WHEELS OF INDUSTRY.
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The wheels Of wealth will be slowed by all difficulties of transport ett whatever Taints arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads otter which it runs,"—John Beattie Crozier.
A Sweeping Order Against Large Coaches.
The ban on heavy motor coach traffic ha ,s spread to Cumberland. As the result of the public inquiry held during July at Carlisle by the Ministry of Transport into an application by the Cumberland County Council to close a number of roads in their county' against all heavy motor traffic, the Ministry is making an Order, which will remain in operation for five years, by means of which a number of the most popUlar coach routes in the Lake District and other. favourite pleasure countrysides will be closed to 'the larger-capacity vehicles.
Whatever else may be the result, it appears more than likely that the effect of the Order will be an increase of -small and fast coaches by , the majority of owners operating tours to these districts. It must be remembered that not all proprietors from the Cumberland towns, but, owners from all parts of Lancashire, Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire, make frequent tours to the Lakes, and the Order will affect them equally as much as it will Cumberland owners. The only way in which it will be possible to maintain the trips to the Lakes on the lines of operation of the past will be substituting smaller vehicles for:the-larger.
The first portion of the Order states that no locomotive, heavy motorcar, er vehicle with seats for more than 14 persons, exclusive of the driver, will be permitted to be driven on a number of specified highways. These include highways in the rural districts of Cockermouth, Carlisle, Brampton, Penritb, Whitehaven, Alston and Bootle, and the urban areas of Hahne Cultram and Keswick, as well as a number in the Borough of Workington.
B20 Provision is also made for the closing of certain highways in the rural districts of Carlisle, Wigton, Bootle against any vehicles providing seating capacity for more than 20 passengers, exclusive of the driver.
Motor Taxation and the General Election.
United action is being taken by the following organizations to obtain pledges from all Parliamentary candidates on the subject of motor taxation reform —The Royal Automobile Club, the Royal Scottish Automobile Club, the Automobile Association and. Motor Union, the Auto-Cycle Union, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Ltd., the Scottish Motor Trade Association, the Motor Agents' Association, the Motor Trade Association, the Association of British Motor Manufacturers, the Insti tub e of British Carriage and Automobile Manufacturers, the British Cycle and Motor Cycle Manufacturers' and Traders' Union, Ltd.
The attention of the National Couneil of the Commercial Motor Users Association has been directed to the above action to influence candidates for Parliament in favour of reduced taxation upon nontrade motors. The National Council is of the opinion that any pledges so obtained can only be made good by increasing the burdens upon types of vehicles which serve the community rather than individual owners by carry. ing agricultural produce and trade commodities, i.e., commercial goods motors, and those which ply for public hire as stage carriages, carrying members of the public at separate fares, i.e., omnibuses. The National Council will urge this " other side" of the case upon ail:candidates, and will contend that any reduction must apply equally . to utility e h icl es .
Arterial Roads and _ Unemployment. •
A meeting was held at the Ministry of Transport on September 30th, under the presidency of Mr. C. IL Bressey, chief engineer of the Roads Department of the Ministry, to discuss the form and diman: sions of a new bridge over Barking Creek, for the construction of which the Essex County Council, with the support of the Ministry, are promoting a Bill in Parliament.
All the local authorities interested were represented, as well as the Port of London Authority and the Essex Sewer Commissioners.
With the concurrence and approval of the Port of London Authority, it is proposed that the new bridge should be of "fixed" type with a central span of 60 ft., the levels being so arranged as to give a clear head room for navigation of 1B ft. above the highest tides.
• This bridge is being built in connection with the East Ifam and Barking bypass, which may be described as the town end of the new London-Tilbury road, and is among the most. important of the Greater London arterial road projects in course of execution by the Ministry. As far as navvies and roadonakers are concerned, the 4 miles of this road across the Thames marshes from West Ham to Dagenham are practically complete, except for the bridging of the Barking Creek. The road works proper have absorbed large numbers of unemployed during this year and the last„and the bridge-building operations would similarly make a large contribution to the relief of unemployment. Meanwhile, it may be mentioned that work is in active progress on the London-Tilbury road improvement east of Dagenham. .
