WHEELS of INDUSTRY "The wheels of wealth will be slowed
Page 38
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."—John Beattie Crozier.
New Regulations for London's Taxicabs.
In August, 1927, the Minister of Transport, on the advice of the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee, made the London Traffic (Unhired Cabs) Regulations, 1927, restricting taxicabs from " cruising" in certain of the more important traffic thoroughfares in Central London.
The working of these regulations has been reviewed by the committee in the light of the experience gained and, after considering its advice, the Minister now proposes to make fresh regulations under Section 10 of, and the Third Schedule to; the London Traffic Act, 1924, which will provide for the continuance of the restrictions imposed in 1927 and an extension of them between definite hours in certain additional streets.
The new regulations will revoke those of 1927 and will provide that, except by reason of accident or other unavoidable cause, no driver of a mechanically propelled cab not hired shall cause the same to. loiter and, except for taking up a passenger, no driver shall cause the cab to stop elsewhere than on a cab rank, in the streets specified in the schedule between the hours which are indicated, these being 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the case of some thoroughfares, and 8 a.m. to midnight in the case of others. A driver contravening the provisions of the regulations will be liable to a penalty not exceeding £5.
Copies of the draft regulations are obtainable from H.M. Stationery Office, at a cost of 1d. per copy, and any person who desires to make representations in regard to them should write to the secretary, Ministry of Transport, 7, Whitehall Gardens, London, S.W.1, by not later than July 5th next.
Manchester's Satisfactory Bus Transport Results.
In amplification of the details given in last week's issue, the accounts of the Manchester Corporation's transport undertaking for the year ended March 31st show a balance of £55,909 on the tramways and of £29,129 on the buses.
The corporation now has 238 miles of bus routes, of which 113 are outside the city. Bases in operation number 258, whilst 49 double-deckers are on order. Two double-deckers have been equipped with oil engines and have been run expetimentally during the year, the reresults, it is said, indicating that there is a good future for this type, the economy in working being substantial. Orders have been placed for oil engines to be fitted to four more buses.
The speed of the motorbuses is now 11 m.p.h., and 9 m.p.h. for the trams.
As regards bus services, the total receipts for the year were £501,845, being 15.030d. per bus-mile, as compared with 14.252d. per bus-mile a year ago. Expenditure was incurred under the following main headings :—Traffic, £177,025 (5.302d. per bus-mile) ; repairs and maintenance, £78,160 .(2.341d. per
B20 bus-mile) ; petrol, 172,356 (2.166d. per bus-mile) ; general, £31,041 (.930d. per bus-mile) ; licences, £15,546 (.466d. per bus-mile).
The transport committee now recommends the purchase of a further 30 double-deck buses to cost some 150,000.
A New Transport Association.
The Mineral Transport Users Association has been registered as a trade union under the Trade Union Acts, and Mr. L. A. Kenworthy, LL.B., A.M.Inst.T., has been appointed general secretary, and Mr. J. L. E.
Straker, treasurer. The president is Captain Roland Addy, M.A., managing director of the Carlton Collieries Association, and the vice-president is Mr. Duncan Bailey, 0.B.E., M.I.Mech.E.
Amongst the objects of the association are the promotion of the interests of owners and users of railway and road vehicles or other forms of transport engaged in work connected with mineral transport.
The head office of the association is at 8, Lloyd's Avenue, London, E.0.3, and it has northern offices at Red Doles Chambers, Huddenefielcl.
Karrier Profits In 1930.
, The report of Karrier Motors, Ltd., for the year ended December 31st last shows a net profit of 139,013 after providing for all expenses and outgoings. From this sum, bank, discounting and debenture charges (117,648), depreciation (£8,908), reserve for losses on subsidiary companies (£3,780), and smaller items bringing the total to £30,972, have to be deducted. The remaining sum of £8,041 is increased to £10,138 by the balance brought lorward from the previous year.
Interim dividends paid on ,Tuly 31st, 1930, and January 31st, 1.931, on 225,126 shares, at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum, have absorbed 16,755, leaving to be transferred to the next account 13,383. No dividend has been declared on 273.824 shares which are privately held
Lost Property in Publicservice Vehicles.
On May 21st, the Minister of Transport made the Public service Vehicles (Lost Property) Provisional Regulations, 1931, which provide that, with certain exceptions, any property found in a public-service vehicle shall be delivered to and be retained by the operator of the vehicle.
Inquiries in respect of such losses should be addressed to the operator of the vehicle. If the property be claimed before the expiration of a period of three months, satisfactory proof being forthcoming, it has to be delivered up on payment of an amount not exeeeding Is., together with a sum of oneeighth of the value of the property ; the latter is to be awarded by the operator to the conductor who originally found the property, or to whom it was handed, Such award, however, is in no case to be greater than £5 or less than Is.
If the property be not claimed within three months, it will vest in the operator, who may either pass it on to the conductor or sell it and award the conductor his portion of the proceeds as referred to above. Property of a perishable nature which is not claimed within 48 hours may either be destroyed or disposed of.
The regulations do not apply in the case of property found in a vehicle which during any part of its journey plies for hire by short stages in the Metropolitan Police District (i.e., an ordinary London bus), or found in a public-service vehicle in the county ef Lanark, or in any borough in Scotland.
The tome Secretary has simultaneously made an Order amending the Cab and Stage Carriage Order under the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act, 1869, in such a way as to relieve drivers and conductors of motor coaches licensed under that Act of the obligation to hand over to the police property found in those vehicles.
British Electric Traction Results.
The British Electric Traction Co., Ltd., announces that the profit made for the year ended March 31st, 1931, amounted to £271,005, as against £253,081 a year earlier. The directors recommend a cash dividend of 5 per cent. (less tax) and a bonus of 10 per cent. in fully paid £1 deferred ordinary shares on the deferred ordinary stock, being at the same rates as the previous year. These distributions entitle the holders of the 6 per cent. cumulative participating preference stock to a further 2 per cent. by way of participating dividend, making 8 per cent, for the year.
Greyhound Co. Loses LondonBournemouth Licence.
Just after this journal closed for press last week information came to hand that the Greyhound Motors, Ltd., of Bristol, failed in its application to the Metropolitan Traffic Commissioner for a :licence to operate its service of coaches between London and Bournemouth.