WHEELS of INDUSTRY "The wheels of wealth will be slowed
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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.
Important Meeting of the M.H.C.S.A.
Last week the general management committee of the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association held a meeting in London, with Mr. F. A. Flin in the chair. It was stated in connection with the schedules of fares submitted to the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner by (a) 17 individual companies and (b) the Association, that he had disposed of schedule A as being incomplete and, after making certain amendments and additions to schedule B, conditionally approved such fares as reasonable minima. The Commissioner also intimated that the chairman of the SouthEastern Traffic Commissioners agreed with, and would act in accordance with, his decision.
It was decided to form a sub-committee of three members, namely, Messrs. Lowe, Guilmant and Jones, to promote " ways and means" for dealing with the stabilization of fares throughout the country.
Majestic Saloon Coaches, Ltd., Newcastle-upon-Tyne, requested the Maoelation's support against the appeals of the L.M.S. and L.N.E. Railway Companies to the Minister of Transport, against the granting of a backing for the coaching concern's road-service licence in respect of the London-Glasgow route. It was recalled that Fleetways, Ltd.. Grimsby, was in a similar position regarding its London-Grimsby service. Before arriving at a decision, it was agreed to invite representatives of each company to meet the committee.
Mr. Dobbs proposed that legal opinion should be obtained as to the bearing of restricted-streets Orders on coaches and the power of the Minister to make such general directions, and that Parliamentary agents be consulted as to the best method of raising the matter in the House of Commons.
Regulation and Restriction of Traffic..
The Minister of Transport has recently caused to be issued by H.M. Stationery Office, Statutory Rules and Orders, 1931, No. 486, entitled "The Regulation and Restriction of Road Traffic (Procedure) Regulations, 1931," dated June 8th. These came into force on June 15th. In brief, they deal with the methods to be adopted by localgovernment bodies applying for powers to regulate or restrict traffic over specified routes. Copies may be obtained from H.M. Stationery Office, price id. each.
Driving Licence Lapses and Insurance.
As a result of negotiations between the Minister of Transport and the insurance interests, members of the Accident Offices Associations, Lloyd's Underwriters and practically all the independent insurance offices have agreed that all future insurance certificates issued in connection with motor-vehicle policies will be amended by replacing the existing clause as to driving licences by the following:— "Provided that the person driving 7320 holds a licence to drive the vehicle or has held and is not disqualified by order of a court of law or by reason of age or disease or physical disability for obtaining such a licence."
Policies and certificates which are still in force will be interpreted by insurers as containing the amendment.
Green Line Seeks Municipal Support.
In . connection with its appeal to the Ministry of Transport against the action of the Traffic Commissioners in refusing licences for certain of its services, Green Line Coaches, Ltd., has asked Hampton Urban District Council for its support. The council is to make inquiries as to the Green Line services and those of a rival operator.
Corporation to Buy Private Services?
We are given to understand that Stockton Corporation is negotiating for the purchase of Messrs. Jones and Pritchard's Layfield Bus Services, operating on the Stockton-Stokesley, Stockton-Maltby and Stockton-Old Thornaby routes. The Commercial Motor understands, however, that the Layfield Bus Services will continue to operate between Northallerton and Stockton.
Licence Decrease Follows Withdrawal of Reminders.
During the quarter ended March 31st last there was a decrease of 3,084 in the number of applications to West Riding County Council for driver's licences as compared with the figure for the corresponding period of the previous year. The local taxation licences committee of the county council feels satisfied that this decrease is directly attributable to the discontinuance of the issuing of licence-renewal notices, which_ would cost about £250 per year.
The committee has, therefore, informed the Ministry of Transport that reminders should continue to be issued and the latter department has been asked to reconsider its decision to ban the practice, but the Ministry remains adamant. If the decrease be maintained the committee will again take up the matter with the Ministry.
New Chief Inspector of Subsidized Transport.
We are informed that Major E. EL Fitzherhert, D.S.O., M.C., has vacated the appointment of Chief Inspector of Subsidized Transport and will be succeeded, on August 1st, by Major A. N. Travers-Rountree, 0.13.E. In the interim the duties are being performed by Major J. T. M. Morton-Clarke, 0.B.E., in his capacity as Assistant to the Chief Inspector.
Attempt to Form National Association.
As we close for press we learn that a representative meeting of associations of public-service-vehicle owners is to be held in London by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, in an endeavour to form a national association ; this was due to take place yesterday (Monday). This move followed representations made and the reports submitted by the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association, on behalf of which organization Messrs. Logette and. Fine were to attend as delegates. Each association was required to send two delegates.
A.A. Annual Meeting.
The 26th annual meeting of the Automobile Association was held one day last week, when Mr. Charles McWhirter, chairman of the committee, presided. He stated that, in spite of the difficulties of the past year, the membership of the Association had shown an increase of 18,038, the total membership now being 444,778.
The accounts showed that the surplus of income over expenditure was £13,381, subscriptions and entrance fees totalling 1.801.649. The percentage of overhead expenses was barely 17 and the bulk of the expenditure (£626,226) was in connection with road services.
An Anti-dazzle Demonstration.
The Ministry of Transport draft regulations dealing with anti-dazzle will receive a practical trial at a demonstration to be organized in September next by the Royal Automobile Club. It will be run in connection with the International Illumination Congress, which takes place in this country from September lst-18th. The Congress is held under the auspices of the International Commission on Illumination and the whole of the arrangements are in the hands of the National Illumination Committee of Great Britain and the Illumination Engineering Society.
Intending entrants should communicate with the secretary of the R.A.C., Technical Department, Pall Mall, London, S.W.1.
Sales Propaganda by Motorvans.
A fleet of eight motorvans, equipped with apparatus for giving talking kinema shows and for amplifying speeches, left London a few days ago on a tour of the country, which synchronizes with a big Press advertising campaign being conducted on behalf of a well-known company of cigarette manufacturers.