Heavy Motor Traffic in Ayrshire.
An inquiry was held in the County Buildings, Ayr, on October 30th, by Mr. S. Evans, F.B.I., one of the inspectors of the Ministry of Transport, concerning an application by the Ayr County Council for an Order prohibiting or restricting heavy motor traffic on 41 roads in the county.
The county clerk stated that the original application by the county council was for the restriction only of motorbus traffic, but that the Ministry of Transport thought it would not he right to limit the inquiry to one class of vehicular traffic, and on its -suggestion the county council widened the scope of its application. A very strong opposition to the proposal was made by the Scottish Commercial Motor Users Association and several individual traders.
The Association was chiefly concerned with the protection of its members who have been using these roads for many years for passenger services, which were of great importance to the work-people_ of the districts, and also for pleasure tours in the famous Burns country, and for farm and general haulage work. The commissioner will forward his report to the Minister of Transport.
Saving by Sentinel.
The borough surveyor of Tenby, in a report to his council, states that with a Sentinel steam wagon the municipal haulage for 47 weeks ended September 30th last has been carried out more efficiently and cheaper than by the former method—haulage by horse-drawn vehicles under contract.
In the period under review, nearly 1,374 fun loads have been carried at a cost of £541, ;after deducting income received for certain haelage of a private nature. The cost of horse and cart scavenging, it is reported, has amounted to and the steamer has given the additional advantage of having the work done at earlier and more convenient hours. A most successful year's haulage has been done by the steam vehicle. •
Birkenhead Bus Profits.
According to rough estimates, the profits (gross) on the Birkenhead Corporation motor omnibuses during the last 12 months have been about £12,000. The manager of the undertaking has h-ad under consideration the _question of reducing the motorbus fares, but as a halfpenny reduction would mean £3,000, very little balance would be left to work upon. The suggestion was made at the meeting of the town council held at the end of last month, that the corporation should purchase electric motorbuses.
Trailers on Passenger Vehicles,
Chesterfield Corporation has had an application from Mr. E. M. Machin for permission to draw a trailer behind his vehicle plying for hire between Chesterfield and Rakewell, The Licensing Committee of the corporation is in favour of granting the application if the applicant complies with the provisions of the Motor Cars (Use and ConstrUction) Order, 1904, and does not use the trailer for carrying passengers. The Watch Committee, it is understood, is against granting the request.
Inst. ofTransport Paper.
. The first ordinary meeting of the current session was held in the lecture theatre of the Institution of Electrical. Engineers, Victoria Embankment, W.C.2, at 5.30 p.m., on Monday,
November 6th, when a paper was read on " British Railway Operating Statistics and their Lessons,'' by Sir Aellliam M. Ackworth. (member of Council). The chair was occupied by the president, Sir Sam Fay.
Dennis Lorries Do Well. We reproduce on this page an illustration of two 4-4-ton Dennis lorries, which, with a 2-21-ton vehicle of the
same make, recently won for their employers—Messrs. Weldon and Wilkinson, of Nottingham—a handsome challenge cup given by Boot's Pure Drug Co., Ltd., at the East Midlands parade. The three lorries were adjudged to he in the best condition, having regard to their length of service and the nature of the work which they perform. The vehicles in our picture have a mileage record of 179,629 to their credit, and average 7.5 m.p.g. of fuel consumed.
Haulage Costs.
Chesterfield borough surveyor gives the costs of haulage for the last three months as :follow :=Petrol lorries, 23. 10. per ton-mile; steam wagons, 2s. 8!il and,horses and carts, 3s. 51d.
Mileage Charges.
Writing Lo the Association of Municipal Corporations, the Ministry of Transport stated that careful consideration would be given, when an opportunity occurred to seek legislation relating to roads and road vehicles, to the suggestion of the Association that the Ministryshould initiate legislation amending Section 10 of the Roads Act, 1920, so as to enable the Minister to suspend, modify, or determine not only the liability to pay sums by way of mileage chargeti or other annual payments in respect of the use of the road, but also payments, whether anneal or otherwise in respect of the.adaptation, reconstruction or improvement of roads or bridges.
