The I. A E. Summer Tour
Page 51
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A LL who participated in the annual SWilMer visit of the t-I,Institution of Automobile Engineers, in which, this year, a large party from La Societe des Ingenieurs de l'Automobile joined, agree that it was a great success, and the secretary, Mr. Brian G. Robbins, is to be congratulated upon the smoothness with which the arrangements were carried out.
The Coventry party visited the works of Alfred Herbert, Ltd., and then divided for Humber, Ltd., or the Daimler Co., Ltd. The Birmingham party went to the Austin works, and all rejoined at the Welcombe Hotel, Stratfordon-Avon, for the banquet. The following day visits were paid to Morris Motors, Ltd., Cowley, and then an option was given of inspecting the works of the MG. Co. at Abingdon, or of the Pressed Steel Co., Ltd., Cowley.
In London the party in
Mr. R. Pentony, of Cam Gears, spected the Science Museum, Ltd., Luton, which manufactures the Bishop patent steering equipment.
were guests at an aero garden party at Broolelands, where there was an excellent display, of flying and a parachute descent, and visited the Aeronautical Training College and the workshops of Sir Malcolm Campbell.
At the banquet, M. Maurice Goudard (President, S.I.A.) alluded to the vital importance of the motor industry in time of war. It gave quick transport, and was in the best position for the mass production of munitions. In France there was a struggle between the railway and the road, hut the road would win. In 1945 the great novelty would be to fit railcars with big tyres and return them to the roads.
Mr. L. H. Pomeroy, President of the I.A.E., made a strong criticism of the railways. He said that we now travel in exactly the same carriages as 25 years ago, with the same driver and pulled by the same loeomotive, the only differences,being that trains were a little slower and dirtier. He gave generous credit to the founder and first president of the Institution, Col. R. E. Crompton, who made this excellent move in 1906. As an appreciation of his work, Miss Hazel Crompton was to be presented with an oil painting of her father. He mentioned that his immediate successor as President would he his oldest friend, Mr. A. J. Hancock, and he concluded with the humorous remark that, although engineers do not make much money, they have a lot of fun.
• Mr. P. J. Hannon, M.P., said that closer co-operation and greater understanding were more important than ever in helping towards the peace of the world.
Referring to the House of Commons, he said that, wicked as are the Members, they are cognizant of the interest of the motorist and are prepared to help him, subject to the rights of other users.
Of the £.60,000,000 spent annually on the roads, he continued, motor users paid £40,000,000, whilst in the recent
Major-General S. C. Peck, Mr. J. W. Mills (Sunbeam), Mr. P. C. Kidner, Mrs. L. 1-1. Hounsfield, Mr. L H. Hounsfield.
A.R.C.S., A.M.I.C.E.
Budget, £21,000,000 was handed over to the Chancellor for public finances—and this from taxation which was originally imposed for road maintenaece.
Sir Herbert Austin, K.B.E. (President. S.M.M. and T.) referred to the fundamental knowledge which we owe to Trance. Not only had the motor industry stimulated national confidence, but it had brought new industries and life to others which were dying. It had helped particularly the machine-tool trade, and the proportion of British machine tools
Mr. A. J. Hancock (Hartwells, was growing rapidly.
The Government will,