AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.

28th August 1923
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 4, 28th August 1923 — WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

"The wheels of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at Whatever points arising, as a carriage the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John, Beattie-Crozitr.

Manchester and Its Tramway System.

The Manchester Corporation Tramways have always been upheld by us as being extremely well run, with a consideration fin' tha needs of the passenger that is not to be found with some systems farther south. But for this excellenca. of service we believe that the motor omnibus must have superseded the tramcar in the city, for it is the experience in London gained over a course of years that the tramcar causes obstruction at each of its terminals.

In Manchester, again, a tramcar breakdown or hold-up is far more rare than in London, so that there is a smaller proportion of fare losses. Nearly three millions sterling has been spent on Manchester's tramways, so that no reasonable man could expect the corporation to "scrap the lot," or even to go in for substitution by buses in the central area. The city suffers under yet another disability: for five-sixths of its circumference every tramway route connects directly to the trawmays of some other authority, so that it is restricted in its field of application for transport by bus beyond its limits.

Hence the Tramways Committee of Manchester has recently decided to deVelop its tramway system. to use the potorbus asa. feeder to the tramways, and to study the advantages of the trackless trolley-bus. The decision does not alter the fact that, where it is a question. of, bus.or, tramcar, the former is able to 'offer the balance of advantages.

A Leyland Cable Wagon.

We illustrate on this page a Leyland petrol wagon which has been specially equipped for the purpose of lifting poles or logs of timber. The vehicle may be used for two purposes. In the first place its services can be called into use for lifting up telegraph poles and dropping them into holes already sunk into the ground, instead of conducting this operation by manual labour. The advantage of this method will be readily appreciated when it is realized that the weight of a single pole is about 14 tons, and its length approximately 40 ft. The shear legs of the apparatus are carried on the lorry timber trailer. . In addition to this use, the vehicle can also be employed for carrying cable drums, and also for . drawing cable through underground ducts. The winch gear is driven by means of a friction wheel, and a shaft from the ordinary flywheel to the worm reduction gearing of the winch.

Two Leyland vehicles of this type are in use by the postmaSter general's department of New South Wales.

Walthamstow Loses £11,700 on Its Trams.

'The municipal tramways accounts of the Walthamstow District Council show a loss for the past year of 11,716, due chiefly, it is said, to competition from motorbuses. The council is calling upon residents to support the tramways, and not to give their patronage to rival transport undertakings.

Royal Patronage for the Autumn Shows.

His Majesty the King has graciously granted his patronage to the 17th International Motor Exhibition for private motorcars, Olympia, November 1st. to 10th next, and to the International Commercial 'Motor Transport and Roads Development Exhibition, also at Olympia, November 22nd to December 1st.

it is interesting to record that the present year is the 21st anniversary of the Society. Apart from the wide range of automobiles which will be displayed at the Motor Exhibition the Commercial Motor Transport and Roads Development Exhibition, which was last held in 1921, will include an exhibit by the National Housing and Town Planning Council, the Garden Cities and Town Planning Association, and the Town Planning Institute, Which will be of interest to all concerned in the modern development of highways.

Further, conferences on matters of interest to all concerned in the operation of commercial goods and public service vehicles will be held during the currency of the Exhibition under the auspices of the Commercial Motor Users Association, London and Provincial Omnibus

Owners' Association, and the incorporated-Association of Retail Distributors.

Canadian Production The Dominions Bureau of Statistics at Ottawa, Canada, has just issued a most comprehensive report on the automobiie industry in Canada during 1922. It is impossible to do justice to the. report in a paragraph, and we hope to be able to deal with it at. greater length in a forthcoming issue. For the moment, we will content ourselves with a reference to one or two outstanding facts.

The 'iminher of automobiles manufactured in Canada during 1922 exceeded all previous records, and reached the total of 101,007, or 7 per cent, more than the maximum production attained in 1920, and 53 per cent. more than. the output of 1921. The total value of the output was 81,956,429 dollars. The output of commercial vehicles was 8,169 during the year as compared with 5,148 in 1921 and 10,174 in 1920.