The letter added that, as at present advised, the Minister would feel considerable difficulty in asking that the powers suggested should be conferred upon him.
The British Lorry Preferred.
It is of special interest to note in the report of the economic conditions in South Africa, just issued by the Department of Overseas Trade, that there is a real demand in the Union for high-grade British heavy lorries. Last year the Government imported 48, possibly secondhand, at £24,000, and this year 23 at £16,000. Public impartation from the United Kingdoin was of 60 vehicles at £67,000. The motor char-b-bancs has not much scope in the country districts, but it has made a conspicuous appearance in the Cape Peninsula. It is satlefactory to observe that British commercial vehicles are gaining ground in a country which American manufacturers have not neglected to exploit to the full.
Motor Show Service.
During the-Motor Show, between the hours of 11 a.m. and 8.30 rum., International Motors, Ltd., are running a fleet of buses from Hammersmith Station to the White City, and will convey intending visitors there free of charge. They are else providing at their headquarters at Brook Green, Hammersmith, exten
sive garage accommodation. Cars can he garaged there at a purely nominal fee. Free transport will be provided from the ccmpany's headquarters to the White City for those garaging their cars.
Water for Stearn Wagons.
According to the 1921 report of the Liverpool Corporation waterworks engineer, experiments have been made with a view to introducing a suitable apparatus for supplying water to steam motor wagons on the road, it having been found necessary to provide special facilities for this purpose to prevent interference with, and damage to, fire-hydrants.
• The corporation has erected an experimental station in Pall Mall (as shown in our illustration). A concrete tank, hay. ing a capacity of 35 gallons, is fixed under the footway and fitted with a ballcock, which keeps it constantly charged with water. Over this is fixed a castiron service box, having a circular orifice in the side nearest the roadway. This opening can be covered or uncovered by the rotation of a shutter, actuated by a special key. The wagon driver, having opened the orifice by means of the key carried on the wagon, drops the end of
the suction hose—which all steam wagons carry—into the underground tank, and, by means of the steam injector on the engine, lifts a sufficient quantity of water to fill the feed tanks on the wagon.
This experimental tank has been in operationfor a period sufficiently long to show that the system is entirelysatisfactory. The installation of similar i
tanks n other suitable positions in the city, and on main roads outside the municipal boundaries, however, has been postponed pending the issue of the report of the Conjoint Committee which has been appointed, at the instance a the British Waterworks Association, to devise a universal system fur water. supply to steam
vehicles. .
Think Before You Buy.
A most interesting booklet has just been issued by the Albion Motor Car Co., Ltd., of Scotstoun, Glasgow, under the title "Is an Hour of Your Time Worth 1,250? " The argument emphasized in the book is the necessity for users of commercial vehicles to keep separate running and maintenance costs of each individual vehicle in their service, that is if they desire to run their distributive departments efficiently.
822 The object of the booklet is to place -certain fundamental facts before potential users of motor vehicles, and expressions of opinion of experienced transport owners of Albion vehicles are included to support the contention of this company that it is advisable to pay strict attention to the design and construction of a vehicle before it is purchased, and that the price of a new machine is not necessarily an indication of its worth. •
Selby Toll-bridge.
East Riding County Council has been asked to remove the obsolete Selby tollbridge and replace it by a modern structure. but does not propose to do so at the present in view of • the financial position.
New Buses for London.
It is stated that a fleet of blue and cream-coloured motorbuses will shortly he placed upon the streets of London by a new company. Mr. P. Frost Smith will be prominently associated with the activities of the new buses, which will be put into service mounted on the Frost-Smith petrol-electric chassis, which was recently described in the columns of ...this journal.
Republic Trucks Sales and Service.
