WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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"The wheels of wealth will be stowed by an difficulties oi transport at whatever pa:nt.7 crising, as a carriage is kJ the roughness of the roads over which it rurs."—John Beattie Crozier.
First-aid Equipment for Motor Coaches.
Mr. Ramsden introduced a Bill in the House of Commons last week to provide for the first-aid equipment of public-service vehicles and it was read a first time.
He pointed to the ever-increasing number of motor coaches covering considerable distances and miming into the most remote corners of the country, many of which were a considerable distance from medical assistance. Accidents did happen and that was why the Bill was brought in to give the necessary authority to deal with the matter.
It was loft to the Minister of Transport to make regulations. He hoped the Bill would be allowed to go to a second reading and be considered in committee so that it could' come into operation next year.
The Renewal of Motor-vehicle Licences.
It is estimated that approximately 2,000,000 motor-vehicle licences will exDire on December 31st, of which the majority will be renewed for the quarter or year commencing January 1st, 1029. It should be made clear that it has been possible to effect the renewal -of licences since December 17th.
The rates of duty payable as from the beginning-of next year in respect of hackney carriages and goods vehicles have been considerably amended by the provisions, of the Finance Act, 1928. As we have clearly intimated in our columns, there haie been reductions in certain of the lower taxation categories and, in the case of hackney vehicles seating more than eight personsand of goods vehicles exceeding 2 tons in weight unladen, there is a rebate of 20 per cent, in respect of vehicles fitted entirely with pneumatic tyres. Cushion tyres, which are sometimes referred to as semi-pneumatic tyres, will not enable a vehicle to qualify for the taxation rebate.
Vehicles coming within the new taxation categories and those qualified to benefit from the preferential rates of duty accorded to pneumatic-tyred vehicles, should be re-declared on the appropriate full declaration form and not on the renewal form R.F.1A. Where reduced rates of duty are claimed the licences cannot be renewed at Post Offices and applications, for renewal must be made direct to the appropriate council.
Cardiff's Offer to Newport.
The Newport (Mon.) Town Council has referred back to its bus and tram committee a recommendation that acceptance be made of the Cardiff City Council's offer of an annual sum, instead of a fluctuating payment varying with the number of passengers ,carried, in respect of the Cardiff Council's buses carrying passengers between the Newport boundary and the town centre on the Cardiff-Newport service: The Cardiff City Council proposed an annual payment of £150 and the 111.6 recommendation • of acceptance incorporated a proviso that the Cardiff Council give an undertaking not to charge lower fares in Newport than are made on the Newport Council's buses running on the same route into Newport.
The council decided that the Cardiff' offer was one for more mature consideration; hence its reference back on the matter.
Ownership Preferred.
A discussion on the advisability of purchasing its own haulage vehicles instead of hiring-out the haulage work of the council was discussed at the December meeting of the Llandyssul Rural District Council.
The surveyor expressed the opinion that as it was possible for haulage contractors to run motor lorries and make a profit by undertaking the council's haulage, it should pay the council to buy vehicles and do its own work. After further discussion it was resolved, to buy a 3-ton, lorry.
• Street Accidents to Children.
The Under-Secretary for Home Affairs states. that during the 12 months to September 30th last 238 children were killed and' 10,877 injured in street accidents the Metropolitan Police District and the City of London.
Sir George Beharrell Home Again.
Sir George Beharrell, president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Ltd., has just returned from Pfew York after a three months' visit te the United States, Canada and Japan, in connection with the properties of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., of which concern he is managing director.
Manchester Operators and a Plying-for-hire Decision.
Serious concern is felt by operators of motor coaches and motorbuses in the Mauchester district by the decision in -the High Court in the plying-forhire case involving Grey Coaches, Ltd. It will be remembered the ruling was that, whether or not tickets are booked beforehand, if there is a general invitation by the persons in charge of vehicles to make a contract for carriage, all the elements are present which constitute plying for hire.
The Commercial Motor is informed that representations on behalf of vehicle owners have been made to the chief constable of Manchester on the subject. It has been ascertained that he will give operators a reasonable time.in which to comply with all legal requirements and that no proceedings will be taken by the Manchester police until after a Meeting of vehicle owners has been held in January for the purpose of deciding what steps shOuld be taken to comply with the law.
Meanwhile, the transport associations in the locality are doing what is possible to protect the interests pf their. members.
Transport Men's Wages in Manchester Districts.
Endeavours are being Made by the .Manchester transport-owners' assoCiations to open up negotiations with the men's unions with the object of securing a rearrangement of working conditions and rates of pay. What has occurred up to the present is that the employers' associations have put forward an application for certain alterations. To this the men have replied by requesting advances in the rates of pay. Their argument is that as the wages paid in Manchester are below those in Liverpool and district the disparity is somewhat unwarrantable.
