WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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The wheel of wealth wilt be slowed by ail difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs. "—john Beattie Crosier,
Important Concessions.
With confidence, We venture the assertion that the limit on the unladen weight of commercial motors will shortly be put up to 74 tons, inclusive of body, and that provision will also be made to legalize the use of .far heavier vehicles in which special bodywork is a feature of a 'per
manent character. .
There is also a good prospect of a back axle weight of 9a tens, a load weight of 14 tons, and a total weight, for heavy motor vehicle and trailer combined, of 21a tone
The Show Luncheon.
The Commercial Vehicle Exhibition was not only to have been opened by Sir Eric Geddes, but he had arranged to be present at the luncheon and to propose the toast of "The Oommeicial Motor Industry." He was able to spend half an hour at the Eirbibition in themcama ing, and he then made a short speech which epitomized the remeeks which he had intended to make at the luncheon, but, owing to pressing engagements in connection with Cabinet meetings arising out of the threatened coal strike, he was unavoidably compelled to leave after a hurried round of the Show.
During the course of his promenade, he showed that he was mostly interested in large pneumatics, and the question of securing the conveyance of proper warnings from overtaking vehicles to driverr of motor coaches.
In the course of his remarks declaring the Exhibition open, he stated that the industry in its development required three things: First; good reads; second; non-interfering but prudent regulations third, prudent and wide development What we were doing in the mattes of roads is one of the greatest advancements in that direction in this coentry since the tines of the Romans. Be stated that the Ministry of Transport are endeavouring to provide regulations and legislation whichcsliall not he restrictive. He has made it his business to travel through the country and watch the char-a-bancs traffic, in view of the come plainte that have been made against it, and be stated that he had seen more discourtesy and disregard for people On the road from the private owner than from those of great, commercial vehicles; at the mane time, he admitted that reeds are not constructed in the ideal wayfor these vehicles. With regard to prudent and wide development, he thought that this would proceed on the lines of clearing houses, with arrangements so that cut-throat ccan.petation does not bankrupt any young concern. At the luncheon Mr. Mays-Smith read Sir Eric Geddes?s speech, which, of course, had only been heard by a few. He thought it better to give Sir Eric's precise words and to couple with them the toast of "The Industry."
Mr. Churchill, in rTly, made a really excellent speech, which It was quite eni dent had been framed particularly for the ears of the Minister of, Transport. He showed how the future prosperity of the industry masts very largely in the hands of the Ministry of Transport, for ' a4
they are at present formulating legislae, tive proposals and other propositions or details in connection, with the new motor taxation. He raised a strong objection to the taxation of the commercial motor vehicle, when 278,000 horse-drawn vehicles in the country, employed in the transport of goods, and large nembers more, used for the conveyance of passengers, go tax free. He honed that, before long, the horse vehicle users would receive the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Ministry of Transport.
He stated that, the legislation for which the industry is looking is mainly that which will enable the manufacturers to produce, and the user to employ, motor vehicles of greater economic and corn mereial value than at present, the vehi, cies now in use being restricted bath in Speed and weight. Sir Eric Geddes has referred to the industry being in an experimental stage in 1913. Mr. Churchill refuted this contention, saying that no better proof oil his a.rguraent that the industry was in an advanced stage could be found than the services which were rendered during the war by British vehicles. It there was one thing which the use of these vehicles in the wax had proved, it was that there was no need for a subsidy type, for the British manufacturers had already produced a vehicle whichwas fitted for purposes
He had made a note of four things which he considered essential to the fature clevelopmefft of the industry. Sir Eric Geddes was in-agreement with one Or two of them, the first being the question of good roads (and here Mr. Churchill paid a high compliment to Sir Henry Maybury by saying that the trade had every confidence in his Department, and was quite sure that when the work of effecting road improvement is done is will be thoroughly well done). He dealt with the concession made by the Ministry of Transport to local antherities in approving a grant in aid of 33-k per cent. of the capital required to purchase motor vehicles for road work. This concession can be regarded as equivalent to 2d. or 3d. _per mile in the handling of road. material.