Notice is given by Republic Trucks Sales and Service, of 18-28, Peterborough Road, New King's Road, Fulham, London, S.W., that they are not in any way connected with, or responsible • foe the acts of, or liable in any past or future claims against Republic Trucks, Ltd., of 77, . Bolsover Street, London, W. 1. They are, however, as head agents in the British Isles for Republic trucks, prepared to meet any claim arising under a subsisting guarantee affecting a Republic truck. • Prices' Co.. Ltd., Battersea, London, S.W., have just issued a new • list Of prices for their motor lubricants.
Bridlington Watch Committee proposes to make arrangements for the inspection by an expert of all motor vehicles in respect of which applications are made for licences to ply for hire_
Liverpool-Manchester Road.
At the Ministry of Transport a few days ago, Sir Henry Maybury, DirectorGeneral of Roads, presided over an important meeting of representatives of the Lancashire County Council and the county boroughs of South Lancashire, to consider the Liverpool-Manchester road scheme, for which surveys and Lstimates. have just been completed by the Ministry's staff.
For the entire distance of 27 miles, a width of 150 ft. between fences is contemplated, although actual road construction would be limited in the first in-. stance to a paved carriageway 30 ft. wide and two footways, leaving ample space for the subsequent duplication of the carriageway, orany other developments which the growth of the traffic might conceivably call for.
After a lengthy discussion of the merits of the proposal, both from a traffic standpoint and as a means of alleviating unemployment, the following resolution, moved by Dr. Utting, of Liverpool, was carried nem, con. :—
"That this meeting, without being in a position to bind its component authorities, expresses a favourable opinion upon the project for, the construction of the new ManchesterLiverpool road, and with a view to alleviating as soon as possible the grave state of unemployment, respectfully requests Sir Henry Maybury to prepare and forward to the local authorities concerned a memorandum embodying his suggestions upon points raised during the discussion, such as the apportionment of cost., the allocation of labour, etc., and that he be asked to take into consideration the calling together, of a, small committee comprising one representative from' the county and one from each of the county boroughs, in order to promote the speedy development of the undertaking."
The L.C.C. and Motor Vehicle Regulation and Taxation.
In a comment on the second interim ieport of the Departmental Committee appointed to consider the question of the regulation and taxation of road vehicles, the General Purposes Committee of the London County Council directs attention to the fact that of the eight persons who signed the report no fewer than five represent different classes which may be assumed to be strongly in favour of motor traffic, and that of the 43 witnesses on behalf of special interests no fewer than 24 were directly concerned with the, motor industry.
While it is admitted that the surfaces of roads in this country have been much improved in the last 20 'years, the committee holds it qeestionable whether the foundations are, as a general rule, more fitted to-day than formerly for fast, heavy traffic, and the council is recommerded to suggest the desirability of a maximum speed limit being retained throughout the Conn.try,. the present limit being retained in urban districts.
It is suggested that in the case of London, where .the streets are honeycombed with pipes, the owner of a locomotive drawing an indivisible load exceeding 14 tons, shoald be required to nOtify itS passage beforehand to the local authorities concerned in order to afford them an opportunity of suggesting other routes which could be used without undue inconvenience.
The "C.M." Tabulations.
Although the specifications of the various types of vehicles, which were included in our " 1923 Outlook" Number, V.';_t-e compiled from information received only a week or two before the publicat'on of this number, certain additions and modifications concerning prices are now necessary, and we would advise those of our readers who are keeping these tables to amend thorn accordingly.
The Fiat prices have been amended as front the 4th ult.
Table ref.
No Price.
J.8—F.2 1-ton chassis ..: £390 • J.9-15-TER 30-cwt. chassis fitted with Fiat lighting
set 2550 3.10-19 B.L. 3L-ton chassis... 2600 3.11-13 B.L.R. 4-5-ton chassis 2650
De Dion-Bouton. 12-30-40-cwt. chassis with pneumatic tyres ... £550 J.3--3Jeton chassis on solid tyres ... 2595 Ditto on pneumatic tyres 2635 J.4-5-ton chassis on solid tyres £695 J.5-35-seater passenger chassis on pneumatic tyres ... 2695 Leyland Fire-engines. R.4--Rated output 350 galls. ... 21,450 115—Rated output 400 galls. ...21,850 116—Rated output 690 galls. ... 22,100
Manchester Road Transport Wages.
