Notes From Northern Ireland.
Page 56
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By Ulsterman.
Commercial Motors at the LA. Show.
JjOW the mechanization of agriculture is being effected on the transport side as well as upon the producing side was strikingly demonstrated at the Royal Agricultural Show, held at Balmoral, a suburb of Belfast. It is a tradition in Ulster that the farmers are always "crying out" for something in the way of weather: for rain if it be fine; for fine weather if it be raining. Some farmers have been known to "cry out" for tariffs, for subsidies, for relief from rates and for many other novelties. Without questioning the justifiable nature of these cries, or "slogans," one observes that the farmers of Ulster are now "crying out" for mechanical means by which they may lighten their heavy labours and add weight to their light purses. In response to this cry, the Belfast agents for the best kinds of commercial transport vehicles and of petrol-driven agricultural
implements staged a fine exhibition at Balmoral. The weather was very fine, but it was generally felt that the exhibition was even finer.
Leading Exhibits.
The stands of the following Belfast exhibitors were centres of much interest: Arthur Stringer (Maudslay), .A.lister Kirk (Leyland), W. F. Poole (Vulcan and Karrier), Spencer and Johnstone (Ford vehicles), T. J. Russell (Graham Bros. trucks), J. E. Coulter (Ford trucks, e(c.), McMullen Bros. (Mex products), Service Motor Works (Associated Daimler), Charles Hurst (Dennis and Overland), John Hill (Reo), Clarence Engineering Co. (Chevrolet), Miskelly and Nevin (Gifford), Harkness (coachwork).
Street Stand Rentals for Buses.
At the Home Office inquiry into the Bangor Borough Council's proposal for the infliction of rents upon bus owners for the use of stands upon the public streets—the first such levy attempted in Ulster—Mr. E. S. Murphy, K.C., appearing for the Ulster Motor Coach Owners' Association, knocked the bottom out of so preposterous a proposal. The result of the inquiry has not yet been announced.
Ulster's Road Expenditure.
Speaking in the Ulster House of Commons, the Minister for Home Affairs said that the total estimated expenditure for the year on roads was: Class 1 roads, £665,427; class 2 roads, £266,734; class 3 roads, £391,002—making a total of 11,323,163. The total Road Fund grants for the year amounted to £587,128. Of that sum £2,124 was in respect of the salaries paid to county surveyors ; 142,881 was the total amount paid to road authorities for the maintenance of roads and bridges, and the remainder was in respect of road works.
That Fourpence.
Owing to the rightly named " imposition " of 4d. per gallon upon petrol, the bus companies of Northern Ireland have had to increase their charges in proportion to the new levy. Speaking upon the ultimate destination of the 4d., the UtAter Finance Minister stated that a small departmental committee will be appointed to investigate this problem in all its bearings.
Powers to Bar Commercial Motors.
The new Roads Bill, by which county councils are given arbitrary powers to close certain roads against commercial vehicles, having passed its third reading in the Senate, owners of such vehicles will have to console themselves with the Home Minister's pledge that his department will refuse sanction to any unfair exercise of the county council's new Powers.
Tram Safeguarding.
The Belfast Corporation has decided to approach the Ministry of Home Affairs so as to secure some measure of safeguarding against the importation (from inside) of bus competition. One of the tram routes, which enjoys the privilege of running to and from a point outside the city boundary, is "feeling the draught" caused by a non-municipal bus service on that route. For this reason the Government is to be asked to " safeguard " the citizens against any rival form of transport which they may prefer to patronize.