The Wheels of Industry.
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This journal, dealing as it does with the "Chariots of War," no less than with the "Wheels of Industry," continues of national importance. Its interests embrace impartially the transport wagon and the parcelcar, the military tractor and the steam lorry.
The A.S.C., M.T., Fund, Particulars are given of the progress to Saturday last (page 461). We hope to see 210,000 in cash receipts by about the 31st prox.
Smoking Concert at Blackburn.
Members of the North and East Lancashire C.M.U.A., and their friends, will hold a smoking concert, at the White Buil-Hotel, Blackburn, on Saturday next, the 5th inst., commencing at seven o'clock. Particulars can be obtained from the secretary of the Association, Mr. J. H. Ward, 41, Fishergate, Preston. The meeting will be addressed, in. the course of the evening, by the Editor of TITE COMMERCIAL MOTOR and the Secretary of the Commercial Motor Users Association, on subjects of topical and prospective interest.
Proposals and Purchases by Local Authorities.
Stourlaridge U.D.C. has received its Dennis motor fire-engine.
The Stockport Corporation has ordered a Yorkshire steam wagon, at £695.
The Lichfield City Council has deferred action in the matter of purchasing a motor 'fire-engine.
The Plymouth Corporation is about to consider the purchase of a motor water-cart and a motor Sweeper.
Heckmondwike U.D.C. has resolved to ask various millowners and occupiers of business premises within its area, to subscribe towards the purchase of a motor fireengine.
The County Councils Association, at the last meeting of its executive committee, resolved to press the Right Hon. Walter H. Long, M.P., President of the Local Government Board,, to appoint the promised Select Committee of both Houses of Parliament, to consider the question of contributions by owners of motorbuses and other owners of heavy motor vehicles towards the upkeep of roads along which the vehicles are run.
Mr. H. S. Ellis, M.I.E.E., Mech.E., Borough Electrical Engineer of South Shields, asks us to state that his committee has no intention to hire out any batteryequipped vehicles, either to ratepayers in the district, or to other departments of the South Shields Borough Council. There has been considerable confusion about the decision of South Shields in this. !natter, both in the local Press and the technical journals.
B36 Motorbus Drivers.
We have been in correspondence with Sir Jesse Herbert, Hon. Secretary of the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, with respect to the unhappy manner in which motorbus drivers and proprietors have "fallen, between two stools." We have pointed out that motorbus drivers are not exempt under the reservation of " Public utility services," and that they also escape exemption in the category of " Lorrymen, draymen and carters (horse or power)." This discrepancy is one which we have examined at some length in our pages during the past few weeks.
We have pointed out to the Parliamentary Recruiting Committee that motorbus drivers, apart from London drivers, who are exempt by reason of a contract which exists between the L.G.O.C. and the Government in respect of transport in certain eventualities, are frequently employed in conveying munition workers, and almost invariably in rendering useful public
service as part of the transport of the country. Sir Jesse Herbert has given us an assurance in writing that this matter is receiving immediate consideration, and that an early decision—and we have reason to hope a favourable one--will shortly be published.
New Fitting Depot for ChalIiner Tires in Sheffield and District.
Users of commercial vehicles in Sheffield and district will be pleased to know that the Shrewsbury and Challiner Tyre Co., Ltd., has entered into an arrangement with Jos. Layeock, Ltd., 2, Allen Street, Sheffield, for the fitting of Shrewsbury and Challiner solid band tires. Suitable stocks of these tires Will be kept on the premises, and every facility provided to ensure expedition§ fitting and renewals.
The Manchester, Liverpool, and Counties C.M.U.-A.
The annual meeting of the Manchester, Liverpool, and Counties C.M.U.A. took place on Monday last, at the Midland. Grand Hotel,
Manchester. The report of the committee, with which, as well as the proceedings, we hope 'to deal further next week, recorded a considerable increase of membership, a further development of the local organization of legal defence, the provision of " water fountains" for steam wagons, co-operation with the incorporated C.M.U.A. re the L.G.B. inquiry, steps to secure better facilities on the LiverpoolBirkenhead ferries, conferences with the Lancashire County Council as to the avoidance of weak roads, and other points of current concern to users. Mr. Ellis Green, Cromwell Buildings, Blackfriars, Manchester, is the secretary. We learn, from the MeCurd Lorry Manufacturing Co. that it took orders for seven chassis, all repeats, last week—a very satisfactory series of bookings.
Gazette.
The following joint-stock companies have been struck of the register, and the companies dissolved Arbenz Commercial Vehicles, Ltd. ; Ardwick Motor Co., Ltd. ; Martin Pneumatic Motor Wheel, Ltd. ; Maximum Magneto Co., Ltd. ; Premier Speedometers, Ltd. ; Taxi Supplies, Ltd. It must be borne in mind that some of the above notices may refer to companies in course of reconstruction.
Recent Registrations.
Southern Coaching Co. (Ireland), Ltd. (.25,000), with its office at 28, South Frederick Street, Dublin. Deliveries, Ltd. (25000), by Jordon and Sons, Ltd., 116-117, Chancery Lane, W.C., to carry and distribute newspapers, etc., and to adopt an agreement with John Heywood, Ltd., Manchester. Ferris and Co. (Belfast), Ltd. (15000), with its office at 61, Waring Street, Belfast, to acquire a general carriers business.
Inst. A.E.