The road transport employers in the south-east Lancashire and Cheshire group of road transport associations have submitted proposals to the reprosentatives of the United Road Transport Association, and the Transport and General Workers Union, in Manchester, for an alteration in working hours and a wage reduction which varies in particular instances from a 4s. minimum to a 7s. maximum. The men's representatives have rejected the employers' claim, and a conference between the parties has been adjourned for three weeks.
Speed Limit "Test Case."
Middlesex County Council reports that It recently decided to make application to the Ministry of Transport, as a test case, for the imposition of a 10-mile speed limit for motor traffic through South Mimms village. The application was duly made, and the Ministry of Transport has intimated that, in view of the recommendations
of the Departmental Committee, which was recently set up by the Minister to consider all questions affecting the regulation of road vehicles, the Minister is not prepared to make any further Order under Section 9 of the Motor Car Act, 1903, imposing a speed limit of 10 miles per hour, or to extend any existing Order, save in cases where new and exceptional circumstances have arisen introducing elements of special danger to Ithe public' which, under the existing cannot be mitigated by any other means. The application of the county council does not appear to indicate the existence of such elementa of special danger in this case, and the Minister regrets that he is not, prepared at present to take any action upon the county council's application.
-Canal as Road.
In a scheme for a new road from Wroughton to Swindon it is proposed to utilize part of a derelict canal for the purpose.
Bolton Auction Fees.,
Bolton Corporation has fixed charges as follow in connection with auction sales at the wholesale market :—Motor vehicles, 2s. 6d. ; horsed vehicle, Is.; horse, 15.
Blackpool's .Coaches.
In view of the urgency of the question of char-a-bancs traffic, the Blackpool Watch Committee has asked the town clerk to press the Ministry of Transport to give its promised consideration to the matter of licensing chars-h-bancs and the fixing of stands for these vehicles.
Increasing Speed Limits.
Notwithstanding complaints as to noise and danger arising from motor traffic in certain roads and the excessive apeed of certain types of vehicles, the Oxford Watch Committee proposes that the present motor speed limit be altered from 10 to 15 miles an hour for the whole of the city.
,Motor Ambulances at Wolverhampton.
It is mentioned in the annual report of the Wolverhampton medical officer of health that the horse ambulance provided at the corporation fever hosnital, for removing cases of infectious disease has been replaced by a motor ambulance.
Inst A.E. Activities.
An interesting paper will be read before the Institution of Automobile Engineers at the Institution of Mechatiical Engineers on Tuesday, November 7th, at 8 p.m., under the title of " HighTension Ignition." This title hardly explains the scope of the paper, which will deal with the comparative merits of ignition by the magneto ,and by the coil arid acentnulator, from an entirely on hissed and scientific standpoint. The author will clearly explain the differences between the two and indicate the Condi_ lions under which one may be said to be better than the other.
On the following evening, in spite of its being in the middle of the Show week, a second meeting of the Institution will be held, when Major F. Strickland will uphold the low-compression, moderatespeed engine against Mr. H. R. Ricardo, who will support the high-compression, high-speed engine, in Nie form of a debate. The pros and cons of the two systems have been very clearly put forward by the authors...
Welsh Traffic Regulation.
At a meeting of the Glamorgan County Roads and Bridges Committee a strong appeal was made by Col. Henry .Lewis for, the regulation of traffic passing through the narrow streets of •villoges. Special complaint was made in respect of the speed of the liege volume of mechanical road transport passing from Cardiff to the Rhondda and other Mining valleys through Tougwynlais. The matter of the county authority fixing a speed limit was debated, but,Was condemned on the argument of the chairman that it was not possible to arrive at a uniform speed. Ultimately it was de'cided to appoint a special committee to meet the county chief-constable and discuss the whole matter with him.
For Small-car Owners.
The Special Show Report Number of The Light One and Cyclecar is an issue which no reader who is interested in small cars should miss. It will, contain the earliest complete report, with a profusion of illustration, of all cars of 1,500 c.c. and under exhibited.
