The Motor Drivers News.
Page 33
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Motorbus Drivers and the Police.
" Nemo " (London) asks us to insert the following letter :—" I have read the letter from Driver Seven Makes ' in a recent issue of 'Tim COMMERCIAL MOTOR,' and I can fully endorse all that he says. Whoever it is who writes under this num-de-plume must be, I think, employed by the same company as myself. " I think it a downright shame that when a man is summoned before a magistrate, and punished by a fine, or otherwise, the Commissioner of Police should, months afterwards, be allowed to punish him over again for the same offence by stopping or revoking his license. I think that, when a man has passed the Scotland Yard test for a driver's license, only a police magistrate should be allowed to punish him or revoke his license. This matter should be brought up before the Commission now sitting to enquire into the misdeeds of the police.
" As regards a drivers' society, 1, too, would be pleased to co-operate with the promoters of any sensible scheme for such a body. It should be open for all motorbus drivers throughout the country, and, also, their respective conductors should be allowed to join it. I do not think that sixpence a week would hurt us very much, but I am not in favour of his suggestion re a distress fund, as I do not consider the penny a week sufficient for the purpose. I should like to see a fund for paying the men's fines."
The Responsibility for Side-slip.
" K.S." (Stepney) sends the following letter :—" Now that the various daily papers are filling their columns with long accounts of the manner in which motorbuses slide down our principal thoroughfares, I should like to hear some views on the same subject in the Drivers News.' Motorbus drivers and others are surely interested in this important matter, as, if these skidding incidents are magnilfed, they will bring these invaluable vehicles into disrepute amongst those who only rely upon the lay Press
for information. When one reads of lamp-posts being broken off like carrots,' and other equally sensational items, it really behoves all those who are in any way interested in the motor industry to find out the reason for the skidding propensities of public service vehicles. This hint applies as much to drivers and conductors as to any other class, as they are on duty all day and have many opportunities for observation. As a driver of many years' standing, I am of the opinion that the roads are directly responsible for any skidding which occurs. Some will, no doubt, say that it is because the wheels of motorbuses are shod with rubber that they are liable to skid in muddy weather, but this is no argument, as anyone will admit who has observed the difficulty with which self-propelled vehicles, whose wheels are shod with steel tires, negotiate muddy macadam roads, or greasy wood paving. One seldom sees any mention of horsed buses doing any damage, for the simple reason that they are no longer novelties, but horsed buses skid considerably on wood paving, if greasy, as anyone can prove to themselves if he will take the trouble to watch the traffic at the corner of St. Thomas's Hospital, or in certain other districts of the Metropolis. If surveyors would realise how dangerous and unnecessary road camber is, I am sure all
owners of self-propelled vehicles would be thankful. A camber, on a road without any depressions on its surface will help to drain off the surplus water, but whoever saw a macadamised or paved street in London that had no depressions? Therefore, I say, let us have flat roads, and do away with the useless and inefficient camber."
A Motor Drivers' Society.
C. Watson (Secretary of London branch), of 26, Ambler Road, Finsbury Park, N., writes as follows :—" With reference to the formation of a Motor Drivers' Society, and in answer to 'T.D.' (Keighley), will you permit me to say that we are not seeking to found a new society in London for motor drivers? We have formed a branch of the Amalgamated Association of Tramworkers, an old-established society having its headquarters at Manchester, for motor workers in the Metropolis, as we are convinced that it is time something was done in order to command better working conditions and wages, and we are pleased to hear that our fellow-workers in Yorkshire are of the same opinion, and would urge them to join hands with us by communicating with our general secretary, G. T. Jackson, 5, Leaf Square, Pendleton, who will be only too glad to assist them in forming branches of our association in their respective districts. We heartily reciprocate • T.D.'s ' wishes, and wish him and his fellow-workers in the North every success, and earnestly hope that in the near future we shall hear of him in connection with our organisation."
A Van Driver's Views on Magnetos.
" J.W." (London) writes the following :—" It is evident, in looking over your recent Van ' issue, that those vehicles have, also, conic to stay. I have been interested in the motor trade for a living tor five years, and have studied the Simms-Bosch system of ignition. It has caused much annoyance to drivers and delay in business. if, in all systems of low-tension ignition, the tappets could be locked, and free from interference from inexperienced men, what is to prevent its working regularly? In the Lacre system it would be a difficult matter to take out the magneto for inspection and lay it on the mudguard to observe closely whether it had kicked its last kick, while the small crowd in the street held the usual inquest.
" I and others know of an instance where a driver had a pair of new plugs to put in, for low-tension ignition. He reiused any assistance, and it took him 21 days to find the spark. He gave up the job, and it was done in a trifle over half an hour by a man who knew. While this afore• mentioned job was being done in a London yard, at the busiest time of the year, the van was, verbally, consigned Lo the flames by those who were not in the know. The driver, of course, was not to blame; he was paid 30s. a week, and was learning his business. What I fail to understand in employers is : When they meet with the right man they rarely offer him more wages. Vans are made so simple nowadays, that I am looking forward for the automatic driver.
"I have gone round the London yards, and in both town and country one meets with the same reply : We are teaching our own drivers.' "