Repairing Bideford Bridge.

Owner and drivers of motor vehicles should note that, as from August 16th, the roadway of Bideford Bridge, Bideford, North Devon, has been closed. The bridge is undergeeng reconstruction, and for a period of about 18 months it will so reduced in width that vehicles measuring more than 6 ft. 4 ins. across the outside of the tyres or more than 7 ft. 6 ins, over any other part will not be able to use the bridge.

Sir William Letts in America.

We are infornied that Sir William Letts, managing director of WillysOverland-Crossley, Ltd., is at present in America, having sailed on the " Aquitania " on August 11th. He will prob-ably remain in the United States for about two months.

Blackpool 's Municipal . Motors.

In his annual report for the year ended March 31st the Blackpool Corporation cleansing superintendent (Mr. James Bee) refers to the work done by the eight 'electric vehicles The six 2-ton vehicles and one3-ton vehicle have been continuously employed on refuse removal, whilst the other 3k-ton wagon was employed on street watering during the summer and on refuse collection dirrin,)," the winter.

Both the Laffly and the Karrier sweeping machines have rendered excellent assistance to the work of street cleansing when the conditions have been favourable for their employment.

Wakefield Motorbus. Stands. At a meeting of the Wakefield Watch Committee a letter was read from the Yorkshire (West Riding) Electric Tramways Co., Ltd., with reference to the stands for motor omnibuses in the city, and a report by the chief constable on the matter was submitted.

The committee decided that all buses

not running on a regular daily service are to use the Springs or some stand other than the Bull Ring or Cross Square for the purpose of taking up and setting down passengers, and that any buses standing longer than necessary for this ,purpose are to use the stand at the Borough Market.

Directions were given for the owners of the buses using Cross Square to be requetted to amend their time-tables in order to limit, the number of buses standing in Cross Square at any one time and to reduce to the minimum the obstruction to business premises.

Educative Value of the Daylight Kinema.

In April last the London General Omnibus Co.'s travelling daylight kinema, mounted on a, motor vehicle chassis, began its tour of the schools and villages around London. To date, 50 4chools have been visited and 15,000 school children have witnessed the performance. In addition, approximately 20,000 adults have attended the -public shows which are given later in the day at each point visited. The schools have one and all welcomed the innovation.

During the evening the kinema again performs on the village greens and in the market squares. The programMe is, of course, varied, topical Alms being introduced, with films describing the principal.' country motorbus routes, the motorbus overhaul works at Chiswick, and. others of a similar nature. .

A popular feature of the evening show, which lasts about three hours, is the wireless concert.

Maidstone to Spend £.10,000 on Buses.

Under its new Bill the Maidstone Cor. porati 011 has powers to inauguitte trolley-bus and motorbus services. The motorbuses may be run• outside the borough if the consent of the local authorities concerned is obtained. The corporation is empowered to spend some £10,000 on the purchase of the vehicles.

Seeking a Speed Limit Order.

The bridges and roads committee of the Kent County Council has reported that the Whitstable Urban District Council has complained of the excessive speed of motor vehicles in the district, and it has asked the council to obtain an

Order imposing a speed limit The committee's recommendation that the council should make application to the Ministry of Transport for an Order limiting the speed of motor vehicles to 10 m.p.h., on such of the roads of Whitstablo as came within the conditions laid down for such Orders, has been approved.

Tramway Board to Run Buses.

The Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley and Dukinfield Tramways Board has obtained powers to run motorbus services. The Board has power to borrow £20,000 for the purpose of instituting services.

Fees for the Use of Ambulance

Ossett Town Council has fixed the following scale of-fees for the use of the motor ambulance

For journeys to and from the Dewsbury Infirmary, 7s. 6d. per journey.

For journeys to and from Leeds and Bradford Infirmaries, .£1 per journey.

No charge is to be made in case or street and works accidents.