Underlying the issues we think that the recent cuts which have been made by the railway companies to regain lost cotton traffic have had something.to do with the Wages question being raised.
Steam Six-wheelers to Save Time and Money, In our issue for last week we referred to the fact that Richard Garrett and Sons, Ltd., had received a provisional order from Samuel Instone and Co., Ltd., of London, for 100 six-wheeled steam wagons, and we now learn that they are for use in connection with a scheme which is at present being considered by the company for acting as its own delivery agent. We understand it is proposed that the vehicles should transport the cargoes brought over front Continental ports to the company's Thames-side wharves to those to whom they are consigned. By following this scheme it is anticipated that a considerable saving of time and money will result.
A Night Coach Service Between Manchester and London. ,
A notable addition to the number of long-distance passenger-transport services in operation was made on Deceneber 16th, when, at 11. p.m., a specially built Crossley Eagle 24-seater motorcoach left Manchester for London, as part of the regular service to be maintained between the two centres by Messrs. Majestic Saloon Coaches. Under the scheme of working which has been arranged a coach will leave Manchester at 11 p.m. on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, returning from London at the same time on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The vehicle is particularly well equipped for long-distance work, and amongst its refinements may be mentioned a kitchenette, a lavatory, and
washing facilities. Each passenger is accommodated in a specially designed divan seat and is provided with a table which can be folded away when not required. The general appointments of the coach are such as to ensure comfortabletravelling at night ; a separate electric light is provided for each seat.
• On each journey the coach makes two drivers are carried, the one who is not driving acting as steward, a change of duties being effected half-way on the trip, thus avoiding the possibility of undue fatigue as a result of concentrating on one job only. The single fare for the journey between Manchester and London is 16s. 6d., and for the double journey 30s.
The G.W.R. and Road Services in South Wales.
In our issue dated December 11th we intimated that rumours had been in circiliation to the effect that the Great Western Railway Co. were securing extensive control of motorbus services in South Wales, but the details which gained currency are refuted in a statement recently issued by the • eailway company, this running as follows
"There is no truth in the rumour that the Great Western Railway Co. are securing control of nearly all the main motor services in South Wales, or that they are establishing headquarters at Pontypool."
Road-test Chief Wanted.
Shelvoke and Drewry, Ltd., the manufacturers of the well-known S.D. Freighter, has recently reorganized the system of production at its works at Letchworth, and, as a result, the company is open to receive applications from .experienced men for the position'. of chief of the road-test department.
Road and Rail Co-operation.
It is understood that the London and North-Eastern Railway Co., who are desirous of arriving at working arrangements with several prominent bus companies in the North-East coast area, are in negotiation with, amongst other undertakings, Messrs. Caton and Lord, owners of the People's Motor Services, Ltd., of Scarborough, a concern which works a chain of routes linking up Scarborough, Filey, Melton and York.
A November Record.
During the month of November the motorbuses of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., and its allied undertakings carried 139,829,134 passengers and covered an aggregate mileage of 15,484,931. Thee figures, both for passengers carried and mileage covered, are the highest ever recorded for this particular month.
Representing an American Concern.
Fredk, J. Gordon and Co., Ltd., of 92, Charlotte Street, London, advises us that it has been appointed sole agent for the British Isles for the B.C. Ames Co., of Waltham, Mass., who manufacture a number of instruinents employed' in the motor industry, including the Ames cylinder gauge, a test bench with a magnetic gauge mount and the Aines crankshaft gauge. Full stocks of the complete range of equipment are to be held.
Fuel Replenishment from Bulk. supply Tankers.
The chief constable of Douglas has drawn the attention of the corporation to the Dangerous Goods Act orders and regulations under which the tilling or replenishing of fuel tanks on motor vehicles direct from vehicles carrying petroleum spirit in bulk is prohibited. He has pointed out that the filling and refilling of petrol tanks of motor coaches on the promenade during the season is carried out from large petrol wagons, and regards this as a dangerous method. The eorpoeation has approved the regulation, and is to endeavour to prohibit the practice.
All-night Bus Services in Paris.
When in Paris recently we discovered that the company which operates the motorbuses and trams in that city is now running all-night bus services on 13 routes. They all start at one point —the Place Chatelet—and run to all the principal portes or gates of the city. A bus leaves each gate' every hour from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., whilst from the city centre the vehicles leave hourly from 1.30 a.m. to 4.30 a.m. A special fare of 2i francs is charged for any distance.
The advantage claimed for the central starting point is that it enables passengers to travel during the night from one end of Paris to the other by changing at the Place Chatelet, where a waiting-room is always open. Contrary to the usual system in operation, the night buses stop anywhere to pick up or set down passengers.
