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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

• "The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by M4 roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crosier, The World Transport Congress.

We have already referred in our columns to the forthcoming World Motor Transport Congress which, for the first time, will this year be held in Europe, London being the actual venue, and the dates November 14th, 15th and 16th. An official visit of the delegates to the Congress will be paid to the Commercial Motor Exhibition at Olympia, which opens on November 17th.

A sub-committee of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has now been appointed to deal with the Congress, being composed of the following gentlemen :—Mr. R. W. Maudslay (president), Mr. Albert Brown, Mr. Prank Lanehester, Col. J. Sealy-Clarke, Sir Alfred Mays-Smith; Mr. John Chilton, J.P., Mr. G. M. Young, B.Sc., and Mr. L. Walton. We understand that this committee will have power to coopt additional members. The committee is representative of the manufacturers of private and commercial vehicles, of tyres and other components. In Mr. Frank Lanehester and Col. SealyClarke the committee includes the representatives of the Society at the last two World Motor Transport Congresses held in New York. Mr. John Chilton represents the motor agents, and the particular representative of the commercial vehicle manufacturers is Mr. G. M. Young, who, by the way, is now a vicepresident of the Society, and has just returned from a lengthy visit to the West Coast of Africa in the interests of the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd. The organizer of the Congress acting on behalf of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders i Mr. Horace Wyatt, 21, Northumberland Avenue, London, W.C.2.

The Newcastle to Leeds Daily Bus Service.

The promoters of the Leeds-Newcastle Omnibus Co., Ltd., which is being formed for the purpose of opening up the north country's first long-distance service between Newcastle and Leeds, is rapidly completing its plans, and it is hoped that the service will be inaugurated on April 7th. The company is now awaiting delivery of six luxuriously appointed saloon . buses which are being built in London. Three runs will be made each way 1320

Trouble is still. being experienced in the way of securing running powers from various authorities along the route. As was recorded iu our last week's issue, the Gateshead licensing. authority has declined to give sanction for the establishment of a terminal station in that town. The emnpany has, therefore, approached the Gosforth Urban District Council with a view to operating from that town in the event of the application which it has made to the Newcastle Corporation being turned down.

The route is to be by way of Darlington, Harrogate and Ripon, and . application was recently made for permission to pick up passengers in Harrogate. The council, however, refused sanction.

Halley's New Company.

A circular letter was issued last week by the liquidator of Halley's Jndustrial Motors, Ltd., to the shareholders of the company announcing an extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders to be held in Glasgow tomorrow (Wednesday). At the meeting, a resolution will be proposed authorizing the liquidator to sell the whole assets of the company to a new concern to be formed under the title of "Halley Motors, Ltd.," or other suitable name, and to receive in satisfaction of the purchase price shares in the new company of the value of kis. Sd. each, credited with 4a, 2d. pad up.

We understand th.ks,',the new capital which is required in eonnection with the reorganization of the company has already been largely over-subscribed, so that this disposes entirely of any doubt regarding the future of the manufacture of Halley vehicles and of the continuance of the service arrangements for machines that have been produeed, Lower Petrol Prices.

The chief petrol and benzoic supply companies (so often referred to as the " Combine") reduced the retail price of motor spirit by 2d. per gallon on Wednesday morning last, and their announcement was followed next day by a reduction on the part of the independent petrol companies of from 14.1. to 2d. per gallon in order that the in

dependent prices might still be kept below the "Combine" price. The new retail prices of standard and commercial grades of petrol in the provinces are is. 41.4. per gallon from the underground tanks and is. 50. per gallon from the can. Coininereial spirit-is being sold largely at 1s. per gallon.

A Bus Station for Llanelly.

Plans and estimates for the erection of a bus station are to be presented to the next meeting of the bus-licensing committee of the LItinelly Borough Council. The question of providing a central bus station has for some months engaged the attention of the Llanelly Council. and communications have passed between the council and the South Wales Transport Co., Ltd., Messrs. J. and .T. iii. Barns, and Messrs D. Bassett and Sons, all leading bus proprietors in the area, on the matter of contributing to the cost of such a scheme. A tentative arrangement has been made between the parties and the council has asked the South Wales Transport Co., Ltd., Swansea, to submit plans and estimates for such a bits station prior to the next meeting of the committee.

