Liverpool Trials Anniversary.
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Dinner at the Royal Automobile Club. Mr. Walter Long Makes an Epochmarking Speech.
The tenth anniversary of the presentation of the judges' report upon the third series of commercial motor trials at Liverpool was made the occasion for a re-union dinner of the chief organizers, competitors and supporters, at the 11.A.C., on Thursday evening last, when Dr. H. S. ele-Shaw, E.R.S., presided. The company included : as guests, the Rt. Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., Mr. J. W. Orde and Captain Hume ; also, Sir John E Thornyeroft, FRS., Col. R. E. Crompton, C.B., Col. C. H. Darbishire, J.P. (Penmaenmavvr), Capt. Bagnall-Wild, Messrs. T. C. Aveling, Alfred J. Boult, W. Worby Beaumont., II. G. Burford, If. Percy Bouhiois, E. R. Calthrop, Thomas Clarkson, Henry Fowler (Derby), J. A. Holder, Arthur Harrison, Basil II. Joy, Arthur Musker, J. Graham Reece, Percy Richardson, E. A. Rosenheim, H. Richardson (" The Engineer "), Sidney Straker, L. R. L. Squire, F. R. Simms, Arthur Spurrier, Henry Stnrmey, E. Shrapnell Smith (Hon. Sec. of the dinner committee), and John E. Thornycroft. Col. H. C. L. Holden, F.R.S., R.A., was present during a part of the proceedings. Amongst the letters of regret for absence were communications from Sir David Salomons, Bart., Sir Boverton Redwood, Bart., Mr. John A. Brodie, Mr. Anthony G. Lyster, and Mr. Jesse Ellis.
After dinner the chairman proposed the toast of the King, which was loyally honoured.
Dr. H. S. Hele-Shaw, P.R.S.
The Chairman then said the dinner that evening was a gathering of those who took part in the series of heavy vehicle trials which were held in Liverpool, in the years 1898, 1899, and 1901, at the time of the revival of public interest in road locomotion. He said " revival " because, as they all knew, for 100 years or snore efforts of able men had from time to time been attended with partial success, but ultimate failure to introduce self-propelled traffic on the roads. It was only about 15 years ago when the removal of restrictions on the one hand and the progress of mechanical science on the other really saw the commencement of what has proved to be one of the most interesting developments of engineering of the past century.
It was exactly 15 years ago that Sir David Salomons, who was to have _presided that night, came down from London'to address a public meeting, in order to open the public work of a branch of the Self-Propelled Traffic Association. This was exactly three weeks before the Act. of 1896 came into force. In the following year it was decided to form the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland. and for a mcment there threatened to be serious friction between the Self-Propelled Traffic Association and the new Automobile Club. It was a pleasant thing for them to remember that it was at the Adelphi Hotel at Liverpool during thr;., first trials, that the poll rparlerg took place which resulted in the amalgamation of the Automobile Club, under Mr. Roger Wallace, and the SelfPropelled Traffic Association, under Sir David Salomons. From that day onwards the Automobile Club had heartily supported the various trials of heavy commercial vehicles which had been held in this conntry, and of which the first three series of trials, with which most of those present were associated, had been held at Liverpool.
He thought, without in any way becoming a mutual admiration society, they might fairly consider that the encouragement eiven to makers by these trials had no small effect in giving this country the start in the construction of heavy motor vehicles, in which it has been pre-eminent. There was no intention that evening of having a number of formal speeches, but the speaker hoped there were amongst those present many who would perhaps contribute a word or two, if possible, in the form of an anecdote. There was, however, one toast they would agree they could not omit, and that was that of their guests. Those guests were three in number. They would feel how suitable it was that they should have with them the popular and able Secretary of the 1-1.A.C., Mr. Orde, and his equally popular assistant, Captain Hume. But the third guest—and he was sure the other guests would allow him to call him the guest of the evening —was Mr. Walter Long, the gentleman who had come to them that night at considerable personal inconvenience, to seek repose from the strife which might possibly be raging amongst their law-givers. It was exactly 10 years ago that Mr. Long showed his great interest in the commercial motor and its development by going down from London, while President of the Local Government Board, in order to be present at a public meeting, at which the results of the trials for the year were given.
" Our Guests."