A charge of £1 5s. has been fixed for persons using the ambulance who-are not residents in the borough. Petitioning for Bus Services

Wolverhampton Corporation recently received a number of petitions from residents in Pattingham, Bobbington, Seisdon, Trvsull and Halfpenny Green, making application for special buses to be run to and from Wolverhampton on

market days-. The corporation communicated with the Seisdon Rural District Council on the matter, and at a sitting of the latter body it was agreed to grant the corporation permission to run the buses on condition. that it pays 3d. per mile both ways for the use of. the roads.

Imprisonment for Drunken Drivers.

The Swansea stipendiary magistrate has issued a warning that in future all drivers convicted of being 'drunk in charge of a motor vehicle will be imprisoned without, the option of a flue. At the same time, the stipendiary has issued legal advice to the police.

At present drivers are proceeded against by the police under a section of the Police, Town Clauses Act, 1847, an enactment framed before the advent. of motor vehicles. This act has as the maximum penalty the imposition of a £5 fine, with no power to imprison.

In view of the magistrate's decision to pass sentence of imprisonment in future cases, the stipendiary has instructed that summonses in future shall_be made under the Licensing Acts, which give the magistrates power to punish by imprisonment-.

Road Repairing with a Farm Tractor. A novel use for a heavy agricultural tractor has been decided upon by the Whitland Rural District Council. The council received complaints from the Picton Castle Estate agent. that the road from Colgyfranc quarry, which the council promised to repair after hauling stone from the quarry, was in a deplorable state, and that if the road was repaired the estate would maintain it in condition.

A member suggested that when the harvest. was over a heavy tractor employed in agricultural work in the die-trict should be driven over the road, and this, he said, with a few men using heavy hammers' would have sending the steamroller to the locality and be an effective substitute. The experiment was agreed upon and will be tried.

Whole-day Bus Tickets.

An unusual type of ticket is being issued by a provincial motorbus company, which, although costing 3s., entitles its holder to make as Many journeys as he may desire in the course of one day. The sCheine may not appeal tO 'residents to any great extent, but,' as the services run by, the company tap a number of small towns and villages in the district, it should not be without its appeal to sight-seers and others, who would undoubtedly get excellent value for money if they could Make good Use of the vehicles. It has been saidWith what truth we cannot vouchsafe—that short journeys to the value of 30s. can be 'obtained by using a 3s. ticket.

Motor Licences in" Shef field .

The annual report of the Sheffield Corporation with regard to road fund licences states that the total amount of licence duties and fees levied is £121,426. Of this sum allowances were made in respect of pre-1913 engines fitted in private cars of £1,716. , The total number of motor vehicle licences issued during the year was 16,055, horse-drawn carriage licences 99, motor drivers' licences 12,141.

The total cost of collection of these duties amounts to the sum of £2,006, and on a percentage basis calculated on the net amount actually collected by the corporation, works out at 1.7. Last year the cost of collection on a percentage basis was 1.8. The sum of £1,805 has already been paid to the corporation by the Ministry of Transport on account of the cost of collection, and the balance will be pitid after final audit by the Government auditor.

The Ministry of Transport has instituted a system of arriving at the reasonableness or otherwise of the cost of collection by determining the cost per unit, a unit being determined by a special formula based on the number of licences, 'transfers, and other work issued and car 1322

ried out. The average'co.st per unit per annum in Sheffield amounts to the sum of -.5d., and last year the cost per unit arrived at by the same formula was 61d. This year the number of units is 95,494, and last year 70,368. The cost of collection based on last year's figure per unit would be nearly £600. More than the actual Cast of collection this year.

During the year about 80 cases have been reported by the staff for excise .offences and compromise penalties impoted by the finance committee. All the cases have been settled without having to issue summonses.

Oil-relining in England.

Continued expansion of the oil-refining in-dustry in "Great Britain and of the demand for home-produced petrol is indicated by the latest figures issued by the Customs House, authorities giving the weekly, imports of crude oil into the British Isles.

