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WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising. as e carriage is by the roughness of the roe& over which it rans."—John Beattie Crozier, Road Traffic Legislation.

We hear that there is no possibility of the Road Traffic Bill being introduced this session, and the probability is that legislation will be postponed until after the projected commission of inquiry into the whole question of rd transport has reported. This moans that legislation will not be proposed during the life of the present Peril. whieh will terminate next summer or autumn.

Important Bus Concerns Linking Up.

An important bus development is foreshadowed by the appointmentof Mr. W. J. Thomson, the preset chairmen and managing direct: of the Scottish Motor Traetion Co., Ltd., and deputychairman of the United Automobile Services, Ltd., to be chairman of the Glasgow General Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd. These are three of the most ins' portent provincial passenger-operating concerns in the country, and each has wide interests. The combined capital of the three concerns is /1=0,000."

The Position of the Factor.

The committees of the factors' and accessory manufacturers' sections of the Society . of Motor Manufacturers and' Traders have prepared for circulation throughout the trade a pamphlet setting out the service which the recognised factor gives from the points of view of prompt delivery, selective and quantity

buying, and in other directions. Inchided in the pamphlet is a list of factors approved by the Society, which,, by reason of the conditions with which they are required to comply, can be relied upon to carry representative stocks and are qualified to give prompt and efficient service,

The Revised Lighting-t.,) Times.

Since the new Road Transport Lighting Act came into force there has been certain codfusion caused by the need for lighting-up lamps and number-plates

at different times. The difficulty has now been removed by the announcement of the Ministry of Transport that the time for illuminating the number-plates on motor vehicles is to be the same as for lighting the front and tail lamps. Daring the period of summer time all lamps have to be illuminated between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise, and for the remainder of the year the time is half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise.

• 'Ware Overloading in Cheshire.

On cue or two of the main roads of Cheshire the county council has installed large weighing machines, at no small expense, for the purpose of tracing those haulage contractors who overload their heavy vehicles contrary to regulations. One of these machines has been fixed along the busy main road at Church Lawton, along which considerable heavy traffic passes day and night to and from Loudon, Birmingham, the Potteries, Newcastle, Warrington, Liverpool, and Manchester. The machine is situated almost on the boundary of Staffordshire.

n20 The county c,uncil has started its campaign in this part of the county in an active way, and recently, at the Sandbaeh Petty Sessions, a large number of contractors was summoned for overloading their vehicles. In every case the vehicles were ordered on to the machine and the reports of the man in charge wele sent to Chester for official action.

In defending one case, Mr H. P.

Rigby thought that an allowance was made for coal and water on steam vehicles, but Mr. Whittingham, for the county council, said that there was riothiug in the regulations to that effect. He is misinformed in this matter, for the Motor Cars (Use and Construction) Order, 1904, and the Heavy Motor Car Order, 1904, and many subsequent Orders amending them, make it clear that, for the purpose of these orders, "weight unladen" means the weight of the vehi.de exclusive of any water and fuel.

The fines imposed ranged from 13 to 17, one concern being fined 15 and £6, and" anothe r f7., •

A Section to be Studied.

Quite a number of interesting advertisements appears in the classified advertisement section of this journal for this week. There are many posts open in several branches of the industry. Of the most important a maintenance engineer is required by a bus company in the Midlands, and an assistant traffic manager is needed to supervise a fleet of 100 buses.

A particularly interesting announcement, which may po-sibly attract the attention of municipal authorities in rural areas, is that inserted by Dennis Bros., Ltd., of Guildford, which has for sale three Dennis 60 h.p. 450-gallon fire-engines at most attractive prices. The appliances have lately been in the service of the London Vire Brigade, and can be inspected at the maker's works.

Marshall, Sons and Co.'s Successful Year. •

Marshall, SODS and Co., Ltd, the well-known manufacturer of steam tractors, traction engines, etc., is to be congratulated upon the success which has attended its trading during 1927, and which is all the more important considering the loss experienced during 1926.

The profit for 1027 amounted to £43,049, against a Joss of £33,806 for the previous year. This is reduced by debenture interest, depreciation and expenses of debenture issue to £14,097. Out of this sum the directors propose to pay the arrears on preference dividend for the half-year ended June, 1027.

