NEWS of the WEEK
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LIVESTOCK TRANSPORT RATES
THE schedule of rates for the carriage of livestock has been well received in all parts of the country, according to a statement issued by the Wholesale Meat and Provisions Transport (Defence) Association, Kelvin House, Lower Belgrave Street, London, S.W.1. It is inevitable, however, that local suggestions for improvement of a scale which is designed to operate nationally should be forthcoming, and the Association is taking due. note of these.
Any cases where the schedille in its application would be unfair to either the Ministry of Food, on the one hand, or to the operators on the other, will be investigated as already notified, and adjustments, if any, made under the special rates clause, One of the proposals put up for a special rate is in connection with extralarge double-deck vehicles and this matter is, we understand, receiving consideration.
To Aid David Brown Tractor Maintenance
OPERATORS of David Brown tractors should not fail to obtain one or more copies of a new lubrication chart the maker has lust produced. It is one of the best helps to efficient maintenance that we have seen.
In addition to the usual lubrication • diagram for the complete tractor, there are eight close-up pictures of details, keying with numbers on the diagram. Each illustrates the actual part—grease nipple, filter, etc.—in detail and is accompanied by a brief but clearly written instruction.
Applications for copies of the chart should be sent to DavidBrown Tractors, Ltd., Meltham, near Huddersfield.
A.R.O.'s New London Address AS from Monday last, June 24, the address of the Metropolitan Area of Associated Road Operators has been Stratton House, Stratton Street Picca dilly, Loudon, W.1. The provisional telephone number is Grosvenor,4476-7.
MERSEY TUNNEL NOT BARRED TO GAS VEHICLES
VUE are told by Enness Gas ProVV ducers, Ltd., 19, Old Queen Street, London, S.W.1, that the town clerk of Liverpool has received an intimation from the Ministry of Transport that there is no objection to the passage through the Mersey Tunnel of vehicles running on producer gas.
Bakers Reduce Deliveries I N order to conserve the use of vans and fuel, Warrington bakers have decided to make deliveries in the borough on only four days a week, instead of daily. Deliveries will be made every day, but in different districts.
Maintenance Supervisor Available W/E know a man, over military age, W who has had very extensive supervising experience in the complete overhauling and maintenance of many classes of motor vehicle, whilst being also a general engineer. He has occupied positions as manager of maintenance and overhauling works dealing with hundreds of vehicles, and during the war of 1914-18 he was mechanist staff-sergeant at a large military Vehicle base in the East. Letters addressed " Maintenance Manager," care of the Editor, will be forwarded.
Defence Precautions that Delay Transport
A RECOMMENDATION that drivers of commercial vehicles, and their mates, should be furnished with special identification cards similar to those issued by the passport authorities, with a view to minimizing delays due to defence precautions on the roads, was made by the Yorkshire Haulage Sectional Board of A.R.O. at its meeting in Leeds last week.
Whilst the need for safeguards was fully appreciated, it was felt that too much time is being taken up in the questioning of drivers when they are stopped during journeys. The rigorous methods of investigation employed, it Was stated, extended, in some cases, to examination of the loads.
The meeting also fell that the defence authorities should take steps to unify any directions given to drivers during air raids.
It is understood that the various points mentioned are being taken up by A.R.O. headquarters.
Discussion on the man-power position in road transport brought forth the general opinion that, in view of the industry's vital importance to the prosecution of the war, the Government should treat the employees as an integral part or the country's defences and impose safeguards against the loss of road transport man-power, In Memory of Mr. Oliver Baden
THE final list of subscriptions to the 1 Oliver Boden Memorial Fund has been rounded off by Lord Nuffield, to the figure of 42,500. This money will be credited to the " Willoughby Trust Fund " and a permanent record will be inscribed on a bronze tablet at " Willoughby," the children's home of the
Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund.
Mr. II. G. Henly has been responsible for the collection of this tribute to the memory of Mr. Oliver Boden, late vicechairman of the Morris group of companies.
LITTLE NEWS FROM ALTERNATIVE-FUELS COMMITTEE THE Secretary for Mines, Mr. Grenfell, in response to a request by Captain Strickland in the House of Commons, made a short statement regarding the progress of the Ridley Committee on alternative fuels for internal-combustion engines. He said it had considered a large body of e
dence, and had made certain interim recommendations on which action had already been taken. He hoped shortly to receive a further report.