One of the essentials is the cheap and plentiful supply of fuel, end on this matter Sir Eric Geddes had been silent. A third essential was the establishment of clearing-houses for road-borne freights. In this matter he thought that it might best be left to private enterprise, although the Government could give some assistance. His fourth point dealt with taxation and regulations, and on these points he thought that the proposals now lusing considered would act in restraint of trade; the matter required complete reconsideration.
Mr. Churchill's speech was well delivered. and well received, and it was a great pity that the Minister was not present to hear it.
The dhairman, Mr. Mays-Smith, proposed the toast of "The Visitors," which was replied to by Sir William Meyer, High Commissioner for India. The proceedings concluded with a welldeserved compliment to the chairman.
Petrol Prices.
The deputation to the Mayor of Coventry On the subject of motor spirit, organized by the Coventry branch of the Automobile Association, appears likely to be productive of far-reaching results. The resolution calling upon the Government for immediate action was approved by the Mayor, and was afterwards brought by him before the City Council, and, after being unanimously passed by them, on the proposition of the Mayor, it was decided to send copies of the resolution to all other councils, requesting their support. In addition, at the last meeting of the Coventry Chamber of Commerce, it was decided to adopt a resolution, worded in a similar manner to that submitted by the A.A. deputation, and forward it to all Chambers of Commerce for endorsement.
As a result of Coventry's efforts, therefore, every council and every chamber of commerce in the -country have had the vital matter of motor fuel brought under their immediate notice, and have been asked to press the Government for immediate help, and Coventry is certainly to be congratulated on the energetic and thorough manner in which it has tackled the motor fuel question.
A Guide to Transport.
One of the test books that has yet been published on motor road transport for commercial purposes is that which has just been written bY Mr. John Phillimore and published by Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, Ltd., at the price of 12s. 6d. net. It covers various phases of toad motor transport by petrol, electric, and steam vehicles, deals with the records and accounts that should be kept and the manner of keeping them, and also goes into the question of running costs. The figures, however, require that allowance should be made for recent increases which very largely render published figures in book form somewhat unreliable. With each important figure detailed as it is in this book, it is, however, an easy matter for the owner to make such allowances. The book has an introduction by Sir Henry Maybury, in which he emphasizes the economy and earning powers of motor transport vehicles, and briefly touches upon the problems of the roads.
The Other Clayton_
Press facilities at the Show were exceptionally well devised and admirably carried out under the control and supervision of Mr. C. D. Clayton. As an old Pressrmaa he knew the requirements and wishes of the men ailmse duty it was to prepare (with very little time at their disposal) their reports of the Show, and the facilities he placed at their disposal were greatly appreciated by them. We would particularly like to commend his work in getting into the Pressmen's hands verbatim reports of the speeches at the opening ceremony and at the luncheon, almost within a few mintites of their completion. His organization of the parade of vehicles which preceded-the opening of the Sheik was very creditable.
The Conference Sitting.
The Imperial' Motor Transport Conference is.sitting in London, the fuel section thereof having commenced itsproceedings yesterday (Monday) at Olympia, followed by the lecture by Professor Dixon in the evening at the Royal Automobile Club. To-day (Tuesday') in the Pillar Hall, Olympia, papers will be read at 10.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. followed by a discussion in each cage. in addition to the papers which were contained in the programme of the Conference published by us in our last iss-ue, Mr. G. J. Shave, M.I.M.E.' M.I.A.E., is dealing with the results of the experiments with alcohol fuel by the London General Omnibus Ca, Ltd.
The Roads and Transport Section of the Conference commences its proceedings to-morrow (Wednesday) in the Pillar Hall, Olympia, Sir Eric Geddes taking the chair at 10.30, after which Mr. H. C. B. 17nderdown opens a discussion on "Roads and Road Development throughout the Empire!' Mr. Shaw's paper to be read in the afternoon on Organization of Mater Transport, with a view to Improved Economy" should be of extreme interest. In the evening there is to be a discussion on "Overseas Business" at the Royal Automobile Club, and on Thursday. at 10.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m., papers will be read, followed by discussions, at the Pillar Hall, Olympia.
Inst. A.E. : New Session.