It may be remembered that a year ago, to meet the loss, the debenture interest and one year's preference dividend, amounting to 165,000, were taken from the reserve fund.

A Steam-bus Syndicate Formed at Indianapolis.

We learn from Motor Age that after a long series of experiments carried out at the old National Automobile Plant at Indianapolis, the results have justified the formation of a 5,000,000dollar syndicate with the object of putting on the market a new type of steam-propelled bus.

This vehicle will, not be any longer than those now seen on the streets of American cities, but it will seat 40 persons instead of 28, owing to the fact that it dispenses with the bonnet. It is hoped by the syndicate that the chassis will be so satisfactory that it will obtain a market in other countries than America, and plans are being made for a world-wide distribution.

Certainly there are some very respon

sible men at• the head, these including Colonel H. W. Alden, chairman • of the board of directors of the Timken

• Detroit Axle Co., and Mr. N. A.

• Hawkins, formerly of the Ford and General Motors sales executive. Others interested in the organization are Mr. W. C. Marmon, the chairnaan of the board of the Marmon Motor Co., Mr. A. C. Newby, vice-president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation, and Mr. L. M. Wainwright,

• president Of the Diamond Chain and MannfaCturing Co.

A Well-known Company's Jubilee.

• On June 11th, W. H. Wilcox and Co., Ltd., which supplies a 'wide, range of sundries for the'engineering, motor and allied trades, attained its jubilee. Mr. , W. H. Willcox started the business in 1878 with a small staff in Upper Thames Street, and some of the original employes are still in the service of the company. Re was joined later in partnership by Mr. William Cordrey, at 36, Southwark Street, London, S.E.1, and, as a result of progressive metheds,

they have built up an extensive business.

From a small warehouse, the premises of the company have expanded to such an extent that they now comprise no fewer than eight large buildings. The main offices, warehouses and pump works are located at 34-38, Southwark Street, but the company has oil and grease refineries and stores, as well as large factories, in which the well-known Jones-INTL= patent wire-bound (nonrubber) hose is manufactured, in other parts of south-east London. • Another Tyneside-to-London Daily • Service.

Another new service—the fifth in little over a year—has been inaugurated between Tyneside and London. This has been established by Charlton's Blue Safety Coaches and one journey is made in each direction daily, as by other concerns working the route, whilst the same fares are charged, namely, single £1 and return 15s.

A "National" Absorption.

The National Omnibus and Transport Co., Ltd., has intimated to the Weymouth Watch Committee. that it has taken over the White Star Omnibus Service.

Brighton's Big Road Scheme.

Brighton Corporation has approved a scheme for the construction of an undercliff drive from Black Rock to Saltdean and a new coast road at a total cost of £1,459,000.

Catalogues Wanted.

Catalogues of motor accessories and body-building equipment, with price fiats and best export terms, all in triplicate, are required by a wholesale merchant house in New Zealand. All literature should be sent to Brown Douglas and Co., 20, Easteheap, London, E.C.3. A Trial to Popularize French Vehicles in Morocco.

With the object of popularizing and extending the use of French industrial vehicles in Morocco and of directing attention to the need for the production of vehicles suitable also for emergency military proposes in that country, the French Minister of War has recently issued the rules and regulations of a reliability trial it proposes to hold in Morocco in August next and in which only vehicles entirely of -French construction will be permitted to take part. The . competition will b& divided into four clasSes, viz., Colonial cars seating at least six persOns ; small Colonial passenger-carrying oars; delivery vehicles of a minimum capacity of 30 cwt.; vehicles capable of carrying at least 5 tons. All the competing vehicles are

to be capable not on!i of running on ordinary roads, but also, in ease of necessity, on the camel tracks of Morocco.

Southdown's Profits.

The report of Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., for the year ended March 31st last shows that, after deducting all items chargeable against revenue, including depreciation, etc., there remains a profit of 139,050, to which has to be added a sum of £21,074 brought forward_ Of the total of £60,124, £6,000 is to be placed to reserve, and, after a final dividend of 5 per cent. (making, with the interim dividend already paid, 10 per cent, for the year) and a bonus of 5 per cent, has been paid, 120,374 remains to be carried forward. The net profit made in the previous year was /49,713, when the dividend paid was the same as for the past year.

