News of Municipal Activities
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REPLACEMENT OF MANY LIVERPOOL BUSES PROPOSED.
In his report on the reorganization of Liverpool's passenger-transport undertaking, Mr. W. G. Marks, the general manager, recommends, The Commercial Motor understands, the replacement of a large proportion of the bus fleet. The fleet now comprises 147 vehicles, ranging in age from two to nine years, and Mr. Marks states that the fleet could safely be reduced to 122 modern vehicles.
Sixty-seven vehicles, he suggests, should be replaced immediately by 42 oil-engined, double-deck buses. A number of cases where trolley-buses, or petrol or oil-engined buses, can be used as feeders to tramway services should, he says, be considered, and due regard should be given to the possibilities of bus services between Liverpool and the Wirral peninsula.
Minister Seeks Municipal Help to Reduce Accidents.
The Minister of Transport recently sent a letter to town clerks of Metropolitan borough councils, county borough councils, and municipal borough councils in the Metropolitan police district, seeking their co-operation in his campaign to reduce road accidents in the London area. The letter was sent out over the signature of Sir Cyril Hurcomb, the secretary of the Ministry.
A New Ribble Bridge.
A modern structure capable of carrying heavy traffic is to be built in place of Grindleton Bridge, which crosses the River Ribble about three miles from Clitheroe. For some years this route has been banned to vehicles of over 30 cwt. The cost is being borne jointly by Lancashire and West Riding councils.
Kent Reduces Transport Costs.
In the section dealing with road transport, Kent County Council supplies committee states in its report for 1933-34 that, during the year, the tonnage carried exceeded that of the previous year by 21 per cent.
Comparative figures show that for the year ended March 31, 1934, the cost of the council's own transport amounted to 21,178, and for hired transport £238, making a total of £1,416. Corresponding figures for the previous year were as follow :—own transport £971, and hired transport 2484, making a total of £1,455.
The estimated aggregate tonnage carried during the 12 months ended March 31, 1934, was 1,515 at 18s: 8d. per ton, and for the corresponding period a year earlier 1,243 at 23s, 4d. per ton.
The delivery of goods from the central warehouse to schools and institutions by the council's own lorries B24 has proved satisfactory, and the transfer of furniture and other goods from one school or institution to another is usually done on return journeys.
The vehicles now engaged in transport from the warehouse are a Bedford 2-ton van, a Vulcan 30-cwt. van, a Morris 10-cwt. van and a box carrier.
Glasgow to Build Bus Bodies?
After considerable opposition, Glasgow Corporation has decided to seek powers to manufacture bus bodies.
British Buses for Pretoria.
Pretoria City Council is buying 10 Leyland single-decker oil-engined bus chassis and six double-decker oilengined chassis, all with MetropolitanCammell-Weymann all-metal bodies. DOUGLAS REFUSE -COLLECTION SYSTEM TO BE MODERNIZED.
Douglas (I.O.M.) Corporation has decided to modernize its refuse-collection system. The health committee is to proceed with a system which is a combination of horsed collection and mechanical transport from the collecting round to the tip. The containers that it is proposed to buy are approximately double the capacity of the present type, holding about 54 cubic yds.
The whole of the collection will be worked to a schedule, a specified time being given for the tractor to take its load to the tip and bring back the empty wagon. Each collecting container will also be required to be at fixed points and at specified times, permitting more efficient supervision. MOTORS SAVE £71,000 A YEAR.
In the annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for Manchester, it is stated that public cleansing necessitates the transport of 250,000 tons of refuse per annum, 80 motor sweepers, refuse collectors, tipping lorries, etc., being employed.
The cleansing department is gradually mechanizing its transport, a policy which has saved an average of £71,000 a year during 1927-1931.
Seven ambulances are maintained for the removal of infectious-disease cases. The mileage covered in removing 4,867 patients to hospital was 62,658. Two vans were used for the transport of infected bedding, clothing, etc., and during the year 41,098 articles were removed, 25,137 miles being covered. vaaancy caused by the resignation of Sir A. Steven Bilsland, Bt. Mr. Hughes is deputy chairman of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, Transport Committee, and vice-chairman of the London Chamber of Commerce, Transport Section.
At a meeting of the London County Council on Tuesday, November 6, Mr. F. Dewhurst, A.M.I.M.E., A.M.I.A.E., was selected out of '456 applicants for the post of senior (technical) mechanical engineer to the London Fire Brigade. Mr. Dewhurst has had a varied career in the industry. He was for nine years chief assistant engineer to Bentley Motors, Ltd., then • a member of the engineering staff of the Regent Street Polytechnic, chief engineer to Flexion Extensions, Ltd., and chief designer to the E.N.V. Engineering Co., Ltd.
We publish on this page a portrait of Mr. A. Drysdale Wilson, M.I.A.E., who has recently joined Morris Commercial Cars, Ltd., as one of a staff of specialist fleet-owner representatives. The function of this staff is to maintain a close liaison with fleet owners, as the result of which advice on various legislative and operating problems is readily available. Mr. Wilson has had wide experience in the commercialvehicle industry and has been associated, in various capacities, with the Wolseley, Daimler, Karrier and other concerns.
Messrs. C. Morton Lomax, chairman and managing director, and J. E. Fortescue, a director, of Chrysler Motors, Ltd., and Dodge Brothers (Britain), Ltd., C. C. Turpin, a director of Auto Sales Co., Ltd„ and P. Grimshaw, a director of William Grimshaw and Sons, sailed on the s.s. " Europa " from Southampton on November 22 for New York and Detroit, where they will confer with the executives of the Chrysler Export Corporation regarding business possibilities in 1935 and, in particular, to arrange to introduce a further British content in the Chrysler and Dodge models marketed in this country by the British companies.
Mr. C. S. Goad, who has been on the staff of the Traffic Commissioners for the Eastern Traffic Area since their offices were opened in Cambridge in January, 1931, has now taken up an appointment as assistpat district officer at West Hartlepool, under the Unemployment Assistance Board. Mr. Goad is well known to a large number of road-transport operators throughout East Anglia. His departure on Saturday last teas the occasion of a presentation by Sir Haviland Hiley, on behalf of the members of the Traffic Commissioners' staff. He paid a warm tribute to the services rendered by Mr. Goad, who, he said, had been his valued assistant during four strenuous years.