Correspondence.
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Another Rover Motorcab Challenge.
The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :—I beg to send you a copy of a letter we have sent to Messrs. Argylls, Ltd., London, and shall be pleased if you can find space for it in your columns.--Yours faithfully, THE R.M.C. SYNDICATE, LTD.
(CoPY.)
Dear Sirs—We notice that on Monday of last week, you carried out a petrol consumption test under the auspices of the R.A.C. with one of your 12-16h,p. Argyll cabs, running it for some distance through London traffic. As you know, we are the sole dealers in the 12h.p. Rover motorcab, and we should like very much to arrange a competition between our Rover tzh.p. cab and your Argyll, izh.p. cab. The run to take place in London traffic and any distance vou like to mention, not less than 5o miles to be covered. The winning cab to be the one which consumes the least amount of petrol during the run and changes gear least frequently.—Yours faithfully,
THE R.M.C. SYNDICATE, LTD.
The MAnchester Show.
The Editor, "THE COMMERCIAL. MOTOR."
Sir :—I am surprised to learn from your issue of the 31st ultimo, that the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has decided to have the Manchester Show in St. James's Hall. It is evident from this choice that the needs of the commercial vehicle are either unknown or ignored„ to meet the interests of the pleasure car.
If the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders was called the Society of Motorcar M. and T. 's this choice would be fair and logical, but, if it now claims to embrace the interests of the manufacturers of all vehicles which run under the Motor Car Act, then the choice of a building unable to accommodate the heavier commercial vehicles will necessitate a separate show to receive them and the " two show " trouble will occur.—Yours faithfully,
Manchester. I). H. SIMPSON.
"The Commercial Motor" Prize Scheme For Good Driving.
The Editor, " THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR."
Sir :—I have pleasure in handing to you, for publication, a copy of the schedule and covering letter in 'reference to " 'THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR prize scheme for good driv:ng," which documents are being _issued to London and district members of this Association to-day,-Yours faithfully, W. REES JEFFREYS, Secretary, Commercial Motor Users' Associatien. 1, Albemarle Street, W., 6th November, 1907.
COPY OF COVERING LETTER.
Dear Sir i—Every owner of commercial motor vehicles recognises that it is of the greatest importance, not only to secure efficient drivers, but that they should be encouraged to devote to their work all pessible care and skill.
" There is no doubt that it is the encouragement to team_ sters and iorrymen in the care of their horses, in Liverpool, Manchester, and elsewhere, by the annual May-day pro
cession and prizes, that results in the splendid way in which those men look after and turn out their horses through the rest of the year. Now, a horse must be kept up to the mark throughout the year, or it cannot be made to show up well on one particular day. If a horse is thus kept up to the mark and treated well, in order to win a prize, the owner as well as the horse reaps the benefit. In the same way, the owners of motor vehicles, as well as the vehicles themselves, will benefit if motor-wagon drivers can be induced to take a pride in the condition and economical working of their wagons and tractors.
" With this object in view, it is proposed to encourage, by small money rewards, drivers of steam lorries and tractors, both to keep their machines in the best possible condition, and to run them without accident.
" The enclosed scheme of prizes offered by 'THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR 'is drawn up on simple lines, with the above object in view, and the committee has approved it, tentatively, for application to drivers who work in or into the London area (a radius of 20 miles from Charing Cross), as a commencement, and with a present limitation to steam lorries and tractors.
"The proprietors of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR have placed the sum of ,zip at the disposal of the Association, for the award of—
a first prize of Ls; three prizes of Liz each; and nine prizes of Li each; at the discretion of the judges who may be appointed, and the preliminary elimination will be made after consideration of the contents of the enclosed schedule.
"The Chairman of the Association, Col. R. E. Crompton, Ca, has also promised to add a special'' Chairman's Prize,' for award to the driver who may have performed the best act of adroitness in avoiding an accident.
" Your co-operation is invited, and I trust you will allow the 'desired publicity to be given to the scheme, forthwith, amongst your drivers. A further supply of the forms headed ' Schedule of particulars ' will be forwarded on application."
COPY OE SCHEDULE* FOR COMPLETION BY OWNERS.
(a) Make of lorry or tractor, (b) Date of delivery.
(c) Name and address of present driver.
(d) The age of driver.
(e) For howlong has this man driven the machine?
(f) Has he been in continuous charge during that period? (g) Average length of trip.
(h) Approximate total mileage per month. (i) Approximate total mileage that the machine has travelled to the 31st October, 1907.
(j) Does the motor follow approximately the same route every day? (k) Are special watering facilities provided, Cr does the driver water where he can?
(1) Class of load.
_(In) Approximate number of calls per day in delivery the load.
(n) Number of summonses (if any) for year ended 31st October, ,1907. (a) Cause for above summonses (if any). (p) Results before magistrates.
(q) Number of accidents on the road, other than trivial ones.
(r) Number of days motor has been, laid up through fault of driver.
(s) Is the driver responsible for keeping the machine clean, and, if so, in what condition does he habitually keep it? (t) Will this man, if called upon by the Association, be prepared to attend at this office, or other place in London, on any one evening about the end of November, for the purpose of answering any questions that may he put to him as to his knowledge of driving and of traffic conditions? (Note.—The examining committee would also take note of any act of adroitness for which Col. Crompton's prize might be claimed.) (u) Are you agreeable to allow your driver to muster with his motor, for two hours, on Saturday afternoon, the x4th December, for the final adjudication by the Association's judges? Owner's name Address Date Authorising signature
To W. REES JEFFREYS, ESQ.,
Secretary, Commercial Motor Users' Association,
I, Albemarle Street, W.