Farm Tractors in New Zealand. Official figures lately issued show that the number of agricultural tractors on New Zealand farms increased from 1,026 in 1925 to 2,588 in 1927. Municipal Motor Deliveries.

Municipal authorities in various parts of the country have recently put into service the three appliances which are shown in pictures appearing on this

page. The first is a Karrier-Fowler 1,000-gallon gully emptier which has been delivered to the municipality of Rotterdam. This machine differs from the standard specification In that it is fitted with 40-in. by 8-in. pneumatic tyres and does not embody the usual Karrier-Fowler street washing or sprinkling apparatus. Its purpose, therefore, is solely for gully emptying. The gully emptier proper is made by John Fowler and CO. (Leeds), Ltd., and it is mounted on the well-known Karrier Ktype chassis, which embodies in its design a 60-82 bp. engine with a detachable head and a double-reduction rear axle.

In the second picture, a Dennis 211tonnes supplied to the Finsbury Borough Council is shown. The basis of this vehicle i3 the chassis maker's 12-ft.wheelbase model, and if is equipped With a hand-operated tipping body. It is built BO that it can be used for refuse collection or for street sprinkling, its use in the former sphere being mainly in connection with market refuse. The vehicle is illustrated with its steel body, the dimensions of which are as follow : Length, 10 ft.; width (front), 5 ft. 11i ins., (rear) 6 ft. 51 ins.; height (at sides), 2 ft. 6 ins. ; height (at ends), 4 ft. 9 ins. Allowing for the wheelarches protruding a maximum of 5* ins. into the body, its capacity is 153

cub. ft. A tie-rod extends from the front to the centre of the rear arch, which supports the emptying door and serves to carry a canvas which can be spread across the body. When it is desired to use the chassis for street sprinkling purposes, a 500-gallon tank is substituted for the tipping body and the B22 • water is fed by gravity to the sprinkling heads, which are located below the driver's cab.

A Guy 25-cwt. tipping wagon forms the subject of the third picture and the vehicle has been delivered to the Leicester Corporation. The tipping body is hand-operated and the lorry is equipped with large-dimension pneumatictyres.

The Largest Fleet of Lorries.

The largest fleet of motor lorries and mntorvans in operation throughout the world is claimed to be possessed by the Associated Bell Telephone Cos. of America, which, it •is said, has 13,075 vehicles in active service.

Gangway Requirements at Bradford. The licensing committee of the Bradford Corporation has passed a resolution in respect of Motor vehicles which ply for hire, under which the Width of

the gangway in the body must be not less than 12 ins, up to the seat level and 14 ins, above it. The width of the gangway may be 2 ins, less than these dimensions in the case of all-weather coaches used on long journeys only.

Death of Mr. J. W. Connolly.

We learn with much regret of the death of Mr. John William Connolly, chairman and managing director of J. W. and T. Connolly, Ltd., which has had long associations with the motor trade.

Bristol Passenger-vehicle Orders.

The Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., Tramways Centre, Bristol, continues to receive a number of orders for its low-loading light passenger chassis, and some of the latest have come from the Newcastle (Staffs.) Motor Co., Ltd., the Curtis Automobile Co., Ltd., the Rotherham Corporation, and the Wigan Corporation, the last named being a repeat order for a 30seater Bristol Superbus, A Valuable Suggestions Bureau.

In 1917 the Underground authorities in London established a Suggestions Bureau with the object of inducing employees of its allied undertakings to put forward ideas for effecting improvements in connection with the operation of its buses, trains and tramways. Up to -the end of 1927, over 42,000 suggestions.had 'been received and dealt with, and, although many if them related to matters of minor importance, some possessed considerable merit.

Some typical examples which pointed the way to improvements are an improved valve lifter for bus engines, an improved piston ring, a safety device for the front axle of buses, a design for the outside-seat cover for buses, a locating tool for the big-end and main bearing caps of bus engines, a method of effecting economy in oil consumption, an improvement in sprag gear for buses, and a suggestion for a belt drive for the dynamo on B-type bus engines to replace the form of friction drive used.

Those who put forward suggestions which are adopted receive awards and, apart from the payments made in respect to individual suggestions, members of the staff who are prolific in putting forward suggestions which are accepted are awarded a special bonus Coventry's Profitable Buses.

