dons and Queries .
Page 59
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License all Clearing Houses
One Who is not without knowledge of such matters, applaud, with reserve, the measures proposed for -egulation of clearing-house operation. Unfortuy, these measures apply only to the Clearing House tp of the Road Haulage Association. While these little boys are holding hands, the bad little boys please themselves. seems to me that the only possible way in which admirable measures can be enforced will be igh the compulsory licensing of all clearing houses provision for drastic action in the event of ular operation. is perhaps unfortunate that there is a Clearing ;e Group within the R.H.A. It might encourage rnpression that haulier members of the R.H.A. will a first refusal of the choicest fruit.
at the " pirate " clearing house will continue to Ate and will continue to prosper is patent to all have knowledge of this side of the industry.
Indon, S.W.11. E. H. B. PALMER.
Licences for Private Hire
end the chaos created by the interpretation of the term "special occasion," all private-hire operators Id be issued with licences corresponding to the gths of their fleets and allowing work to be done n a radius as requested. Variations of conditions d need to be published in "Notices and Proceedand require the Licensing Authority's approval. ther words, the same principles would apply to .te-hire coach operators as to hauliers.
.ath. GWYN RICHARDS.
Praise for Two Buses
[CE I have been reading The Commercial Motor have seen quite a number of letters concerning ous makes of vehicle. Recently I have done quite a if travelling by bus and have been quite surprised
e great improvement in the latest Guy Arabs, which lk compare well with anything else on the road. lather very nice bus is the Dennis Lancet with rfloor engine, in use between London and Farnham. was described in The Commercial Motor of 1st 28. Both of these vehicles run most smoothly the good springing and general passenger comfort lotable.
)ndon, N.22. R. L. MAY,
The Wrong Way Round
E interesting article, " 15 Small Operators Work Together" (August 28), is not accurVe in its ences to the question of fares. The caption under of the photographs published reads as follows:— ter the most recent fares increase was authorized, tigher fares were charged by the company, but not 'rota.' The company eventually reduced charges e original level." ie fact of the matter is just the reverse. Following issions on fares and the traffic census referred to in allele, the Shropshire Omnibus Association finally 2.,d that the fare increases granted to Midland " Red " and first introduced on February 21 were fully justified, and they further agreed to bring their own fares into line. These new fares, temporarily suspended to permit a traffic census and general discussion to take place, were reintroduced on May 5 and are now charged on both Midland " Red " and S.O.A. services. D. M. SINCLAIR, General Manager, Birmingham and Birmingham, 41, Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd.
British Manufacturers Not in Earnest
WHILE on holiday in Belgium 1 accompanied a
friend, a Belgian manufacturer, to the International Machine Tool Exhibition in Brussels. Although a few British makers had the initiative to show their products at this great event, no doubt at high expense, I was asked at several of their stands whether I would interpret, as there was no one who could speak French.
I regret to say that German makers dominated the show. Even the Belgian Press warned their manufacturers of the still German and Italian competition. I noticed on the German stands that if their attendants did not speak French—and that was rare—a woman interpreter was always present.
It was also noticeable that towards closing time, the British and French exhibitors began to stop work and clear up, whereas the German stands were open with machinery operating until the last moment.
Brighton. L. J. WILLIAMS.
Road Congestion by Elephants
YOUR issue of The Commercial Motor dated July 24
contained, under "One Hears," a paragraph which read as follows: "That many drivers would feet far happier if all dogs and children were taken out on the lead." I suggest that you could well have added "and elephants." • It happens that these pachyderms constitute a frequent cause of obstruction on the road that crosses the North Kivu.
Stanleyville, Belgian Congo. A. MOSTENNE.
Reader for Over 40 Years
Son my desk is a copy of The Commercial Motor
dated October 24, 1912, but I was a reader long before then. I also have a miniature of the first copy that was printed. This is one of a number given away as souvenirs at the Commercial Motor Show of 1930 to commemorate the 25th year of issue of the journal. G. JAcKsom, Commercial Sales, Darlington. Sherwood Bros. (Darlington), Ltd.
I BECAME a reader of your journal sometime between
1918-1920. My first contribution to its page for drivers, mechanics and foremen, a popular feature of that time, was sent to you in 1.920. I was actually successful in winning many prizes for later contributions_
I have continued to be a reader ever since, with the exception of the time when I was on war service and was unable to secure a copy.
Wisbeoh, Cambridge.
J. G. PEKE.