The opening meeting of the Institution of Automobile Engineers on October 13th augurs well for the new session. Sir Henry Fowler, K.B.E., was inducted into the presidential chair by the retiring president, Mr. Thos. Clarkson, and gave a most thoughtful address on the relationship between the employer and labour, a subject which concerns the automobile engineer as vitally as any other at the moment. Col. Ororopton, as the senior of seven peat. presidents present to welcome the new president, emphasized the importance of the oeca
sion in the union between railway interests and the motor industry. The guests at the annual dinner on October 27th will include the ofimers of all the leading motor organizations. Following on the lines of every ether body, the question of an increase in subscriptions has now been pressed to the front, and the matter will be laid before the members at an e:xtraordinary general meeting to be held in November. The amount of the increase suggested is at the flat, rate of 10s. 6d. per annum for each grade of membership.
Austin Tractor Output.
Owing to the success of the Austin farm tractor as a mechanical aid to farm. ing, the makers have received orders from nearly all parts of the world, and in order to grapple with the demand, it has been decided to double the output. Already 100 a week are leaving the factories of the Austin works at Northfield, and the decision. to increase this output within the next few weeks to 200 a week will give an indioation.of the demand for this tractor.
Well Done, Slough !
We learn from the Slough Trading Co., Ltd., that out of the total number of men employed by the company, over 52 per cent, are ex-Service men, and 14 per cent, are ex-Service men who have been disabled in the war. This percentage is very high, considering the large number of men employed. Comparisons are odious, but we vent-are to express the opinion that many firms could emulate Slough's great endeavour to employ as many ex-Service men as possible, and to use every endeavour to find a jab for the disabled.
-The court of directors of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. have resolved to pay out of the profits of the our-rent year an interim dividend of 21 per cent. (less income tax) on the preference stock, and an interim dividend of 21 per cent. (less income tax) on the ordinary stock. The dividend warrants will be posted to the proprieWre on October 29th.
The Dairy Show.
It, is rather a pity that more notice had not been taken of the fact that the Dairy Show this year coincides with the Commercial Motor Exhibition at Olympia. The Commercial Motor Show opened on October 15th and closes on the 23rd, while the Deify Show opens at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, on Oeteber 19th and continues until the 22nd. This should give an excellent opportunity for farmers attending for tile Dairy Show to tact a trip across to. Olympia and examine for themselves some of the motor lorry entries there.
Farmers everywhere are beginning to see the value of the commercial motor Joiry in the agricultural industry, and they will find there is much to interest them at the Olympia Motor Show,
Show Errata.
The name of Engeibert and Co., was incorrectly spelt in our issue of October 5th. It is as now printed.
The address of Maxwell Motors, Ltd., is 116, Great Portland Street, London, W.1, and not as given in our last issue in the paragraph dealing with this company's exhibit at the Olympia Show.
In our Show forecast of last week the exhibits of the General Vehicle Co., Ltd., -c}f 43, Shoe Lane, London, E.C.' were ineluded under the foreign vehicle section. As most of our readers will probably be aware, this well-known electric chums is made throughout at Birmingham. ,
We stated last week in the notes dealing with the Guy exhibits that -one of the company's chassis was .equipped with a motor omnibus body built by Mulliners. This is not correct, the body having been built by Messrs. Jas. Bartle and Co., Ltd., the bodywork specialists of Lancaster Rd., London., W.
Don't say that the Combine is greedy : It feels for the poor and the needy ; It said, with a sigh, "The price is too. high!" And therefore rebated that 3d. !
A Novel Silencer.
With continual improvements being , made in designing commercial vehicles, the question of a silent exhaust is becoming more and more important, and is a factor in the running of the com mercial motor vehicle. This silence /weld be effected without imposing undue back pressure on the exhaust gases.
We recently inspected a silencer, the design of which is distinctly novel. It is known as the Coneaeli, and is built up on the Venturi tube system: It is a, 'well-known fact that gases travelling through a tube of varying diameter am do so with little or no loss of energy. When gee enters a contracting tube, it loses pressure and gains in velocity, whilst as it passes into an expending tube it loses velocity and gains in pressure. This principle is made use of in the Oonradi silencer in order to encourage the gases to expand before escaping into the atmosphere The device consists of a sheet stee cylinder about 18 ins, long and 6 ins. in diameter. Inside this are fitted a number of funnel-shaped stampings arranged so ' that the space between them is alternately contracted and enlazged. Into one end of the cylinder is slid a. cone, whilst at the ether is petitioned a somewhat similar cone, over the end of which the cylinder passes and butts against a collar. The whole is drawn tightly together by two bolts passing through the silencer from end to encl. Spaces are left between the funnels and the interior of the cylinder, and a small portion of the exhaust gases E8
parses through these, thus assisting the coaling of the expanding gases. As there are no small holes anywhere in the alencer, and as the flow of the gases is in no way impeded, it is impossible -for it to become choked, and it need never be cleaned. The silencer is made by Messrs. Parnaby and Coops, of Leeds, and is beine6 marketed by Messrs. Keith-Thomas andCo. of 2, The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, S.W.19.