This number, dated November 10th, will he published one day earlier than usual, and will be on sale on Thursday morning next.
Local Proceedings.
The Milford U.D.C. ha,s decided to purchases Sentinel steamer at a cost of £1,050.
Wallasey. Corporation has decided to perches° a light motor wagon up to a tenacity of 30 cwt. for the works committee.
A proposal is on foot to coasider the construction of an arterial roan through North Wales, solely for the use of motor vehicles.
The Wotks Committee of the Hackney Borough Council recommend, the purchase of an electric lorry for £800 from Garrett and Sons, Ltd.
The Walsall Town Council has received sanction from the Ministry of Health to borrow £2,010 for a motor fire-engine and appliances.
Ilford Council's Health Committee suggests the purchase of a Ford Penner for the purpose of house refuse collection in outlying parts of the district.
The Neath Borough Council has celled for a report from the surveyor on cost of acquiring an up-to-date fire-engine. The watch committee has already recommended such a purchase.
Blackpool Corporation Tramways Committee has had a report to the effect that it is impracticable to carry out a proposal to substitute bus services for overhead tramway traction in Central Drive.
Walthamstow Council's Works Committee has considered a report of the surveyor with reference to the bulk storage of petrol, and recommends that a central system be established for all departments of the council.
Hackney Council's Works Committee recommends the sale of a petrol lorry it purchased in 1019 from the Disposals Board for £630. It has cost the council £357 in repairs and now requires repairs which are estimated to cost £100. .
Lewisham Board of Guardians invites tenders for the supply of (a) three oneton Ford chassis (right-hand drive); (b) three ambulance bodies, to be built according to specification and fitted to chassis ; and (c) one three-quarter Ford lardaulet. Blackpool Corporation • Tramways Committee has authorized the purchase of a Ferdson tractor.
Ardwick Urban District Council has decided to support motorbus services proposed by the Doncaster Corporation.
The watch committee of the Halifax Town Council has sanctioned the purchase of a meter fire-engine for £1,966.
Lancashire County Council has voted £210 for the purchase of a now six-ton rubber-tyred trailer for use with tractors and motor wagons owned by the county council and used by. the highways department.
The Town Improvement and Streets Csnamittee of Newcastle-upon-Tyne is prepared to receive tenders for the supply of a number of motor vehicles. Three 3/-ton steam wagons are required for the eollection of domestic refuse, three 2k-ton electric vehicles and four
35-cwt. petrol vehicles. Tenders must be delivered not later than November 13th to the City Engineer, Town Hall, Newcastle • upon . Tyne, from whom general specification and other conditions can be obtained. Second-hand or reconditioned vehicles will not be entertained.
An Invitation to Dealers.
For the convenience of agents and others visiting the Motor Show, Republic Trucks Sales and Service have opened a temporary office at the garage of Mr. C. H. Gidley, at 22b, West Kensington Gardens Mews on the left of the Hammersmith Road entrance to GlYnapia, and one of the new model 75 1-ton Republic rapid transit _chassi.s is on view.
Cumberland Traffic.
The county surveyor for Cumberland recently took a census of road traffic in the county, and his statistics show that there has been an increase in the number of motor vehicles of 1,120 per cent. since,1014, or 12 times the weight of this class of traffic. The average percentage of horsed vehicles to motor vehicles is only 13 per cent., and in two cases in the Keswick area it has fallen as low as 2 per Dent.
Bus Workers' Wages.
In order to assist in the provision of cheaper fares for the working classes, the Northern General Transport Co., of Chester-le-Street; who maintain a vast network of motor omnibus routes over the Tyneside and North Durham areas, resently made a claim for the reduction of 16s. per week in the wages of their workers. Since that time numerous meetings have been held between the men and the officials of the company, and more recently the management announce their willingness to effect a reduction of only 4s. per week, on condition the men's union would agree that overtime rates should not operate until after 54 hours had been worked. This the men have unanimously rejected. They intimate that they are quite prepared to suffer the 4s. per week reduction, upon the condition that in future their wages shall be governed by the national tramways industry sliding scale.
