FIELD OF THE LORRY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 112, 14 May 1927, Page 13

FIELD OF THE LORRY

THE RAILWAYS HANDMAID

. "There is no question in the mind of the motor transport" industry that thai short- haul—is the^-di»tinetivftfiald of the motor-truck and motor-Bus. The motor-truck, can, in the future, do much to relieve the terminal congestion which is a major problem.yf railroad operation.. The, most telling consideration, however, is that the public thinks it can be better or more conveniently served by. a combination, of railway .and motor transport- than by the former alone."" Such is-tho considered statement of an American authority in regard to present-day needs. ..........

"Another factor of • great -importance," he says,-"is the growing substitution of the truck for local trains carrying package freight. At least ten." railroads are shipping goods in unbroken cars to a zone station. Motortrucks are then used to carry the freight to intervening stations at which • the heavy freight train used • to stop to discharge a single package. When thd railways" go a step further ana find that the same motor-truck can pick up freigßt in the city, transport it,- and deliver it to the village,: they will bo approximating the service that is now being given by independent trucking companies," ■■ ■- -„ „

Tho practicability of forming a load from Kingston to. Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, is a question at present interesting tho Lake.- County; Council. There is a movement on foot to secure a report from thp- Government Engineer. ' . ......

The. Southland Motor Association is considering bringing put its annual report in the form of. a. year book. A small committee has .been set up to go' into the.matter, ■:' . . ;

While it is not advisable to allow the cooling water to, .boil, ife is a mis-, tako to run the, engine, too cool. Its temperature should "be from. 180 degrees to 200 degrees Fahrenheit for economy and power. . . ' .

Overseas motorists intending to visit Great Britain will be interested J,o! know that the Automobile "Association has established.an office at' Southampton, at which ;meinbers ..can obtainall necessary' information, is. togards touring, road information', ';etc'i As regards those landing at other ports the association announces" that motor-cars landed at the" southern ports without registration or licenses, are.now allowed to proceed to ,the nearest registration authority before complying with tho requirements of the British law.

In a review- of ' the novelties with which the motor-cars of••■1027- will be: equipped, Mr. G.W. Button; jun., writing in the "Motor News" (Chicago) says that they will include headlamps with: double filament"-. bulbs, 'which thro^the light down on the road, and thus avoid dazzling oncoming drivers; the adoption of crankease ventilating systems, which, in conjunction Trith' thermostativ..control of. the circulating water and. oil filters, eliminate much of the dilution'of lubricants; the use even on inexpensive' cars[ p fair cleaners, fuel; filters, adjustable pne-pjecp windshields, headlight controls' from, the steering ■wheel; neater instrument boards indirectly lighted, electric das!\-> board clocks, rubber engine supports, and shock insulators,' and an increased use of leather upholstery in enclosed cars. Praetiealy all cars .vnll ' have. four-wheel brakes, balloon tires, somo. form of cellulose finish instead of 'paint, lower centres of gravity, moTo power with less weight,' automatic 'windscreen cleaners, pngiuo thermometers, and other luxuries of i the. softi . -' . „..