Road Transport Workers' Wages.
No settlement -has yet been reached in the Liverpool cartel's and motormen's dispute. The men have suspended their strike notices for a further period of a fortnight. it being stated that the em
players' view is that the matter is one which should be dealt with, nationally. A meeting has taken place 'between the National Transport Workers Federation and representatives of the employers, who stated that they had no powers to deal with the wages question. A further conference is to take place to-clay (Tuesday) at the Ministry of Labour to discuss the claim for an increase of wages. Failing a satisfactory settiement, at this meeting, the Liverpool men have decided to tender notices as from Monday, October 25th.
The following Liverpool haulage firms have been placed on the Corporation list of contractors :—Mr. T. Parker, Junr., 262, Smithdown Lane, and the Stanley Haulage Co., 28, Chapel Street, Liverpool.
Women Taxi Drivers.
Objecting to women taxi drivers beine allowed to ply for hire in public streets :whilst there are so many unemployed men, the Liverpool Motor Hirers Association has protested to the local Hackney Carriage Committee against the licence being grantedIt has been pointed out that the occupation is hardly a suitable one for women, and that during the war licences were granted to women as a war measure, but there was no period men-timed.
Humour of the Police Court.
The police court, with which many, motor users lately have, unfortunately, been more intimate than they desire to be, is not without its humorous side. For instance, when, a few days ago' a Warrington police sergeant told the driver of a steam wagon that he would be reported for permitting his vehicle to emit black smoke, the driver observed by -way of retaliation, "Well, I hope the coal strike does come off."
The officer, giving evidence, told the magistrates, "I put my hand up, and the smoke stopped immediately," much to the amusement of the gentlemen sitting on the judgment seat.
The Leyland Ham Works.
We have been requested by Leyland Motors, Ltd. to state that the company will be pleased to afford facilities for the inspection of the very ooenplete organization which is now in being at their Ham Works, Kingston, Surrey, for dealing with the re-conditioning of R.A.F. Leyland vehicles, to all their' agents. It...is requested that applications from agents and others who are interested. should be addressed to the Len.don. Sales Manager, Leyland Motors, DUI., 47, New Kent Read, S.E.1, in order that the necessary facilities may 'be provided and dates for such visits agreed.
The Overhanging Hedge Danger.
The Automobile Association and Motor Union has issued an appeal to eneveyors throughout the country on the question of the danger caused by overgrown hedges, bushes, etc., at cross-roads, sharp -beads, and bad corners. Under the Highways Act, surveyors have considerable powers enabling there to deal with this subject, but it is suggested that local landowners, as well as railway companies and other big property owners, can render great assistance in this matter. A necessary improvement can often he carried out with little or no expense to the owners of the property; and may possibly be the means of averting fatal accidents. Before the war this question received considerable attention, but the reports received by the Association show that at the present day ,,the position is by • no means satisfactory, and with the growth of motor transport for both passengers and goods, it is felt that the question is of vital importance in preventing accidents which so often omit through ignorance of the local conditions; • A recommendation of the Watch Committee that the Chief Constable be` authorized to purchase a motorcar for the use of the Criminal Investigation Staff at a cost not exceeding 2500 was submitted to: and approved by, the Liverpool City Council.
Steel Research Report.
It can now be definitely stated that the report, of the Steel Research COM mittee on the ten standard automobile steels published in Report No. 75 of the British Engineering Standards Associa tion, -will be issued at the end of the month. The value of the report will undoubtedly be enhanced by the opportunity which will be afforded for its discussion by the paper which is to be given by Mr. J. H. S. Dickenson before the Institution of Automobile Engineers on November 10th.
