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NEWS of the WEEK

" 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 rods over which it runs.."---John Beattie Crozier, THE EDITOR TO RECEIVE A R.S.A. MEDAL.

The Editor at The Commercial Motor, Mr. G. Mackenzie Juriner,

.R.S.A., M.I.A.E., has received notification from the Royal Society of Arts that the silver medal of the Society has been awarded for his paper entitled The Oil Engine and its Influence on Road, Rail and Air Transport," read before the Society on May 6. The other paper concerned with transport, for which a similar award is made, is that read by Mr. Frank Pick, and entitled " The Organization of Transport, with Special Reference to tee London Passenger Transport Board."

The presentations will be made at the Society's inaugural meeting on November 4,

Motor Beats Rail for Meat Transport.

How great is the'percentage of roadborne traffic from Manchester Meat Market is indicated by the annual report of Mr. Austin Chadwick, the corporation markets manager. He states that 295,750 carcases were taken away from the market in the year ended March 31 last. Of this number, 231,0413, or 83 per cent., were conveyed by motor vehicle, the remainder being sent by• rail. The road-transport figures comprise 42,266 cattle, 187,824 sheep and lambs, 131 calves, 821 pigs and four other animals.

Forthcoming C.M.U.A.-A.R.O. Meetings.

A presentation will be made to Capt. J. W. Jones, to mark his retirement from the chairmanship of A.R.O. Western Area, at a meeting to be held on September 9, at the Grand Hotel, Bristol. Proceedings will open at 7.30 p.m. and, as this area was the first to complete its amalgamation, a big gathering is expected.

Mr, J. L. Kinder, national organizer of the C.M.U.A., will be the principal speaker.

• Arrangements are being made, we B16 understand, for a mass meeting of hauliers to take place at Preston on September 16, The place and time of the meeting will be announced later.

Amazing Growth of .Post OfAce Fleet.

During the course of a recent lecture, Capt. A. Hudson, chief transport officer of the Post Office, gave some interesting facts and figures which indicated the immense growth of the motorvehicle fleet used for Post Office work. At the end of March last, there were no fewer than 11,555 vehicles employed, ranging from motorcycle carriers to 10-toneers. In 1919, the fleet comprised 'only 49 vehicles. During the past financial year, the fleet covered an aggregate mileage of 125,000,000, An interesting sidelight on the service is that some of the mail vans are in use for 18-24 hours a day, and come under the control of as many as 20 or more different drivers during a week's work, .

S.T.R. in the West Country.

Hauliers in the Western Area of A.R.O. are to have the opportunity of hearing S.T.R., The Commercial Motor costs expert, lecture on costs and the assessment of rates. The meeting is to be held at the Malt Shovel Hotel, Bridgwater, on September 3, at 8 p.m. It is anticipated that a large gathering of local hauliers will take place.

SCOTTISH CONCILIATION RULING OPPRESSIVE?

Lewis hauliers feel that the wages and conditions of work fixed by the Scottish Conciliation Board are not applicable to the conditions prevailing in the island. The matter was referred to at Stornoway, when Mr. Henry Riches, Northern Scotland Licensing Authority, held a sitting.

He referred to the question of wages and conditions as a vexed one, which had caused some anxiety in the island. He advised the operators to submit a. case to the committee appointed by the Ministers of Labour and Transport to consider the position.

Mr. Riches also called attention to the fact that during the past year' proceedings had been taken against" some of the operators for inefficient brakes: Every day, before a vehicle was put on the road, he said, the brakes and steering gear should be examined. There was a marked improvement in the • vehicles in Lewis and Harris, be added.

Sandwich By-pass to Circ-untvent Toils.

Kent Highways Committee has had under consideration requests from local authorities in. East Kent to consider the desirability of taking the necessary steps to abolish tolls on Sandwich bridge, or to make a suitable by-pass.

It is understood that no grant froth, the Road Fund would be available towards the cast of the redemption of the tolls. The committee says that it appears to be undesirable to expend money to abolish tolls, in view of the fact that through traffic passing over the bridge must travel through the narrow streets of Sandwich.

Consideration has been given to the question of the most suitable route for a new road to by-pass Sandwich and the matter has been discussed with representatives of Sandwich Borough Council and Sandwich Port and Haven Commissioners.

More Exhibitors at S.A. Exhibition.'

Notification has been received of two more concerns connected with the commercial-vehicle industry which will be exhibiting at the Empire Exhibition at Johannesburg. The exhibition will open next month.

Fodens, Ltd., is to show two MIengined vehicles and the .concern's South African agent—Guest and Sykes, Ltd.—will provide the necessary technical staff. Incidentally, the Foden Works Band has been engaged to play for six weeks during the exhibition.

