RAPID GROWTH

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21708, 15 February 1936, Page 21

RAPID GROWTH

history of firm

SMALL EEGINNING AT . CHEVIOT

Like many other businesses which '' have' achieved eminence in their own lines; Midland Motorways Services, ■ Ltd., started out as a small organisai Aon/' But so great has been its ex- ' pansion. in recent years. that the premises which it now occupies in Durham street have become ' too 'small, and it has been necessary to build a large station in Liehneld Street This will be opened next Wednesday. ' The history of Midland Motorways goes back to 1914. In that year, Mr L E. Laugesen, who with his son, Mr Keith Laugesen, conducts the business .now started in the motor transport >: business-in., Cheviot. In the following year me secured the second mail con- ■ tract let to a motor firm on the Par-, nassus-Kaikoura route. Later he conducted v. service frem Cheviot to Christchurch with touring cars. In 1929 Midland Motorways bought the service between Methven and 'Christ- ; church. Railway Services Taken Over Then in -February; 1931, the • firm took ever the services-previously run by -the Railway Department, from

Springfield .to Christchurch, Whitecliffs to Christchurch," and Hororata to Christchurch. In 1934, it took over the service between Kaiapoi - and Christchurch, and these five lastnambd routes are the ones it is funning to-day. The fleet of Midland Motorways is now nine buses, these ranging in size from 19-seaters to 25-seaters. All are modem and comfortable and their record for reliability, is an enviable one. One of the fleet on the Whitecliffs

run covered 107,000 miles in four years with not one mechanical delay—a typical example of the dependability of modern motor .vehicles. The mileage run last year by the Midland Motorways fleet amounted to 180.000 for the nine buses. In such small things as the reliability of tyres, the modern bus has shown enormous advances, and each of the Midland Motorways buses has a record of about 80.000 miles running between each stop on the road because of the failure of a tyre. The number of passengers who travelled in the buses in the last 12 months was more than 60,000. Other Services 1 Not the least important part of the service given by Midland Motorways is the delivery of parcels. Mary times in the ordinary business of farming, there are urgent repairs necessary to such implements as tractors and harvesting machines. Midland Motorways provides a swift and'sure, delivery of these parts for repair, or a raoid delivery of.-riew parts from the city. The firm also caters for organised tours of the South Island, and last year did a number of about 1000 miles. These included a South Island tour of the Indian Hockey; team, the tour of the Australian Hockey team, and a toilr by the Young Men’s Christian Association, of Wellington. In describing the Young Men’s Christian Association tour in the associalion’s Social “Wellingtwi'a Manhood,” a . rrtembOr of the party wrote: — ■V . . the party was met at Lyttelton by-the two luxurious motor omnibuses chartered from the Midland Motorways in Christchurch. These vehicles were to be the travelling caravans of the contingent for IT day?, and let it be recorded right at the commencement of this diary, that in efficient running and comfortable riding they surpassed the most sanguine expectations of the party. There was not the slightest hitch in the transport ar-

rangements over the entire thousand miles of the tour, and this fact, combined with careful organising . . . made the 1935-36 tour one of the best in the long reoord of association holiday expeditions.” Heavy Taxation A large motor organisation is heavily taxed in many ways; and the fact that' Midland Motorways can extend as they are doing now says a great deal for , the amount of business done every year. In the last 12 months, the Midland Motorways fleet used 26,000 gallons of petrol, an average of 500 gallons a week. This meant taxation amounting to more than £IOOO. Heavy traffic fees amounted to more than £320, and the sales tax on the last new bus was more than £6O.

GRAVITY POWER

COASTING IN CARS

MERITS AND DANGERS

The freewheel device on motor-cars, a device that never found wide favpur mechanical*: cijt|jlneers, has -falhfiost disappeared in the l latest models. Motorists, however, “coasted” in their ■.■ cars, obtaining something of the freewheeling effect, before , this gadget was produced by factories, and many of them still coast. It is really a matter of preference tyhether one “coasts” or not. Judicious “coasting” may save petrol; abuse of it may add to running expenses. It is not policy to “coast" on an unknown road. It is important to be prepared for snags ahead, such as curves, hidden changes of gradient, and road junctions. Hills where the gradient is excessive should never be “coasted,” for even if it were possible to get to the bottom safely, the saving in petrol would not be commensurate with the wear on the brake linings. An overseas authority, who seems to have paid a lot of attention to - “coasting,” tells us that it is advisable • not to start too fast. He. declares that “coasting” above 40-45 miles an hour is seldom worth while, and may haye its dangers. Importance of Wind Wind is an important factor. A coasting car is more liable to sway at speed .in a side, wind than a car-in gear, with the engine functioning in the orthodox fashion. Gn the other hand, given a strong headwind, it is often possible to. “let it rip,” knowing that the wind will check excessive soeed. A following wind down a gentle grade will sometimes make possible a little "coasting,” which normally would have been out of the question. Opinions differ on the question whether the engine should be switched entirely off or kept on with the gear lever in neutral. On a quiet road, where the “coast” will last a mile or so. it might be a saving to switch right off. , It should be remembered, however, that the car is brought under control more quickly if the engine Is running in neutral. In the latter case, of -course, the battery will be discharging slightly, hut the loss will be no .more than that caused by the application of the selfstarter when the engine has been switched off entirely. Be sure that the tickover is set so that the engine does not stall while idling. Getting Back Into Gear There is an art in getting back into gear again after a “coast,” Assuming first, that speed 'has dropped to about 30 miles an hour, and that the car is running in neutral, it will be necessary to “rev" up first before letting put .the clutch and returning to top gear. A little practice will soon enable the driver to get back into gear quietly. • Briefly put, it is possible to get into any gear from neutral, provided that the gear chosen corresponds to the speed of the car. In consequence, a change into a low gear should not be ; made unless the speed of the car has been greatly reduced. j When “coasting” at 45 miles an hour do not suddenly engage low gear. This might be almost as disastrous as going to reverse, In. any case, remember to "rev” up before engaging gear in order to avoid strain. This is a case where to “rev” too much is better policy than to “rev" too little.

WHY BRAKES SQUEAK

FINDINGS OF RESEARCH COMMITTEE

Few things are more irritating than brakes which squeak when 'applied with harsh or even moderate intensity. Many solutions to the problem have been suggested, and it appears that there is an equally large number of causes worthy of investigation, i The Research Department of the Institution of ‘Automobile Engineers has isued a preliminary report upon this important subject; it comprises an ana*, lysis of the information’ received from over 100 makers and' operators -of mo-

tor vehicles. This report emphasises the elusive character of brake squeak which, for reasons not fully understood, may appear with persistent frequency m one type of chassis and may never he experienced in another type built to similar designs , and in the same factory. Similarly, immunity from this trouble is nqt confined - to any one class of car or brake mechanism. Effective Palliatives An ingenious method which has proved effective/ in; certain. instances consists of using a. thin metal ring (of copper or lead) nipped between the back of the drum and the face of the hub flange. In other' cases reducing the rigidity of the shoes has proved successful, this being done by cutting slots pr holes in the webs. Usually, tne leading shoe is the chief offender, because It experiences a self-servo action tending to increase its outward pressure against the drum/ A very Interesting point .is that vibrations which accompany the squeaking noise produce a substantial increase in the torque exerted by the brake for a given pedal pressure. An mcrease as great as 20 per cent, has been recorded.. This may prove some consolation to motorists.