WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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The wheel' of wealth will be slowed by all diekulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."-John Beattie Crozier.
Railways and Road Transport.
The Minister of Transport has set up .a committee with the following terms of reference : " To .inquire and report whether it is desirable that the railway companies should have general or limited power to carry goodeeby road, and, if so what, if any, conditions should be attached to the exercise of this power."
Mr. J. H. Balfour-Browne, K.C., has been appointed chairman of the committee, of which the following are members : Mr. C. Aldingten, C.B.E., G.W. Rly., Paddington, W.2.
Mr. H. Cturington, Transport Manager, SheePbridge Goal and Iron Co., Ltd., Chesterfield.
• Mr. 0. A. Dutfield, President, National Alliance of' Commercial Road Transport Associations and Federations. Mr. J. J. Hughes, Traffic Manager, Peek, Frean and Co., Ltd.
Mr: James Sexton, C.B.E., M.P., C.;eneralSecretary, National Union of Dock Labourers.
Mr. E. B. Shrapnell,Smith, .C.B.F,., Chairman of the Standing Joint Committee of MechanicaliRoad Transport Associations and ,Chairman of the National Council of the Commercial Motor Users AssociatiOn (Incorporated).
The Right Hon. J. H. Thomas, M.P., General Secretary, National Union of Railwaymen.
Mr. Arthur Watson, 0.B.E., General Manager, Lancashire and Yorkshire and Lciadon and North-Western Railways.
The secretary of thetcomaintee. is Mr. S. J. Muir-Smith, and all communications should be addressed to him, care of Ministry of Transport (Traffic Department), Horse Guards Avenue, Whitehall, S.W.I.
Should be Resisted.
Among the private Bills before Parliatnent there are some clauses that must be strenuously fought. Liverpool, Burnley, and Preston want to make it 'compulsory for the ariver of a 'vehicle to atop when passengers are boardiee or alighting from a tramcar, and gar,chester wants to make its awn regulations as to speed limits. Liverpool wants to make the driver of a vehicle responsible for damage to a lamp standard in all circumstances. Hoylake and West Kirby want the speed of all vehicles nedateed to 5m.p.h. when passing any church or' chapel during hours of divine service.
We believe we are right in saying that the recent Daimler cut in prices of their 2 ton chassis has considerably livened up the demand.
The Scottish Show opens on January 28th (Friday next), and our next issue will contain a fully illustrated report cif an the exhibits of Interest to all classes of commercial vehicle users.
An Interesting Saks Competition.
F. 0. R. Browne, Ltd., of 13, Duke Street, St. James's, Landon, S.W., have inaugurated a competition with the primary object of inducing agents, large or small, to put forward their united efforts towards selling the -Vim 10-15 cwt.
light delivery van. • •
The competition is as follows :-The company are appointing at, once, throughout the country, a number of selling agents, who are not asked to sign any contract, but who will have allotted to theta a district around their brainees containing not less than 5,000 inhabitants. To the three agents selling per head of population, in their respective areas, the largest number of 1921 Tim vehicles from January 17th to July 31st of thisyear; prizes of one Vim van, valued at £565, £150 in cash, and £50 cash will be presented.
We have not the space at our disposal to publish the full rules governing the competition (the.se can be obtained on appliCation to the company), but we would mention that the small agent has as much chance of winning a prize as has the agent in a bigger way.
There are signs of a distinct improvement in the demand for commercial goods and passenger vehicles, due, no doubt, to a slightly healthier feeling, and to a better understanding of the effects of the new taxation.
Tilling-Stevens _Purchase.
We are informed by Tilling-Stevens Motors, Ltd., of Maidstone, that they have jug: purchased from the Weybridge Motor Engineering Co. the whale of the ladder, fire escape, and turntable ladder business, which was formerly carried on by Henry Simonia and Co. This turntable ladder is already inuse by such brigades as Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow, Sydney, Auckland, etc., and the company are at the present. time constructing similar ladders mounted on their well-known petrol-electric chassis for the file brigades of Newcastle and Nottingham. e The company's patrol-electric chassis has been standardized by the London, Fire Brigade for remounting their turntable ladders, and they have four ladders' so mounted in, service, the current from the transmission dynamo being utilized for operating the ladders. The dynamo is also available for supplying current for searchlights, etc. • With regard to escapes, the company are now snaking a, slitting carriage type. The manufacture of the,se various fire brigade essentials is laeing carried out wholly and solely at the company's works at Maidstone, where their motor fireengines and fire appliances are at present produced.