British Vans for Overseas Mails. Another proof of the growing popularity of British motor vehicles overseas is afforded by the fact that the Singapore authorities have purchased a fleet of Morris S-cwt. van chassis for use in connection with Omit postal services.

London Street Accidents.

In connection with recent representations by the London County Council, the Ministry of Transport decided to call a conference to consider various matters in regard to street accidents, and this was held yesterday (Monday).

Statistics of accidents are now available for the year 1926. The number of fatalities in Greater London in that year exceeded 1,000 for the first time, the number of persons killed being 1,020; the number injured was 47,213. During the last six years fatalities have increased by about 55 per cent. and injuries by about 125 per cent.

The folldwing councils and associations were invited tc send representatives to the conference :—The county councils of Middlesex, Essex, Kent, Surrey and Hertfordshire, the City Corporation and the 28 Metropolitan borough councils, the councils of the county boroughs of Croydon, East Ham and West Ham, all the municipal borough and urban district councils within the Metropolitan Police district, the National "Safety First" Association, the Royal Automobile Club, the Automobile Association, the Commercial Motor Users Association, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, the Underground group, the London Cartage and Haulage Contractors Association, the London and Provincial Omnibus Owners Association, the Association of London Omnibus Proprietors and the Coroners Association. The Commissioners of the Metropolitan and City Police were also invited.

The Growth of Canadian Exports.

Canadian commercial-vehicle exports '(including chassis) increased from 2,564 (value $1,094,519) in 1922 to 12.439 (value $4,503,659) in 1923, 12,772 (value $4,429,161) in 1924; 16,146 (value $5.250,002) in 1925 and 20,696 (value $6.957,242) in 1926. The Dominion's best customers last year were Australia, which took 4,936 vehicles ; India, 4,186; Dutch East Indies, 2,014; South Africa, 1422; New Zealand, 1,370; Straits Settlements, 1,313; United Kingdom, 1,013; Venezuela, 775; British West Africa, 550; and Siam, 528.

Parking at the Cup Final.

The Royal Automobile Club will be responsible for the whole of the Parking arrangements at the football cup final at Wembley. The charge for cars will be 2s. 6d. per vehicle, but berths may be booked in advance at an in

elusive cost of 5s. All the cars will be parked under cover. For chars-abanes the charge will be 6s., and for motorcycles 1s. All communications re-• garding the parking and all applications for car berths should be addressed to the Secretary, R.A.C., Pall Mall,

London, S.W.1.

Yorkshire's London Manager.

The Yorkshire Patent Steam Wagon Co., Hunslet, Leeds, has appointed Mr. L. H. Riddell, BA., as London manager in place of the late Mr. T. j. Gee. Mr. Riddell joined the company upon the termination of the war, , and, as assistant to the technical manager at Leeds, has been in close touch with the design, manufacture and testing of the -Yorkshire W.G. 6-ton steam wagon. An Interesting Agreement.

An important arrangement has been made between James and Sons, Ltd., Arnmanford, and the Great Western Railway Co., whereby the buses of the two companies in the Ammanford and Swansea Valley areas will be run under conditions which will obviate competition and permit of co-ordination of local services, the institution of mutually arranged schedules and the inter-availability of return tickets on the buses of either company.

The Great Western Railway Co. has tyi. assented to the request of the Neath Council that only pneumatic-tyred buses should be used on the Neath-Dulais Valleys services, and has decided to substitute the buses now employed on the routes by vehicles of a more modern

A New Dunlop Tyre.

Added strength, longer life and a surer road grip are the three principal advantages claimed for an improved type of medium-pressure tyre recently introduced by the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd. The popular triple-stud tread of last year is retained in this tyre, but certain improvements and alterations have been made. The tread blocks are deeper and larger than formerly, whilst each outside block is supported and strengthened by a wedge-shaped buttress tapering from the tread down to the wall.

The new tread, which has been named "buttressed triple stud," will be available on Dunlop tyres of the wired type in practically all low-pressure and medium-pressure sizes.

A French Users' Association.

The commercial vehicle owners in the Marseilles district of France have recently organized the Union des Vehicules Industriels du Sud-Est, with the object of protecting their interests.

Restrictions on Isle of Wight Roads.