In the present circumstances it was necessary to consider the extent to which our industrial resources could properly be devoted to this kind of development.
Sir Joseph Lamb asked if consideration was being given to the use of coal, as shch, for propelling vehicles. Mr. Grenfell replied affirmatively, saying that steam wagons were being used
with crude coal as fuel. This, however, was an entirely different matter. The whole problem was being examined,
Another Joint Fire Board for Scotland
AT a meeting of Ardrossan (Ayrshire) Town Council it was reported that representatives of the Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Kilwinning Town Councils had agreed to the formation of a joint fire-service hoard for the three towns, which will take over the present Ardrossan Fire Brigade. By agreement with the county council, Stevenston will also be included in the district to be covered.
Councillor Manuel, who submitted the report, said that £300 per annum would be received from the county council for the service to Stevenston, and it was estimated that a rate of ltd. per Ll levied on the three burghs would be required.
The name of the joint organization will he the Ardrossan and District Fire Board and it will consist of ten members—four from Saltcoats, four from Ardrossan, and two {TOM Kilwinning, The scheme has yet to be formally confirmed by the councils concerned.
PERSONAL PARS
Mn, R. 13. STOCKDALE has, WC learn, rejoined A.R.O.
MR. JAMES T. DAVIDSON, fireMaSfer at Falkirk, has been appointed executive fire officer for the auxiliary fire service in the Stirlingshire and Clackmannanshire area.
MR. J. E. ORD, manager for six years of the transport undertaking of Rawtenstall Corporation, has resigned through ill health. He had been with the undertaking for over 30 years.
MR. F. HARRISON, of Holderness, was elected president and MR. F. LOCKWOOD, of Leeds, vice-president, at the annual conference of the National Employers' Association of Vehicle Builders at Keswick last week.
MR. HAYDN IHORNTON, Of Sharp and Griffiths, Ltd., Hollings Hill Garage, Baildon, has resigned from the office of hon. secretary of the Bradford and District Petrol Retailers' Association, owing to his enlistment in H.M. Forces.
MR. C. G. WILLIAMS, director of research of the Institution of Automobile Engineers, is transferring his services to another research organization in September. next, and DR. E. GIFFEN (King's College, London) has been appointed as his successor.
MR. BERTRAM WALKLEY, by joining Henley's Tyre and Rubber Co., Ltd., in May last, as personal assistant to Mr. W. C. Gibbs, in a managerial capacity, is once again associated with a concern with mechanical rubber interests. Acting as a consultant in rubber for the past three years has brought him into touch with most of the well-known concerns in the mechanical and electrical fields. Prior to this, Mr. Walkley, whose portrait appears on this page, had a long term of service with the India Rubber and Gutta Percha Co., Ltd., broken by the 1914-1918 war.
Belated Issue of Petrol Coupons Hampers Operators CRITICISMS concerning the distribution of petrol ration coupons to commercial-vehicle operators by vehicle group organizers was voiced at a meeting of the Bradford and District Petrol Retailers Association last week. Complaint was made of cases in which operators were said to have received their coupons very late. In one instance, it was stated, coupons which an operator took to a garage within an hour of receiving them were already a day out of date. He had been waiting three and a half weeks for them.
Another point raised with reference to the supply of petrol to commercialvehicle operators concerned the position when drivers requiring petrol present, to the retailer, coupons of a bigger denomination than the amount of spirit which can be accommodated in the tanks of their vehicles. To accept the coupons, it was pointed out, meant crediting the operator with the balance of petrol covered by the coupons, and this was a contravention of the regulations. On the other hand, if the retailer refused to supply in such circumstances it might mean a serious hold-up of hauliers' lorries.
The remedy, said Mr. S. S. Adams. (presiding), was in the hands of the operators. If they received petrol coupons which were of too large a denomination for their requirements, it behoved them to ask the Petroleum Board to exchange the coupons for others of smaller denomination.
