ROAD TRANSPORT IN OTHER LANDS
Page 72
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Items of News Intended to Stimulate the Interest of British Makers in Overseas Markets.
Sidecar Taxis in Czecho-Slovakia. TAXICAB fares in Czeche-Slovaltia lasing among the highest in Europe, a local importer of American motorcycles recently conceived the idea of running motorcycles with closed passenger sidecars as taxicabs at half the rates for hire usually charged for cabs. The importer in question secuied Prague licences for 20 machines, which quickly became so popular that another importer decided to fit out and operate 15 of these vehicles.
During last summer the Prague authorities, realizing that cab fares were excessive, introduced' lower rates, but the taxicab drivers refused to accept them, with the result that the number of motorcycle taxis in Prague has increased to a total of 80.
Manufacture Under Subsidy in Japan. TO encourage the construction in the country of motor vehicles suitable for military purposes, the Japanese Govern meta has put into force a subsidy scheme. We learn that there are now three or four concerns in Japan working under the scheme, none of them, however, having a large output. One is the Tokio Gas and Electric Industry Co., of Tokio, which has been manufacturing trucks for the past ten years; its output has, however, always been small, probably not more than five vehicles per month. This company is now building a 30-cwt. commercial chassis known as the " T.G.E.," and lire-brigade appliances mounted on chassis of its own make. The D.A.T. Automobile Co., of Osaka, has also been manufacturing under military subsidy since 1924, producing an Americandesigned light commercial chassis rated at 15-cwt. capacity. The company is reported to be producing also a light delivery vehicle known as the "Lille.' lie annual production is, however, fewer than 100 vehicles. The Ishikawajtma Shipbuilding and Dockyard Co., of B46 Tokio, is reported to be manufacturing commercial chassis and 1-ton motor cranes. Most of the output consists of chassis, a considerable number of which has been sold for the municipal bus services in Tokio and Osaka.
The World Discarding Solid Tyres.
LAST year the United States only exported 63,056 solid tyres (value, $2,081,083), against 104,011 (value, $3,161,701) in 1927. This represents a decline in volume of 39 per cent., and in value of 34 per cent, in 1928 as compared with the previous year.
This decided decrease is the result of the universal trend in favour of pneumatic tyres for motor lorries and buses. The American Department of Commerce undertook a survey of this subject last year. It found that more than 90 per cent, of the countries of the world are turning to the use of highpressure tyres, whereas a few countries discriminate against the use of solids, either by higher taxation or by complete prohibition. Cuba is virtually the only country in which the consumption of solid tyres is increasing.
The leading American market for solid tyres in 1928 was Cuba, with 9,774 units, valued at $304,711; Janan came next with 8,314, valued at $174,295; while Australia took more than 5,000 and the Argentine nearly 4,800.
Commercial Motor Imports and Exports of France.
A RETURN lately issued shows tacit
321 motorvans and lorries, valued at £61,275, were imported last, year into France, as compared with only 132 and £40,730 in 1927. As regards the exports of French industrial vehicles, whilst the number declined from 5,143 in 1927 to 4,906 last :iear, there was an increase in the value from £1380,000 to £1,508,060. Austrian Railways and Motorbuses. IN view of the competition from motorbuses the Austrian State Railway authorities have decided to establish motorbus services themselves. A start was made last year with 25 buses running over routes aggregating about 240 miles. It has now been resolved to extend the State Railway road services to over 1,400 miles. It is reported that a separate company is to be formed, which will be mainly financed and controlled by the railway authorities.
No Yellow-painted Motors in Switzerland.
THE Swiss Government is reported to
have issued an order prohibiting the use of yellow-painted privately owned vehicles, to avoid confusion with Government mail vans, which has often led to accidents on the Alpine roads. The mail vans are all yellow in colour.
American Farm Tractors in Canada. NO fewer than 21,000 wheel-type trac
tors, valued at £3,800,000, were exported from the United States to Canada last year, an increase of about 30 per cent, in number and 50 per cent, in value as compared with 1927. A large selative increase was also shown in the exports of American track-laying tractors to the Dominion, official returns lately issued showing a total of 854 machines of a value of £350,800.
Swiss Commercial-vehicle Exports. AN official return lately issued shows that there was a notable increase last year in the exports of motor vehicles from Switzerland. The shipments, which consist almost entirely of motorbus and lorry chassis, reached a total of 816 chassis valued at £750,560, as against only 347 and £210,440 respectively in 1927. The returns show that Spain, Great Britain, Brazil and Cseeho-Slovakia are the principal markets for Swiss vehicles.
More Bus Services in France.
A DAILY long-distance motorbus ser
vice between Evreux, Louviers, Elbeuf, Grand Couronne and Rouen has lately been started by the Societe Auxiliare de Transports de l'Onest et du Sud-Ouest. Previously people in Evreux and the other towns mentioned could only reach the coast by long and tedious journeys, and the new service is being much appreciated as it is being run at times to connect at Rouen with the express trains serving Dieppe, Havre and other places on the coast.
Gas Producers in the Belgian Colonies. A NEW company has been formed in
Brussels with a capital of 6,000,000 francs and the title La Soci4te pour la Construction et l'Exploitation du Materiel Colonial an Gas Pauvre " Mateco," to acquire and develop the rights in the " Mateco " gas-producer plants for motor vehicles, tractors, etc., in the Belgian Colonies.