The figures show an increase of nearly 2,000.000 gallons over the previous high records of deliveries to the Anglo. Persian Oil Co.'s plant near Swansea. In the period covered by the figures, seven full cargoes of crude oil, amounting to 17,035,525 gallons, arrived from Persia to be refined into B.P. motor spirit and other products.

A New Works for Gear-cutting.

The Keighley Gear Cutting Co., of Fleece Mills, Keighley of which the proprietors are David jBrown and Sons (Huddersfield), Ltd., inform us that they have now removed to More commodious premises. This firm, who purchased the gear-cutting business of Mr. Sam Sunderland in October, 1920, have recently completed the erection of an entirely new works, which has been specially built and equipped for the economical production of accurately cut gearing for all putposes. The now address of the company is Aireworth Works, Aireworth Road, Keighley.

Karrier Longevity.

It will be remembered . that a few weeks ago we published a short article dealing With the work Of the Karrier motorvans rim by Wyman and . Sons, Ltd., the printing and publishing house, in which we referred to the remarkable mileages accomplished by the , vehicleS; one of which had ran Well over 225;000 miles.

That this excellent mileage . is in no way isolated is shown by the' fact ttisit: W. B. Fordham and Son, Ltd., the welt-known merchants and manufm.:tfirers of King's Cross, London,' N„ state, in placing a repeat order with Karrier Motors, Ltd., that their first Karrier vehicle' purchased in 1911, .has, now covered well over 150,000 miles, and is, still doing good work: The company also purchased a second Karrier in 1912, and this Machine has already traversed 138,000 miles. The. manufacturer's are justly proud of these remarkable mileage records.

A Loss to' the Worcester C.M.U.A.

The Worcester and District Area of the Commercial Motor Users Association is losing its very popular and able honorary secretary, Mr. John Howell, who is now taking up an appointment as Midlands Manager to the .Royal Automobile Club, and his headquarters will be in Birmingham.

Much of the success of the „local C.M.U.A. is due to the efforts of its secretary. Mr, Howell is an indefatigable worker, and, in addition to being C.M.U.A. local secretary, he is honorary secretary to the Worcestershire Motor Club, the Worcestershire and District Motor Cycle Club, the Western Centre, the Auto-Cycle Union, the Worcester Rotary Club, and local consul to the Auto-Cycle Union. There will be no C.M.U.A. parade this year, but the achievements of past events will be well remembered by all who took part in the programme.

Wanted for the Blind—a Motorvart.

The National Institute for the Blind has recently undertaken the care of those blind persons in the counties of Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and Hants who find it necessary to practise their various comu-. pations in their own homes. Systematic aid on behalf of this section of the blind community is destined to prove of . invaluable help to those men and women struggling to obtain a livelihood for themselves and their dependants.

The delivery of raw materials, collection of manufactured products and the carriage of such goods to the marketing areas are but a few of the services it is hoped to resider to the blind homeworkers. In order to do this work effectively it is absolutely essential that the Institute should possess its own motorvan.

As the present financial position of the Institute will not permit of such a pin.'chase being made, an appeal is made to members of the motor trade who sympathize with the cause of the blind, in tile hope that someone will be able to provide a motorvan to be used for the most valuable purpose mentioned.

All communications should be addressed to the Editor, rite aonirterciol Motor, or direct to the SecretaryGeneral, National Institute for the Blind, 224, Great Portland Street, Lou. don, W.1.—

Taxis at Fourpenee a Mile.

Owing to their lack of protection and their noise, the sidecar taxis recently pat on the streets of Paris have not proved a success. The lull-sized cabs, meanwhile, have lost a certain amount of their popularity, because they are frequently held up owing to congested traffic.. The happy medium seems to have been found by a company which aims at putting 1,000 small Peugeots into service. These vehitles have a Iandaulet body for one passenger only, and make no provision for luggage. With a wheelbase of 90 ins, and a track of but 36 ins., these vehicles are faster in traffic than ordinary sized cabs. Consumption of fuel on these miniature cabs is said to be one gallon for 45 miles' running, which enables a good profit at charges of 80 centimes for the first kilometre, 50 centimes for subsequent kilometres, and 6-francs per hour for waiting. At these low rates successful competition is even anticipated with the bus services.

