IMPORTS AND EXPORTS UPS AND DOWNS.
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The Board of Trade returns for September show that the value of commercial vehicles, cars, chassis and accessories imported during that month was £312,518, contrasted with £159,425 in the comparable month of 1936.
The number of commercial vehicles exported fell from 304 in September, 1936, to 227 a year later, although an indication of the trend is provided by the fact that their value rose from £78,539 to £101,478. In the nine months ended September last 3,041 commercial vehicles were exported, compared with 2,333 in the corresponding period of 1936.
Again, there was tt big advance in the number of commercial cha,ssis exported, the figure for September being 1,527, compared with 1,194 in the previous year, the values rising from £206,910 to £246,570. In the nine months ended September last 12,615 commercial chassis were exported, of a value of £2,035,535, last year's figures being 9,703 and £1,532,683.
Vehicle Shortage Brings " Hours " Fines.
During the hearing, at Leeds, last week, of an application for an additional vehicle, the applicant said that breaches of the drivers' hours regulations. for which he had been fined under 14 summonses, arose from a difficulty in dealing with increasing work.
The,applicant, a cattle remover, said that his customers' business was increasing daily. The fact that, on occasion, he had to refuse work, because of a shortage of vehicles, was having a detrimental effect on the businesses of his customers.
The proceedings were adjourned for the hearing of an objection.
When Must Cattle Carrier be Disinfected?
What was described as a test case under the Transit of Animals (Amendment) Order. 11931, was heard by Bailie Allan, at Duafermline Police Court, when Alexander Deas, lorry driver, was charged with having conveyed two loads of animals and failed, after each of the two loads had been discharged, and before any other animal was placed in the lorry, to have the machine cleansed and disinfected.
Deas admitted failing to keep the necessary records, but pleaded not guilty to the first charge.
According to the evidence, consignments of cattle were taken on the lorry and, on arrival at the auction mart at Dunfermline, two sows, which had been partitioned off, were retained while the driver, without having the vehicle disinfected, went to collect a further consignment for the mart. He went to the slaughterhouse with the sows and had the lorry disinfected afterwards.
Mr. J. H. Wright, the fiscal, contended that each consignmeut was a load. Mr. A. Mitchell, for the defence, held that the whole of the contents of the lorry should be considered as one load. Until this load had been discharged, there was no obligation to disinfect.
Finding the charge proved, Bailie Allan said he regarded it as a test case. He imposed a nominal penalty of 10s. On the other charge, another fine of 10s. was imposed.
Fined for Running 200 Yards.
Because they used a vehicle operated under a Contract A licence to carry for a distance of 200 yds. goods owned by a finn other than that concerned in the contract, Fred and Herman Croft. haulage contractors, of Yeadon, Yorkshire. were each fined £2 at Otley, and were each ordered to pay half the 17s, 9d. costs.
Kessock Ferry Indignation Meeting.
Protests against the inaction of local authorities in securing an adequate service at Kessock Ferry, probably the most important ferry in the Highlands. were recorded at North Kessock, last week. That the demand for adequate ferry facilities was not merely for a local purpose, but for a public service to the whole of the Black Isle, was demonstrated at the protest meeting.
The Exide Show Luncheon.
As usual, the luncheon given to the Press by the Exide concern was a most successful and much-appreciated function.
Referring to the development of so-called improved electrolytes, the chairman, Mr. Dunne, said that his company had one that was better than any other.—corisisting principally of distilled water and a small amount of sulphuric acid. Like the effect of alcohol on the human being, the result of using a strong electrolyte on a lead battery would be temporary and it might do a lot of damage.
The company took the opportunity of introducing to the guests its new first-aid kit, the case of which is formed as a book. It will be sold at Ss. 6d., and is completely equipped.
From Motorcycle to 70 Lorries in 12 Years.
Tribute to the enterprise which had developed the business from a "oneman show " to a concern now operating 70 vehicles all over the country and even providing sleeping quarters for its drivers in different parts, was paid by Sir. John Maxwell, Northern Licensing Authority, when he officially opened new premises for Orrell and Brewster, Ltd., the big haulage undertaking, at the North Eastern Trading Estate, Team Valley, Gateshead, on Monday.
Twelve years ago, Mr. Frank Orrell. managing director of the company, was doing transport work in Newcastle with a motorcycle combination.
At a subsequent gathering, Mr. Norman Dawson, chairman of the company, presided, and the concern was toasted on the call of Major H. E. Crawfurd, president of Associated Road Operators. RESPONDENTS COULD NOT SUPPORT CONVICTION.
A Divisional Court of the King's Beuch Division, consisting of the Lord Chief Justice (Lord Hewart), Justices du Parcq and Atkinson, last week heard an appeal by Garlick Burrell and Edwards, Ltd., from the decision of the magistrates of Penkridge, Staffs, who fined the company 40s. for an alleged offence under the Road Traffic Act, 1934.
Sir Walter Monekton, K.C., for the appellant, said that his client was alleged to have employed an unlicensed man named Thomas Simpson as driver of a heavy lorry.
What really happened was that another employee, Matthew Andrew Ward was the recognized driver, but. because the lorry had a trailer. Simpson went With him as his mate.
While on the road, Simpson was allowed by Ward to drive, so that Simpson could obtain experience to pass a driving test. The concern knew nothing about it, yet was convicted and fined.
Mr. Kenelm Preedy, for the respondents, said he could not support the conviction.
The Lord Chief Justice said that that being so, the appeal would be allowed with costs and the conviction quashed.
Headlamp Beam Must Be Deflected, Says Ministry, Regulation 9 of the new Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations, 1936, having caused some slight confusion, we decided to obtain a ruling from the Ministry of Transport in respect of the legality, or otherwise, of switching off the beam of a headlamp not provided with any specific means for preventing dazzle. The following is the reply received :—
"I am directed by the Minister of Transport to refer to your letter of September 30 and to say that while he has no authority to interpret R.egulations made under an Act of Parlisunent, he is of the opinion that the requirements of Regulation No. 9, of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations. 1935, have the effect of prohibiting the use of electric front lamps on a motor vehicle if no provision is made for the emission of a deflected beam according to one of the alternative methods given, unless the lamps are of a power less than 7 watts and are fitted with frosted glass, or other lightdiffusing material."
Ministry Closes Experimental Concrete Road.
The Ministry of Transport's experiment in concrete road design and construction, which has been, in progress at Harmondsworth, Middlesex, since December. 1929, is being terminated. and the road is now closed to traffic. During the period, traffic, at the rate of about 16,000 tons a day, on part of the Colnbrook By-pass has been diverted to the experimental road in order to test the various sections.
The Experimental Work on Highways (Technical) Committee is of opinion that, as little further information of a purely experimental nature is likely to be obtained, no useful purpose would be served by continuing to keep the sections open to traffic. It is proposed to review the whole of the information relating to the experiment and to issue a final report.