News and Comment.
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This journal is known to possess the influence, the staff, the standing and the leading circulation. it is exclusively read by the heads of many wealthy commercial houses throughout the World.
Held Over.
" Answers to Queries and some communications from Overseas correspondents are unavoidably held over until next week, owing to want of space.
Smithfield Show.
Our forecast of the Smithfield Show, which will open on the 4th December next, will he found on pages 270 and 277. It is likely that much interest will attach to the exhibit of the Daimler Co.
The New "Wellington."
The latest " Wellington " steam tractor embodies in its construction a, further development of the outside spring-suspension system which was adopted by William Foster and Co., Ltd., in 1909. Some Particulars and illustrations will be found on pages 207. and 268.
Relative Effects of Steam and Petrol Drives Upon Tire Wear.
One of the " Opinions from Others " this week (page 278) deals with the important matter of the longevity of solid-rubber tires upon steam-propelled vehicles, and we anticipate that other readers of this journal will be in a position to furnish valuable information about commonly-achieved mileages upon the driving wheels of threeton steam wagons, as well as upon motorbuses. Purchases for the Middle East.1
The Municipal Commissioners of Singapore will spend £3,500 upon motor lorries for refuse collection, as part of their undertakings for 1912. The Municipal estimates for Penang, also for 1912, include an item for the provision of a motor water/an, at a cost of about £758.
Numerical Totals of Motors.
We are surly to observe that the official view of the Government is that it is " impossible to supply any satisfactory data concerning commercial motors which do not pay an annual licence." The difficulty is ascribable to the facts that there is no check upon the disappearance of worn-out vehicles, that duplicate registrations occur on transfer of ownership (due to ignorance of the regulations), and that other defects upon which we have dealt from time to time arise incidentally and cause lapses. It is ridiculous lo use the word " possible "—in our judgment ; the various registration authorities throughout the country, consisting of the counties and county boroughs, could easily be empowered to require, say, a quinquennial declaration and return in respect of every original registration, and reasonable penalties might well be introduced to give effect to such a requirement. This is a point for future attention, when new motor legislation comes up.
Topical Subjects.
This week's leading articles deal with : (1) the urgent importance of the placing of early orders by would-be purchasers who desire to have deliveries next spring ; (2) the value of motor services in connection with inter-works transport and the opportunity to put goods on rail at towns where competitive rates offer ; and (3) the chief cause of the coming irresistible demand for motorvans.
Traffic Reform, The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has accepted the gift of the Royal Automobile Club, of 500 reflex lights, for attachment to the police cycles used throughout the Metropolitan area.
The Commercial Motor Users Association is now issuing widely notices mounted upon cardboard, 'one of which notices is reproduced herewith, in furtherance of its campaign to bring about the driving of slow-moving vehicles near to the left kerb at all practical times. Copies of these notices may be obtained from the Secretary of the Association, 89, Pall Mall, S.W., on payment of 6d. each to cover the cost of packing and postage. The measurements are 2t in. by 17 in. The Westminster City Council, it should be noted, has given sanction for the erection of four " Drive near left kerb " lamp-post plates upon four of the lamp standards on island refuges in Knightsbridge.
A Sussex centre of the Roads Improvement Association has been established at Brighton. The Association is also moving, in conjunction with the Urban District Councils Association, to secure powers to enable urban district councils always to repair roads, after the surfaces have been opened up by water or lighting companies, at a reasonable scale of charges, in order to safeguard users of the highway against results due to negligent or unskilled refilling of trenches, etc. The North British Rubber Co., Ltd., will shortly open new premises in Great Portland Street, W.
The Public Health Committee of the Willesden U.D.C. has decided to arrange for the ambulance drivers in the employ of the Council to be trained as motor drivers.
Albion% in London.
Maple and Co., Ltd., has placed a further repeat order for two 25-cwt. Albion vehicles, and this latest order brings up the total of vehicles with Albion chassis in the service of the house in question to 10.
Dummy Brakes.
At the Bolton police court, a short time ago, a Lancashire firm had to admit that it only fitted dummy brakes to the trailer, in apparent compliance with the law. This class of evasion certainly invites trouble.
Gazette.