Many of our readers will recall that a short time ago the Ministry of Transport conducted an inquiry into the application of the Isle of Wight County Council for power to prohibit or restrict the use of certain types of motor coach and other heavy vehicles on a number of narrow roads in the island. The Ministry has now intimated that it proposes to issue an order, which will fake effect from Xuly or August next, prohibiting or restricting such traffic on about 30 roads. Out of this number, 26 roads will be scheduled for use by vehicles seating not more than 14 persons.

Trent Motor Traction Results.

According to the 14th annual-report of the Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd., which has recently been issued, the net revenue derived from the operation of the company's motor vehicles during last year brought in /44,010. After taking into account all working expenses and charging the sum of £20,606 against the profits for the year, in order to provide for depreciation of rolling stock and plant, a surplus of £9,144 is

shown. The total amount available after adding the sum of £5,994 brought forward is £15,138. The payment of a dividend of 8 per cent. is recommended, and after this has been made a sum of /3,932 remains to be carried forward.

An Important Bus-licensing Inquiry. As the outcome of a prolonged difference of opinion between the Darlington Corporation and the United Automobile Services, Ltd., the various phaSes of which have been reported in The Commercial Motor on several occasions during the past year, an important Ministry of Transport inquiry is to be held at Darlington on Friday, April 8th. This investigation has been made necessary as the result of an appeal by the company against the refusal of the corporation to grant it licences for 117 vehicles to ply for hire.

The case for the municipality is that tin company declined, in spite of several requests, to give any undertaking concerning routes, fares, timetables and other matters, as required by the corporation's standard form of undertaking which is submitted for completion and sig,nature to all applicants for licences. The company takes the line that the municipality has no power to attempt to dictate which route shall be followed outside the borough boundary, and has already pointed out that, in the case of its Richmond route, around which much of the trouble has centred, its buses make a deviation out of Darlington—to which objection is taken—of roughly eight miles. Great interest is being displayed in the forthcoming inquiry, for it is felt that some of the issues which are likely to be raiscd have a wide significance.

R.O.P. Vehicle Purchases.

Russian Oil Products, Ltd., 153, Moorgate, London, /E.C.2, has recently extended its distributing facilities, and this has been made possible by the purchase of a large fleet of motor vehicles. The company has recently placed orders with Dennis Bros., Ltd., for 28 1,000 gallon tank wagons ; with the Associated Daimler Co., Ltd., for 16 1,000-gallon tank wagons, 16 lorries for carrying fuel in cans, 12 1,450-gallon tank wagons and 10 combination tankers and lorries; and with Automobiles M. Bernet for 16 motor vehicles. All these vehicles are due for delivery before the end of June, and have been purchased for the new depots which the company is opening in the provinces, as well as for use in connection with its growing business in London.

Albion Orders.

The Albion Motor Car Co-' Ltd., Scotstonn, Glasgow, advises us that it has recently received a further repeat order from the Scottish General Omnibus Co., Ltd., of Larbert, for eight 29seater bus chassis. Another order recently received is for a 2-ton lorry with a steel-lined body, this being from the Borough of Portsmouth Water Works

Company. •

Menai Bridge Tolls Reduced.

Vehicles using the Menai Tubular Bridge, North Wales will, as from April 1st, enjoy reduced tolls. As this bridge is heavily used by motor coaches and buses, the concession will be a useful one and will be welcomed by commercial users generally.

The International Exhibition at Cologne.

The International Exhibition of Commercial Vehicles, to be held in Cologne at the end of May, promises to be well supported by German manufacturers. The only English firm so far reported as having taken a stand is the Villiers Engineering Co., of Vc.rolverhampton, which win be showing in the accessories section, but it is still possible that others will come forward or show their products through agents.

The interest in the exhibition will be increased by the number of conferences and meetings taking place at the same time. These include meetings of the State Union of Automobile Manufacturers, the German Automobile Agents Society, the Union of Municipal Cleansing Officials (in Germany), the Society for the Study of Motor Roads (in Germany), the International Furniture Removal Society, and the Society of Motor Transport Users (Germany): The motor clubs in Cologne • are arranging' a series of sporting events to take place during the exhibition, and these include a reliability and hillclimbing contest for commercial vehicles.

A Chart for the Fleet Owner.

