Passing Comments
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APPLICANTS for Class B licences are finding their entrance into the haulage industry somewhat difficult. There was a butcher the other day who, in applying for such a licence, so that he might use the vehicle normally engaged in carrying his meat for general haulage, was asked by the Commissioner how he would view an inclination on the part of haulage contractors to open butchers' shops in his district. Upon his giving the expected answer, the Commissioner then said that in view of his attitude towards haulage contractors wishing to become butchers he thought he had better confine the use of his vehicles to the purposes of his own trade. DESPITE many efforts to produce a substitute for 1--"rubber for tyres, little progress has been achieved, so that one may be inclined to be sceptical of the chances of success of a new synthetic tyre that has recently made its appearance in America. Its sponsors make good claims for it, and the new product is said to possess all the qualities of rubber. The United States would undoubtedly welcome its success, as it is not a rubber-producing country, and, therefore, is largely dependent upon supplies from abroad—a perilous position in time of war when one remembers the part played by rubber in militarytransport arrangements. AN argument for the use of heater plugs in oil engines which one does not often hear put forward is that, besides aiding starting, they ensure, to some extent, that every cylinder will fire on the first compression. When not used there is a bigger chance of one or more cylinders not firing for one or more cycles after the engine has actually started, with a consequent harmful excess of fuel in the cylinder.
FUEL suppliers have been placed in an anomalous position as a result of the conflicting requirements of the Petroleum Conveyance Regulations and the Road and Rail Traffic Act. The former stipulates that a petroleum tanker shall not be left unattended, whereas the latter immure lays it down that a driver shall take his periods of rest away from the vehicle. The only solution appears to be to carry a mate to look after the vehicle while the driver is resting.
THE damaging effects of lubricating oil carrying solid impurities need no recapitulation, and although filters have, of recent years, reduced the risk of such contamination, it is not always realized that, whatever the conditions of working, there comes a time when the oil becomes too dirty to be efficient A lubrication expert recently stated that an analysis of the residues from used oils shows that they possess 90 per cent. solid matter, made up of 76 per cent. iron dust, 16 per cent. road dust, 6 per cent. white metal and 2 per cent. carbon. rONTRACT-CARRIAGE operators might well N-1 take steps to stabilize rates on the lines of the move recently made by the American music publishers to eradicate certain uneconomic practices that were undermining the business. The publishers signed an agreement undertaking to discontinue these practices and placed its administration in the hands of a man whose integrity was universally re
spected. He was given power, in cases of misdemeanour by any party to the agreement, to submit them to an arbitrator, who may impose heavy finest part of which would be awarded to the informer.
SOME interesting remarks were made recently by Mr. A. F. Nicholson, the Licensing Authority for the Western Area, during a sitting at Truro. He had noticed, he said, that the majority of objections arises through applicants stating that they require more than they really do, especially in respect of applications for Class B licences. Applicants often state that they want to go distances or work over areas much in excess of those over Which they have operated previously, and actually in excess of what they require. ' In connection with Class B licences, it is necessary, he remarked, to impose conditions, and nearly always the area of operation is restricted. If a man wants to be a general haulier and compete with those who earn their living entirely in this way, he must apply for a Class A licence. If he also uses the vehicle in connection with his on business, he should be prepared to accept such conditions as are imposed.