WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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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.
Urging a Reduction in Motorvehicle Taxation.
Following the unsatisfactory reply of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the representations recently made to him by all the motoring organizations, the Motor Agents' Association is taking steps to secure the active co-operation of the retail trade throughout the country in impressing upon the Government the urgent necessity of a substantial reduction of motor-vehicle taxes in the next Budget. Posters drawing attention to the serious situation of the motor trade are being issued for display in all garages throughout the country_ and are being circelated amongst all concerned In the use or sale of motor vehicles, Whether owners, traders or employees.
Cleansing Arrangements in London..
Mr. J. C. Dawes, the Ministry of Health inspector of public cleansing, has recently reported on his investigations into scavenging arrangements in the London area. Ile mentions that the existing system, under which there are 29 separate cleansing authorities, has not proved a success and he suggesti that a centralized authority working under a special body representative of all the sanitary interests concerned would be much more satisfactory. He mentions that the arrangements for -refuse collection are defective in important respects, and refers to the scattering of dust during periods of loading. 'This is a matter to which we -have directed attention inthese columns, but one must not lose sight of the fact that those concerns which have for long specialized in the construction of municipal appliances have produced designs in which suitable forms of protection, such as sliding covers, have been incorporated. The quantity of house and trade refuse collected in London, not including street refuse, exceeds 1.200,000 tons per year.
The Ministry of Health is appointing a representative committee to consider the proposals.
Popularizing Eleetries in France.
With the object of popularizing the use of electric vehicles throughout France, an active campaign is at present being conducted by the Societe pour le Developpement des Vehicules Electriques, a body which corresponds to the Electric Vehicle Committee in this country. Two two-day meetings have lately been held in Paris, to which representatives of the principal French railways, harbour and dock authorities, various motor-using Government departments, 'members of chambers of commerce, etc., were invited so that they might listen to a series of papers on the subject of electric vehicles, with lantern displays illustrating their uses, and witness actual read demonstrations of different types of vehicle. Similar demonstrations are to be organized at a number of the trade fairs which are to be held in France during the present year.
C20 In a Line or Two.
We understand that Mr. T.C. Avelinghas been appointed municipal representative for John I. Thornycroft and Co., Ltd. • The National Omnibusand Transport Co., Ltd., has declared a second interim dividend of 5 per cent., less tax, on the ordinary shares of the company for the year 1928.
• In August, 1921, there were 856,000 motor vehicles licensed and in August, 1928, 'the figure increased to the number of 1,976,000.
It is reported that a new Dennis double-decker is being tried out in the Nottingham municipal services.
In addition to the usual tax-free dividend of 10 per cent., the directors of the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd., propose paying a bonus of 2 per cent. in respect of the year to October 31st last.
The Halifax Corporation motorbus service, which has been maintained from Halifax to hlidgley, has, we understand, been transferred to the London Midland and Scottish Railway Co.
The highways committee of the Lancashire County Council recommends acceptance of the tender of £2,147,179 by Sir Lindsay Parkinson and Co., Ltd., of Blackpool, for the construction of the Liverpool-East Lancashire arterial road, which will be 25 miles
long. * John M. Newton and Sons, Ltd., has appointed Messrs. W. A. Atkin and Sent 23-24, Hertford Street, Coventry, as its agent for plate glass in Coventry, and in Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. The Cost of Collecting Motor Duties.
It is officially stated that the expenditure incurred by licensing authorities in Great Britain in the collection of motor licence duties, during the past three years, was
Per cent. of Revenue Total costs. collected.
1925-26 1926-27 1927-28 £343,397 £373,647 £403,235 2.10 1.87 1.79
These figures include the oast of the system of registration of motor vehicles, which accounts for a substantial proportion of the aggregate expetiditure incurred.
"Northern General" Report.
The Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., has very considerable motorbus interests in certain north-eastern districts and an indication of the extent of its enterprise can be gained from the face that, during the year ended December 31st last, its net traffic receipts, dividends and other revenue, amounted to £152,867. After deducting expenses and other items, including £55,971 for renewals, there remains a sum of £57,735. A sum a £5,000' is placed to reserve and £2,406 to the sinking fund for the redemption of debenture stock, whilst a dividend of 10 per cent. on the ordinary shares, which is the same as for the previous year, will absorb £44,375.
Tilling's and Brighton Corporation.
At the recent 32nd annual meeting of Thomas Tilling, Ltd., Mr. Richard S. Tilling, who presided, said that negotiations are proceeding between the company and the .Brighton Corporation for the co-ordination of passenger-transport facilities in Brighton. The proposition would involve the merging of the company's bus business there with the tramways undertaking owned by the corporation, and the directors feel that there is much to be gained on both sides by the arrangement proposed. With regard to the railways and their road-transport powers, Mr. Tilling said that, so far as the company is concerned, there had been no direct negotiations,but certain discussiemS are taking place between the railway companies and its allied concern, Tilling and 'British Automobile Traction, Ltd.
A Yorkshire Bus Company's Report. The report of the West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd., for the year ended December 31st last, shows a profit of
888 and, after deducting depreciation (£51,064) and other items, a sum of 129,310 remains, this being increased to £35,641 by the amount -brought forward, A final dividend of 5 per cent., less iikt x, is to be paid on the ordinary shares, making 10 per cent, for the year, and a bonus of 21 per cent, per annum, less tax. After these commitments have been met there will be a carry forward of £7,334.