Mr. E. Shrapnel' Smith, in proposing the toast of the guests, referred to the development of the motor industry. There were 7,300 motorcabs in London and 1,600 motorbuses, and in the country, generally, something like 8,000 vans and other petrol trade vehicles running. That was a non-political meeting, but they looked forward to the time when Mr. Long would again—(applause)—whether as a member of the Governanent or a member of the Opposition, give them the support which was required. He (the speaker) would mention three points which, though small, were of considerable importance to the country. The first was the question of bridges in this country. It, was astounding how the roadways of Great Britain were broken by weak bridges. Looking at it from the point of military defence, there were 400 bridges in the County of Kent which were labelled with notices which would prevent the guns of Dover going to Woolwich to be re-bored. Then the extent of the roads in this country was greater, in proportion 1.o the area of the country, than in any other civilized country in the world. Therefore, the use of the roads and the development of the roads for the purposes of agriculture or commercial transport had a greater bearing on the commercial prosperity of this country than had the roads of any country in Europe or elsewhere. Perhaps Mr. Walter Long would make a mental note of those two points. The third point arose out of the labour unrest of the past three months, During the labour troubles they had seen the importance of commercialmotor transport accentuated to a degree they would never have thought possible ten years ago. Since the strikes, the orders for commercial-motor vehicles, as an ine-urance against possible contingencies in the future, had been enormous. In conclusion, Mr. Shrapnell Smith expressed appreciation of Mr. Long's services to the motor industry. The toast was honoured with the utmost enthusiasm.
Mr. Long's Reply.
Mr. Walter Long, who was received with applause, thanked the company for their hospitality. He was in a unique position that night, since he was their guest because they believed he had rendered them some small service. To those in his position that, was EG unique experience. They were much snore accustomed to be blamed for alleged injuries. (Laughter.1 He very well remembered the years to which the previous speakers had referred. That was a time when the motor industry was for the first time taking a place in the public mind which made it quite clear that something must be done to give fair play to those new developments of science and industry. There was at that time a very great prejudice against motor vehicles of all kinds. It was curious how much feeling there was in the country against anything connected with motor vehicles, and it was also very curious to find that those who were most interested in motor traffic at the time were also very apprehensive of any attempt to deal with the question by legislation. Therefore, in the House of Commons, as was often the case, he had against him a combination of interests, the representatives of which, although they wanted totally different things, united in opposing something which they thought interfered with the particular view they held. Some of them thought motors were abominable things and ought not to be allowed to run on the roads at all, and, as they were only likely to be the possession of the wealthy, those who wanted to travel at 40 miles an hour ought not only to buy their own motors but should build their own roads as well Therefore, no facilities should be afforded for travelling on ordinary roads.
On the other hand there were people with more advanced views, who, recognizing that motors were useful to other people, thought Parliament ought not to interfere with their business. It was, therefore, a little difficult to secure a suffi cient amount of support to pass the Bill. Well, times had altered since then. He did not think anyone would be found now to say that motors were merely articles of luxury. He thought that it had been recognized that an entire revolution had come over the carrying trade of this country, and that motors had not only come to stay, but had worked the most marvelkous change in the aocial relations and conditions of the country.
Mr. Balfour's Foresight.
When he first went to the Local Government Board, one of the most pressing questions with which he had to deal, and with which he tried to deal to the best of his ability, was the housing of the working classes in the great towns, an extremely difficult question as they all knew, and one the solution of which was beset by many serious obstacles. It was his business to take consultation with his chief in the House of Commons, afterwards Prime Minister, the present Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Arthur Balfour. (Loud applause.) Mr. Balfour was, ten years ago, not only the first man but the only man to foresee that the development of motor traffic was going to solve not only many questions affecting the prosperity of the country, but was destined also to solve in two or three different ways the vexed question uf the housing of the poor in great towns. He indicated, when nobody else had made the suggestion, not only that motor vehicles, if they were properly constructed and properly driven, would enable the poor to work in the town and live in the country, but be also indicated that one of the greatest commercial difficulties—that of having to store their goods in the town, in warehouses on land which was quite too expensive to he occupied by ware• houses—would be met by the motor lorry system, which would enable goods to be removed rapidly from the place where they were kept in bulk to the place where they were sold, and that in those two ways they would find the solution of the problem which would be found in no other direction.
That was a great tribute to the prevision and capacity of one of the greatest men, he believed, they had ever had connected with the Government.
:Weak Bridges and Natic nal Defence.
