The mechanical transport department of Idris and Co., Ltd., now
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consists principally of lorries which are not acceptable to the War Department.
In reply to our preliminary inquiry, Idris and Co., Ltd., of L Pratt Street, Camden Town, ondon, NW., the well-known mineral-water manufacturer, informed us that the effects of impressment were, in. its case, practically nil. We had, therefore, little hope of obtaining from this source data likely to be of interest to our readers. We, nevertheless, took a favourable opportunity to make our way to the company's warehouse. On this occasion we were introduce•d to the manager for the company, who expressed himself as being quite willing to afford us the information we required.
Like most men in similar positions, we found him a man of few words ; these, however, as is usually the case, were full of import.
His first statement confirmed the note from the company. It appears that before the war broke out, they were in possession of 21 vehicles ; three of these were Foden steamers, two five-ton Dennis, and one a Thames Ironworks wagon, which used to run between Greenwich and Chatham ; the remaining 15 were all ex-L.G.O.C. Wolseleys. Of this fleet only the two five-ton Dennis lorries were regarded by the War Office as being suitable forOtheir purpose ; in consequence, the company was still left after the impressment with 19 machines in good order. A little adjustment of the loading and journeys was sufficient to counteract the trouble that might otherwise have been caused by the withdrawal of the two large machines from service.
The Wolseleys are giving remarkably good service. They are, as is fairly well known, well-built machines, and, under the watchful eye of the engineer, who is afforded ,every facility for making repairs, it is very seldom that one of them is laid uo for more than a day or so. He informs us that another source of help is due to the faet that plenty of spare parts are available for these machines. They regularly carry 3-ton loads, and frequently, owing to the fact that, when carrying . empties, the drivers are paid commission on the number they can bring in, this load is increased by as mach as 50 per cent. •
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Taking into consideration the afge of these vehicles, and the services they have already rendered, there is no doubt that their present capabilities are a testimonial to the manufacturers. They are, of course, heavy, but not particularly 60, pull well on hills, and, as has been said, give remarkably little trouble.
The manager here repeated what we have heard from many other sources, that amongst the many advantages of motor haulage in connection with such a business as that in which this company is engaged, the facility for the quick return of empties is not one that can be lightly turned aside.
In reply to a query as to whether it had been found necessary to make any special additions to these old bus chassis, we were informed that they had all been fitted with a high-tension magneto. "Are you contemplating at some future date the possibility of replacing these out-of-date machines by others of more modern construction I" was our next quesawe
"Something of the sort is inevitable," was the reply, " and we are convinced from experience which we have gained with the machines that we have, that our best policy will be carefully to consider the claims of the various makes which are on the market with a view to deciding on one particular type, of which we can build up a fleet. It seems to . us that considerable economy is effected, where a number of vehicles is employed, if all are of one standard pattern."
" Are you quite satisfied with the treatment accorded to you by the impressment officials ? " " Oh, yes, quite I We were paid, within a few pounds, the sum which we considered a fair one. We were wired on the Saturday after the war broke out to be present at the, works on the next day-Sunday. The officials from the War Office arrived, inspected the lorries, and took them over immediately. We were able to arrange for them to have the assistance of a couple of our drivers to take the lorries down to Bristol."