Dodge Brothers' Factory Enlarged.

Messrs. Dodge Brothers' factory at Detroit. is being very 'largely expanded this ,year, and extensions which are now nearing completion will ultimately cost 5,000,000 dollars. The new building has been erected for assembly purposes, and, comprising six stories, is 1,000 ft. long and 75 ft. wide, with more than half a million sq. ft. of floor specie. Other extensions to -the factory include a power house costing 1,000,000 dollars, and a large bodybuilding shop comprising eight Stories 400 ft. long by 200 ft. wide.

Some idea of the magnitude of the Dodge Brothers enterprise can be gleaned from the fact that 30,000 barrels of cement and 16,000 cubic yds. of concrete were used in the construction of the building, as well as 4,000 tons of steel work.

The building is heated by the indirect system, fans forcing the washed air down various ducts after it is heated by steam pipes on the roof. Fire protection of the building is ensured by 10,000 sprinkler heads.

Glasgow's Motor Experiences.

In his report for the year ended May 31st Mr. W. Greig, cleansing superintendent, Glasgow Corporation, states that the fleet of petrol motor streetsweeping machines now in possession of the department numbers 12. No further purchase was made during the year, but one of the oldest machines was scrapped. Theresults obtained continue to compare very favourably with horse-haulage.

The metheaucal vehicles in use by the department for the collection and removal of domestic and other refuse are :

One 3-ton petrolkleiven -wagon, acquired in 1913, and 22 2-ton electric motor wagons acquired during the years 1916 to 1921. Of the latter, eight were acquired during the year 1919-2/0, and a further eight during the year 1920-21_

Within the experience of the department petrol vehicles have not proved entirety suitable for the work of refuse collection the test. being considerably

higher then that of either horse or electric traction. Electric vehicles, on the ether hand, have given satisfactory results, and have been found efficient, reliable, economical, and easy to drive. More economical results could he achieved -with these machines were the

practice adopted which bolds good in the case of horsed vehicles, viz., that the driver should assist in the loading and packing of the vehicle. At present the electries require a "loader and packer," in addition to the driver, which method adds considerably to the cost.

The 5-ton Foden steam Wagon in the service of the corporation, which was acquired in 1920, has also been engaged at the work of refuse removal, the results obtained being entirely satisfactory. This machine is also used as a general utility vehicle—for the conveyance of grain, etc., from the estates of the departments and work of a similar nature.

An . electrically propelled vehicle, equipped with a body of special design, has been acquired for the conveyance of slaughter-house refuse. It is anticipated that the mechanical vehicle will prove more economical than horse haulage.

Bus Cleanliness in Colliery Areas.

The Rhymney Trades Council has decided to call the attention of bus proprietors to the alleged dirty state of some of the bases plying in the area. It. was alleged that passengers' clothes were soiled by the state of the seats of the buses. Reference was made to the difficulty of keeping vehicles clean in such a colliery area, but it was contended that greater efforts could he made to secure cleanliness.

Further, the council decided to warn proprietors that it would instigate proceedings against drivers running vehicles in their charge at excessive speeds

Fire Protection of a Pier.

The problem of protecting the pier at Southend-on-Sea, which is 74 miles long, has been solved by the local authorities by the purchase of one of the new Dennis patent turbine pumps mounted on a tee-wheeled undercarriage. The small and compact size of this fire-pump enables the outfit readily to pass through the ordinary pier gates.

At a recent public demonstration with the pump on the pier, when the water was so low that it entailed a 27-ft. lift, water was obtained in 31 sees-, a a-in. jet producing a flow of 136 gallons per minute at 140 lb. pressure.

