hearing of the licence applica.tions, and it is to be assumed that the Bouts-Tillotson appeal decision has led to the withdrawal of the appeals.

Altrincham's Fire-brigade Enjoys Distinction.

With the delivery of a new Leyland fire-engine, Altrincham now claims to possess, for an urban district, the largest fire brigade in the North of England. It _consists of three engines and a staff of 11 permanent officers and men, in addition to auxiliaries. The new appliance has a pumping capacity up to 1,000 gaa.ra. and is equipped with a 60-gallon first-aid tank and many modern fire-fighting devices. The brigade has to protect a large amount of industrial property at Broadheath, which accounts for the extent of its equipment.

Blackpool Hauliers to Join With Unions.

Mr. T. A. Titchener was unanimously re-elected chairman at the second annual meeting of the Blackpool and District Road Haulage Association, last Friday. Mr. J. C. Wild was appointed vice;chairman, Mr. G. Stubbs treasurer,, Mr. H. Hardman secretary, and Messrs. Hodgson and Smith auditors.

In his report, Mr. Hardman revealed that the Association and local trade 'unions were to form a vigilance committee to deal with all breaches of the regulations as to wages and conditions. Such a method, he said, was preferable to having the matter reported to the Licensing Authority, with the possible consequence of licences being jeopardized.

Municipal Upkeep of Farm Roads?

Perth County Executive of the National Farmers Union is asking the Ministry of Transport to empower local authorities to assist in the upkeep of farm roads. .These roads are used by numerous vehicles which contribute to the Road Fund, Ulster Association Reconstituted, Ulster Provincial Hauliers Association has been reconstituted. Mr. W. Clarke has been appointed president, with Mr. J. R. M'Connell as secretary and Mr. W. J. Sturgeon as treasurer, PERSONAL PARS.

MR. R. M. WALKER has beer appointed chairman of the C.M.U.A. Liverpool and North Wales Division, with MR. R. B. STOCKDALE as vice. chairman.

MR. R. H. DIXON, formerly assistant manager of the Road Passenger and Transport Association, has been appointed organizqr for the C.M.U.A. West Midland division. He has had considerable licensing experience.

DR. H. E. MERRITT, chief engineer to David Brown and Sons (Hudd.), Ltd., will shortly be released by the company to take up a . Goverament appointment. In addition to being a leading authority on gear design, he has been closely associated with the design and production of the company's wide range of specialities.

MR. D. P. RESLEV, formerly manager of the Southampton branch of Brown Brothers, Ltd., has been appointed manager of the West-end branch of the company at 142-144, New Cavendish Street, London, W.I. MR. G. A. PEMBERTON, formerly manager of the Leeds branch, has been appointed to succeed Mr. Besley.

Following the resignation of MR.

R. G. PORTE, general manager of the Devon General Omnitins and Touring Co., Ltd., MR. F. B. Low, secretary of the company in London, has been appointed secretary-manager. Ma. W. H. GEERE, who has been with the company since its foundation in 1922, latterly as assistant manager, has been appointed local manager at Torquay.

Following precedent, a luncheon, last Wednesday, at Pagani's Restaurant, London, was made the occasion for a presentation to the retiring president of the Motor Agents Association, MR.

S. G. DAVIES, of Norton's (Cardiff), Ltd. Mr. Graham Armstrong, this year's president, was in the chair, and about 100 members, including a notable number of commercial-vehicle agents, were present.

We reproduce on this page a portrait of MR. E. C. RUFFLE, who has been appointed joint general manager of Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd. He was formerly works manager of Leyland Motors, Ltd., at Kingston.

Mr. Ruffle served his apprenticeship at the De Dion Bouton works, in Paris, and obtained further workshop experience with other companies before the war; he gained his first experience of the heavy vehicle with the Fiat concern. During the war he became a workshops officer, and was in charge of works No. 1 Heavy Repair Shop. In 1920 he joined Leyland Motors, Ltd., as technical sales representative in the southern area, and, from 1924-26, supervised the reconditioning, at Kingston, of old Leyland war machines. Afterwards he acted, for two years, as assistant manager of the London office.

A NEW BENDIX-COWDREY BRAKE TESTER.

A development of the well-known Bendix-Cowdrey six-wheeler-type brake tester has recently been introduced by Bendix, Ltd., Tyseley, Birmingham. The new machine is designed to suit all commercial vehicles from those with a wheelbase of 8 ft. to six-wheelers with a maximum wheelbase of 18 ft. 4 ins.

The outfit incorporates a number of interesting features; and further payticulars will be given in next week's issue.

London Transport's Loss.

We regret to learn of the death of Mr. J. S. Anderson, secretary and treasurer of the London Passenger Transport Board, a position which he had occupied since the Board was formed in 1933. He had a long association with London's transport services, having been assistant solicitor to the Metropolitan Railway Co. in 1914.

Experienced Driver-couriers Required.

One of the biggest operators of extended tours in the London area wants a, number of driver-couriers for the coming season. They . will be entirely responsible for the welfare of the passengers, and only first-class men are required. The pay is good and the expenses allowance generous: Letters addressed " Driver-courier," care of the Editor, will be forwarded.

Shipping Guide for Hauliers.

The following is the number of ships arriving at the London docks, wharves and jetties named, from March 19-27 inclusive : DOCKS: King George V. 6; Royal Albert, 8; Royal Victoria, 5; Surrey Commercial, 6; East India, 1; West India, 3 ; South West India, 4; Tilbury, 10; Tilbury Stage, 4; Mill. wall, 5; Royal, 3. WHARVES: Hay's, 6: Middleton's, 1; Butler's, 3; Tilbury Jetty, 3; Regent's Canal, 1.

Tyne Toll Bridges to be Freed.

Following negotiations between the L.N.E. Railway Co. and Newcastle and Gateshead Corporations, the High Level Bridge over the River Tyne, between Gateshead and Newcastle, is to be freed from tolls from May 12. Negotiations are proceeding for the freeing of the Redheugh Bridge.

Figures submitted to Newcastle City Council, some time ago, showed that the cost of acquiring the High Level Bridge to free it from tolls would be £160,000.

A New Welding Process.

A new " hard facing" welding process is being used by Barimar, Ltd., 14-18, Lamb's Conduit Street, London, W.C.1, for the restoration of worn parts, particularly those of motor vehicles, and it is claimed to be equally effective on steel and cast iron. The new process requires a special technique, as well as a special welding material, and makes it economically possible to build up worn cams, tappets, splines and shafts, which are often discarded when they -become worn.

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