On the stand of Messrs. Reunert and Lenz, there will be a sectional ,road7, transport tank designed to show, in one exhibit, ad example of a petrol isnd oil road tanker, as manufactured by W. •PI'

Butterfield, Ltd.„ ,Shipley. " PROTEST AGAINST ROADSIDE PARKING.

Warwick County Council has again drawn the attention of the Ministry of Transport to the danger created by the parking of commercial vehicles by the roadside in various parts of the county.

In reply, the Ministry has referred to the difficulty of legislating for the compulsory provision by the owners of roadside cafés of the necessary parking facilities. The Ministry considers that the procedure of compulsion would be likely to prove more costly to the highway authority and possibly no more effective than negotiation.

Shipping Guide for Hauliers.

The following is the number of ships arriving at the London docks, wharves and jetties named, from August 29September 5 :—Docxs: King George V,

; Royal Albert; 7; Royal Victoria, 3; Surrey Commercial, 5;. West India, 2; South West India, 4; Tilbury, 6; Tilbury Stage, 4; Millwall, 3; London, 2; Royal, 3. WHARVES Hays, 5; Middleton's, 1; Mark Brown's, 1. Til bury Jetty, 4. Regent' S Canal, 1. '

D.E.U.A. Plans Some Interesting Papers. •

Some interesting papers figure in the 1936-37 • programme of the Diesel Engine Users Association, amongst the most important being the following:— October 12, " The Present Position of Special Steels for DieSel Engines," by Dr. S. F. Dorey; December. 9, "The Treatment of Fuel and Lubrication Oil —Filtration and Renovation," by Mr. A. Beale ; March 19, "Improvements in the Economy and Output of Heavy Oil Engines," by Mr. J. CaIderwood.

An Improved Insulating Rubber Tape.

The County chemical Co., Ltd., Chemico Works, Birmingham, 6, is marketing a special form of rubber tape, which is claimed to be greatly superior to the ordinary insulating variety. The chief point is its plastic nature, as it can be stretched or moulded to almost any shape, and will withstand over 10,000 volts, whilst it does not dry out,

The retail price is 2s. for a roll of approximately 8 oz. As supplied, it is in. wide and is mounted on a thin cloth material which peels off. The tape is self-vulcanizing and can be rolled into any shape for plugging purposes. It can be utilized for preventing body rattles, for temporary pipe repairs or for covering sparking plugs.

Electric Motors for Works.

A useful little book (published at 1s.) on alternating-current electric motors and control gear, giving fullest details for their installation and maintenance in general, and of Brook motors in particular, has been sent to us by Brook Motors, Ltd., Empress Works, Huddetsfield.

Such motors are widely employed in works and elsewhere for driving machinery,, hoists, lifts; compressors, fans, and for a wide. variety of other

purposes. Brook motors have been manufactured for over 35 years, the production figure now being one every five minutes.

The book includes such data as the horse power required to drive machinery of all types, extracts from British standard specifications, and from the regulations for the electrical equipment of buildings, estimates of running costs, voltage of various supplies throughout the country and much other useful matter. Death of Mr. W. R. Wood.

We learned, with great regret, too late for inclusion in our issue for last week, that Mr. W. R. Wood, managing director of W. R. Wood (Motors), Ltd., died on Tuesday, August 1, at the early age of 49, through hemorrhage of the brain, while on holiday at Walton-on-the-Naze.

• His only son, Mr. E. R. Wood, has been appointed managing director of the company, the business of which will be carried on aS formerly. DROVE FOR 21/ HOURS IN A DAY.

• Stated to have driven for 21/ hours in a period of 24 hours without rest, Mr. E. G. Baker, motor driver, of High Street, Old Fletton, near Peterborough, was fined a total of 30s„ at Doncaster Borough Court, on Monday, for driving a lorry for more than 11 hours in 24 hours, failing to have /0 consecutive hours' rest in 24 hours and for failing to keep current records.

One of his employers, Mr. J. C. Russell, haulage contractor, of St. Margaret's Road, Old Fletton, was fined £5 for failing to cause the records to be kept. After hearing the evidence, the prosecution withdrew summonses for permitting against the partner in the firm, Mr. F. J. Gilbert, haulage contractor, of Burnham Lodge, Yaxley, Peterborough.

Mr. F. L. Croft, prosecuting, said that when police patrol officers examined Mr. Baker's record sheets it was found that a number of false entries had been made. Instead of securing the 10 hours' rest due to him, Mr. Baker had not had any rest at all and was still continuing driving.

The driver said that he went without rest "by his own free will."