Lodge Plugs, Ltd., Rugby, has just issued a wall chart giving illustrations of the range of Lodge plugs, together with a list of the company's recommendations concerning the type of plug to use in specific makes and types of

vehicle. The chart is intended primarily for use in garages and by dealers, but those users who maintain large fleets of vehicles would undoubtedly find it of considerable use. A copy of the chart can be obtained on application to the company.

L.G.O. Posters.

The London General Omnibus Co.. Ltd., has recently issued a series of attractive posters which depicts country scenes in places a few miles out of London. They are lithographic reproductions of real photographs, and should do much to draw attention to the charming bits of country which can readily be reached by bus from Louden.

A By-law Rarely Remembered by Users.

One of the by-laws of the Cheshire County Council which deserves to he better known by motor-lorry drivers is that which reads :—" Hooded vans.— No owner of a vehicle shall drive such vehicle or permit the same to be driven or to be in any street unless it be so constructed that the driver thereof shall have a full and uninterrupted view of the traffic in and along such street in front and abreast of him on each side, and no person who shall be driving any vehicle in any street shall occupy such a position as will prevent or interfere with his having such full and uninterrupted view as aforesaid."

In a prosecution at Chester a few days ago, it was alleged that the defendant,

a driver, had a tarpaulin in use which partly obscured the side window. Defendant, addressing the magistrates, said the tarpaulin did not obscure his sight, but at the same time it kept off a good deal of wind. Supt. Yale said the case was taken under the by-laws, and the by-laws, unfortunately, were not too well known. In the circumstances they would dismiss the case on payment of costs. The next offender would not be dealt with the same way.

Wallasey's Popular Euses.

During the moilth of January the Wallasey Corporation fleet of motorbuses carried almost double the number of passengers that were dealt with in the corresponding period of last year, the respective figures being 144,500 and 77,500. The receipts have jumped from 906 to /1,566. The increased traffic is mainly on the Wallasey-Birkenhead routes—traffic which is shared by the two boroughs which provide the vehicles and take the receipts in alternate weeks. On the other hand, the tramway revenue has shown a perceptible decline, and nearly 100,000 passengers less were carried in January of this year as compared with last year, A Co-operative Society's Purchases.

We learn that the Bolton Co-operative Society has recently accepted the tender of Southern Bros. to supply a 25-cwt. Morris-Commercial lorry, as well as that of T. and S. Leaver to supply two Albion lorries, one of 30cwt. capacity and the other a 3-tonner.

Renold Driving Chains.

"Renold Products" is the title given to a new publication which Hans Renold, Ltd., Burnage Works, Didsbury, Man chester, has recently published. Con siderable space is given in this catalogue to a description of chain drives for power transmission, as well as to chains for conveying and elevating. A perusal of the publication gives a good indication of the versatility of the chain for numerous applications, this including the various forms of drive on commercial vehicles.

Fuller starting Batteries.

The Fuller Accumulator Co. (1926), Ltd., Woodland Works, Chadwell Heath, Essex, has sent us a copy of a new folder which it has just issued dealing with the company's EM-type starting batteries in ebonite containers.

Appointing a Hackney Carriage Inspector.

Llanelly Borough Council is to appoint an independent motor engineer to carry out the inspection of hackney carriages, and is consulting bus owners on the matter of fees payable by them to meet the cost.

C.M.U,A. Protest Against New Bus Stands.

Strong feeling has been aroused at Preston by the decision of the local watch committee to exclude privately owned buses from the centre of the town. It is contended that not only will this be an inconvenience to passengers, but that the proposed Stanley Street terminus for Walton buses will be awkward and dangerous, since it will be the converging point for so much more traffic.

The watch committee recommends that the following stands be used for the routes mentioned :—Loudon Road (near Stanley Street) : Bolton, Horwieh, Chorley, Dumber Bridge, Gregson Lane and Blackburn (Old Road).

Junction of Stanley Street and Church Street : -Lorigridge and Blackburn (New Road).

Starchhouse Square : Blackpool and Great Eccleston (to enter and leave Preston, via Fylde Road, Walker Street and Lowson Street) ; Garstang and Goasnargh, except the buses of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd. (to enter and leave via High Street and Lancaster Road), Corporation Street : Liverpool, Ley.

land, Longton, Whitestake (to enter and leave Preston along Fishergate Fishergate and Corporation Street). The buses of Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., to Lancaster, Garstang and Goosnargh to run from Tithebank Street.

