BRITISH EXPERTS TO INSPECT GERMAN ROADS.
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An invitation has been issued through the Automobile Association and the Royal Automobile Club by Doctor F. Todt, general inspector of the German highways, for a party of chairmen and members of councils and county surveyors to inspect, next September, the various motorways and other highways works recently completed by the German Government.
Modernizing Southend Road.
The first part of the scheme to build a second carriageway on the LondonSouthend road is now nearing completion. In order that the work of modernization may be carried on without interruption, the Minister of Transport has made a grant to Essex County Council for the second instalment of the plan, estimated to cost over £64,000.
Drivers Buy Employer's Business.
Two drivers of Messrs. Sale Express Deliveries were successful applicants in Manchester, last week, for the transfer of the licence of their former employer, Mr. J. G. Smith.
Evidence was given that when Mr. Smith met with a serious accident last August, these two drivers carried on for him the business which they were now taking over at a figure satisfactory to all parties.
/Shipping Guide for Hauliers.
The following is the number of ships arriving at the London docks, wharves and jetties named, from May 21 to 29 inclusive :—Docses : King George V, 9; Royal Albert, 10; Royal Victoria, 7; Surrey Commercial, 8; East India, 1; West India, 1; South West India, 3 ; Tilbury, 8; Tilbury Stage, 5; Millwall, 4; London, 2. WHARVES: Hay's, 6; Middleton's, 1; Butler's, 1. Tilbury Jetty, 3. Regent's Canal, 1.
Road Position Critical, Says R.I.A.
In its recently issued 50th anneal report, the Roads Improvement Association states that the road situation cannot be reviewed with complacency; indeed, it is rather critical. The Association is particularly concerned with the slow progress of the five-year road plan. In 1935, the Government promised that £100,000,000 should be spent upon road improvements over five years. Two years have elapsed, but instead of two-fifths of the proposed works being carried out the value actually accomplished represents an outlay of less than £13,000,000.
It is the Association's view that, if this slow rate of progress continues, chaos will result, and inconveniences will lead to panic expenditure to save the situation.
The Association urges that the only way to reverse this situation is to spend, upon a carefully thought-out plan, between £25,000,000 and £30,000,000 per annum for the nextfew years. Such action would not only secure steady and appreciable progressaviTh the modeanization of our road system, but would allow the remunerative training and continued employment of additional labour in a number of trades.
The report of the Association contains some sound observations on road policy and, in addition, 'embodies references to a central highways department, road finance, trunk roads and cycle tracks.
A Haulier's Licence Revoked.
The Eastern Licensing Authority has revoked a contract A licence held by Messrs, E. G. Allison and Sons, of Thorney, Isle of Ely.
Less Overloading in Manchester.
Out of the hundreds of vehicles checked for laden weight by Manchester Corporation's weights and measures department, during the past year, legal proceedings were necessitated in only 14 cases. In 1935, 33 prosecutions were undertaken, and in 1934, 90.
I.A.E. Rules for Consulting Engineers.
The Institution of Automobile Engineers has published a memorandum of professional rules and practice for those of its members acting as consulting engineers. It is available, at 6d., to members, and Is. to non-members, from the offices of the Institution, Watergate House, York Building, Adelphi, London, Vir.C.2. Following the list of qualifications, notes on remuneration, etc., there is a list of members in this category who have undertaken to observe the duties and rules in the memorandum.
Austin Vans on the Long, Long Trail.
Mr. S. Graham Taylor and Mr. D. C. Stewart Smith, of Colombo, recently left that port on a journey across India, Persia, Asia Minor, Turkey, _ Bulgaria, Hungary, Austria, Germany and Northern France to London by Austin Twelve van—a distance of fully 9,000 miles.
The van, which is standard, easily accommodates all the equipment required.
Mr. Taylor at the start of the trip stated that he hoped to reach London in 10 weeks, and it is expected that enough will be saved in expenses as compared with the journey by boat or aeroplane to write off the purchase price of the van.
Meanwhile a similar venture is in progress with an Austin Seven van. This is being used by an art student, Mr. John A. Danford, winner of the Gold Medal and travelling scholarship awarded each year by the Royal Academy of Arts.
Mr. Danford has chosen to fulfil the conditions of his scholarship by making the circuit by land of the Mediterranean, and the van not only carries all his personal luggage, but also serves for sleeping. The southern half of the journey is being undertaken first, so that the hottest countries are covered during the cool spring months.