Mr. F. H. Capes, for Mr. Russell, said that they were a firm of good repute in the district. Mr. Baker .was given definite instructions by Mr. Russell as to the hours for which he was allowed to drive and regarding rest, as it was the first long journey he had made for that firm.

Dutch Tractor Imports Rise.

Holland imported 107 tractors, valued (at 7.5 guilders to the £) at £23,600, during the six months ended June last, as contrasted with 98 machines (£17,200) in the first half of 1935. Of the total, 43 machines are credited to the United States, 32 to Great Britain and 20 to Germany.

A Useful Jointing Publication.

The latest catalogue of J. Payen, Ltd., Church Street, Chiswick, London, W,4, contains a host of particulars and prices of gaskets and joints for seemingly every requirement of the motor industry. Jointing equipment packed up in sets for a large number of standard engines is a speciality of the concern, and we write with personal experience in praise of the excellence of this service.

The publication also describes 'certain B18 new and useful products of the Payen company, and all responsible for the manufacture or maintenance of commercial vehicles should obtain a copy.

Finishing Merger Negotiations.

Big efforts are being made to put the finishing touches to the merger between the C.M.U.A. and A.R.O. The sub-committee of the committee of construction of the two organizations is still holding meetings to settle minor details of organization in Yorkshire, South Wales, and Devon and Cornwall.

New Incorrect-mixture Detector.

Analysis of the exhaust gas is recognized as a reliable method of determining combustion efficiency. To enable tests to be made in the shop or on the road, a device has been introduced by the Cambridge Instrument Co., Ltd., 45, Grosvenor Place, London, S.W.1, which gives an accurate indication of the nature of any imperfection in the mixture being delivered by the carburetter to the cylinders.

The Cambridge Exhaust Gas Tester provides maintenance engineers with a relatively inexpensive means for accurately setting carburetters after overhaul and for conducting routine tests to verify that engines are running efficiently. The use of such an instrument as this may result in preventing fuel wastages of as much as 30 per cent. TWO IMPORTANT BY-PASS SCHEMES.

The Minister of Transport has made a grant from the Road Fund in aid of a scheme to by-pass the railway level crossing on the St. AustellLiskeard Road at Lostwithiel Station and the narrow 15th-century bridge over the River Fowey. The bridge is close to the level crossing and has a width of only 11 ft. between parapets. During the summer season, when traffic is heavy and rises to 1,200 vehicles per day, the crossing and bridge cause serious obstruction. '

Under the scheme now approVed, Cornwall County Council is to build a new road about 1,100 yds. long and 50 ft. wide, which will leave the existing route at the northern end of Queen Street and make a short detour to the north, by-passing part of the town and the old river bridge and level crossing. The scheme is estimated to cost nearly £47000 and to occupy about two years.

Another by-pass scheme, for which a grant will also be made from the Road Fund, is that to circumvent the village of Taddington on the main route from London to Carlisle. It is estimated to cost £31,000. Derby County Council is to built a new road 80 ft. wide and 2,100 yds. long, which will by-pass the village on .the north side. The existing road through the village is narrow and winding with steep gradients and several bad bends.

THOUGHT THERE WAS "HOURS" CONCESSION: FINED £2.

The ignorance of some firms regarding the regulations under the Road and Rail Traffic Act was revealed at Falkirk Sheriff Court, on Monday, when Mr. Robert Mathieson appeared for Messrs. Robert Mathieson and Sons, bakers, High Street, Falkiek, in connection with " hours" charges.

He admitted 36 charges of working motor drivers for more than 11 hours in the 24, of working them for continuous periods of more than 5i hours and of permitting a driver to drive a vehicle so that he had not 10 hours' continuous rest in 24 hours.

It was stated, on behalf of the defendant, that he was under the impression that a successful petition had been lodged with the Ministry of Transport, allowing an extra half-hour to be worked by van drivers on Saturdays, on which day he had 'worked his drivers for 14 hours. • No such permission had been given by the Ministry, but a suggestion to that effect had appeared in a paper. The firm had kept accurate records of hours worked and had handed these to the Ministry inspector. There had been no intention of breaking the regulations.

In view of the explanation offered, .a modified penalty of £2 was imposed.

Difficulties in Tax Exemptions.

Lincolnshire farmers are experiencing difficulties in connection with the section of the Finance Act, 1936, which authorizes a remission of duty in the case of motor vehicles used on the roads merely for crossing from land occupied by the owner of the vehicle to other land in his occupation.

Mr. Eric Scorer, clerk to Lindsey County Council, states that all that is necessary is for those concerned to apply for exemption, where they consider that their vehicles are entitled to it. Where exemption is granted, however, the machines will still have to be insured against third-party risks and the drivers must be licensed.