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The Wheels of Industry.

8th July 1915, Page 14
8th July 1915
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

This journal, dealing as it does with the "Chariots of War," no less than with the "Wheels of Industry," continues of national importance. Its interests embrace impartially the transport wagon and the parceicar, the military tractor and the steam lorry.

We congratulate Walsh and Clark, Ltd., of Guiseley, on the award of the R.A.S.E. silver medal in respect of its oil-engined traction engine.

Our Fund.

The donations for the month of June are given on page :393. We also deal with the subsequent completion of the £5000 stage in an article which appears on page 391 The A.S.C., M.T.

We understand that one of the latest motor-transport engineers to join the Army is Mr. Barnard Humphrey, of the Great Western Railway Co. We wish him all success in the discharge of his new work, for which he is eminently qualified.

County Councils and Roads.

The paper by Mr. Harcourt E. Clare, Clerk to the Lancs. County Council, which was presented before last week's conference of the County Councils Association, in London, is reproduced by us on pages 394-396. We also comment onthe general situation, at considerable length, beginning on the first page of the issue. We may, here, additionally make the following comment.

It is a blunder, on the part of representatives of local authorities, for them to refer to the " cheapness" of heavy transport, or the savings which it effects, as though such economies were undesirable. The facts of the ease are not, as they presume, that owners of the engines and lorries act selfishly in uF•ing them, but rather that the exigencies of the day cannot admit any other method of transport, at least in a high Percentage of the instances. We concede, of course, that 'there are a few bad cases of abuse :of roads by users of heavy, vehicles, but they are not typical.

It is also overlooked, by representatives of local authorities, that the consideration to one set of ratepayers for their maintaining roads in their, own area is the right to use all other roads in the country. This may not be the best arrangement; but the reciprocal fact is overlooked. • For • example, the ratepayer in Bolton may look askance 'on traffic passing between Preston and Manchester, whilst a ratepayer' in either Preston or Manchester may feel little sympathy with traffic which originates in Bolton. A national solution is, of course, Obviously preferable, and events are working towards that end, if slowly.

Mr. Harcourt Clare, in common A42

with others, complains about "the increasing burden on ratepayers for the maintenance of roads!' Why not complain of the increasing burden of education, and incidentally leave the money which was originally set aside for roads still available to be spent on them? He states that any new regulations must be framed with regard to existing conditions, but this view cannot be accepted without qualification. In the absence of central supervision and revision, decisions by local authorities might very well result in leaving natural traffic roads as they are for many years to come. Local opinions are not always the best in matters which are realized to be of national importance, and are frequently too much affected by local jealousies. Furthermore, one local authority might conceivably be unduly influenced by another, to the obvious damage of a third, as regards the freedom of passage for traffic to or from competitive ports. All the foregoing matters, of course, will be thrashed out before the L.G.B. and other committees, in due time. Many local authorities are no more fit to have the final settlement entrusted to them than are many users of lorries.

Coal by Motor Lorry.

One of the new uses for motor lorries, after the war, will be in connection with the development of high-level deposits of coal. There are many places in, United Kingdom, at more han 1000 ft. above sea level, inaccessible by rail, where coal can be had literally "for the cost of cartage." Instances are not unknown where local people delve for the coal themselves, without payment of any royalty. The introduction of system in such instances, on a business scale, in conjunction with motor transport, will undoubtedly be of effect, by the creation of an aggregate tonnage of importance 'through multiplicity of operations. More London Buses.

The total number of licensed buses being operated on the London streets on the 30th of last month was 2213. This shows an increase of two over the figure for the previous month, and compares with a total of 3426 one year ago-1213 fewer.

A New "Motor Nianual."

The new edition of "The Motor Manual," the 18th, is now in the binder's hands, and will be published immediately. Special attention has been given in this edition to the new eight-cylinder engine, novel springing systems, and electric lighting and starting. The price, as hitherto, is is. 6d. net.

Brakes for American Trailers.

Before Alderman Sir John Bell at the Guildhall (Summons Court) William Adams was summoned for driving a motor with trailer attached, the latter not having an efficient brake. He was furthei; summoned for not carrying a horn to give notice of his approach. Mr. Charles Henry Gray, manager to Messrs. H. and G. Burford, 11, Waterloo Place, was summoned for permitting the trailer to be driven without a brake.