The Preston Commercial Motor Users Association has passed the following resolution :—" That the proposal of the Preston Corporation in regard to bus stopping places in Preston is entirely opposed to the interest of the travelling public generally and cannot have received the full consideration of the.

corporation. That suitable alternate routes in and out of Preston are available and would prevent congestion. That if the proposals are insisted upon considerable damage will be caused to the town and trade of Preston."

In East Ham last year the yield from the issue of local taxation licences was .£17,213, as compared with £13,325 in 19L5.

Indian Imports.

According to a survey of the import trade of India for the period from April let to December 31st, 1926, the total trade in motorbuses, motorvaas and lorries was 4,749 vehicles, valued at Rs.89 lakhs, the figures for the same period of the previous year being 3,325 vehicles, valued at Rs.61 lakhs. The share of the United Kingdom was 270 vehicles, this being an increase. of 29 vehicles over the corresponding period of the previous year. Canada shipped 2,503 vehicles to India, whilst imports from the United States totalled 1,856 vehicles.

Long-distance Services from Leeds. Leeds Watch Committee has granted licences for a period_ of three months to J. Bullock and Sons., Ltd., for motor omnibuses to run within the city in -connection with services between Leeds

• and Blackpool, and between Leeds and Scarborough, subject to the vehicles conforming to the requirements of the committee and to the proprietors entering into an undertaking to comply with the conditions attached to motor omnibus licences.

Karrier's Works Busy.

Karrier Motors, Ltd., Earner Works, Huddersfield, is receiving an increasing demand for its six-wheeIer products, and amongst the latest companies which have ordered vehicles of this type can be mentioned the Border Motor Transport Co., Hawick (repeat) ; Bryson Bros., Ltd., Glasgow (repeat), and Rae Bros., Waterloo. These orders are for 26-32-seater vehicles. A 40-seater six-wheeler is being purchased by Messrs. Butler, of Henley, whilst the Wallasey Corporation is buying two six-wheelers of the same capacity, as well as a 32-seater on the company's new Par low load-line chassis. number of other types of passenger vehicle is passing through the company's works, these having seating capacities ranging from 14 to 37.

The company has received an order from the city of Carlisle for two RSO sweepers, whilst a similar machine is

being purchased by the Manchester Corporation, and a 1,000-gallon street sprinkler is being constructed to the order of the Poplar Borough Council.

Karrier Motors, Ltd., also has under construction a number of goods-earrying vehicles for users in various parts of the country.

More Guy Buses for the G.W.R.

In addition to a recent order which Guy Motors, Ltd., Wolverhampton, received from the Great Western Railway Co. for 40 Guy 25-seater single-deck buses, the company has just received another order from this railway for a further 15 machines. These vehicles are also 35-seaters, and are of the low load-line type with forward steering. The bodies will have rear entrances with emergency exits at the front.

An Unsafe Bridge.

Eamont Bridge, situated near Penrith on the main England-Scotland road, has been declared unsafe for traffic over a certain weight, and notices were recently placed at both ends of the bridge warning drivers of

the conditions. Locomotives are prohibited on the bridge, except by the express consent of the county council. So far as motor vehicles are concerned, the prohibition is in respect of those vehicles with any single axle weight of three tons, and a combined axle weight of five tons.

It was recently decided by a joint committee of the Cumberland County Council and the Westmorland County Council to rebuild the bridge at a cost of over 132,000. The hump-backed nature of the structure has proved a continual source of danger to road users.

• An Opportunity in Poland.

The third International Fair at Poznan (Posen) will be held between • May. 2nd and 9th next. Amongst the • various goods and appliances which are needed commercial vehicles and tractors figure prominently. Manufacturers interested can obtain detailed information by writing to: The Executive Committee of the Pomian Fair, Glogowska 42, Poznan, Poland.

A Coach Stand Census.

At a meeting of the Eastbourne Watch Committee, the chief constable reported, with reference to char-it-banes stands on the Royal Parade, that the result of inquiries of householders from the Pier to Halton Road shows that a large majority desires no alteration to be made in the present position of the stands. The figures were as follow :Forty-seven desire the stands to remain as last year, three desire that all should be removed, 13 desire a reduction of stands, one desires a reduction of hours.