This paper will point out the methods adopted during the research and the reasons for their adoption. One of the most important points will consist in the explanation of what will be called "X" figures, that is, the reconciling of the individual discrepancies in the figures obtained by the different, investigators. All those who iissire copies of the report with a view to taking part in the discussion are asked to make early application to the secretary of .the Institution of Automobile Engineers at 23, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1. The price of the report, which is bound in cloth and contains not only the tables of all the investigators' figures but a number of coloured charts embodying the figures, is 31s. 6d., carriage ama packing ls. 6d. extra
The Penalty of Delay.
Glasgow Corporation Cleansing Committee has considered the question of the failure by the Electric Vehicles, Ltd., and the Edison Accumulators, Ltd., to deliver, in terms of their contracts, the electric vehicles agreed to be purchased from these companies, and agreed to recommend that, as regards the Electric 'Vehicles, Ltd., the penalty clause in. the contract with that company be enforced to the extent of £5Q, that being the amount of loss estimated by the superintendent to have been sustained by the de Ent in respect of the failure to deliver the two vehicles contracted for by that firm, and that, as regards the Edison Accumulators, Ltd., the matter 430 continued for further consideration.
Where Transport is Excellent.
At a meeting of the General Purposes Committee of the Stretford Urban District Council proposals were submitted by Mrs. Grace W. Walker for establishing 2,000 ex-Service men in business by the creation of motor transport services throughout the country. The Committee, whilst expressing appreciation of the scheme, came to the conclusion that, in view of the excellent transport seances now existing in the district, the arrangements would scarcely apply to the Stretford area.
Algeria Agricultural Show. and Exhibition.
Ills Majeety's Consul-General at. Algiers has informed tie Department of Overseas Trade that it hag been arranged to hold the AnnualCongres des Agrieulteurs de France at. Algiers next year, and that the Confedera,ticeodes Moedations Agricoles du Department d'Alger -has decided to avail itself of the occasion to organize an Agricultural Show and Exhibition Fair, the honorary presidency of which, has beera'accepted by the Governor-General of Algeria.
The Exhil3ition is expected to open in the month of Aoril next and to Iast
about a month, but the exactdates have not yet been fixed. It will be held on the Champ de Maneeravaes, in the suburbs of Algiers, and will occupy an area of nearly 12i acres. The ConsulGeneral is informed that the Minister of Agrioulture has promised to preside at the openings of the Congress, and that an important body of members of the French Parliament will take the opportunity of visiting Algiers. Numerous Communes have promised to render their assistance in the arrangements, and it is understood that the Confederations of the Departments of Oran and Constantine will collaborate.
The agricultural show will consist of displays of various classes of horses, cattle, poultry, etc.
The exhibition fair will not, be corn pelitive, and will comprise an exhibition of motorcars, motor traetors, and the industrial and other products of North Africa. The first two will include foreign as well as French exhibits. The price of sites for tractors is 15 francs the square metre in the open, and exhibitors may erect their awn structures; that. for cars has not yet been settled definitely.
Inquiries respecting the exhibition should he addressed to M. Celestin Granier, Commissaire General, 4, Rue Marech!al Boequet, Algiers.
St. I.eer.ards Trams.
In order to avoid the use of overhead wires, along St. Leonardo front, these trams are equipped with auxiliary petrolelectric transmission. It is rumoured that owing to this auxiliary motives power being insufficient, it will be necessary to extend the unsightly overhead wire system along the front: The better solution is more auxiliary power, and, better still, the independent. motorbus.
The head offices of" Siemens Brothers and Co.. Ltd., and of Siemens Brothers Dynamo's Works, Ltd., will be removed shortly from Palace Place Mansions, Kensington, London, W.8, to Caxton House, Westminster, London t S.W. 1.
Local Proceedings.
Halifax Corporation have accepted tenders for three Sentinel tipping wagons. A second motor fire-engine, to cost i1,700, is required by Guildford Town Council.
£30,000 is to be spent by Essex County Council on the purchase of 20 steam tractors.
The surveyor of the Lynn I_T.D.C. is to report, upon the question of purchasing a motor lorry.
Sowerby Bridge U.D. Council, Sowerby Bridge, have accepted a tender for one Sentinel tipping wagon.