Vandervell Prices Down.
C. A. Vandervell and Co., Ltd., Acton, London, W., announce an entire revision of prices for their various products. A comprehensive catalogue is now in the hands of the printers and will be published early in the New Year, but in the meantime the company have prepared folders dealing with each section of their products, setting out the new prices for various classes of equipment, which came into force yesterday.
The G. and J. Chassis.
Messrs. Bonallaek and Sons ask us to state that the G. and J. 25-cwt. chassis for which they are concessionnaires is Canadian-made, and therefore should be regarded as being a production manufac tured in the British Empire. In our tables of chassis specifications published in the " 1923 Outlook" number we separated those vehicles originating and built in Great Britairt from those originating and built overseas. There are always border-line cases which such an arbitrary division does not suit, and the G. and J. is one .where a sound claim can be advanced for inclusion in any list, of vehicles made in the British. Empire.
Nottingham Traffic.
Sir Lancelot RoHeston, chairman of the Highways and Bridges Committee of the Nottingham County Council, directed attention, at the last meeting of that body, when Viscount Galway presided, to the immense increase of motor traffic, and particularly of commercial motor traffic within the.eactensive area covered by the jurisdiction
of the authority. Recent indications have afforded evidence in all directions of the rapidly exparitdingi volume of mechanically propelled vehicles; and it will occasion little surprise to learn from Sir Lancelot Rolleston's statement, upon the basis of returns which have been compiled from the traffic census recently taken, that in Nottinghamshire the proportion.of horse-drawn vehicles compared with motor conveyances amounts to only
six per cent. .
A Good Range of Pneumatic Tyres.
Amongst certain classes of commercial vehicle users—notably those who employ light vans running on pneumatic tyres— Burnett tyres, manufactured by the Burnett Motor Tyre and Rubber Co., of Yerbury Rubber Mills, Trowbridge, have built up an enviable reputation. The company's pneumatic tyres are built in six distinct patterns, these being the Suction Cup (which is renowned for its non-skidding properties), the Dauntless, Combination, Ribbed, Grooved and Steel. studdedmodels. Although the design of the tread varies in each of these patterns, in every case the tyres are only con. structed of those materials whic.h have
proved themselves to be best suited to the purpose, and the greatest care is taken .by the company in the selection of all raw material used, which has to pass the most stringent tests before being considered suitable for use.
We reproduce an illustration of the Suction Cup tyre, which has many features which thou/a commend it to the attention of users of pneumatic vehicles. The company are also manufacturers of other products, such as inner tubes, liners, tyre stopping, foot and hand pumps, as well as rubber compound for vulcanizing, etc.
Municipal Vehicle Operation.
The Bootle Town Council has approved the charge of E4 7s. 6d. per day for the hire of municipally owned electric vehicles from one committee to another. The chairman of the central committee controlling the municipal fleet explains that the charge of £4 7s. 6d. was the charge made from one committee to the other, and did not represent the net cost. The total cost to the committees at current rate was £23,448. From that they had to deduct a gross profit of E8,759, leaving a balance of £14,689. From that sum there was to be deducted E2,186, balance in the reserve fund, so that the net cost to the ratepayers was £12,503, and not £23,448. The sum of £4 7s. 6d. per day was not the amount the ratepayers were paying, or the amount it was costing the corporation. The chairman said that the committee had paid back £3,014 in relief of rates; it had paid £1,065 to the Electricity Department, £334 to the Borough Treasurer's Department, and E455 for rent anit taxes. The committee had assets in excess of liabilities of E8,007. There had been a saving of 11 men in the collection of refuse by the introduction of motor traction, and this really meant a saving of 13s. per day per vehicle.
We are informed that the Beardmore pefrol pumps sold by the Dowson and Mason Gas Plant Co., Ltd., 3, Manchester Street, London, W. 1, have now received the approval of the Board. of Trade, and cart, therefore, be used in the retailing of petrol..