Electrics in Berlin.
It is reported from Berlin that a number of novel electric vehicles is being put on the market, and that many 'of these will shortly appear in tthe streets of that, city. It is stated that the machines are a little larger than the pedal motorcars used by the younger generation.
Each machine is provided with batteries which will ensure four hours' running per charge, Seating aceommoda, lion fcr one person only is provided, but a small two-wheel ef trailer, to take cane or two passengers, can be attached. The constructors have arranged for a. large number of charging stations, so that it will be possible conveniently to charge the accumulators of these little vehicles.
S.M.M. and T. Helps I.A.E.
The S.M.M. and T. has voted a substantial sum for a period of years to the Institution of Automobile Engineers subject to a stipulation as to representation which is likely to be accorded, so that it is anticipated the arrangement will very shortly become definite. The institution some time ago placed before the society a proposed extended programme of work, together with particulars of the financial position, and the matter has received careful consideration at a number of meetings. The council of the society agreed that the proposed work in question would be of value to the industry generally, and that the institution-, not being in a position to carry out this work, should be assisted accordingly.
• Bus Company's New Garage.
On the occasion of the opening of theit new garage in Park Road, Preston, tine staff and directors of the Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., held a dinner on Thursday evening last at the "Farmers' Arms," Preston. It was a. very happy event, and was an evidence of the cordial relations that, existed between those who are responsible, both in a directive and executive capacity for the maintenance of the principal motor omnibus services from Preston. The new garage, although it is in partial use at the present time, is yet a few weeks off completion, and occupies a site seine 120 ft. square. The various repair shops and store rooms are in course of construction, and will include a smithy, oil store, general store, repair shop, machine and fitting shop, whilst adjoining is a spacious bay, capable of accommodating four of the five vehicles which it, is intended to use for overhaul purposes. The repair and paint shops will each hold two vehicles. The various subsidiary departments' of the new premises are located at the extremities, leaving the main bay in the centre for the garag. ing of some 24 or 30 vehicles. The repair shops will be equipped with lathes, vertical drill, sensitive drill, .grinder, hacksaw, and other equipment, which will be operated by a, 5 h.p. electric motor.
The new garage will also contain a 3,000 gallon Bowser petrol storage plant.
We hope to illustrate the new garage when it is clear of the builders.
French Agricultural Trials.
The Spring exhibition of agricultural motors, which created such considerable interest when held at the Tuileries last year, will this year take place at Vincennes. The exhibition will. be held between February 10th and 20th, which is really two months earlier than is usual. Full particulars of the exhibition can be obtained from : The Chambre Syndioale de la. Motoculture, 30, Avenue de Messine, Paris
Chassis Price Falling.
In the last few weeks a number of motor vehicles have fallen in price, and aanongst the latest we notice that the Citroen light delivery van has been reduced to £335, and that the SeabrookNapoleon 30-40 cwt. lorry chassis has been reduced from £645 to £595.
The Italian Minister of Industry and Commerce has made a grant of 4,800,000 lire for the purpose of promoting preliminary oil prospecting in Basilicata, Lazio, Campania, and Sicily.
The 12th annual Bohemian concert of the Cycle and Motor Trades Benevolent Fund in connection with the Birmingham Centre will be held in the Temperance Hall, Temple Street., Birmingham, on February 4th, commencing at 7 p.m.
Transport in Paraguay.
The South American Journal, in an article dealingwith the coming demand for road-making materials and motors in Latin America,, says that undoubtedly the greatest problem in Paraguay is transportation. Many of the natural resources of the country remain untouched for want of transportation facilities from the interior to the river ports and rail
way stations. This lack often causes much of the harvest to remain unmoved and to go to waste.
