Opinions from Others.
Page 14
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The Editor invites correspondence an all subjects connected with the use of commercial motors. Letters should be on OM siege of the paper only, and type-written by preference. The right of abbreviation is reserved, and no responsibility for the views expressed is accepted. In the case of experiences, names of towns or localities may be with/tad.
Motors for Milk Traffic.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
(1,405] Sir,—We notice a letter from the secretaly of Leyland Motors, Ltd., on the apore suoject, in your issue of the 24th inst., which we tee! sure will be interesting to your readers, and with which we may say we practically entirely agree. We think there is no doubt that the carriage ot milk by motor vehicle will ultimately be the mode adopted by all up-to-date dairies and dairy farms in a large way of business, and will ultimately also be adopted by small concerns.
We may say that we have supplied motor vehicles, to carry milk in this district from farms lying between 20 and 30 miles outside of Glasgow, and the customer who is using these cars is finding it more satisfactory in every way and also a considerable saving over sending the milk by rail. If this can ba done by only a small user of two 'machines, we feel sure that larger concerns could obtain still-greater advantages, and we are always willing to put our entire experience at the disposal of anyone interested in this subject.— Yours faithfully,
HALLEY'S INDUSTRIAL MOTORS, LTD.,
GEO. H. HALLEY, Managing Director. Yoker, Glasgow.
The Lessons from the Strike.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1,406] Sir,—I think there are few conclusions that might with value be drawn from the recent strike conditions that you omitted in your able leading article in your last issue. Primarily must everyone agree, who knows anything about the subject at all, that the chaotic disturbance of transport means, from which we have just emerged, is almost certain to usher in a boom for the commercial-motor vehicle. My one fear on this point is that there will not be enough makers who will be ready. That there will be plenty who will jump at the chance to supply machines which for a time could masquerade as commercial vehicles, I have no doubt, but that the producers of such utility vehicles that could actually do their legitimate share towards increasing the industry generally, will be able to meet the demand, I gravely doubt.
One point, perhaps, has not been emphasized by yourself or by other writers on the subject, and that is, that with the minimum of structural alteration the average commercial-motor vehicle can readily be made picket-proof. In view of the extent to which peaceful picketing (with brickbats and other striking impedimenta) has been carried to date, the facility with which a three-ton lorry, for instance, can be converted to resist attacks which would readily put out of action
anything in the way of horseflesh, should be worthy of careful attention. Chain cases and a suitable guard for the radiator, as well as some protection for the driver, should render it possible for a strongly-built commercial vehicle of any of the standard patterns to forge through the most riotous of strike crowds. During the recent period of stress, I have, on several occasions, been struck with the extraordinary ease with which a horse-van could be turned by any single determined striker. The horses, to commence with, are as a rule perturbed by the unusual condition of the streets.—Yours faithfully,
A. L. ARMSTEAD.
Barnes.
Au editorial at the commencement of this issue deals at length with soine aspects of the ideas which our corms ondent embodies in the first part of his letter. The other point with regard to the comparative in
• .tilnerability of commercial.motor vehicles is, of course, a good one, and was aptly illustrated by the employment by the Liverpool police of a protectert Hanford wagon for patrol duty during the disturbed period. This machine was illustrated in our Last issue.—Lv.I
Are Motor Chars-a-Bancs Driven Too Fast ?
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1,407] Sir,—As you have shown a willingness to ventilate all manner of subjects for the development of utility motoring, and on 3rd August invited correspondence on public-service motors, may I briefly draw attention to a phase of passenger-carrying of great importance? I do not desire to be considered an alarmist, but I do want to check any weakness before it grows annoying. Having been in scores of towns and villages as far north as Inverness latterly, I have used and conversed about motor chars-ii-bancs considerably, and have no hesitation in asserting that a great many of these vehicles are driven too fast. The ions et origo of these public services is in the word pleasure. The majority of the public is not the least interested in h.p., m.p.h., r.a.w., r.p.m., or other technical details : the one concern is to secure greater comfort and joy than lag behind the dawdling old horse, which was considered "picturesque," but was absolutely punished on the hill-slopes.
Sensations of great draught, around the head and the feet, are disagreeable--and avoidable, too : the first, by a less speed ; the second, by the use of closed-in bodies. If owners can wean the elderly people from their prejudice against motor chars-aba,ncs, all the rising generation will become enthusiastic about these also. Ergo, the trade will grow.
Why, for example, should one be unduly hurried from the lower 3falverns to the Malverns that are higher up on that lovely hillside ? Again, do Lancashire owners think that the one aim of patrons is to just "rush there and back ? " Or, why should visitors to Edinburgh be driven hurly-burly to the Forth Bridge and back 7 In these and other cases, a gentle average pace would magnify the pleasure of passengers, and lead to greater use.
Reference has been made to various Welsh tour
ing services recently. Having considerable knowledge of these, I would say that they have brought a new charm to the visitor ; they have done as much as the railway posters to popularize the Principality, and, as long as 100 miles (and more) per day can be covered at a nice pace, the railway people, would feel no need to extend their "facilities." But, if hustling were introduced, the services would be adversely affected in popular estimation.
Let us not make a mistake by too great a sneed. Safe, comfortable transit is the wiser policy.—Yours
faithfully, "RED ROSE."