One of our illustrations shows a jet of wider being thrown across the boating pool, whilst the other depicts the pump on the bank of the lake in Southborough Park. The interested onlookers included Birnbashi Blake, the chief officer of Cairo Fire Brigade, and his son.

M. of 7. and Hampshire's Application. The Ministry of Transport has expressed its intention of holding a local ineuiry into the application of the Hampshire County Council for an order restricting the use of heavy motorcars and locomotives on certain roads in the Lymington Rural District,

A company building commercial vehicles -desire a salesrepresentative with a thorough knowledge of the London trade. The salary is not large, but expenses and commission will be allowed. Local Proceedings.

Finchley Urban District Council has purchased a motor ambulance.

Petersfield Urban District Council has decided to acquire a Motor fire-engine.

BarrowJ.&Orporation has opened a motorbus service from the tramway terminus to Rarnpside.

Sydney (N.S.W.) Municipal Council has purchased a -trailer Wagon from Messrs. Peter Bros. at a cost of £318 10s.

Reading Corporation will later consider the question of the provision of a motor ambulance and a motorcar for police purposes.

Lytham St. Annes Corporation reports that it has now obtained the necessary power to enable motorbus services to, be inaugufated.

Woodbridge Urban District Council is considering an offer by a firm to draw the fire-engine to outbreaks of fire by motor lorry at £4 10s. per fire.

Hampshire County Council has purchased a motor vehicle for the Park Prewett Hospital for the conveyance of passengers and goods, at a cost of £250.

.,'Yarmouth Town Council is asking the Ministry of Transport to schedule some of the narrow and unsuitable • roads against heavy traffic; including motor coaches.

The Willesden Urban District Council is prepared to receive tenders for the supply of one double-bedded petrol ambulance. Tenders have to be delivered not later than August 31st.

The Wombwell Urban District Council has agreed to subscribe towards the cost of a motor ambulance which the Barnsley Corporation proposes to provide for conveying patients to the Kendray and Lundwood hospitals.

At a meeting of the Farnborough District Couneil recently, a decision was made which will compel all taxicab owners to fix taximeters to vehicles plying forhire. This decision will bring Farnborough into line With , Aldershot Borough as.ol the Aldershot Command. The highways committee of Lincs. (Lindsey) County Council has accepted the tender of Clayton and Shuttleworth, Ltd., for the supply of two 5-ton steam wagons at £790 each. • • The deputy chief constable of Liendin has complained to the•urban district council that constables experience difficulty in regulating traffic atnight because of the abSence of light in the main streets of the town.

The health committee of the MaCcIesfield Corporation has decided to obtain anew or reconditioned chassis, to carry 15 to 20 cwt., for use as an ambulance at the Isolation Hospital. Forms of tender can be obtained from the borough surveyor.

Southend Corporation has authorized the medical officer of health to obtain and fix one fire-extinguisher on each of the motor ambulances and motorvans, and also to arrange for the fixing of such number of these extinguishers as . may be necessary in the ambulance shed at the sanatorium.

Bus Rationing.

Under powers obtained in its last Bill, the Stoke-on-Trent Corporation has, as mentioned in out last issue, just introduced a new system of dealing with motorbus traffic by prescribing the numbers of vehicles for the several routes in the town. Chars-a-Toancs are prohibited from plying for hire on these routes, being restricted to what are classifiedas country routes.

General Motors, Ltd., inform us-that theyare holdg their annual distributors' dinner at the Royal Palace Hotel, Kensington, on November 2nd.

In our brief report on the exhibits at the Royal Lancashire Show we omitted to mention the fact that a Ransome steam wagon was exhibited. The wagon shown by the makers, Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, Ltd., attracted a good-deal of favourable comment during the period of the Show.

£10,000 for Ambulances.

At. an investiture of grades of the Order of St. John to police officers in the mid-Rhondda area recently, Sir Herbert Lewis, chief commissioner for Wales, stated that the Industrial Welfare Scheme had allocated £11,000 to hint for expending on ambulance transport seevices in the South Wales coalfield, less £1,000 to be expended on medical stores at depots.