Students of the problem. believe that the solution lies in the motor lorry, but before mechanical vehicles can be tuied to advantage new roads must be built, and those in existence must be improved. Outside of the towns there are scarcely any roads suitable for automobile use, and those that exist. are badly cut up by the high-wheeled, narrow-tyred ox carts used for country transportation. The Banca Agricola, a Goveriunent banking • institution devoted to the development of agricultural conditions in the country, has.tried to get executive sanction of an appropriation for the purchase of motor vehicles, and although so far it has not met with success, sooner or later something in this direction will no doubt result.
• Leeds Cab Charges.
Complaints have arisen aanoegst users of cabs in Leeds that they are frequently subjected: to overcharges, and. that, unless_ they arc familiar with the district in which the journey is undertaken, they have no means of checking the driver when paying the fare demanded.
The Chairman of the Watch Committee, at a meeting of the City Council recently, replied that the. Corporation bad no power to enforce the use of taximeters on licensed motor hackney carriages, bat there is reason to believe that. in the near future this power will be given by an Order from the Home Office. At present, whatever a driver asks in the way of a fare has to be paid, but if all the vehicles plying for hire were required to carry taximeters, as they are in London, all mistakes and Possible misunderstandings would be Obviated,
Dunlop of America "Slow Down."
The Dunlop Rubber Tyre Co. of America has decided to "slow down" in production., end it is not expected that, they will resume lull working order until! April 1st next. The directors have come to the condusioa that the general conditions at present prevailing al the motor industry ate such that they are justified: in taking this step. The company has. spent 36,000:000. &Here at theworks in. Buffalo (New York) daring the last 18 months.
A Humber Ambulance.
We illustrate on this page a Humber ambulance which has recently been supplied by the Central Motor Co„ Liverpool, wha are the dietriet agents for Ilumber *thieles, to Lever Bees., Ltd., of Port Sunlight-.
The body fitted ie built up of the best straight-grained aelt framework, the panels being of baywoodThere are two. 4.1.00re at the rear, which open outwards, and they are slung upon hinges which enable them to be widely opened, so as to give full clearance when the stretchers are being withdrawn from the interior.
e6 The body is lighted by two plate-glass frosted panels on each side and. also by a look-out window in the back door, whilst the question of ventilation has received very careful consideration.
i The body s fitted up inside with two stretchers, one being mounted above the other on the left-hand side. The top stretcher is slung and runs in a folding, rabbeted frame, whilst the bottom stretcher is furnished with 12 in. rubbertyred wheels, spring, and aale, and is
run in grooves on the floor of the body. This stretcher serves both the purpose of an ambulance litter as well as a stretcher, and can be used to wheel a patient any distance, whilst a factor of particular interest is that it can be taken into places where it would be difficult or inspossible to manceuvre the vehicle itself. A seat running the whole length a the right-hand side of the body is provided for seating patients and attendants.
Straightening a Main Road.
The prewar scheme for the construction of a new main road from. Gronant to Rhyl, reducing a tortuous, and, in some places, very dangerous read to a pracricallye straight road of about 61 miles,. has lately been revived with the object ofassisting in relieving the unemployment question in the area.
A committee of the Flintshire C.C. has had the matter under .coasideration, following a recent conference of 'keel authorities at Rhyl, which strongly supported the project, and everything is being done to ensure the scheme taking practical form. The cost is estimated at abant £37,000, which is something like double the pre-wee estimate, and a grant of £18,500 is expected. from the Government in connection with the work. Several land owners have aleeady promised the land required for the scheme,. and. it is hoped that others will fall into, line with them.
The Sentinel Wagon Works (1920), Ltd., advise us that they have taken more commodious offices at 14-16, Grosvenor Gardena London, S.W. 1 and that the whets oftheir sales department will now be located iii,. London at this address: The works, of course, will, as heretofore, remain at Shrewsbury.
Red Number Plates.
A mere bald statement of the amendments to the Roads Act, secured mainly through the efforts of the Motor Legislation Committee and its chairman, does not, perhaps, fully convey the real meaning of all the amendments secured.. In particular, we doubt whether all members of the motor industry and trade. have recognized the moaning of the amendment. which provides that a manufacturer or trader may draw a trailer under one red number plate licence. The point that it has really been sought to cover is that, in quite a number of in stances, members of the. industry and trade only require a very few number plates except on: infrequent occasions; when it is necessary to. take_ delivery of , a, big consignment of vehicles at one time. What the amendment means is that-, on such occasions, the requiked neunber of red, number plates can be redeiced by 50 per cent, ii the vehicles are moved by coupling them up in pairs and only employing the, engine power of
one of each pair. In that case, the following vehicle is regarded as. a trailer, and the one number plate covers the two:
A 40 Seater Electric Bus.