The tramways and motorbus undertaking of the Coventry Corporation shows a profit for the year ended March 31st last of /16,860, of which £11,304 represents the profit on the motorbuses. The transport committee has decided to write off the surplus on the tramways against the amount remaining to be redeemed for replaced and superseded works, and it recommends that the balance on the motorbuses be transferred to the reserve or renewals account.

Bradford's Wise Step.

The tramways manager of Bradford has reported on the condition of the permanent way on the Thackley and Alterton tramway routes, and the tramways committee has decided that, in view of the powers contained in the Corporation's Provisional Order now before Parliament, no further expenditure be incurred on the permanent way on those sections. Having regard to the dangerous condition of the track, the manager has been instructed to take the necessary steps for the conversion of the routes, in order that trolley-buses may be put into operation so soon as possible after ' the requisite powers have been obtained.

Langite Profits.

The directors of the Cork Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (the patent laminated cork Langite of which is gaining ground rapidly for gaskets, oil-retaining washers, glands, etc.), announce a net profit for. the year ended April 30th last of £7,895, as compared with £6,050 for the previous year. The sum of £396 was brought forward, and from the total available it is proposed to place £1,000 to depreciation reserve, to pay a dividend of 3i per cent. (making 6 per cent, for the year), to place £2,500 to general reserve, and to carry forward £1,191. The business is a new one and is making excellent progress.

Watford Apportions Licences.

After consideration of the applications of various proprietors and concerns to operate buses in the town, Watford Watch Committee decided to issue the following: National Omnibus and Transport Co., Ltd., 84 (79 buses and five motor coaches) ; London General Omaibus Co., Ltd.' 75; Mr. Hewitt, five and a spare, and two motor coaches ; Mr. Aston, five and a spare; Mr. Lewis ' five and a spare; Co-operative Omnibus Co., four and a spare ; Metropolitan Railway Co., four ; Mr. Prentice, three and a spare ; Mr. Tucker, two and a spare, and Mr. Biggerstaff and Mr. Slade, two each.

Danger Signs that ARE a Danger.

Camberwell Borough Council has received a letter from the Commissioner of Police stating that, at a recent inquest in connection with a fatal accident, evidence was given to the effect that the deceased person was crossing the road in the shadow cast by a red band which had been painted on the glass of a lamp in the vicinity. It was said to be impossible for the driver of a vehicle which did not possess good headlights to observe a person crossing the roadway within the area of the shadow. The Commissioner has given the matter careful consideration and has come to the conclusion that signs or other marks painted on the glass of lamps may cause potential danger at night.

A Tynesidellirmingham Daily Service.

No lens-distance Service inaugurated from the Tyneside area in the past few months la of greater interest than that which was started on June 23rd, linking up by direct bus such important centres as Newcastle, Sheffield, Derby, and Birmingham. This new TynesideBirmingham service has been instituted by Blue Band Services, of Middles-, brough, who already run a Tees-side-London service, and as the route is one which traverses thickly populated districts, it should prove remunerative. The route is by way of Wakefield, Barnsley, Sheffield, Chesterfield, Ripley, Derby, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Tamworth,

and Walsall, and the single-journey mileage is. approximately 200. At the outset cne journey is being made in each direction daily, and the through fares are, single 20s., and return 30s.

. A Tramway Abandoned.

The Gravesend and Northfleet Electric Tramways, Ltd., has made arrangemeats with all the authorities concerned for the abandonment of its tramways. The company is making the necessary arrangements for the substitution of the tramcars by buses and for this purpose expects to require thirty licences.

Effective High-tension Terminals.

We have received from the Runbaken Magneto Co., Tipping Street, Ardwick, Manchester, some examples of a new form of high-tension terminal which is both simple and cheap, the retail price being 4id. each.

Each terminal consists of a closely wound coil of wire, which is reduced at one end to secure the shank of a slotted piece of brass, which can be slid under the terminal screw of a sparking plug without altogether removing the screw. The cylindrical portion of the coil passes over the end of the hightension cable, and to provide a good electrical contact the wires forming the conductor are splayed out and turned back over the end. The terminal holds very securely, and presents the advantage that it can easily be removed for utilizing on another cable. A point is that, owing to the flexibility of the wire, vibration does not car:ae the conductors to break.