For the defence it was stated that the trailer was an American vehicle. and had rubber tires. Brakes Were nOt used in America on these vehicles, and it was difficult to know how to attach one.

Sir John.: "Drivers in London must have horns and brakes.". Fines amounting to 12s. 6d. were

inflicted. .

Traction Engine Owners.

Mr. John Allen, of Oxford, presided at the summer meeting of the National Traction Engine Owners and Users Association, in the Showyard, at Nottingham, on the 1st inst. The half-yearly report of the Association dealt largely with the preparation of evidence for presentation to the L.G.B. Committee, and the chairman, in commenting on it, stated that county surveyors had been largely responsible for the present trouble. They were asking for ridiculous amendments to the law ; many of their proposals were altogether unworkable. Mr. John McLaren, of Leeds, thought that the L.O.B. Committee was to some extent prejudiced, but the members would no doubt be imbued with a sense of responaibility, and would frame their report on the evidence submitted. A strong case should therefore he put before the Committee. The traction-engine industry had been Patiently built up during the last 60 years, and it was now being attacked and harassed in an underhand way by %various road surveyors.

Proposals and Purchases.

A Ford motor ambulance is to be bought by the Gravesend Town Council, at £212. The Croydon Mental Hospital is purchasing a 20 h.p. Tilling twoton chassis at 2795.

To-day (Thursday) Mr. R. W. Fraser, engineer and surveyor to the Haylake. U.D.C., will receive tenders for a chassis, either new or second-hand, to carry either one ton or 30 cwt., driven either by petrol or accumulators. Recent Registrations.

Suburban Motors, Ltd. (E.3000), with its offices at 94, Hope Street, Glasgow.

Peerless Seamless Rubber Co., Ltd. (2000), with its office at Station Road, Richmond, Surrey.

Tay Motor Lorry Co., Ltd. (25000), to take over a business at 18, Commercial Street, Dundee. Private company.

Llandudno Chars-a-bancs.

The By-laws Committee of the Llandudno U.D.O. has decided to refuse to license any motor eliars-a

banes or omnibuses which are not the bona-fide property of the applicant for the licence, and to fix the maximum number of passengers to be carried in a motor char-à-bancs at 24.

Napier Dividend.

We learn that the usual preference dividend, at the rate of 71i per cent. per annum, has been paid for the past half-year, by D. Napier and Son, Ltd., and also the halfyearly interest on the debenture stock, at the rate of Mper cent. per annum. Remittances were made On the 30th ult.

A Steam Wagon Not a Locomotive.

We are pleased to see that, at the Devon Sessions, on the 30th ult., there was a successful appeal from a decision of the Torrington Bench in regard to a Foden wagon. There had been a conviction, in February last, with a fine of one guinea and costs, which involved the classing of the wagon as a locomotive. The appellant driver of the wagon was represented by Mr. A. N. Langdon, K.C., Mr. W. Proctor, and Mr. W. T. Snell (instructed by Messrs. F. J. and C. Poole, and Sandbacb). Colonel R. E. Crompton, 0.B., was amongst those who gave evidence. Counsel argued that the Court below had not properly or fully appreciated the meaning of the word " temporary " in the Motor Car Acts.

The Bench upheld the appeal, but made no order as to costs.

Chauffeurs and War Service.

In the House of Commons one day last week Sir J. J. Walton asked the Minister for Munitions whether he was aware that many thousands of chauffeur-mechanics were being retained for the convenience and pleasure of their employers, and whether he would issue a strong appeal to all motorcar owners and garage owners to release their men, so that they might be able to volunteer for national service in munition works or motor transport, giving an undertaking to reinstate them at the end of the war.

Dr. Addison (Parliamentary Sec.): My right hon, friend has no. definite information as to the number of chauffeur-mechanics retained for the purposes suggested in the question, but he is very glad to take this opportunity of making an appeal to any person who may be now employing, for private convenience, a mechanic of any kind who might be employed on munition work, to encourage any such workman to transfer his services to such work. I would point out that the organization of the War Munition Volunteers, just set on foot, affords a full opportunity for transferring men in this way, and all such men should be urged to offer their services at the nearest Munition work bureau.


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