We were reccatly afforded an opportunity of inspecting and taking a short journey in a 40 seater electrically-preened battery e.aloon bus; built by Ransomes, Sims and Jeff ones, Ltd., at their Orwell Works, Ipswich, for the purpose of' conveying, miners between a railway station and a mine situated in Lancashire: The particular work required: is ideal for the electric vehicle. The distance from the station to the mine is. two miles, and. thatjourney hes to be performed. only twice a day ; aleo the charging current is. easily obtained frons the circuit used at the mine.
The chassis departs: somewhat from. the standard Orwell, and it is designed for a mean speed of. 10 m.p.h. The body is strongly constructed and has a side entrance at the front end. The seats are not upheisterecle as, upholstery would won be damaged and rendered dirty by the clothing of the miners.
Petrol Problems in Mexico.
te learned from the State Department that petroleum. questiene have been separated from the Mexican problem and, placed in the *owlet field of a, general oil policy now under consideration' :by the American Government_ All matters concerning oil production in Mexico heretofore. handled by the Mexican sectionwill come directly under the empervision of 'the Secretary' of State, and will receive the consideration given questions affecting the general welfare of the nation rather than that accorded investors in foreign: countries.
The plan, it. was explained, will have the effect of bringing the Mexican oil question ieto the same field as those arising from the. British and French agreement iu regard: to. Mesopotamia, the operations of the Dutch in Java, and the operations in Canada and in the prospective oil zones of Central and. South America.
Examples ci Commer Car chassis will be shownat the Scottish Motor. &alibi-lion on Stand No. 177 by General Motors (Glasgow), Ltd:, whose offices are at 225, Duke Street, Glasgow.
Commercial Aviation.
The totals-of -departures:and arrivals of aircraft to and from the Continent since the opening of the first service on August 26th, 1919,•until-the end of 1920 . were: Departures, 2,131; arrivals, 2,022;
• grand total, 4,153. British =thine& eontribe:ilea .3,321 to the latter figure, French 721, Belgian 104, and other nationalities 7.
The totals for the three months October-Doceanbe:r, 1920, exceeded thetie for :the six. months' (Yctober, 1919-March, -1920. •During the former period -idepar,tures and a.rriVals were -each 406, .whereas during -the 'latter period they were 388 and 346 respectively.
Ford Works Close Down.
During the last low days of December notices were posted in the Ford Motor 'Co.'s works at Detroit .stating that operations would not be resumed until 'February Itt. The original intention was to reopen the works on January 3rd, but, owing to 'the scarcity of elders, it was &Fielded to keep elm works closed for another mouth. Approximately 50,000 werkers -were employed in the -,.works when'they were closed for inven...tary. The company is distributing 'tittongst employees 7,000,000 dollars in 'hones Checks as compared With more
than 10,000,000 a year ago. •
Inquiries for Tractors from Barbados.
The officer fit charge of his Majesty's Trade Commissioner's office in Trinidad reports to the Department of Overseas Trade that a:company, which has been recently formed by the amalgamation of ;five -existing concerns, with the object of .purchasing supplies for the estates in fBarbados, is desirous of receiving cute.,logues andpriee lists of sugar and cotton ,machinery, agricultural implements (including motor:tractors), fertilizers, etc. • The:name:and addressof the firm will be furnished to :United :Kingdom firms interested en-application to theDepartment of Overseas Trade, 35, Old Queen Street, WeStininster, ..5.W.1, quoting 25h1/E.D./P.N.
Institute of Metals Journal.
The latest issue of the journal of the Instittito of •Metals—Vol. XXIV—with its 547 pages and 40 plates, 'well maintains the high standard of this irepertant metallurgical publicatioe, for the-editing of -whirh Mr. :G. Shaw Scott, 31.S., is again responsible.
