The Midland Jubilee
Page 26
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Cavalcade
000 weather—that vital adjunct to
the success of open-air occasions— blessed the main event of the Midland cavalcade celebrations fot the Jubilee of the motor industry—the cavalcade of vehicles and the display of these later. It was obviously a top-priority show with the public, which attended in great numbers and lined the route all the way from Coventry to Birmingham, whilst queues formed up at the Town Hall, Birmingham, to see the films and models.
There were well over 50 entries in the commercial-vehicle section, also a good selection of R.A.F. tractors and vehicles. The former included the following makes: Austin, Bedford, David Brown, Commer, Lewin-Dennis, Ford, Fordson, 'Carrier. Karrier-Yorkshire, Morris-Commercial, Lewin-Thornycroft, Trojan. Daimler, Morris, and a Midland " Red " bus.
At the Jubilee dinner the chairman was Lord Iliffe, G.B.E., president of the Midland Jubilee Committee. The toast of the Cities of Birmingham and Coventry was proposed by Lieut.-Col. R. 1-1 Collier, D.S.O., F.I.M.L. who said that the motor industry may be the third in size, but is the most vital— transportation is civilization.
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Alderman A. S. Giles, 0.13.E., M.C., J.P., replied for both cities. He referred to the " old heroes and their young children" together in the cavalcade. He remarked that, whilst no name could hold quite the same position as James Watt, that of Lartehester came near to it.
Lord Rifle, proposing the toast of the motor industry, said that Birmingham and Coventry took a major part in its development. It was, therefore, fair that they should share the cavalcade. It was a "tale of two cities."
Mr. H. L. Kenward, president, S.M.M.T., replying, said that the future would be at least as interesting as the present or past, although the colour of the "flag" had not entirely faded! We must take our hats off to the past and our coats off to the future. We were developing into a bureaucracy; the shadow of regimentation, due to the war, was looming over the industry.
There was too much "how to do" rather than doing. One million eight hundred thousand were employed in local and national Government, in technical rather than actual work. Were we to become a nation of clerks? He called for a small registration fee for motor vehicles and payment for use through fuel.
Mr. F. G. Smith, president, M.A.A., said that if the motors of to-day had to be built of the materials of the past they would not progress much farther. He believed that the engine of the future would be a tube, open at both ends, with a choke in the middle, in which case what would the repairers do?
Mr. J. Howell, F.I.M.T., gave the toast of the guests, remarking, incidentally, that restrictions and taxation were crippling the industry.
Mr. F. Lanchester replied, giving many interesting reminiscences.
11,000,000 FOR GOVERNMENT AT AUCTION
T" auction sale of surplus Government vehicles, held at Byram Park, Brotherton, Yorks, by Messrs. Hollis and Webb, 3, Park Place, Leeds, closed on September 19, after being open since July 15, and the final total realized was £925,409.
Altogether, 9,920 vehicles were disposed of during the nine weeks of sale, making the average figure per vehicle just over £93. The highest figure paid was 1,685 guineas for an A.E.C. 10-tonner. It is believed that this sale was the largest and longest held for the Government so far.
S.C.W.S. PLANS CHAIN OF REPAIR
SHOPS.
A CHAIN of garages and service IA depots for motor vehicles is being planned by the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society. The society has acquired a large garage at TitwOod. Glasgow, as an auxiliary to two other major establishments in the city.
The management is proposing that vehicles should be overhauled, reconditioned, and repainted within 18 days, 'during which time retail societies may obtain the loan of other vehicles. JOINT PRODUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS TWO welt-known British concerns, the I Ford Motor Co., Ltd., Dagenham, and Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, Ltd.. Ipswich, have made an important announcement to all dealers handling their respective products concerned with agriculture.
They are advised that the two companies have entered into a working arrangement for the provision of mounted implements which will operate exclusively with the Fordson Major tractor.
Appreciating the growing demand for hydraulically operated implements of the mounted type, it will be the joint endeavour of both companies to provide a range of these, which will not only give high performance, but be of excellent quality. To ensure the success of this arrangement, the technical and manufacturing resources of each concern have been placed at the disposal of the other.
A further announcement will be made by the companies when the jointly produced implements become available.
WELFARE GETS RESULTS
A N employees' welfare scheme, intro
duced in Bradford Corporation's cleansing department, was mentioned by Mr. 3. W. Call, Bradford's Director of Public Cleansing, in a paper which he contributed when the north-eastern centre of the Institute of Public Cleansing met in the city on September 20.
Mr. Call stated that, although this welfare scheme had been functioning for only about nine months, much progress had been made in the development of understanding and' confidence between the employees in all sections and the administrative staff. Many difficulties and grievances had already been smoothed out, and it was now understood throughout the department that proper channels existed whereby suggestions or complaints could be voiced.
The scheme included the raising of a welfare fund by employees' contributions of 2d. per week, and matters coming within its scope embraced improved messroorn accommodation. extra washing facilities, rubber boots for men engaged on salting snowcovered roads and additional protective clothing.