A.R.O.'s Strength Amongst Yorkshire Cattle Hauliers
IN view of the strength of the Cattle 'Removers' Section of A.R.O.'s Yorkshire Area, the Yorkshire Haulage Sectional Board has gladly acceded to the Section's request for direct representation on that Board. The cattle removers have been asked to appoint two representatives. THE 'CASE FOR THE. EL:mimic FROM Associated Electric Vehicle Manufacturers, Ltd., 231-4, Grand Buildings, Trafalgar Square, London, W.C.2, we have received a folder of interest to many of our readers. Entitled "Eyes Electric," it sets out the claims of the electric vehicle, and . the part it is particularly well equipped to play in war time, with special reference to Morrison and Electricar vehicles. Included in the folder is a reproduction, from this paper, of tables of battery-electric operating costs, produced by " S.T.R." The deduction made from these is that types up to 1S-cwt. represent a saving approximating to nearly £1 per week.
Power Lift for David Brown Tractor
1.JTANY inquiries as to the progress of 1VIthe auxiliary for actuating unit• principle implements for the David Brown tractor have been received by David Brown Tractors, Ltd., Meltham, near Huddersfield. The company has fully explored the possibilities of both hydraulic and mechanical power-lift auxiliaries, and made several pilot sets, which have been, and still are, undergoing gruelling tests under all sorts of conditions. But for the war, these units would have been available some months ago.
The company, therefore, has to apologize for the temporary hardships occasioned to those farmers who purchased David Brown tractors, expecting that power-lift units would follow in time for inter-cultivation last spring. It must be realized, however, that work must be done to priority instructions and to schedules laid down by Government Departments. This necessitated working at maximum pressure to produce many complete tractors of various types. Agriculturists may rest assured, however, that these units will be put into production as early as possible. AN INVALUABLE MUNICIPAL PUBLICATION
ONE of the most comprehensive publications dealing with local government administration is "The Municipal Year Book," published by the Municipal Journal, Ltd., 3-4, Clement's Inn, London, W.C.2, at the price of 35s. The 1940 edition of this work, forming the 44th annual issue, has been completely revised and brought up to date. It comprises 51 sections, of which 42 are devoted to all the important branches of civic administration.
Amongst sections which have a par' ticular interest for our readers are those dealing with transport, roads, publiccleansing services and air-raid precaution and fire services. The section dealing with transport includes much statistical data relating to road vehicles, whilst in the section covering publiccleansing services there are some interesting figures of cost returns.
An improvement in this year's edition is the thumb indexing in place of tabs, marking all important sections and materially facilitating the work of reference Guide to Champion Plug Selection THREE publications relating to
1 Champion sparking plugs have come to hand from the Champion Sparking Plug Co., Ltd., Feltham, Middlesex. Copies will be sent free to readers of
The Commercial Motor who make application.
One is a folder dealing exclusively with commercial-vehicle types. Each plug in this range is illustrated and its special features outlined, whilst a reconiniendation table is included.
Another is a new catalogue booklet, covering the complete Champion range and embodying, also, recommendations for all automobiles, including fire engines and agricultural tractors, marine and stationary engines and trailer pumps.
The third is the latter table in the form of a wall chart useful for service departments. stores and the like. A.R.O. STATEMENT ON JOINT WORKING
THE following statement is issued by A.R.O. with reference to a paragraph appearing in our issue dated June 15, indicating that that organization was, at the request of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, considering joint working with the C.M.U.A.
in the north-western area. We are asked to state that, under a resolution of the executive committee, dated May 9, no area of the A.R.O. is empowered to discuss any arrangements for joint working with other bodies unless and until such negotiations are sanctioned by the National Council of the Association as a whole. We are advised that the National Council has not sanctioned discussions in the northwestern area, and the area committee has, therefore, terminated all such discussions drid will abide by the aforementioned resolution.
Serviceable Portable Lamp to Meet War-time Conditions
rrHE need for shielded lights has 1 resulted in many difficulties when loading or adjustments have to be carried out in the open at night. Portable lights of various types have been evolved, and a notably efficient design is that of the Toucan lamp, which is specially intended for hard usage and has undergone lengthy trials.
The Toucan has an accumulator which forms an integral part of the lamp, but it is unspillable and can be operated in any position. Charging can be arranged from any house lighting circuit, and equipment is available to deal with single units or multiinstallations. As the charging socket is built-in, there is no need to take the lamp apart when charging.
A bulb with two filaments of equal intensity is used, so that if one breaks the other can instantly be used, simply by turning over a sniall switch. A detachable soft rubber hood, with white interior for reflecting purposes, is supplied, and this is easily slipped on and off. The manufacturer is Oldham and Son, Ltd., Denton, Manchester, well known in connection with miners' safety lamps and other heavyduty lighting.