Sheffield Corporation has received sanction to borrow £62,000 for the purchase of electric tipping wagons Authority has been 'given the Lincoln Corporation to borrow £7,350, the cost o.f 11 motorbuses and spare parts.
Cameroon Town Council has appointed a special committee to consider the question of providing a motor park for the town.
Wolverhampton Corporation is applying to the Ministry of Transport for permission to increase motorbus fares up to 2d. per mile.
The Metropolitan Asylums Board proposes to buy a Ford delivery van from International Motors, Lid. and a .1 ton Ford truck chassis from* John C. Beadle, Ltd.
Wolverhampton Corporation has retained Mr. Dudgeon, Line Superintendent Birmingham Corporation Tramways, to assist in carrying into effect the conversion from the Lorain system surface contact to the overhead tramway system at a fee of 200 guineas.
Messrs. Pirelli, Ltd. has advised the Metropolitan Asylums Board of their inability to agree to the sxtension of their contract to supply rubber tyres, as reported in our issue of September 21st. The firm state that their approval in the first place was given under a misunderstanding.
'LINCOLNSHIRE TRAFFIC.
The Contention that Motor Lorries Cause Undue Road Wear.
UCH FURTHER evidence has 1'1 been forthcoming lately in relation to Lincolnshire districts of the exercise of restrictions which are calculated zeriousiy to hamper development of motor traffic -for commercial purposes. Cases which have been brought before magistrates recently in the three areas of Kemleven, Lindsey, and Holland, into which the Fen county is divided for administrative purposes, have disclosed an inherent antagonism upon the part of many of the responsible authorities, especially regarding the use of heavy motor lorries, the suggestion being that they are the main causes of the deterioration of the roads.
Apart from the consideration that the objeetion arises with a curious inappropriateness in a county in which at its main manufacturing, centres of Lincoln, Grantham'. and Gamsborough so much is -being done by the chief engineezing firms to maintain British supremacy in
motor mechanism, the point in most of
these cases appears to have been conveniently ignored as to whether the roads have ever been put in a condition commensurate with the heavy ‘demands now being made upon them, and towards which motor traffic contributes its full share its the way of. maintenance.
A typical instance of _prevailing methods was that recently afforded by a case heard at Boerne, in which upon a SUMMOT1S for driving a motor lorry at. Bourn Fen at a rate alleged to have exceeded the speed limit, the Chairman of the Bench did not hesitate to declare that such vehicles, when driven at an exce,ssive speed, were responsible for great damage to the roads. The incident is significant of a tendency which, as far as Lincolnshire is
• concerned, does not appear to savour of •a desire for the encouragement of an indispensable means of transport, which, judging from such magisterial time clixit, is only to be tolerated upon sufferance.
DRIVERS' PAY.
The Aggressive Spirit Still Displayed at Nottingham's Gathering.
SAVE FOR the welcome evidence which was manifested in one or two quarters as to faith in the ultimate efficacy of Industrial Councile, as illus. teated upon an earlier occasion by the commendable utterance of Mr. Ben Smith, the chief organizing secretary of the commercial branch of the industry, there was little evidence at the meeting of vehicle workers in Midland districts,. held at Nottingham last week, of an abatement of aggressive spirit, which found expression in a resolve to per. thatin the claim to the irreducible mini. mum of 24 7s. a week for all classes of workmen. The gravamen of complaint against employers was that no move had been made upon their part since the last abortive conference, and arguments for which Mr. Archie Henderson, one of the national officials, was mainly responsible, proceeded linen the lines that drivers of mechanically-propelled and other vehicles were entitled to a large participation in the extra charges which employers have called upon the public to pay. Incidentally, the compliment was forthcomhig to the satisfaction of local'branches
of the organization that their numerical strength had increased in greater ratio lately than in any other part of the country.
Mr. Henderson etruck a strident note by his attempted comparison of the relative importance of the mining and road transport industries. He contended that, as the demanded increase to a uniform rate of 87s. a week would only mean in reality, according to the present purchasing value of money, a payment of 30s. id. a week, compared with pre-war rates, the case was incontestibly in favour of the workers. Mr. Henderson postulated that road transport has now become a key industry in its relation to the maintenance of food supplies and other essential requirements, and that vehicle workers had an inherent right to participation in additional charges, which he represented as having been imposed by employers to an extent varying from 250 to 350 per cent. Economic considera. tion.s, except in ea far as they related to the trade union aspect of the matter, found no serious place in the speeches delivered at the Nottingham industrial gathering.
