Motor Van and Wagon Users' Association.
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Function to Mark our Present Freedom.
A luncheon took place on Tuesday last to commemorate the coining into force of the Heavy Motor Car Order. The chair was occupied by Lieut.-Colonel R. E. B. Crompton, CB., M.I.C.E., M.1.E.E., who was supported by some 6o members and guests, including :---Sir W. H. l'reece, K.C.13., Colonel II. C. L. Holden, F.R.S., J. W. Inglis (General Manager G.W.Ry.), Sir Albert K. RoBit, M.P., W. IL Willcox (President National Traction Engine Owners' and Users' Association), Henry Norman, M.P., Sidney Straker {President Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders), E. Dangerfield, F. C. A. Coventry (G.W.Ry.), H. Howard Humphries, Geo. Monro, Junr., W. Worby Beaumont, W. (3, Lobjait, J. L. Farmiloe., J. M. Patrick, J. Farmiloe, II. Farmiloe, W. Barnsley (Cheltenham), John Kitchen, Stanley Spooner, H. Piggott, W. Ralph Dodd, E. D. Rose, Lloyd IL Baxendale (Pickfords, Ltd.), J. Baxendale, N. 0. Walker, C. Jarrott, E. M. C. Instonst, E. H. (ozens Hardy, H. Thomson Lyon, 11. W. Stadler, F. Coleman, Douglas Mackenzie, W. Deighton, T. Clarkson. Jesse Ellis, G. M. Robertson, C. L. Freeston, T. W. Staplee Firth, E. Shrapnel]. Smith (hon. treasurer), and W. Rees Jeffreys {secretary).
After the loyal toasts had been honoured, Sir W. II. Preece proposed " Commercial Automobilism." He thought that manufacturers could not devote too much attention to the question of educating themselves to the needs of users, and to improvements in their methods of production, and that the commercial motor industry was a promising example in that direction. The Use of commercial motors would be helped to grow more general because of the Association, and he looked upon that branch of automobilism as being on the brink of a tremendous future. The past few years had taught us a great deal about transport, and the community now were alive to the absolute necessity for rapid despatch, frequency of service, and low cost of operation. He considered that London would become a paradise owing to the use of motor vans and omnibuses, and the Association was to be commended for its efforts to hasten that day. He understood that there were 26,000 motorcars in Great Britain, to say nothing of 25,000 motorcycles, of which vehicles some 3,5oo were used exclusively for commercial purposes. The Automobile Club had a membership of 2,500, and the Motor Union a membership of 7,000; but the Motor Van and Wagon Users' Association numbered only hundreds. He was convinced that a few years hence its ranks would include as many thousands, and he was looking forward to seeing County Councils and other local authorities as large users of these vehicles. He coupled with the toast the name of their Chairman.
The Chairman, in responding, remarked that the object of the Association covered all branches of commercial motors, but the name was considered long enough already without specifically naming carts, omnibuses, and other types. Although it was an infant, being little more than a year old, its progress showed that an evident want had been met by its existence. The Association, to be as powerful as they wished to see it, should include users of commercial motors of all kinds, and the advance of the movement they existed to foster would be of general advantage to the commercial world, the land owner and the colliery owner, the general body of the public., and finally, to the individual pedestrian, who was hustled about in the streets by the present hopeless jumble of vehicles. The end and aim of commercial motors was a very great one, and the conservative feeling in this country must be thrown aside ; it was the object of the Association to live that feeling down through the strengthening of its ranks by propaganda, by removing misconceptions, and by protecting its members. Co-operative action could alone help to obtain a settlement of many matters concerning them, such as improvements in the road, and a better system of control of our highways. It should be realised that the commercial motor had a greater range of action than any other vehicle, and that it embraced both the carting and the customary railway trip, thereby eliminating terminals, but also requiring good roads upon which a strange driver could safely travel. From actual observations which it had been his business to make during the last few months in all parts of I.ondon, he was positively able to state that the streets would take two and a half times the present traffic without adding to the congestion if all vehicles were self-propelled, and he regarded the influx of commercial motors as the only solution to save the community from what would otherwise have been an appalling expenditure in street widening.
Mr. W. Worby Beaumont proposed the toast of "Our Guests." Sir A. K. Rollit, M.P., responded, and stated that any assistance that could be rendered would be forthcoming
from the London Chamber of Commerce. There was a German saying, "Thank God I have a son !" but in England they said "Thank God I have a father!" It appeared to him that the commercial motor had all the fathering experience of the pleasure vehicle behind it to help them to secure the necessary experience for light vans. in heavier traffic we had gone slowly but surely, and were ahead of the world. He regarded the importance of commercial motors as derived from the fact that they were the latest development of locomotion in an era of locomotion, and he thought the horse would soon only survive in sport and mechanically in the index of "horse-power." Ile felt, however, that the "heavy brigade" would do a great deal more for the country than the pleasure car ever could do. He exemplified the relative speed of commercial motors by reminding his hearers of the old saying, "Wait for the wagon, and we'll all take a ride." It would now be necessary to run after the wagon in order to keep in the van of progress.
"The Press" was given by Mr. T. W. Staplee Firth, and acknowledged by Arthur E. Ellerthorpe, of the "Daily Telegraph," and Mr. Edmund Dangerfield on behalf of the Technical Press.
The toast of "The Chairman," given by Mr. Sidney Straker, chairman of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, and responded to by Col. Crompton in felicitous terms, thus bringing a very pleasant function to a close.
Annual Meeting.
The annual meeting of the association was held at the Agricultural Hall the same afternoon at 5 o'clock, when Mr. Douglas Mackenzie took the chair. The attendance included the members who had been present at the luncheon, and we also noticed Messrs. Ernest Groves (Weymouth), Arthur 0. Stopes (Colchester Brewing Company), Henry Fowler (Midland Railway Company), and J. Stewart Mallam (Andrew W. Barr and Co.). The report draws attention to the work accomplished by the society during the year 1904, and makes special mention of the evidence which was given by members before the Departmental Committee on the Heavy Motor Car Regulations. It points out that the association makes a contribution of mos. 6d. per member to the funds of the Motor Union, in return for legal and other assistance and advice, in reference to the services rendered to members. The report was unanimously adopted, on the motion of the chairman seconded by Col. Crompton, who arrived late.