ROAD TRANSPORT IN OTHER LANDS.
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Items of News Intended to Stimulate the Interest of British Makets in Overseas Markets.
This is a new feature which we hope to continue and to develop in the interests of British commercial-vehicle manufacturers. To a greet extent it will serve to indicate potential markets overseas in which their products should End a sale.
Palestine Bans Heavy Lorries.
IT is reported from Jerusalem that the Palestine Government has prohibited the use of goods-carrying lorries of more than 11-tons capacity on the ground that heavy vehicles injure the roads far beyond the sum contributed in licence fees, etc. It is considered, however, that one of the chief reasons for prohibiting the use of sutah vehicles is because they are taking from the Government-owned railway an increasing percentage of goods traffic.
Burma's Bus Imports.
THE Collector of Customs. Rangoon, has recently issued a report on the maritime trade of Burma for the year 1927-28, and in it he draws attention to the imports of motorbuses during the past two years. The number of such vehicles imported from the United Kingdom was 67 in 1926-27 and 66 in the following year, but imports from the United States rose in the respective periods from 105 to 410 buses, whilst Canada shipped 704 buses in 1926-27 and 769 in 1927-28 to Burma.
Roail-motor Services in Lower Egypt.
A
MONGST its other activities in the
Belgian Congo, the Soudan and Abyssinia, and the whole of the Great Nile basin, the Belgian undertaking known as the Societe du Rant Ude et du Nil is now operating road-motor passenger and goods services over more than 1,250 miles between Port Soudan, towards Redjab, Abs and Buta in the western province of Lower Egypt. Between 400 and 500 tons of goods per month are being transported from the port to the interior, whilst return loads for export are also being obtained.
Nearly 60,000 Motors in Japan. FROM an unofficial source. we learn
it is estimated that, at the end of June last, there were 58,700 motor vehieles in Japan, the various districts in which they were in use being the following :—Kwanto 26,500, Nagoya 6,000, Kyoto 3;500, Osaka 6,300, Hiroshima 3,600, Kyushu 5,000, Shikoku 1,100, Korea 1,800, Hyogo 4,000, Formosa 600 and Hokkaido 300.
Commereiabvehiele Progress in Greece. THE restrictions On the import of
motor vehicles, which were in force in the earlier part of 1926, reduced the imports of motor vehicles into Greece daring that year to 744, but in the following year the figure rose to 2,271, of which rather more than 200 were commercial vehicles. During the Erst four months of the current year 363 motor vehicles were sold in Greece, and American makes were in the ascendancy.
At the present time, there are about 17,000 motor vehicles registered in Greece, of which up to 15,000 Are actually in use. There are estimated to be about 8,000 taxicabs in use in Athens, the majority being of the cheaper American makes.
A recent Departanent of Overseas Trade report . points -_put that during 1927 a number of British motorbuses was placed on the streets of Athens by one of the subsidiary undertakings of the Power and Traction Conapaay. The buss are smart in appearance and arc stated to be giving satisfaction.
Heavy Vehicles Not Wanted in Costa Rica. ACCORDING to reports just to hand from Costa Rica, a movement is in progress to prevent the importation of motor lorries of over 3-tons cana City. Whilst such a project has not yet been formally presented to Congress, it is said to be likely that the ?resident of the Republic will call a special session in the near future to consider the measure. Notice to that effect has been published in order that dealers may be aware of the proposal and not place orders for lorries of large capacity. In fact, it is stated that the desire is to limit the use of commercial vehicles to those of 2-tons capacity, except in very special cases where 3-ton vehicles may be permitted.
Bus Services in Cork City.
TEE Irish Omnibus Co., Ltd., has under consideration the institution of an extensive scheme of bus service in Cork city and suburbs. The services will be introduced gradually until• practically every district of thei city has a 15-minute service. It is believed that Leyland Titan-type 52-seater double-deck buses on pneumatic tyres will be used. Popularity of Postal Services: WE have often had occasion for re ferring to the extensive use which is made of motor coaches by the Swiss Postal authorities for passenger and mail transport over Alpine passes, and it is interesting to learn that the services continue to gain ground and are being used by an ever-increasing number of passengers.
According to a correspondent in The Times, the vehicles employed on these Alpine services carried 229,264 passengers during the period from June 25th to September 2nd of this year, as against 189,358 persons in the corresponding period a year earlier. The coaches run on all the Alpine passes— St. Gotthard, Great St. Bernard, Simplon, Furka, Grimed, Splugen, Maloja, etc. In many instances 16-seater vehicles are employed, but , the latest six-wheeled vehicles put into service can comfortably accommodate 30 passengers.
An idea of the mechanical efficiency of the modern motor vehicle and an indication of the attention given to the maintenance and upkeep of the vehicles employed on these services can be gained from the fact that no accident has been recorded in the Swiss postal motor-coach services during the past four years.
A Farm-tractor Trial in Spain. THE Agricultural Service Committee
of the Spanish Province of Cordova is at present holding a trial of farm tractors suitable for use in connection with olive plantations.
More Motors in Germany.
IT is computed that on July 1st last there were 121,765 motor lorries in use in Germany, as compared with 100,969 a year earlier. At the same date, the numbers of motor tractors in use were 21,879 and 15,960 for the respective years.