"Express" Chassis Reliability:

. , Tilling-Stevens Motors, Ltd., of Maidstone,.has recently received an unsolicited letter from one of its many users of the company's Express chassis, which clearly gives an indication of the reliability of this particular type. The user mentions the fact that chassis, purchased 12 months, ago, have been free from mechanical failura throughout the whole of this period, and that the chassis are just receiving their first overhaul after being in constant use.

Nrulean Buses for Cbina.

One of those makes of vehicle which have achieved considerable popularity in China is the Vulcan, where a number of passenger-carrying vehicles of this make is in use. One of the latest • orders which the Vulcan Motor and Engineering Co. (1906), Ltd., has received from this part of the world is from a Hong Kong transport company, which has Ordered 19 complete Vulcan six-cylinder buses. The fleet will comprise 13 35-seaters, three 32

seaters and three 20-seaters. The order represents a total value of approximately £30,000.

How Newcastle's Bus-station Projects are Progressing.

The Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., of Chester-le-Street. has encountered yet another difficulty in connection with the erection of a large motorbus station in the centre of Newcastle at a cost of £25,000, details of which have already been given in our columns. It will be recalled that the first objection to the proposal came from the town improvement committee. This objection was successfully overcome when the company amended its plans in a few details to comply with the city by-laws, whereupon the committee gave its approval to the project.

The watch committee, however, has now taken up the cudgels and, it is understood, has decided, under its Act of 1927, that motorbus traffic over the new Tyne bridge shall not be allowed to proceed beyond City Road, which, as the decision stands at present, effectively prohibits the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., from making any use of the proposed new station if or when it is built.

The corporation's project for the building of three large bus stations in central parts of the city is being expedited. Such progress has now been made that Major W. J. Steel, the city engineer, has been instructed to prepare estimates and plans for two of the stations, those at the Haymarket and Marlborough Crescent, which are to be used for traffic from the north and the west respectively. No decision has yet been reached with reference to the third station for the use of buses entering the city over the new bridge, but sites are being considered.

A Forthcoming M. of T. Inquiry.

Arising out of the refusal of the Darlington Corporation to renew licences for 119 vehicles owned by the United Automobile Services, Ltd., and a consequent appeal by the company to the Ministry of Transport, an inquiry will be held at Darlington by a Ministry official on July 3rd.

A Combined Motor and Horse Parade.

The East Lancashire Road Transport Association and the Commercial Motor Users' Association, in conjunction with the Blackburn and District Horse Show and Parade Society, recently held their annual road transport show at Blackburn: There were nine classes in which motors and horses competed and 18 silver challenge cups were presented. Many of those who acted as judges in the motor section are well known in the transport industry and included Mr. F. G. Bristow, the secretary of the C.M.U.A..

Thames Valley Traction Report.

The report of the Thames Valley Traction Co., Ltd., for the year ended December 31st last shows that, after deducting from the gross receipts all items chargeable to revenue including depreciation, and adding £6,399 brought in from the previous year, there is a balance of £14,550. A dividend at the rate of 8 per cent, per annum is to be paid on the ordinary shares and this will absorb f5,100 and will leave £8,150 to be carried forward.

Additional buses were put into service during the year under review and further vehicles have been cirdered ; when these are delivered, the fleet of buses and motor coaches run by the companywill total 155.

Dundee's Buses Popular.

The returns for the past year relating to the operation of the bus services of the Dundee Corporation have given satisfaction to the tramways department. During the year, the vehicles covered 334,454 miles and carried 3,190,021 passengers. Although the miles run and the number of passengers carried by the tramcars were higher, there was a decrease of £759 in traffic receipts from these vehicles.

Bradford Road Schemes.

Bradford Corporation proposes to proceed with the construction of part of the Inner Ring Road—as a by-pass road—from Smiddles Lane to Little Horton Lane, near its junction with Southfield Lane, at a cost of £11,120 and with the Laisteridge Lane continuation, to the junction of Southfield Lane, with Little Horton Lane at a cost of £25,000.

A Municipality's Bus Agreement with a Railway Company.

It is reported that an agreement has been arrived at between the Caerphilly Urban District Council and the Great Western Railway Co., whereby the latter becomes the future manager of the -council's bus undertaking. The council operates services between Caerphilly and Nelson, Caerphilly and Senghenydcl and Caerphilly and Bedwas, and is promoting a Bill in Parliament to run a service between Caerphilly and Cardiff, via Nantgarw.

