WHEELS of INDUSTRY
Page 32
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"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
Important New MorrisCommercial Models.
Morris-Commercial Cars, Ltd., Birmingham, is about to announce to the trade some new models, including a new 30-cwt., a new 2-ton vehicle, and a new 3-tonner, each available with forward or with normal control. The new models have six-cylindere.d engines and are referred to as "the six ' sixes.' " Full descriptions will be given shortly, probably in our issue for next week.
Olympia to be Enlarged.
As the result of a scheme announced this week by Mr. Philip Hill, chairman. of Olympia, Ltd., the accommodation of Olympia is, we understand, to be doubled by the erection of a new building. Other improvements are to be made which will, we learn, increase the size of Olympia so that it is the biggest exhibition centre in Europe.
The new building will be erected on a site of 7-1 acres on the south side of Hammersmith Road, and it will haven frontage of 450 ft. in that thoroughfare and 600 ft. in Warwick Road. The new structure will be connected to the existing Olympia building by a subway and exhibition galleries. It will be 100 ft. longer, 100 ft. wider and 20 ft. higher than the existing Grand Hall, and it will embody many modern amenities.
Motor Fuel from Coal.
Two reports just issued by the Fuel Research Board deal with the methods of obtaining motor fuels of high antiknock values, the method of hydrogenating coal being specially referred to as giving a high proportion of motor spirit and fuel oils. The reports are important.
Papers Before the I.A.E.
Among the interesting papers which are to be read during March at the Institution of Automobile Engineers are" Strong Light Alloys of To-day," by Dr. Leslie Aitchison, before the Birmingham Centre on March 1, and before the Coventry Centre on March 14; "Plow in Oil Injection Systems," by Dr. S. J. Davies and Dr. E. Giffen, before the North-western Centre on March 22, and "The Problem of Exhaust Silencing and Engine Efficiency," by Dr. J. C. Morrison before the Scottish Centre on Makh 20.
"Lanes. United" Results for 1932.
The accounts of the Lancashire United Transport and Power Co., Ltd., show that the operations of the company during 1932 resulted in a gross profit of £74,354 being made, as against £100,913 for 1931. After providing for interest and sinking fund on the first mortgage debenture stock, as well as £40,063 for depreciation of motor vehicles, etc., it is proposed to pay the full 5 per cent, interest on the second mortgage debenture stock, and the balance of £2,068 which remains is to be carried to the depreciation account.
BIS The report states that there has been no general improvement in the industrial situation in the districts served by the company, and mentions that a further seven miles of tramway routes are being converted to trolley-bus operation, after which only three route miles will remain unconverted.
The company commenced the operation of regular bus services in June, 3920, and the routes link up a number of important industrial centres, whilst summer excursions are operated.
Bananas by Road.
Experiments are being made in the transport of bananas from the East India Docks, London, to Manchester, Glasgow, etc. A 6-ton lorry with a specially insulated container can carry about 500 bunches, and it is anticipated that a fair volume of traffic may in future be sent by road.
"Pitfalls in the Sale of Goods."
"Pitfalls in the Sale of Goods" is the title of a book written by Mr. G. Cohen, barrister, and Mr. N. C. King, solicitor. It explains in a clear and concise manner the effect of the Sales of Goode Act upon commercial transactions, and is a useful source of information to those engaged in trade and commerce. It is published by Jordan and Sons, Ltd., Chancery Lane London, W.02, at the price of 3s. 6d. net.
Forthcoming R.H.A. Meetings. Forthcoming meetings of area committees of the Road Haulage Association are announced as follow :—North
Western (East Lanes) Committee, February 27, at 7.30 p.m., at the Grand Aytoun Street, Manchester ; Western Committee, March 3, at BristoL
R.H.A. Speakers Seek Fair Play for Road Transport.
"Road transport is a great new industry, an industry which is offered the most amazing opportunities for renderlug service to trade in all its branches, but one which has posaibly grown up on haphazard lines, because of the enormous demand for transport and the comparative simplicity with which that demand can be met."
Thus spoke Major J. A. Eckes, the principal of a Liverpool concern of shipping and forwarding agents, and chairman of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, at the second annual dinner of the north-western area of the Road Haulage Association, held at Liverpool, last Saturday. Mr. H. Allan, of Macnamara and Co. (1921), Ltd., presided.
It was necessary, said Major Eckes, for the haulage industry to establish itself by organized authority. If diplomatically handled, such regulation as was proposed might prove to be a -benefit to that large body of seriously minded hauliers. Liverpool Chamber of Commerce felt the absolute need for avoiding any imposition on vehicles exclusively employed in an immediate port area, such as Liverpool, on haulage to and from the docks and warehouses.
Mr. E. C. Marston recapitulated the principal points of the speech that he made at the R.H.A. lunch held in London on February 14 and reported in last week's issue.
Mr. L. B. 0. Heilbrun made a plea for fair play for road transport by the lay Press. He suggested a coalition of the petrol companies and motor manufacturers, together with users, so that they could speak with one voice, as the railways did, to the Press, and secure a fair presentation of their case.
Other speeches were made by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool. Coun, H. H. Nuttall, Coun. R. J. Hall, Mr. F. C. Skinner (president of the Furniture Warehousemen and Removers Association), etc.
The Latest Anglo-Persian Development.
Sir John Cadman, chairman of the. Anglo-Persian Oil Co,, Ltd., and Mr. William Fraser, deputy chairman, accompanied by certain expert advisers, will, we understand, leave shortly for Teheran. It is hoped that the visit may facilitate a settlement of the dispute regarding the cancellation of the company's concession. Meanwhile, the conversations at Geneva are suspended until next May at the earliest.
Brakes on Special Trailers.
At Edinburgh Sheriff Court a few days ago a summons for driving a motor tractor hauling two trailers without effective trailer brakes failed, because, as the trailers were mechanical road gritters, they were taken to be "engineering plant."
The Sheriff explained that Article 53 of the 1931 Construction and Use Regulations is modified by Article 4 of the Motor Vehicles (Authorization of Special Types) Order, No. 1, of 1931.