The proposer of the toast had told them that in the County of Kent there were 400 bridges which would not carry the guns from Dover to Woolwich, if they had to be rebored. That was a very serious tact connected with national defence. That showed how intertwined were all the various national questions. It brought them close up to the question which governed all others. namely, the question of the expenditure of money. Why was it there were 400 bridges in the County of Kent, that would not bear those guns? It was because, under our system, there had been no provision made for the march of time Those bridges be expected were maintained by small meal authorities, or by railway companies.
What was it that motor traffic had done all over the world? It had brought all parts of the country close together. A man to-day did his work in the City of London or the House of Commons—or he did not do it, as the case might be. (Laughter.) Instead of taking a cab, or bus, or the underground railway to his home in a particular part of London, he as often as not got into his motorcar and was back at his house, ten or twelve or fifteen miles out of London, as quickly as he could have reached his own house in London by means of cab or omnibus. The automobile had revolutionized the whole life of the country, and those who had identified themselves with this great movement with so much courage and industry and who had brought to it such marvellous resources of knowledge and investigation were entitled to ask of the country that the country should meet them by makine due provision for the safe passage throughout the country of the vehicles which their skill had created. .At any rate, the advent of motor traffic had made it clear that most of these problems were of a national and not local importance. (Hear, hear, and applause.)
The Country Ratepayer.
So long as they hail a small local authority %+hiell had power to rate only a very limited area, and so long as that small local authority was called upon to impose upon that limited area the whole cost of maintaining a road or making a strong bridge, they might rely upon it the work would not he done. ,A great deal had already been done in connection with the roads. A great many of the roads had been vastly improved, and he thought it was largely due to motor -traffic that this improvement had taken place. At the same time, he looked at it not only from the point of view of one who was privileged to travel about the country in a motor and who knew what a good road was : he looked at it from -the point of view of a country ratepayer in the remote county in which he lived. There were a great many people there who did not at all welcome the appearance of motors, especially in the summer time when dust lay thick on the road and a motor dashing by made it impossible to keep the windows open, and rendered the flowers in the garden anything but what Nature inWnded them to be. The person who paid the rates said; " Why should I pay for keeping the road in order when I only walk, and someone from hundreds of miles away motors over them? " The truth of the matter was that the development of that great industry had done more to revolutionize the conditions of life within the country than anything that had ever happened—far more than the development of railways—and they were entitled to ask that this great movement should be backed up by the eonntry and that those works of bridge-building and roadmaking should be national.
He would like to show in one way how intertwined were the various 'national questions. They wanted to make this country as prosperous as it possibly could be They wanted to provide, so far as they could reasonably and legitimately, means of livelihood for as many people as they possibly could • ,vithin it. The invention and development el the motor industry had done more for local life than anything that had been achieved. (Hear, hear.)
Revival of Villa ge and Town Life.
They knew what happened when railways replaced the coaches. In the old days, coaches travelled over certain main roads, which were also has were the railways by branch lines) fed by branch or supplementary coach roads, and the result of that was that they had village inns, hotels, lodginghouses and " life " created in a dozen ways in scores and scores of the small towns. Then the coaches were driven off the read by railways, and the result was that inns and hotels disappeared arid market towns, once prosperous, became grassgrown in their dependence upon their limited local industry. The development of the motor industry had altered all that. They were to-day again opening up many of these old towns and villages; they were taking visitors to many of those old inns, which were to be restored, and in which there was again life. The more they could encourage motor traffic, whether it were light or heavy, over this country, the more they should do it to improve the conditions of life of the people and to give opportunities and openings to people to which they ha.d hitherto been strangers.
Therefore, they could not look at the question merely as did some of those present, who, greatly distinguished though they might be in the parts they had played, were only concerned in the development of the machines which were now so perfect and so wonderful—they thought not so much of the struggles and difficulties of poor agriculturists, like himself, in the country districts, who found it hard to make a living. The proposer of the toast said it was in the interests if agriculture that heavy motor traffic kliould be developed. He (Mr. Long) believed it was. One of the main advantages to agriculture would be found in the combination of the producers with these who provided the facilities for getting the produce to market.
A New and Rosy Future.
There were many other ways in which he felt sure this great industry was going to offer to those in this old country a new and, he believed, a rosy future. He had been endeavouring to show, in the very imperfect remarks he had made, that he believed this was only one question which was closely bound up with other questions affecting our national lite; it was not merely the starting of a great indirstry ; it was not merely that their claims rested on the doings of those men who had given up their energy, time and thought to the discovery, improvement and development of this great national industry. It did not merely rest upon that foundation, solid as it was, but upon one wider and more solid. They must make up their minds that., if they were to keep abreast of the times:, that they must bring together all those questions to which he had referred, making one skein of all these divers threads. and must do their best set that great industry intim; a sidastantial footing. They must see that the country took such a line in the future as would enable proper use to be made of the great discoveries in science, industry and labour which men like themselves had brought to the use and advantage of the people of the hind. (Apple use.)
