Motor Vans at Christmas.
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The motorvan is proving its inestimable worth to nearly every storekeeper, at the moment, in keeping Christmas deliveries up to time. it is at such periods of pressure, when customers may be offended and further business lost, that the retailer above all men realizes that low cost per mile run is not the whole case for the motorvan. Never tired, the motor puts the horse clean out of competition, and we do not wonder that horse-proud owners are wavering more and more each month, in their old allegiance to animal power, when they peruse the incontrovertible records of their despatch manager. It is not only the shops and the stores which rejoice in the possession of good motors at this festive period of the year. The wholesalers, be they biscuit manufacturers, brewers' millers, or wine merchants, are equally dependent and thankful. Christmastide will again produce many converts to the cause for which we continue to work with so much pleasure.
No Railway Strike.
Manufacturers and traders throughout the country have been tentatively relieved by the decision of the railway men not to go out again on strike, hut, we think that transport interests will be lulling themselves into a sense of false security if they allow the recent decision to deter them from carrying into effect their earlier resolutions to equip themselves with alternative means of conveyance on a comprehensite scale. The purchase of motor lorries and wagons is a relatively-inexpensive and valuable safeguard against the risks of dislocation and loss which overtook so many branches of commerce and industry in this country during the month of August last. The lessons inflicted by the chaos into which transport then fell are not likely to be easily forgotten, but that is no reason why we should not insistently repeat the arguments that the possession of sufficient roadmotor plant is essential to independence, and that the only way to maintain ability to conduct the vital operations of one's business in times of strikes or other emergency is found in such ownership. We do not expect any cessation in the flow of orders from parties who wish to become owners and users for the purposes of their own trades. It is the motor contractor who may be deprived of a second period of extraordinary popularity, and of the enjoyment of famine rates. In this matter, we commiserate the motor contractor, who has by no means so big a margin as people are led to imagine. In his case, however, it is probable that regular support from bonafide customers who wish to employ machines all the year round is to be preferred to hysterical and spas
modic demands for odd services, even though the instructions be given at double the usual figures. The motor contractor, in our judgment, must benefit in any event by the added measure of attention that has been drawn to motor transport by this year's happenings, for the simple reason that thousands of jobs are offering from people who have neither enough nor regular work to justify purchases on their own account. The more there are of demands for haulage by the job, the day, the week or the month, the less difficult will it become for the contractor to fit in his working scheme with his orders.
The 1913 Road Congress.
The Royal Automobile Club has resolved to contribute the sum of £500, which is estimated to be one-tenth of the total sum required, to the expenditure which will be incurred in connection with the third International Road Congress. 'The S.M. M.T. has sanctioned the contribution of a like sum. The congress will take place, in London, during the year 1913—probably at the end of June and early in July ; it will serve to focus the attention of the whole country upon modern road construction and the advances which have been rendered possible throughout the United Kingdom by the policy of the Road Board. It will additionally provide an opportunity to secure publicity for the extraordinary activity of competing nations of the world in regard to road improvements and strengthening, as well as in relation to new construction. British engineers have nothing to fear in respect of comparisons between their methods and those of American or foreign engineers, but this country may not come out so favourably when comparisons are made in respect of the extent of work undertaken, or the amounts set aside.
The Commercial Motor Users Association has been asked to make a contribution to the above-mentioned expenses fund, and we are glad to note from the proceedings of the meeting of the General Committee on the 6th inst. that it has been resolved to do so. Any steps which can be taken to further the education of public opinion upon the economic gains which must result from highway improvements are to be commended, and are deserving of every support. The proceeds of the petrol tax have already been most effectively used as a means of inducing fair and reasonable expenditure, having regard to all circumstances. by local authorities, over and above previous contemplations, and that desirable state of affairs will be confirmed as the outcome of the congress to which we look forward. It is only by awakening the general body of ratepayers and taxpayers to the fact of activity in other civilized and developed countries that motor owners in the United Kingdom can hope to secure the necessary accession of support to render their position one which is recognized and consolidated. At present, too many people think that the use of. commercial motora benefits nobody but those to whom the vehicles belong.
The Encouragement of Van Drivers.
The next three pages of this issue contain up-todate particulars of the arrangements for the holding of the Sixth Annual Parade of Commercial-motor Vehicles, in connection with the scheme of the Commercial Motor Users Association for the encouragement of good drivers. These annual parades, which are no wunder the patronage of His Majesty the King, are primarily directed to the benefit of drivers of vans and other goods vehicles, although an occasional motorbus does turn up. Motorbuses and like vehicles are, of course, eligible, but the rules are not framed to encourage their presence in large numbers. The scheme of independent engineering inspection, which will be put into operation little more than a week hence, is the great departure compared with previous years, and it will undoubtedly facilitate the process of judging and eliminate risk of haste or oversight. On previous occasions, the judges have bee1 almost overwhelmed by the amount of work through which they had to try to get in a few hours. The contributions to the general and special funds are promising, and likely to be considerably increased. The entries, at the moment, reach a total in the vicinity of 200 vehicles, and we would urge upon owners and drivers the expediency of their arranging to enter at once. Should it be necessary, however, for any reasons, to defer the sending in of entries until the New Year, the charges per vehicle are certainly not prohibitive—X1 Is. if before the 31st March, and £2 2s. if before the 27th April.