Special interest attaches to the hitherto unpublished May 'lecture of Professor C. A. F. Benedicks, of Stockholm tIniversity, in which he announces his discovery Of therruceeleCtrie 'effects :on homogeneous metals; previously, it had been held that 'dissimilar material conStituted the basis of therme-efectric offeets, hilt this view it noweonelusively disproved. The wide application of thetertoislectric pyrometers for engineering worketrauses interest in the .posSiblo practical uses of the discovery.
The major peation of the journal consists of .a series of ten papers that was presented 6A4he Barrowqn-l'urness meeting of the Institute of Metals and of thediscussion upon the papers. Oi these the biggest, and perhaps the most novel, is that contributed by a lady metallii.7gist, -Miss Constanee F. • Elam, jointly with -Professor Carpenter,F.R.1S., the authors advancing what is probably the last word on the muCh-elebated
ject of erystatgrowth and recrystallize,' tion in metals.
'Issued as lieriatoiore in cloth-bound covers, the new journal, in spite of its large • size, is unaltered in price, this being 31s..6d. net -It .can be...obtained through any bookseller or .direct from the publishers, The Institute-Of Metals, 36, Victoria Street, London, S.-W,1.
'Bus -Running 'Powers Wanted.
"If Liverpeol, with its 'big population, is losing B.491,,000 • on its omnibuses, what chanc,e 'has a small -townShip of making buses pay?" was One of the =pointed. observations at a statutory meet-trig of the ratepayers Of Hoylaire and Watt 'Kerby, held to confirm the proem/Alen of a -Rill, which has 1:/e611-clepoited in Parlia,ment, for powers, amongst other things, to run Omnibuses. To assist the development and better -working of the district, it was thought that buses would be most suitable.
Netherlands East Indies • Exhibition.
• Britishmanufacturers and exporters who •seek to develop trade in the .Netherlanils:Fast Indies—oue 61 the. most lucrative markets in the world, and one that is by no means over-supplied Anil over-.developed—should be 'dribs-rested in the announcement, that the second Netherlands .Eaci■t. Indies fair is to be held at Bandoeng .(Java) from September 19th to October 9th of this year. The "fair will be international •in•characler, and will offer inanulacturers an opportunity of exhibiting wares of all kinds co a vast number Of potential buyers in the Fast. Everything that -patAins to :industry, commerce, arid agriculture will be represented at. the fair, and a motor vehicle and motor
tractor exhibition will be field simultaneously in the same town.
Preliminary arnangements are well-forward, and a booklet •setting forth all details, .in English, _is being :prepared by the British Chamber of Coniineree fot the Netherlands EaSt. Indies. to Whom, at 38,iD0ver•Street, London, iV.1. all inquiries in donned-ion with this fait bud.tihe .conotuitont exhibiticiu should he addressed.
Proceedings.
Crewe Corporation requires a 1. ton Vent lorry With tipping body.
Tenders are to be obtained by the .stirveyor of the Hunstanton ILD.C. for a now scavenging Larry.
The :purchase of a.-3 lon•Daimler-lorry is to -be considered by the -Louth T.C. The cost is put at 2659.
Tottenham -has been recent
`jemmied to invite 'tend-era for a r-ITOW -motor Punt!) for -the fire-brigade.
-Durham R.D.C. has been recommended to purchade additienal road Plant, including two motor wagons.
The purchase of -a 5 ton rtibberityred steam wagonwith tipping body has'lieen rceornmend eel: to the .Greenwieli.B. .
The -surveyor of 'the :Southencten-Sea ,C.oiperation is to report as .to additional veld cles, required for haulage: purposes.
One thousand four hundred and eleven pounds is to be borrowed by Perth T.C. lee the purchase Of a Steain. tipping wagon.
. Leyland .Met-ass, Ltd., are supplying the Chorley Corporation with a 5 ton 'stoats Wagon, fitted -with hydraulic tip .arrangements.
The Metro-politan Asylums Board .pro,poses "to purchase a inetor vehiale carry patients 'between the Northern 'Hospital and the railway StatiOn.
Local authorities in the county are 'being siiked to support the transport .seheme.prepared by the Durham County Council, :and which is said to Involve a cost of 1,641,393.
The Works, Cominittee Of the Camberwell Borough Council :recommends flea purchase of a 'Leyland five ton steam wagon, fitted with galley emptier, at a cost of D1,790, less 5 per cent.
