News of the Week
Page 30
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FODEN OIL ENGINE TESTS "HIGHLY SATISFACTORY"
A N advanced stage has been reached in the design and development of the Foden oil engine, and the results of extensive tests have 'been "highly satisfactory." This announcement was made by Mr. J. Wild, chairman of Fodens, Ltd., at the company's annual general meeting, last week.
He added that Mr. J. E. Foden was visiting South Africa and Australia to investigate the possibility of expanding the company's trade abroad.
It is understood that only a prototype of the new Foden two-stroke oil engine has so far been built. Production models are to be expected in February or Match of next year. Until then, Fodens, Ltd., Sandbach, will not release details of the new power unit.
ENGINEERS' PART IN WORLD RELATIONS
ON the motion of the British delegation, the council of the World Engineering Conference, which met in Zurich earlier this month, decided to set up a permanent committee to study the effects of technical development on social and international relations. This committee will work closely with UNESCO.
The council also decided on the immediate establishment' of a committee to study the effects of power production. These two studies, and the preparation of recommendations based on them, will be an important part of the council's work during the next 12 months.
Twenty-five nations were represented at the meeting. Lord Sempill, president, and Mr. G. Hall, secretary of the Institute of the Motor Industry, and Mr. W. R. Howard, Mr. F. Parfett, and Mr. R. Lowe, of the British Committee, attended on behalf of Great Britain.
The Conference decided to hold the next World Technical Congress in Cairo in March, 1949, and to develop an international exchange service for engineers and technicians.
Among the main objects of the Conference is the association of engineers and technicians in a world organization.
TRIBUNAL WILL HEAR 12 APPEALS IN TWO WEEKS
THE Appeal Tribunal has a -heavy programme for the next fortnight. and will sit in London and Exeter.
On October 1 the appeal of Margaret Elliott against a decision of the SouthEastern Deputy Licensing Authority will be heard. There will be four respondents. Four respondents will also appear in the appeal of Evan Davies against a decision of the South Wales Licensing Authority, .which will be heard on October 2. Both these cases will be taken at Halifax House, Strand, London, W.C.2.
The sittings at the Guildhall, Exeter, will take place from October 7-10. During that period the Tribunal will hear 10 appeals against decisions Of the a2.8
Western Licensing Authority. Appel-• lants will be:—City Haulage (Plymouth), Ltd., J. G. Brewer, Messrs. Ferris and Brewer, W. J. Shapley, W. Sellick, Messrs. L. and M. Bridgeman Bros., Barnstaple and North Devon Haulage, Ltd., Moor and Son (Haulage), Ltd., Sydney King, and Messrs. A. R. Haddy and Sons. There vain be eight respondents to the Bridgeman
appeal.
DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE CONTROL
A PROPOSAL that Oxford City rt Council should take over the undertaking of City of Oxford Motor Services, Ltd, pending nationalization, has been referred to the municipal finance and watch committees. These committees will consider a resolution to the effect that the Government' should make use cf its powers to secure the transfer of the company's business to the corporation.
A councillor suggested at a meeting last week that the company had contravened the efficiency clause ot its agreement with the corporation.
It is understood that the chairman of the East Midland Traffic Commissioners has had a discussion with the managing director of the company, and was satisfied that progress was being made towards improving the labour position of this operator. PRODUCTION AVERAGE KEEPS UP DESPITE HOLIDAYS
LTHOUGH the holiday season rthad begun. the production of commercial vehicles in July, totalling 11,975 units, maintained, this year's monthly average of 11,959 and far exceeded the 1938 computed monthrly average of 9,000.
Of the vehicles manufactured in July, 11,944 were for civilian use; 8,30Q found their way to the home market and 3,635 overseas. Production by classes was as follows: Under 15 cwt., 4,596; 15 cwt. and under 6 tons. 6.048; 6 tons and over, 249; motor. buses and trolleybuses, 1,051..
Of the 83,712 commercial vehicles manufactured in the first seven months of the year, 83,344 were for civilian service; 58,054 of. the latter were taken into use in this country, and 25,290 were exported. Figures issued by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that production for civilian purposes was made up as follows: Under 15 cwt., 31,368; 15 cwt. and under 6 tons, 43,234; 6 tons and over. 1,973; motorbuses and trolleybuses, 6,769.
To these figures must be added 1,484 battery-electrics made in the first half of the year.
SUCCESS OF US.A. RETRO SERVICE
WITHIN two weeks of the announceVV ment in the U.S. Press of the opening of a new service at Washington by the British Export Trade Research Organization, nearly' a hundred important inquiries had been received at the BETRO headquarters in London, and were forwarded to those members likely to be interested.
The head of BETRO in America is Mr. Warren S. Lockwood, formerly Commercial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in London.
Already 200 British manufacturers have submitted, through BETRO, their American export problems.