Mr. Davison Dalziel, at the statutory meeting of the United
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Motorcab Company, Limited, on Monday last, stated that the average earnings of the red Renault cabs belonging to the sister company, the General Motorcab Com
pany, Limited, had been IS. 3d. per cab per day during the first four
weeks, and had gone up to 3s. per cab per day for the week ending 27th April.
This Week's Supplement.
Every copy of this issue contains, as an inset supplement, particulars of the constitution and principal objects of the Commercial Motor Users' Association, and we strongly recommend all readers who are interested in commercial motoring to remit one guinea to the Secretary forthwith. Membership af the Association in question includes free annual subscription to "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR," SO that the cost of membership is reduced to 145. 6d. net.
Pontypridd's Municipal Wagons. The surveyor of the Pontypridd Urban District Council has written the following report to the Lancashire Steam Motor Company, Limited, of
Leyland, and we feel sure that all who read it must agree that a good vehicle as contributed to the results which ire admittedly so largely due to Mr. Willoughby's own excellent system of veration :— " The second steam lorry supplied o the order of my Council has duly ar-ived and appears in every way satis'actory. If it will work as continumisty and give as little trouble as the rormer one supplied, I shall be more zhan satisfied. No. I commenced work.ng on July 3rd, 1906, and has worked ;ix days a week to date, and only lost :hree working days in all. The cost of fuel, oil, waste, etc., for 24 weeks, is 4;26 os. 2d. ; for labour, washing-out,
ind repairs, and for renewals, .4-5. awing to the necessity of hauling the ;cavenging and house refuse of a popuation of over 30,000 for a distance of 211miles from the centre of the dis:Het, my Council acted on my recomTiendation to adopt steam haulage, ind received 22 tenders, yours being ac
.:epted. Prior to the advent of the notor, the cost for haulage and collec
ion by horse was per week, in [illy, 1906. The cost after the introluction of the motor, including fuel, Ac., and current repairs to motor, and ilso to to trailer wagons, and all labour n collection, fell steadily to £28 per xeek in October.
" Owing to the very bad weather and the increased volume and weight of refuse in the winter months, the costs have naturally increased, and now stand
at per week. This figure does not of course include purchase outright or repayment of loan, but that can be easily added. It amounts to £3 5s. Id. per week for three years, for purchase of engine and tipping body.
"The fact of the introduction _of steam haulage has undoubtedly re
suited in a large saving, amounting to at least '20 per week, and really more, as the only figures available for horse haulage and collection are for summer months as compared with winter haulage by motor. This is partly due to the excellent capabilities of the engine, and its freedom from small breakdowns, and also to the system adopted by myself of combining horse haulage (for collection only) and steam power
(for haulage and collection) as circumstances demand, the result being that each class of labour is engaged in its most economical sphere.
" The adverse results of steam haul age in a neighbouring city have not
arisen at Pontypridd, and I think such
unsatisfactory results must be due to the special conditions and to the system adopted. The publication of these bad results occasioned me much anxiety, as my Council then had committed themselves to the new system, but I am glad to say that the
05 results (due to whatever cause) are most satisfactory ; so much so that the second engine (just received) was ordered, and will be engaged in scavenging in time of stress and in general haulage of stores, and watering, 24 etc., in the summer. At the
.e GO
60 40 40 36 30
same time, it will be avail able in case of emergency as a stand-by. I append a dia gram showing the total working costs for scavenging since July 16th to date, which requires no further explanation."
(Signed) P. W. A. WILLOUGHBY, A. F. I . C. E. 12th March, 191)7.
The Valor Company, Limited, has opened an office at 64, Avenue de Chatillon, Paris, for the sale of its " New Era " fire-extinguishingappliances.
Canada's Preference.
The subscription rate for " DIE ComitelAt, MOTOR " for postage to Canada will in future be Ss. Sd., instead of 12s. as formerly.
British Exhibitors at Madrid.
We have pleasure in reproducing herewith an illustration of the StrakerSquire steam wagon, which will be exhibited at the forthcoming Madrid Exhibition. Although the roads in Spain are in anything but a creditable condidon, this vehicle is certainly constructed to withstand the shocks incidental to use upon them, whilst the other British exhibitor in the heavy vehicle section, Aveling and Porter, Limited, will be showing a compound steam tractor, one of which type is illustrated in this issue (page 231). It is a matter for regret that British commercial motor manufacturers are riot to be more largely in evidence on this occasion, for Spain offers by no means an unattractive market.