The next meeting of the Institution of Automobile Engineers will be held on Wednesday, the 9th inst., at the Royal Society of Arts, John Street, Adelphi, W.C., at 8 o'clock. Mr. W. D. Williamson will read a paper entitled "Petrol Engines for Commercial Vehicles." Cards of invitation can be obtained from the Secretary of the Institution, on written application in advance to 28, Victoria Street, S.W.
Mechanical Aids in Agriculture. The Farmers Club, at its last meeting, held in London on the 24th January, was occupied in hearing the reading of a paper on "Laboursaving Implements and Machinery " by Mr. W. J. Malden. The usual claims of agrimotors of various types were advanced in the course of the paper, at the conclusion of which a discussion took place. Mr. F. S. Courtney, the consulting engineer of the R.A.S.E.. spke hopefully of the prospects for British makers, and favoured grants from the Board of Agriculture for experiments. Sir Graham Bower said that he relied upon machinery to cheapen the production of corn, and that wa,s the best way to relieve corn farmers in England ; the small farmer would sooner or later be forced to use better tools. Mr. J. McLaren thought that after the war the cost of imported fuels would be very much heavier than it was at present. and urged British farmers to " stick to steam." Mr. J. Falconer held that steam was not
the thing for the land in all cases ; they must have direct ploughing very often, and he was convinced that internal-combustion engines were going to be of the utmost help to British farmers.
"Interesting" Companies.
The London Premier Omnibus Co., Ltd., and Greater Omnibus Services, Ltd., have not been filmg the necessary lists of members and summaries as to capital and shares: Fines aggregating £150 (in default three months) were imposed last week, at. Westminster, on a Mr. H. J. White, a director of both companies. Each company wasmulcted in a nominal fine of £5. It was stated, by counsel for the Board of Trade, that the controlling influence in both concerns was a syndicate called General Omnibus Supply, Ltd., of which Mr. H. J. Lawson was a director.
Effect of Reduced Lighting on London Street Accidents.
Mr. Herbert Samuel has given the following comparative official figures of fatal accidents in London :—
1915; 1919. 1915
Motorbuses ... 190 156 156 Electric tramcars 58 37 87 Motorcabs 30 61 66 Private motorcars . . 83 119 191 Motorcycles ... ... 13 23 28 Trade and commer cial motors ... 61 112 160 It will be noted that the increase of fatalities with electric tramcars has gone up by more than 130 per cent., for 1915 against 1914.
A.S.C., M.T., Lorries to Relieve Cong •stion.
Mr. Tennant, replying in the House of Commons before it rose to a question as to whether, having regard to the number of Army motor lorries in Various parts of the country, many of them appearing to be only partially used, help could be given with these vehicles to relieve railway congestion, said that the matter of giving some assistance was under consideration, but that any such services of motor lorries, if sanctioned, would not necessarily be undertaken by Army lorries, as these might be required for military work, at any time, at the shortest notice.
Joint-stock Companies in 1915.
We have received from Jordan and Sons, Ltd., of Chancery Lane, a neat summary of leading statistics for the year 1915. .. The capital of such companies amounted to 249,295,267, compared with £104,306,797 in 1914, and £146,752,553 in 1913. The popularity of private companies, during the year 1915, was as two to one against public companies. The principal registrations of interest are the following, the authorized capital being given in parentheses : Black Sea Amalgamated Oilfields, Ltd. (X500,000); British Tanker Co.,. Ltd. (.2100,000); New Brunswick Gas and Oilfields, Ltd. (X200,000); "Shell" .Marketing Co., Ltd. (X1,500,000); Trans-Continental Consolidated Oil Co., Ltd. 22,000,000); United British Refineries, Ltd. (X100,000).
The Grocer and the Van.
The following is taken from the editorial columns of a recent issue of "The Grocer." Although a little belated, we welcome this unhesitating pronouncement :— "We are bound to point out that, apart altogether from the use of motorcars as pleasure vehicles, the use of motorvans for commercial purposes is an absolute necessity in modern commerce, and particularly in war time. The great shortage of labour makes the delivery of goods on either a wholesale or retail basis extremely difficult. The employment of the motor vehicle is therefore becoming increasingly necessary in order that the public demand may be met and a prompt supply of goods maintained."
Lord Mayor of London's "After the War" Meeting.
Sir C. Cheers Wakefield, Lord Mayor of London, presidedon IV.ionday afternoon last, at the Guildhall, over a largely-attended and representative meeting of delegates of Municipalities. Chambers of Commerce,and Trade Associations. The principal resolutions, after recording the fixed intention of all present to fight the war to a victorious conclusion, urged the appointment of a Ministry of Commerce to improve by systematic and scientific methods the organzation of our Empire's tariffs, proper Consular services of commercial value, and schemes for increasing production so as to enable all labour offering to be Continuously employed. The Editor of THE COMMEHC1AL was amongst those who attended by invitation. The C.M.U. A. was represented by Mr. F. G. Bristow.
:steel Specifications to Combat Shortage.
With a view to ameliorating, so far as possible, the conditions of the steel market, the Society of Automobile Engineers of America is revising its standard specifications for steels so as to allow of a greater percentage of sulphur being present. At the moment the maximum quantity allowed in carbon steels is equal to one-twentieth of one per cent, Experiments conducted by a member of the Carnegie Steel Co.'s staff go to provr; that a considerable increase of this element may be allowed without depreciating, to any marked extent, the qualities of the material either as regards its strength or capability for improvement by heat treatment.
As such a variation in the specification will increase very considerably. the 'available quantity of suitable steels, it is worthy of very careful consideration.•
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