At an extraordinary general meeting of the members of Auto Carriers, Ltd., held at 42a, Martell Road, West Norwood SE., a resolution was passed to the effect that, as the company had been taken over as a going concern by Auto-Carriers (1911), Ltd., the same should bc wound up voluntarily. Mr. H. E. Weller, 42a, Martell Road, West Norwood, S.E., was appointed liquidator.
Mine Locomotives.
In our description of the "New Century" petrol rail locomotive on pages 247 and 248 of last week's issue, the horse-power, by a printer's error, was given as 20, whereas it should have read 8-10 h.p., the number for the gauge of the rail unwittingly being used in relation to power. Then again, with reference to the speeds, it was stated that the machine is geared to give 01and six miles an hour. These should be 2i and six miles an hour.
More Liverpool Orders.
Fairrie and Co., Ltd,, of Liverpool, has taken delivery of a fourton " Cornrner Car," and this was driven down to Liverpool by Mr. Fairric, jun., who is engineer to the huge sugar refinery at Liverpool. This company now has both steam and petrol vehicles in service, and is causing Liverpool master carters " furiously to think." Liverpool is likely to be one of the cities which will suffer most, owing to its dilatoriness, which, it has to be admitted, has been largely occasioned by the non-success of road carrying by motor vehicles some nine years ago, by reason of inability to obtain prompt delivery of both steam and petrol vehicles during the next year or so. The considerable uneasiness of team-owners can no longer be effectually disguised by them, and
their restlessness under the prospects of motor purchases by present-day customers is undoubted.
Municipal Orders.
We understand that the Borough Surveyor of Swindon (Wilts.) is making inquiries about municipal motors for street-watering, dusting and general-haulage purposes, and that like inquiries are in hand by the Borough Surveyor of Lewisham.
"Stealing" Water.
An interesting case was heard before the Bradford stipendiary, on the 15th inst., when John Hesp, the driver of a steam wagon, was summoned for 'stealing several gallons of water, value at 3d., the property of the Bradford Corporation. A water inspector stated that he saw the defendant open a hydrant and take water for the vehicle. He held no permit from the Corporation, the cost of which was £1 lips. per annum.
Mr. S. Neumann, for the defence, contended that water could not be made a subject of larceny at common law, and called for the authority to the contrary. The stipendiary held that no authority was required to say that a commodity in the possession of a private person was the subject of larceny. Water once, taken out of the natural water-course, and placed in an artificial conduit or tank, was no longer common property.
The stipendiary ultimately stated that he was unwilling to hold that the man had committed any theft, and he dismissed the summons.
Another summons, against another driver, on information laid under Section 60 of the Public Health Act of 1875, was also dismissed, the stipendiary holding, after he had heard two solicitors and the Corporation inspector, that the defendant could not be convicted under that section.
Watching the Road Board's Policy.
Lora Montagu of Beaulieu, and not he alone, has given public expression to hopes that the Road Board will soon begin to make a move in the matter of by-pass roads, or at least by way of grant in aid of one such road, near London. Having regard to the enormous yield from the petrol and carriage taxes in respect of Londonowned vehicles of all classes, it is at least due to the tax-payers concerned that some improvement of direct benefit to the Metropolis should be undertaken soon. Apparently, the claims of Kingston and Brentford will be taken into account first of all, but the Board can probably do but little of use in this direction except by way of recouping interest and sinking fund, or a portion of those charges, in respect of a big loan or a big project. The Metropolis can certainly lay claim to an expenditure of not less than £125,000 a year at its gates. Lord Lucas, who replied in the House of Lords to a question by Lord Montagu, did not fail to point out that London would require "concentrated and persistent effort, and an enormous sum of money.' The capital sum, we repeat, must be raised by loan, and the annual allocation of the Road .Board applied to the service of the debt. So far, whatever may be said to the contrary by officials, we maintain that London has been neglected. and that motorbus and other commercial interests will shortly have the right to protest. in no half-hearted manner. When will Sir George Gibb and his colleagues definitely carry out their clear duty and do something for London—over and above the aggregate of particular votes to the home counties We do not expect to have to wait very much longer for news of a concrete plan of action, and one that will be acceptable.