Motorcabs not Hackney Carriages.
Mr. Herbert Gladstone made a statement recently which points to the existence of an official view that a motorcab is not a hackney carriage, his announcement having been made in the House on the 22nd instant in reply to a question from the member for North Kildare. This view is likely to be seriously combated by the London Cab Drivers' Union, and the action of New Scotland Yard in regard to licensing does not exactly bear out the opinion of Mr. Gladstone's legal advisers. Exactly where the dispute will end cannot be foreseen at the moment, but no serious development is likely to occur unless an application for an injunction is made to the High Court, and that will cost the Cab Drivers' Union. a considerable amount of money. The AttorneyGeneral Lakes the view that the provisions as tofares in the Hackney Carriage. Acts prior to the year 1869 do not apply to motorcabs fitted with taximeters.•
A Wrong Decision.
A driver named Thomas Parry, in the employ of the Little Malvern Granite Company, Limited, was fined ros., with 235. 6d. costs, or in default 14 days' imprisonment, at the adjourned sitting of the Malvern Petty Sessions, on Wednesday of last week, for using a tractor which, it was held, did not consume as far as practicable its own smoke. This application of Section 3o of Part II. of the 1878 Act will be of no effect as a precedent, and is clearly inadmissible in law. The magistrates held that no evidence had been called to prove that the emission of smoke was due to some temporary or accidental cause, which would have justified their holding that it came within the definition clause of the 1896 Act, but its registration under the Motorcar Acts should have been sufficient evidence prima facie.
Kensington and Heavy Traffic.
. The Borough Council of Kensington is shaping its course in regard to an attack upon heavy motor vehicles, its efforts in the direction of doing immediate harm to motorbus interests having failed disma*, as was reported by us oil the occasion of the conferences between London Borough Councillors (see our issues of the 20th December and Toth and 17th January last). Messrs. Wild and Robbins, of Viewsley, who are owners of several tractors, have been selected as the parties to receive the first writ, and this was served on Wednesday morning of last week. An injunction is sought in terms which are so wide that they would, if obtained, practically shut out this class of mechanical transport from the whole of the Royal Borough of
Kensington. As the matter is sub judice, we are not at liberty to comment upon the case, but we will content ourselves by reporting that an appearance has been entered by the defendants, and that the action will be contested aSone of principle. It is the. intention of. the Commercial Motor Users' Association to invite the co-operation of the Motor Union, as well as of* all manufacturers of tractors and heavy motor vehicles generally, and a circular will shortly be issued.
A Good Catalogue.
Commercial Cars, Limited, has just issued a new catalogue. This deals in a thorough manner with the various productions of its well-equipped works at Luton. The letterpress is on one side of the paper only, leaving the reverse side free, on which the recipient
may make any desired notes. The paper, printing, and illustrations are all of good quality and finish, and throughout the descriptive'matter a fearlessness in the matter of giving. dimensions of parts, such as is rarely found in makers' catalogue's, is distinctly noticeable. Wherever a dimension can convey a better idea of the part under notice, it is given.
The first few pages are devoted to a description of the company's works, which face the Biscot Road at the north end of Luton. All the machinery at the works is driven electrically, by means of motors which obtain the necessary cur-. rent direct froth the town mains: The aggregate power of the motors is x2oh.p. and, in addition, current for lights totalling roo,000 candle-power is also taken front the same source. About 350 workmen are employed in these works, where all parts are made to jig and are strictly interchangeable : the plus or minus limit of error allowed is only ow' of an inch.
The patent change-speed gear-box, which is a leading feature in vehicles made by this company, is also fully described, and the number of teeth in each wheel is stated. Several sectional line drawings are given, which make the operation of the changes easy to understand. The company's standard 3611.p. engine comes in for attention, as well as the bevel and differential gearbox, and a complete specification of the 36h.p. bus or lorry chassis is given. At the end Of the catalogue, there are several reproductions from line drawings, which illustrate the various types ol bodies that may be fitted, to suit purchasers' requirements..
. The catalogue is more explicit than the general. run of such publications, and, quite apart from its being a means of • advertising ". Commercial. Cars," a useful and • interesting little booklet. which many of our readers should per. use with interest.