Preparing for the Show of Shows.
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COMMERCIAL motor manufacturers, traders k-land users are looking 'forward to the culmination in. November next of the united efforts for which the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Ltd., is primarily responsible. We refer to . the staging at Olyrripia of the Society's great exhibition. This most important, undertaking, which is due to reach fruition in, less than three 'months, is one that will, in our opinion, by far transcend any of its forerunners, seeing that the nation is at last wide awake to the, benefits which business' motors of all types.bring to the produc tive and distributive industries alike. It will prove, we feel' confident, a fitting' demonstration to all that the 31 years which will by then have elapsed since the coming into force of the first ,MOtor Car Act have been well used to build up ,a lasting economic achievement of world-wide influence.
We have already announced the inclusion of the proceedings of the -World Motor Transport Congress as part of the systematic organization by the Society, and our supporters will have noted With satisfaction the extensive character of the official and representative industrial backing which this branch of the Society's preparations has been accorded in Government anti business *circles at home and overseas. This exceptional activity is a good augury, for it is additional to the Society's usually thorough programme of .advance publicity.
British manufacturers take well-merited 'pride in the position won by them in commercial motoring. They have led in so many departures and developments that the new field opened before them by the development of the rigid-frame sixwheeler is but one section—although undoubtedly an important one—of growth where the potentialities are vast. Look at the changes by exPansion of service which the more general use of giant pneumatic tyres connotes. Again, a few months after the Show there will come ". the appointed day" of the four railway groups, when shock upon shock is not unlikely to be administered to the trade and industry of the country, and to .-the travelling public, in respect of rates, charges and fares (including season-ticket scales). The favourable reactions of. these few circumStances alone are sufficiently assured. to invest the coming great exhibition with the valuable asset of lively, current, public interest. The public ''mind is
becoming attuned and responsive to the farreaching. services which • commercial motoring renders, and can render, to the daily life of the community.
It was in 1925 only, for the.first: time, that the pioneering efforts of. all concerned saw the entrance " gate " at a Commercial Motor Show at Olympia reach paying dimensions. We make bold to forecast at least a trebled surplus in November. The remarkable developments in bodywork will contribute to that improvement, seeing that nothing attracts more, nor is more easily treated by the facile pens of writers in the popular daily Press, than panelling, seating, cushions, fittings and knick-knacks, the aim of the providers of which is to make travel by road more and more comfortable.
The coming exhibition will be the one par excellence at which the private motorist should be persuaded by that which he sees with his own eyes to cease sneering at those who rely upon buses and coaches. There is the space in these vehicles, when of the saloon and other superior types, to do the thing well.
It is to the ever-increasing numbers of owners, owner-drivers, drivers, mechanics and clerical staffs associated with the use of hackney and goods commercial motors of all sizes and classifications, not forgetting tractors and steam wagons, together with the wide range of supplies and stores for all of them, that the S.M.M. and T. can, in fact, safely look to with reliance for support. It will continue to be our duty and pleasure to bring to the notice of these users, and others, between the present time and November next, the fullest possible information concerning, and details of both the arrangements and the exhibits for, the Show of Shows.
The Motor Mechanic on the Farm.
THE motor is playing an important part in developing the more prosperous side of agr-fculture. Those farmers who were quick to realize the value 'of adequate transport facilities have been able to find the better markets, and in that way have made profits, while their less enterprising confreres have lost money during the depression that has been prevailing in the industry for the past few years.
Whilst it is true that farmers have not had the best of times recently, and that many of those who bought their farms during the war have lost money, it is not a fact that they are all verging on bankruptcy. This is a point the commercialvehicle trade would do well to bear in mind. Agriculture offers a big market for motor vehicles of all kinds, and many farmers have the money to pay for them. They are prepared to invest in anything that will make their business more efficient—at least, the more enterprising of them are --and that will help them to make more profits.
Agriculture is passing through a stage of transition—from the old methods of marketing to -the new. Some of these new markets have yet to be foundor made, but, whatever line development eventually takes, road transport will be an essential part of it.
Much money has been lost by agriculturists in the purchase of land. Many bought their farms during, or immediately after, the war at artificially high prices. The bulk of this money has gone on an article depreciated considerably in value, or they are paying interest on money on which they get no return. This is the principal modern agricultural problem, and it is .responsible for most of the present-day agricultural I. depression. Money has been lost not on working the holdings as a business but on the purchase of land. There is only one way °tit of. the.difflcuIty ,B18. caused by buying land too dear, and that is by writing down the value of the holdings so soon as this can be done. Provision must be made for this out of profits made on working the farm, which will require for its accomplishment the most efficient organization, work and the best markets, and to this end there is no greater aid than adequate transport—not too much or too little, but just the right vehicle or vehicles for each farmer's particular job. This will cost less in capital outlay than horses and their equipment.
The purchase of the motor equipment, be it lorry, tractor or both, is not the only thing. A lorry must be economically operated to pay well. In no other industry is the lorry treated worse, or less attention paid to the question of operating costs, than in agriculture. One of the chief reasons for this is that, too often, inexperienced men are put to drive, or, if they are proficient in the art, they are taken away to do other work when not actually driving, and so are not allowed to give sufficient attention to the vehicle when it is idle. The farmer will find himself more successful with motors when he has learnt that the motor man's task is, generally speaking, a one-man job. A man working in the farmyard one day and driving his lorry another cannot be expected to keep his vehicle in the best order. We do not mean that the farm driver should not be able to turn his hand to other jobs when necessary, but he should first he allowed to attend to the needs of his vehicle. Besides, there is on every farm machinery and mechanical appliances the 'maintenance of which in good order could be made part of the driver's duties.
A carter and a herdsman are looked upon as essential upon every farm; and when agriculture has passed through this transition stage the farm mechanic who will look after the motors and other machinery will be found equally essential. Such a man is not employed extensively yet, not because farmers refuse to do so, but because, being a new idea, they do not give the matter thought. Many have been grateful for the suggestion when it has been made to them, and motor salesmen should_ never lose an opportunity of calling the attention of prospective farmer customers to the possibilities of tile suggestion.
The Question of Limiting the Length of Passenger Vehicles.
A LTHOUGH in the main the limits imposed la_upon passenger vehicles by the Heavy Motor Car (Amendment) Order, 1927, will, in the opinion of the majority, throw no undue hardships upon manufacturers or users, as they do not apply to vehicles already in use, or to new vehicles which are registered within a year from the time the Order came into force, there is one clause-emphasized in the circular which accompanied the Order to which both makers and users are taking exception. This is to the effect that, as a general practice, councils are recommended not to license buses which exceed 26 ft. in Overall length unless, in the opinion of the councils, the routes present specially favourable characteristics.
It would appear to us that it would have been much better to have authorized an overall length of 27 ft. 6 ins. as the standard, giving the municipal authorities the right of appeal to the Minister of Transport in the case of any particular roads or routes which they consider to be unsuitable for vehicles exceeding 26 ft.
As a matter of fact, there are now comparatively few roads on which the slight extra difference in length would he of such great importance as to justify action; whereas this difference may, by permitting extra passengers, conduce to more economical running of the vehicles.