£30,000 lot Buses.

Greenock Corporation has secured power to establish motorbus services and to borrow £30,000 for the purchase of vehicles. The corporation, however, is not to run buses in competition with the tramway company, but, if it does establish a service on one of the tramway routes, the minimain fare charged on the buses must be 2d.

Overcrowded Buses. '

At a meeting of the Stretford Urban District Council the clerk reported that he had called the attention .of the midCheshire Motor Bus Co. to the 'serious overcrowding of the company's buses, and asked the company to take steps at once to observe the council's regulations, which restrict the standing room to nine persons.

A Warning to Exporters of Demonstration Vehicles.

The American Department of Corn• merce has issued a warning to manufar turers sending lorries abroad for demonstration purposes that might well be taken to heart by British exporters. It is suggested that a local representative be appointed, whose duty it will be to take over the consignment of shipments and thus obviate the return of the vehicles: In the majority of cases coming to the notice of the department, companies who had shipped lorries for this purpose to representatives of foreign governments found that the bids were rejected, and that they were put to considerable expense in getting the vehicles eturned.

• Leicestershire Bus Traffic.

Coincidently with the extension of building operations in the neighbourhood of I. eicester, marked developments of Motorbus traffic in country districts contiguous to the city are now being witnessed.

Arising out of these conditions, criticism has been forthcoming as to the failure of the corporation to utilize obvious possibilities, it being suggested that a system of municipal motorbuses from rural areas, to connect at terminal points with the city's tramway service, might have been profitably instituted instead of so • much being left to private enterprise.

The efficacy of such a plan is now being demonstrated in the neighbouring Midland centre of Nottingham, and it is being urged that the example thus set by those who have the administrative control of affairs in the metropolis of the lace industry might well be followed at Leicester.

Meanwhile, it is being 'urged that the Leicester tramway service is suffering by reason of the circumstance that the 'suburban buses land their passengers right in the heart of the city.

A Spencer-Moulton Move.

George Spencer Moulton and Co., Ltd., are removing their pneumatic tyre despatch depot in London to more central and larger premises, in order to ensure greater efficiency. The depot at Westminster is, therefore, being transferred to 10, Whitcher Place, Camden

Town, London, N. W.,although all postal communications should be sent to the company at 2 and 3, Central Buildings, Westminster, London, S.W.

Willesden's Ambulance Service.

In his 1922 report the medical officer of health for Willesden gives details of the motor ambulance service. ' There are

seven vehicles in use, which ran 67,699 miles during the year, at a cost of 16.95d. per mile. The vehicles have been in constant use for seven years, and as the demands on the service are increasing, and the repairs, become more frequent, an additional vehicle is considered an urgent necessity.

Rotherham Railless Services.

At a meeting of the Rotherham Corporation Tramways Committee the tramways manager submitted a report with regard to the extension of the Maltby railless service from Herringthorpe Lane along Broom Road, Wellgate, College Street, Effingham Street to the terminus at the junction of Effingham Street and Howard Street, and stated in order to deal with Broom Road local traffic between Wellgate and Broom Lane it was necessary that two existing bogie cars should be converted to two one-man operated single-deck cars, at a cost of £2,100.

The town clerk informed the committee that he had interviewed representatives of the Ministry of Transport, who informed him that, provided their engineers are satisfied that there would be no engineering difficulty in the proposal, they would not raise any objection to the proposed extension, that is it the corporation give an undertaking that the necessary steps will be taken to obtain statutory authority for this alteration. .

A Dangerous Road Junction.

Hampshire County Council. has had a communication from the borough surveyor of Basingstoke containing a suggestion that four Ministry of Transport danger signals should be provided at the junction of London and Hackwood Roads, Basingstoke. This junction is a most dangerous one. The county council, therefore, asks the Hampshire Automobile Club to consider the possibility of placing a scout on duty at the junction.