Various members of the company then proceeded to relate reminiscences of early experiments.
Mr. J. E. Thornycroft spoke of experiments at the Crystal Palace. at the time when men with red flags went in front of the vehicles. The first vehicle was largely built on the lines of marine engineering. At the initial trial, they thought to eontrol the machine by reversing levers; when he attempted it, the machine nearly stood on its end. At the Liverpool trials they had condensers on the roofs supplementary feeds, coal firing, and all sorts of things. By the third day of the trials they had no wheels left. The speaker went on to cornmeet on the development of the commercial vehicle in this country.
Mr. Fowler described the difficulties of the Liverpool trials, when they did 36 miles in 18 hours. Round.handled spanners had to be cut up to make rivets to hold on the iron tires. Mr. Burford rejoiced in the friendships made at the early trials. Many of them, he hoped, would continue for long years to come. His petrol lorries at Liverpool had caused much amusement, but they did their work and made converts.
Mr. Arthur Musker reierred to Sir Alfred J(IrIt'S':4 Sa.■, ing he would promise anything so long as they kept Mr. Shrapnel' Smith out of his office. (Laughter.) Mr. Rosenheim recalled how their present chairman once rode a tricycle and passed the motors with scorn, and nearly took a header into a closed level-crossing gate.
Mr. Henry Sturmey referred to the advantage of derelicts on the road during the Liverpool trials. They were of the greatest, value to him as a source from which he could take notes. Now break-downs were things of the past. Colonel Crompton described how the Liverpool trials ap peered to him as a dream, because he had seen the whole thing once if not twice before. Ile went on to recount experiences in India and in this country on behalf of the Indian Government.
Mr, Henry Richardson related experiences with solid tires, During one trip there was a smell of something burning, and, at the first stopping place, they found that the brakes had been hard on all the time.
Colonel Holden remarked that, but for the earlier trials and troubles, manufacturers and vehicles would nut be in the position they were to-day. It was due to those trials that this country was in such a happy position in the matter of commercial vehicles.
The Chairman here read a letter from Sir David Salomona expressing regret that he could not attend the function. Few men to-day, said the writer, could realize the courage and
patience uecessary to cope with the difficulties existing in those early days. It was pleasant for the piuueers to see that their time and labour had not been lost. He (Sir David) felt proud to look at any street in London or elsewhere and to observe the great change that a few years had brought about in the means of locomotion, to the advantage of all classes of the community. The Chairman was authorized to write to Sir David, wishing him many years of happiness and health. Mr. Clarkson contrasted a run which he once made in five days from near Birmingham to London with a trip he receetly did on a bus chassis when they covered 220 miles on the last day. Mr. Calthrop gave his experiences as a judge, and pointed out how the use of castle nuts was due to the 1898 report.
Mr. Worby Beaumont said that in those early trials he felt very much, as Col. Crompton did, that it was a dream and that he was going over again much of his earlier experience. Referring to his assertion, years ago, that they could have
in London motors weighing from 3 to tons, he was glad to find Mr. Shrapnell Smith and others now congratulating those who insisted on having that done which had resulted in London having the best form of passenger vehicle in the world. The mot5t important branch of motor engineering, he held, was that of the construction of the commercial vehicle.
Mr. Shrapnel' Smith read three letters. In one of them, from Mr. Lyster, a vice-president, the writer stated that things moved so rapidly that one was apt to forget the trials and difficulties which attended the inception of the movement. That gathering was a happy way of remembering the assistance of Liverpool in the introduction of the heavy vehicle. Mr. Brodie, city engineer of Liverpool, wrote that it was pleasant to know of the great advance in all classes of motor traffic, to the further development of which the recent strikes would give fresh impetus. Captain R. S. Walker, R.E., in his letter, said that he regarded that experience he gained at the trials as amongst the most useful of his life. Mr. Smith referred, at some length, to the subscribers to the Trials Funds.
Mr. J. W. Orde proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, who was well known for his work in Liverpool and in South Africa. His interest was not abated and he was still working hard in this most interesting movement.
The vote of thanks was accorded with enthusiasm..