The committee decided that the stands should remain as at present.

Effect of Increased Taxation on Haulage Tenders.

The effect of increased taxation upon motor vehicles was touched upon at a recent meeting of the Cardiff City Council, when the minutes of the public works committee came up for consideration, and attention was called to the tenders received for the council's haulage work. A member said there was a "staggering" increase in the tenders as compared with those submitted for the same work 12 months ago. For the committee it was said that the heavy increase in the taxation of motor vehicles was responsible for the increase, tenderers now having to pay £60 tax on a vehicle formerly taxed at £30. There was very keen competition to obtain the council's work, and the tenders recommended by the committee for acceptance were approved.

A London-Weymouth Service.

At a meeting of the Weymouth Watch Committee communications were received from the National Omnibus and Transport Co., Ltd., intimating that it proposed inaugurating a motorcoach service between London and Weymouth this year, and asking whether the committee would grant the necessary licences. Subject to the vehicles being satisfactory when inspected the committee will issue the licences.

British Vehicles in Hong Kong.

According to a recent return there are now 116 motorbuses in use in Hong Kong, 106 of the vehicles being American and the others British. So far as motorvans and lorries are concerned there are 220 in use in the city, of which 157 are American (mainly Fords), 58 British, three German and two Italian. Of the British vehicles the most numerous are those of Dennis and Thornycroft makes.

The Latest Long-distance Service.

Long-distance bus services are springing up in all parts of the country, and the latest to be mooted is that between Glasgow and Liverpool, which, it is said, will shortly be instituted as a daily service. The approximate distance separating the two places is 250 miles, and we learn that a fare of 22s. will be charged for the single journey.

Agents and the Commercial Vehicle.

"Is the Commercial Vehicle Worth Handling by Agents?" is the title of the paper to be read by Mr. R. H. Ross, A.M.I.Meeh.E., AALLA.E., before the Nottingham branch of the Institute of the Motor Trade on March 25th, at 7.30 p.m., at the Albert Hotel, Derby Road, Nottingham. Middlesbrough's Bus Purchases.

At its last meeting the Middlesbrough Corporation resolved to accept the tender of Guy Motors. Ltd., of Wolverhampton, for the supply of six 26seater one-man-controlled saloon buses, for the purpose of opening up three new in-town routes. It was stated that a number of 'makes had been used for demonstration purposes over experimental services in the previous four weeks. This purchase is part of a deferred scheme to acquire a fleet of 18 new vehicles. Before making further purchases, however, the corporation is to investigate the possibilities of private firms providing essential town services upon a mutual basis of working.

Bus Licensing at Pontardawe

The Pontardawe Rural District Council, which has been specially vested with urban district council powers of bus licensing and control, has decided that, in future, no licences shall be granted, or applications made for licences be considered, except at an annual licensing meeting to be held by the council. The period of currency of licences will be from October 1st to September 30th of the year following, and no short-period plying-for-hire licences will he issued.

Commercial Motors in Holland.

A report recently issued in Amsterdam shows that at the commencement of the present year there were 2,381 moterbuses, 15,539 motorvans and lorries, 610 tractors and 600 trailers in UST in Holland.

Accidents in York.

In York last year 129 persons were injured in the streets by vehicles-94 by mechanically propelled vehicles. 28by pedal cycles, five by horse-drawn vehicles and two by trams or trolleybuses. In four cases the injuries terminated fatally.

Coach Licensing in rouglas..

The licensing committee of the Douglas (I.O.M.) Corporation recently received a deputation from the Car and Motor Hiring Association and the Motor Trade Association with respect to the conditions, and regulations governing applications for grants of licences for motorcars and chars-ilbanes. The conditions and regulations were amended to meet the views of the deputation.

India's Imports of Solid Tyres.

The imports of solid-rubber tyres for motor vehicles into India during the period from April 1st to December 31st last were of a value of Rs.0 lakhs, being Rs.1 lakh lower than in the same period of the previous year. It is satisfactory to note, however, that the United Kingdom's share of the trade rose from Rs.4 lakhs to Rs.53. lakhs, whereas imports from Germany and the United States both decreased.