The terms of the agreement provide that the company shall not oppose the Bill, that the value of the existing bus undertaking shall be ascertained jointly, that the company shall pay to the council a sum equal in value to one-half of the agreed value, that the bus undertaking of the council, as extended by the wider powers being sought, shall be owned by the council and the company in equal shares, and that any additional capital which may be required shall be provided in moieties. .

The agreement will come into force so soon as Parliament has passed the Great Western Railway Bill and the Caerphilly Council Bill.

A Big Order for Oil-feeders.

Joseph Kaye and Sons, Ltd., Lock Works, Leeds, advises us that it has just received an order for 800 of its patent valve oil-feeders from Leyland Motors, Ltd.

A B.E.N. Patents Appointment.

Mr. R. J. Pettitt has recently been appointed general sales manager of the B.E.N. Patents, Ltd. Mr. Pettitt was, until recently, sales manager of Messrs. R. Cadisch and Sons, and has been connected with the motor trade for a period extending over 20 years.

Rolled Metal Specialists.

J. F. Ratcliff, Ltd., New Summer Street, Birmingham, has just issued a catalogue dealing with rolled metals. The manufacture of non-ferrous, rolled metals is a branch of industry in which the company, which was established in

1878, has specialized. The information contained in the catalogue should prove of much interest to all users of brass and copper, and provides a very good idea of the activities of the company. Refusing the Renewal of Licences for Buses.

The refusal of the watch committee of the Sunderland Corporation to renew licences previously held by the Economic Omnibus Co., to enable the company to run into Sunderland in connection with Its South Shields service, has been followed by an appeal to the Ministry of Transport, and an inquiry will he held on July 10th.

The company was summoned on three counts for having on June 15th plied for hire in the borough without licences, but 011 the suggestion of Mr. F. A. Milburn, who appeared for the company, the eases were adjourned until July 200, in order to give the magistrates an opportunity for learning the views of the Ministry.

A Bus Company's Offer to Lowestoft.

United Automobile Services, Ltd., has intimated to the Lowestoft Corporation that it learns the council is proposing the gradual replacement of the existing tram-ways by motorbus services. In view of the heavy expenditure which will necessarily be incurred in taking up the tram track and bearing in mind the Present high rating of the town, the company has inquired whether the cost of providing a fleet of motorbuses could not be avoided by some arrangement being made with it, whereby the corn

pany could supply the transport needs within the borough on terms to be arranged, safeguarding, to some extent, the present interest and redemption charges for which the council is liable an the tramways undertaking.

The coMpany submits that as it already has services operating through the town it would be more economical for it to operate the required services and, at the same time, it would he beneficial to the town. The committee, however, does not feel that any useful purpose would be served by entering into negotiations with the company on the basis indicated.

Egyptian Registrations.

According to returns furnished by the statistical department of the Egyptian Government, the total number of motor lorries and buses in use in Egypt on December 31st last was 3,502. The total number of new vehicles of these types registered from July to December of last year was 550. In addition, there are over 6,000 taxicabs in use throughout the country.

• Building Roads for Buses.

Birmingham Coeporation is to proceed with schemes for _reconstructing roads, intended to be used by motorbuses on new services, at a cost of 150,720.

Coaching from Darlington to Blackpool.

Another addition to the north country's extensive chain of regular long-distance coach services is that which has just been inaugurated between Darlington and Blackpool by Scott's Grey Motors, of Darlington. At the outset a twice-weekly service is being provided. The route has been selected with careful regard to scenery, and is via Richmond and part of picturesque Swaledale, and thence through eNinsleydale and Hawes. The single journey of 100 miles is completed in five hours, and return day tickets are available at 12s. 6d., whilst for the benefit of holiday-makers weekly tickets are issued at a cost of 15e. Reo all-weather coaches are used on the new route.

Council's Views on Bus Lengths.

Strong views upon the growing tendency to increase the size of motorbuses were expressed at a recent meeting of the Thornaby Town Council, when application was made by the United Automobile Services, Ltd., for licences for six machines, in connection with its recently inaugurated NewcastleScarborough: daily service. It was mentioned that the overall length of the vehicles was 27 ft. and after a lengthy discussion the council decided to refuse the application on the ground of public safety.