IA.E.'s New President.
At a recently held meeting of the eouncil. of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, Professor W. Morgan, of Bristol University, was unanimously elected 'president of the Institution for the session 1929-30. Sir Herbert Austin was elected to fill the vacant vicepresidential position._
Leyland Servicing In and Around Newcastle.
• Messrs. Duncan Hodgson, who, for many years have represented Leyland Motors, Ltd., in 'the Newcastle area, have found it necessary to obtain more spacious premises for work in connection with the sales and servicing of Leyland vehicles, and the concern's new address is at Benton Road.
A New Tees Crossing.
A definite step has now been taken in the proposal for the erection of a new and much-needed crossing over the River Tees at Middlesbrough, by the decision of a conference, representative of local municipal and commercial authorities, in favour of a bridge estimated to cost £470,000. It is proposed that the new bridge should be of the vertical lift-type, and it will be the first of its kind in the country. It will have .river clearance of 200 ft.
The interested authorities are the Middlesbrough Town Council, Durham County Council. North Riding County Counei4 the Tees Conservancy Commission, the London and North-Eastern Railway Co., and Dorman, Long and. Co., Ltd. In view of the tremendous volume of road traffic through the district, a new crossing is urgently needed.
Long-distance Bus Co.'s Registration.
Overoads Motor Coach Services, Ltd., an undertaking working daily services between Wcarside and London, has just been registered as a private company with a capital of £2,000 in £1 shares, The first directors are Mr. G. E. Wray, of Pity Me, Durham, and Mr. G. Towers, of Chester-le-Street, both of whom are directors of the General County Omnibus Co., Ltd., of Birtley. The offices of the company are Red Briar Garage, Pity Me, Durham.
Ransomes Bus Bodies.
Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, Ltd., Orwell Works, Ipswich, has just issued a well-produced brochure descriptive of the range of bus bodies which it builds. illustrations of different types which have been constructed for prominent transport undertakings are published, whilst an abridged specification of a standard bus body is included.
A section which is particularly informative is that in which line illustrations are included, these embodying features and dimensions which must be followed to conform with official requirements. In this connection there are drawings of a one-man-operated single-decker, a covered-top doubledecker of the forward-control pattern and an open-type six-wheeler.
As many of our readers will know, B18 the company alSo builds trolley-bus chassis, and bodies for them, in its Ipswich works, and a few illustrations of .stleil vehicles supplied for use by municipal authorities are included in the brochure.
Back to the Red Flag?
In the Irish Free State Parliament, on the committee stage ot the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill, a Labour member moved that the Motor Car Act of 1903 be removed from the operation of the Bill. He went on to quote a number of recommendations of the recent inter-departmental committee on road traffic and stated that at present they had the unique position of the Civic Guards being prevented from prosecuting bus drivers who exceeded the statutory limit because of the findings of that committee, In reply, the Minister for Local Government said that the amendment, if carried, would mean that those who wanted to travel by bus or car would have to do so at 4 m.p.h.
. Auto Wreckers, Ltd., whichdeals in spare parts for commercial motor vehicles, advises us that it has removed to larger premises at 72, Park Hill, Clapham Park, London, S.W.4.
Seeking a Road-closing Order.
The Ministry of Transport recently held an inquiry into the application' of the East Riding of Yorks -County Council for an Order to prohibit or restrict the driving of heavy motorcars and locomotives on part of the road in Eastgate and Flemingate, Beverley. The clerk to the county council called attention to the danger to Beverley Minster brought about by vibration from heavy motor traffic passing through Flemingate and Eastgate. The road carried much heavy traffic from Hull to the West Riding and was only .19 ft. wide at its widest point and 15 ft. 8 ins, at its narrowest. During a census taken in August last 27,807 vehicles passed over the road during a period of seven days of 16 hours each, of which number 14,169 were motors.
Certain evidence was given in support of the council's application, whilst the owner of a motor works at Eastgate opposed it. The inspector who conducted the inquiry is to report to the Ministry.
Rotherham's Parcel-delivery Scheme.
The transport department of the Rotherham Corporation has recently instituted a service under which small parcels will be carried to all towns and villages on the line of routes served by its passenger-carrying vehicles. Agents have been appointed in a number of districts and parcels for transport may be handed to them or to any conductor of a municipally owned vehicle.
Interesting Papers before the I.A.E.
At the next London meeting of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, to be held at the Royal Society of Arts, John Street, W.C.2,on January 8th,
lual. at 7.45 p.m., Dr. F. W. Lanchester will read -a paper on " Coil Ignition." • The paper will also be read in Birmingham at the. Queen's Hotel on January 14th, and in Bristol at the
Merchant Venturers' Technical College on February 4th. Another interesting paper which is being read before certain brsnches of the Institution is that by Mr. M. Platt, entitled "Safety in Four-wheel Braking Systems." This paper will be read in Glasgow at the Royal Techuical College on January 21st, and in Manchester at the Engineers' Club on January 23rd.
