Australia Also Criticises the British Bus Chassis.
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"THE article on another page from a corre spondent in Sydney, New South Wales, is important, because it tells of the rapid growth in Street mileage in the large cities of the Common'wealth and of the consequent development, present and future, of motorbus services there. As In this country, the railway system cannot be expanded to cover all the routes followed by the natural streams of traffic, and the tramways exhibit the shortcomings with which we are familiar here. There is thus every encouragement for the bus manufacturer, and we are sure that the .British makers can, and will, rise to the occaSion. Our correspondent, however, criticises the average British bus chassis : first, upon its alleged lack Of durability; and, secondly, upon certain structural matters and items of equipment. He calls these shortcomings, but, in our opinion, either potential users of buses in Sydney have not made known to British makers the actual requirements of the services, explained the conditions under which the buses will be called upon to operate and asked for a suitable vehicle, or, as is more likely, they have not had an opportunity to see the latest products of British factories. The history of the British passenger-vehicle chassis is very simple to follow. Prior to and up to the end of the war the demand made upon our heavy-vehicle manufacturers was for goods vehicles, and their chassis were expr-essly designed therefor. After the war there came quite suddenly the demand for chassis, somewhat similar but suitable for passenger-carrying vehicles, and the goods-chassis design had to be adapted for the purpose. It has taken a few years to show that the British maker is justified in designing and developing chassis suitable only, or mainly, for the lighter and speedier employment. To-day the leading makers have special designs for passenger work, full consideration being given to ease of maintenance (involving daily inspection, easy adjustment and lubrication of wearing parts, and ranid dock overhauls), comfortable riding, great durability under continuous and unremitting stress of service, and every other desirable attribute. The pneumatic tyre has• had to undergo the test of prolonged use before the manufacturer of passenger vehicles could feel assured that it was right to build for it and to recommend it to users, and that period of trial is over—but, so far as tlip. chassis maker is concerned, only just over. Tht user and the salesman had probably been content to hold themselves convinced on the subject a long while ago; but, to them, the risk and 'the responsibility were small and limited. So far as springing is concerned (this point Is raised by our correspondent), the good roads of ciS this country have not helped to produce the long flexible spring; but, given a knowledge of the conditions under which a bus chassis will be called upon to operate, suitable springs are surely easy to supply. Equally, if electrical equipment be ordered, there is not the least difficulty about its inclusion. We have in this issue raised two important points in connection with the heavy motor requirements of the Australian Commonwealth, and it would be useful, in our opinion, if British manufacturers bad Something to say on their own behalf.