Ayrshire •Coturty Connell has egiven permission to the Scottish General Transport Co., Ltd., to run motorbuses on routes where the roads have a Width Of not less than 16 ft., and on condition that the proposed fares are submitted to the County Council for confirmation.
STEAM v. PETROL.
Test by a steam Wagon and a Petrol Lorry on a 240 Mile Run. •
THE FOLLOWING interesting and instructive details of a recent test have been supplied to us by the Sentinel Waggon Works, Ltd., Shrewsbury, the manufacturers of the well-known Sentinel steam wagon. It appears that some little time ago a Sentinel user at Wakefield complained to the Shrewsbury works that he was not getting the satisfaction he had expected from his Sentinel lorry, and that, compared with a petrol wagon of a similar useful load capacity, its performance was unfavourable.
The manufacturers of the Sentinel suggested that the fault was one for which the wagon was not to be blamed, and that it was possibly being run by an incompetent driver. They went further, and stated positively that a 6 ton Sentinel should, and could, out-, distance any 5 ton petrol lorry on the road. Their clients did not agree with this opinion, but, like good sportsmen, professed themselves open to be convinced, and proposed a test between the two types similarly laden and, of courses over the same route. At the time this suggestion was made the Sentinel was at the Shrewsbury works being overhauled, and it was decided that, as soon as the wagon was again ready for the road, it should be taken to 'Wakefield and driven through the test by one" of Sentinere own drivers:
The trial took place on November 25th last-, and was folkiweel by a. Sentinel representative and other interested parties, who observed the incidents en route and took the starting and finishing times. At four minutes past seven in the morning the Sentinel left the Wakefield works, the petrol wagon being due to start at 7.30. About midway between Wakefield and Doncaster tle Sentinel stopped to take in her first running supply of water, after which the route was followed over about three miles of tramlines through. Doncaster, and thence through Tickhill and Oldeoats to Worksop, where a stop of about 20 minutes was made Lo allow the men to get something to eat. Water was again taken in about a mile and .a half past Worksop and eosin at Ripley, the route between these two points beings Mansfield, Sutton, and Alfreton.
The weather and road conditions had now improved, although it was intensely cold. Another water .stop was made. between Derby and Burton-on-Trent, following on which a five rni'e run ended the day's journey at Barton, which was reached at 2.35. Here the wagon was put up for the night as arranged by the • Sentinel client, and as they always made a habit of doing with their petrol wagon. The reason for this is not because Birmingham could not have been reached the same day, but because the works at which the crucibles have to he delivered close at 5 o'clock, by which time the petrol lorries cannot usually reach 'their d.estination. On this occaeinie the petrol lorry arrived at Barton at 4.10 p.m. . On the following morning bulb machines left Herten at 7 o'clock, and the Sentinel arrived at its destination at Aston, Birmingham. at 8.39, whilst the petrol ran in at. 8.51. The Sentinel wagon subsequently went on to King's Norton and got back to Wakefield at 9 o'clock the same night. The total time of the trip from Wakefield to Aston was nine hours and ten minutes for the C8 Sentinel and 10 hours 22 minutes for the petrol, whilst the total useful load on each wagon was 5 tone 7 cwt., and the distance of the trip 240 miles.
The following running costs provide interesting reading, but it must, of course, be understood that these costs are for fuel alone. The amount of petrol used was 36 gallons, which, based at 3s. 8d. per gallon, shows a total cost of 26 12s., or fuel per mile cost of 7d. The Sentinel completed the journey on 18 cwt. 3 qr. 25 lb. of coke at 55s. per ton, which gives us a total cost 22 12s. 3d., or a fuel per mile cost of 2.77d.
On the return journey the time was not accurately taken, but the Sentinel, which was leading, waited for the petrol wagon at the tea atop, 30 miles outside Wakefield, and then arrived home first by half an hour.
STILL TALKING.
Mersey Transport. Muddle in the Limelight Again.