TRADE WITH RUSSIA.
How Lincoln has Suffered Through Lack of Agricultural Machinery Demand.
IN NO industrial area is the outcome of negotiations with the Soviet authorities for the resumption of British trading relationships with Russia being watched with graver concern than in Lincoln, whose interest in the matter, by reason of the nature of its manufactures, far transcends that of many towns of greater size. Lincoln had for )..ears antecedent to the war supplied Russia, as also Austria and Hungary, with a great proportion of its necessary agricultural appliances, and the vast need of new stock to replace the ravages occasioned during the last six years may be easily imagined. The cathedral city has never been in a worse commercial plight than now, the advantages of such fleeting prosperity as was occasioned by war demands having long since disappeared, to be replaced by a continueus slump in conditions from which the revival of Russian interests presents the main prospect of alleviation. How far insistence npon the recognition of past financial liabilities is to be carried as a preliminary to complete rerapprochement raises a question of vital importance to Lincoln engineering firms, to whom, at the period of outhrealt of hostilities, there were heavy Ruesian debts owing, with further great consignments of goods on the way to the Baltic when war was declared.
Whatever may be done in relation to the larger isimes involved as to the outstanding French, and British loans, it has become clear that the chief Lincoln firms, with many others, are prepared to sink much in the hope of ultimate return. An immediate increase of work in the engineering shops will afford the means by which the city can alone he rescued from its present decadent condition. If the rehabilitating process can be speedily effected, it is likely to afford no more interesting development than in regard to the exploitation of motor machinery for agricultural purposes, which is practice. ally an undeveloped feature as far as Russia's necessities are concerned and will revolutionize in that vast territory many archaic processes in husbandry which still PrevaiL..
LAGGED BEHIND.
Nottingham as a Centre for Motor Trade Development.
A. LTHOUGH Nottingham has not yet attained to any position commensurate with its size, as an engineering centre for the production of motor vehicles or accessories, there is an important volume of industrial interest in the city representative of work in which motor power plays an indispensable part, proceedings at the recent annual dinner of the local Society of Engineers, which includes many concerned in the motor industry, being significant of the desire to place the Nottingham organization upon an equality with those of the best in the Midlands. The neighbouring town of Derby has always occupied a
• distinctive position in this respect, its importance as an engineering centre— which, obviously,. has always been great by reason of its location as the headquarters of the Midland Railway Co.'s works—having within recent years been enormously increased by the establishment there of the Rolls-Royce undertaking.
Whether through want of enterprise upon the part of the municipal authorities, or from other causes, Nottingham has never progressed in the same ratio as Derby as a general centre of engineering production, and there are those who are still old enough in the capital of the lace trade to recall, with very unpleasant memories, the want of foresight upon the part of corporation authorities of the time, which resulted in the selection of Derby as the administrative and technical centre of the great railway centre, Which Nottingham! by the exercise of a little more perspicacity, might, it is thought, easily have Obtained. Meanwhile, it is significant of excellent personal relationships between members of the engineering 'bodies in the two towns that many joint meetings for the practical elucidation of matters have been held from time to time of late years. Nottingham's direct interest in the mechanical branch of the motor industry is in prospect of being enhanced at an early date by the establishment in the city of a new Midland centre of operations for the Ford Co. Work in clearing a spacious site for the new buildings has been now for some weeks in progress, and it is anticipated that the suitability of the locale, coapled with Nottingham's eminently convenient geographical position for dealing with operations over a wide Midland area, may lead locally to the ultimate elaboration of the plans of the great American company, with which a beginning has now been made. Meanwhile, in the general furtherance of engineering studies in the city, it is encouraging to know that the classes at the University College are being productive of eminently practical results.
RAILLESS BUSES.
Rotherham Undertakes to Give a More • Adequate Service.
A'
eD.by the Maltby Parish Council to give a more adequate service of railless vehicles to the district, • thee Rotherham Corporation tramways mane. ger reports that the railless vehicles are now running 11.000 miles a month on this route, which is a higher mileage than hitherto. Nevertheless he promises an improved service when two new chassis on order are delivered.