The Wheels of Industry.
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The wheel of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it runs."--lohn Beattie Crozier.
Supply of Flexible Gas-holders.
• We are pleased to learn that Messrs. Andrew Barton Bros., 'of Beeston, Notts., have been able to make arrangements under which they can greatly augment the output of flexible gas-holders.' The accompanying illustration shows one of the company's holders in. course of being tested for tightness of the seams. 1Nbilst the method may appear a rough-and-ready one, it may be recalled that these containers work only at atmospheric pressure, so that any imposed weight in .ex(Jess of, say, 2 cwt., should quickly cause partial deflation to become apparent in the event of leakage in. the holder.
Wages for Drivers-of Petrol Vehicles. , • Sir George Askwith, Chief Industrial Commissioner of the Board of Trade, has made an award: oonfined
• to the Metropolitan area, in respeet of minimum wages for drivers of • commercial petrol-driven vehicles.
• For a minimum week of 72 hours, divided between six days, the minimum wage is to be 30s. for commercial motors up to 25 cwt. unladen 'weight, rising to 50a. for commercial motors over 2 tons unladen weight. After a week of 72 hours, overtime is to be paid at rates varying from 6d. to 9d. per hour, according, to the weight of the vehicle. The other terms, where applicable, are generally similar to those for steam-driven vehicles.
Harriers at Nottingham.
The illustrations on page 392, which are from photographs that were taken recently at Nottingham, show subsidy-type Karrier vehicles the service of local owners--Mr. Edwin Chester, of 62 Wilford Grove, and Mr. L. Nolan_, of Huntingdon Street. Both 'these users are furniture and general removers, and each carries on a large business.
Mr. Edwin Chester, who has several premises in Nottingham, writing about his four-ton Karrier,
• purchased in October, 1915 (to Clayton and Co. (Huddersfield) Ltd.), gives the following valuable testimony as a user :— 1 am pleased to inform you that this lorry has run over 13,000 miles, and is still running well. It climbs hills with ease, and is a pleasure to drive. I can honestly say with every confidence that you can well adopt the motto of the famous Scots Greys NsUi (second to none). This is the second Karrier I have bought from you, and both first and last have given me every satisfaction." The Petroleum Pool Board.
The Pool Board, Petroleum Supplies, care of the Ministry of Munitions, 8, Northumberland Avenue, 2, now has a new chairman. Sir Walter Egerton, K.C.M,G., has been appointed in place of Mr. E. Houghton Fry.
Sir Walter Egerton-was formerly High Commissioner of Nigeria and Governor of Lagos.
British Election Traction.
• Mr. Emile Gareke, M.I.E.E., chairman of the British Electric Traction, Ltd., presided at the 21st general meeting of the shareholders, at the Holborn Restaurant, last week. He commented upon ninny of the abnormal conditions due to the war, both as regards increased receipts and increased expenses. He pointed out thatprices generally, with the remarkable exception of tramway fares [And, we might add, bus fares.—En.] hd practically doubled since the beginning of the war, and they were still , rising. The company had made a net pro•fit of practically £200,000, compared with X209,000 for the previous year. • After placin,g 215,000 to reserve, raising it to .E425,000, paying 6 per cent: on the preference stock and 3 per cent. on the ordinary stock, as for the previous year, they were carrying forward .t97,598, compared with 286,428.
Mr. G'areke made the following interesting and well-informed references to motor omnibuses andtaxation. In the case of motor omnibuses, this young business had not
received from the Government the recognition which it deserved, and every day the owners of omnibuses were finding it more and more difficult to satisfy the requirements of local and road authorities. There were two points which required settiement. The first.was the question of licensing vehicles. To-day almost every borough and urban authority was empowered to make its own requirements. Omnibus _ services traversing routes from 30 to 40 miles in length might be subject to the licensing conditions imposed by 10 or 12 different local authorities, The second point was the contribution required from omnibus owners towards the maintenance of the roads: Before the war, the Government recognised that money would have to be spent on improving the roads, and a tax was placed on petrol, the proceeds of which .were. to be used for the improvement of the roads, under the direction of the Road Board. Since the war commenced the pro: eeeds of this tax had been diverted into the Imperial Exchequer, with the result that the road authorities were all endeavouring in their own way to obtain contributions from those who were working omnibuses. In view of the fact that an omnibus in regular service contributed in the form of petrol tax 250 to 160 per annum, it did not seem reasonable that because the Government had appropriated the tax for national purposes, the owners of omnibuses should be required by local authorities to contribute a second time. Proceedings of Local Authorities.
The Walsall Corporation is to purchase another motorbus.
The Leyton U.D.C. has an air raid committee which proposes to purchase a motor ambulance.
The West Ham Corporation is prepared to receive tenders for the supply of two motor ambulances for general accident and medical transport work. Further information can be obtained from the Medical Officer of Health, Town Hall, Stratford. Tenders have to be delivered on or before the 17111 July.
" The Brighton Watch Committee have approved the suggestion of Tillings Ltd., for the revision of motorbus fares working out at a uniform rate of one penny per mile. The Chief Constable in reporting the increase, which has been brought about by petrol difficulties, expresses the opinion that it is fair and moderate. The Brixworth Parish Council is desirous of purchasing a secondhand motor fire-engine.
Foots Cray U.D.C. is considering the advisability of providing a motor vehicle for Ecavenging purposes.
' The Halifax Tramways Engineer has been instructed to• equip a motorbus to run on coal-gas at an estimated cost of £76.
' The Electricity Committee of the Salford T.C. has accepted the tender of Fodens, Ltd., at £795 for the supply of a 4t,-5-ton. steamwagon.
A deputation from Wainstalls and Mount Tabor waited on the Halifax Corporation Tramways Committee with respect to the proposed stoppage of the motorbus service to Wamstall. As the engineer reported that he had secured a permit for petrol it was agreed that the ordinary service should be run to Waiastalls and that there should be a half-day service to Siddal. The Sheffield Corporation Tramway.s .ha s purchased a second-hand Daimler motorbus for 2450, and the general manager has been authorized to make another similar purchase.
Essex C.C. has authorized an expenditure of 21000 for the.purchase of steam wagons, and the Highways Committee reports that it has purChased two second-hand steam wagons, one an A_veling and Porter for -X400, and a five-ton Clayton and Shuttle worth from the Midland Rolling and Haulage Co., Birming-, ham, for the sum of £440.
The Bath Corporation invited five firms to submit tenders for the supply of a second motor fire-engine
• but only received two quotations, one of which was not in accordance with specification. The Watch Committee has asked the Corporaton to decide whether the tender of Merryweather and Sons, at 21345 shOuld be accepted provided that they can give a guarantee as to date of deliVery