WHEN The Commercial Motor first directed attention some months ago to the Mersey Ferry muddle causing unconscionable delays to vehicular crossriver traffic, the view was expressed that the reason no progress was made was because of the petty jealousies and apathy of the municipalities concerned Now the chairman of the Birkenhead Ferries Committee conies along and says:
"The City of Liverpool asserts, through its representatives, that it is no concern of theirs—in spite of the fact that the ferries manager received 27 letters in one day from Liverpool traders complaining of the intolerable delays that took place in getting across the river from Liverpool. Bootle wash their "hands of the whole business, and Wallasey stands idly. by, content to benefit by any improvements which may eventually accrue as the-result of Birkenhead's consistent efforts to alleviate the present condition of things—especially on the Liverpool side of the river."
Meanwhile, Birkenhead is to spend "2380,000 for the improvement of the cross-river traffic to be spread over a period of 20 years, whilst Wallasey has just had a Ministry of Transport inquiry to deal with their application for sanction to borrow 2256,000 for the reconstruction of Seacombe, landing stage. Some useful statistics were submitted at this inquiry showing the volume of traffic using the Soacombe Ferry, and were for the month of August. They may be summarized as follows:
Seacombe Liverpool Total Average to to vehicles. per Liverpool Seacornbe. hour. Vehicles. Vehicles.
August 9th to 14th 2,203 ... 2,228 ... 4.431 ... 56 August 16th to 21st 2;306 2,272 . . 4,578 58 August 23rd to 28th 2,243 ... 2,124 4.367 ... 54
With regard to the changed conditions of the luggage boats, the original axle load for tho'boats was from 2i to 3 tons, whereas now loads have to be provided for axle loads up ti 20 tons.
Complaint was made of the difficulty in getting the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board to make improvements on the Liverpool side, owing to the question of cost. Can a 5 ton Steamer be Registered for £6 a Year.
LIVEN before it ie properly working, .1-L4 the new taxation scheme hes been discovered to contain' the germs of more anomalies than one would have expected, considering the technical qualificatiene of the committee which advised the Ministry. The double-purpose vehicle may be resolved into simple enough terms for taxa. tion purposes on paper, but, in practice, there is already evidence that things are "likely to plan out quite differently. The final upshot of the Act promises to be much work for lawyers and endless petty prosecutions. The other day we were in the fruitgrowing district of Evesham, and, in the cottrse of conversation with one of the biggest. farmers of the neighbourhood, learnt of a very interesting and common development of the new taxation scheme as applied to agriculture. It will be remembered that, according to the wording of the Act, a. " tractor used for haulage solely in connection with agriculture " comes off very favourably as compared with those working for less fortunate industries. If its weight does not exceed 5 tons, it pays only 25 per annum tax, with a maximum of 210, irrespective of weight. Tractors used for general haulage—even' agricultural tractors—pay a minimum of 225 (under 8 tons) and a maximum of 230 (over 12 tons). The first point to be noted here is that it. is the purpose for which the tractor is used and not its type that primarily determines how much it shall pay.
Now a certain farmer, endowed with more than the usual amount of bucolic: cunning, wondered why he should not converts his commercial goods-earrrying vehicle into an agricultural tractor, for taxation purposes at least. To a man who knew more about the types of commercial vehicles and tractors on the roads of to-day and of their functions, the idea .could not have occurred—or, at least, it would immediately have been dismissed by him as absurd. But the farmer knew no fine distinctions, and he went to his local policen an for, and succeeded in getting, confirmation of his theory, which was this :—
A steam wagon with a trailer behind is a tractor, for it pulls something. If it is used solely for the haulage of agricultural produce, it is an agricultural tractor within the meaning of the Ac. Therefore, lie would license his 5 ton steamer with its trailer as an agricultural tractor and pay a 26 tax. The fact that every other sister vehicle was paying a tex of 230 with 22 extra for trailer merely reflected the short-sightedness of their owners.
It seems grossly unfair that one class of the community should be allowed to run a certain typo of vehicle for rather. lees than a, fifth of what has to be paid by every other owner of the same machine. And surely it is going a. little too far with the preference that has already been shown in no mistaken manner for the agricultural over the pure indust 'rial interests throughout the new taxation scheme. Moreover, is the settling of every doubtful point to be left entirely in the hands of the police ? The Ministry of Transport has already announced its inability to interpret its own regulations, and the police seem to be the obvious firs into which the owner will drop from the Whitehall frying pans