Municipal Purchases and Proposals.
PORTLAND Urban District Council has decided to purchase a water van.
CHORLRY Watch Committee is considering the purchase of a new motor ambulance.
BEDFORD Corporation has decided to purchase a motor ambulance from the Bedfordshire Autocar Co., Ltd., at a cost of £395.
GUILDFORD Watch Committee is considering the question of the purchase of a motorcar or a motor tender for the police force, Pmfinurr Urban District Council has accepted the tender of 'linkler and Co., Ltd., at £622 10s., for the supply of a motor vehicle for refuse collection. PORTSMOTJTIL Corporation recommends acceptance of the tender of Mr. Byng for the supply of motor lorries with drivers at k2 5s, 9d. per vehicle per day. .
The transport committee of the Minur.Esimouun Corporation has decided to invite tenders for the supply of three covered-top double-deck motorbuses for Use on circular routes in the town.
:The south-eastern division of the DEVON: County Council (main roads department) invites tenders for the supply of lubricating oils and greases, etc., for the year ending March 31st, 1930. Tenders have to be delivered to the county surveyor for the Southeastern division, Mr. Andrew Warren, at the Mansion House, 18, Cathedral Yard, Exeter, on or before January ith.
The Rotherham-Chesterfield Service.
The tramways manager of the Rotherham Corporation has reported that further negotiations have taken place with the East Midland Co. with regard to the institution of a service between Rotherham and Chesterfield. It has now been definitely agreed that Rotherham's territory should be extended from Swallownest to Beighton, the total length of the journey being 16imiles, and Rotherham's proportion of mileage would be 0.6, so that the cOrporation 'would take 40 per cent. of the mileage and receipts, leaving 60 per cent, to be divided between the Chesterfield Corporation and the East Midland Co. in proportions to be agreed between them.
Belfast Bus Conductors' Wages.
Under the pact between the Belfast Corporation, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Motor Coach Owners' Aspociation, many private buses operating in the city have been taken over by the corporation. A report became current in the city that youths were to get a preponderance of the employment on these buses and were to be engaged as conductorS at 25s. 'a week.
Trade union representatives Interviewed the tramways manager on the matter.. It is understood it was pointed out that, in future, only a Small proportion of youths are to be employed on the buses, and that these will be engaged as conductors on "thin " routes, where there are few stops and where the work is not nearly so arduous as on the busier routes in the city. It is expected, however, that wages slightly below those paid by the prfvate bus companies will he given by the corporation, A Busy Letchworth Works.
Sheivoke and Drewry, Ltd., reports growing activity at its factory at Letehworth," where a number of important orders is being executed. Within the past month the company' has' completed contracts for the Royal Air Force, the War Office, the Post Office authorities and the Crown'Agents for the Colonies. The Post Office order is the sixth placed for S.D. Freighters.
Irish Bus Company's Dividend.
At the ninth annual general meeting of the Galway General Omnibus Co. the directors recommended the payment of a dividend of 5 per cent. The year's receipts increased by over £500.
A Cleansing Official's Views on Refuse Collection.
Mr. H. Cook, cleansing superintendent of Rochdale, in a recent address to mernbers of the Rochdale Rotary Club, made a review of the system adopted for the collection and disposal of household and shop refuse. In the pursuit of a low cost-per-ton figure, he said, collectors were continually being urged to collect heavier 'and still heavier loads, since it. was generally found that as the weight of the. loads increased the cost per ten decreased.
The system was, he said, apt to lead to abuses, and in his own experience he had heard of men collectingblocks of stone from a wall, or soaking their loads with water, in order to increase the. weight. Eventually it was found that weight was not the only measure by which the .efficiency of the work of refuse collection could be judged, or the
most useful one; that it consisted not so much in removing so many thousand tons of refuse per year, but in removing refuse from so many thousand houses. per week, or whatever period was fixed as the interval between collections. So there arose a new measure of the work of refuse collection—the number of houses visited. A. minute per week seved at each house meant a saving of over £4,000 a year.
As a result of tests, the Rochdale Cleansing Committee had, said Mr. Cook, decided gradually to replace horse-drawn vehicles by motor vehicles of special construction, and it was expected that still further saving would be made during the next year or two.
Cheeky Motor Omnibus Joint Committee has expressed the opinion that motorbus licences should only be granted when the applicants give a written undertaking that they will conform with the standard wages, hours and other conditions of employment which are in force in the districts covered by the application.