Motor and Cycle

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 70

Motor and Cycle

'By

DEMON.

A copy of the Chrysler News is to hand. This admirably printed and illustrated production contains some interesting articles on motoring. The methods .of locomotion in the years long gone are shown by illustrations, and this part of the booklet is quite a feature Messrs P. H. Cathriek and J. P. Castley. of England, who are touring the world on two motor cycles and side-cars are expected to arrive in Dunedin on Thursday of this week. A party of motor cyclists will meet them at Palmerston and escort them into Dunedin, and in the evening they will be the guests at dinner of representatives of the motor trade and the Otago Motor Chib. The riders left England early in September last year, and since then have toured through Europe, Asia, India, and the near East, arriving at Fremantle from Sourabaya by steamer on May 19. From Fremantle, they proceeded overland to Melbourne, and, after a tour of Tasmania, returned to Melbourne and left for Sydney, where they arrived on July 18. When they have completed their journey through New Zealand they will leave for South America, and they expect to cross this continent from Valparaiso to Buenos 'Aires. Their next cross-country trek will be through Southern Africa, from Capetown up to Zanzibar, ■where they will catch the steamer for home. Mr Cathriek, who is attached to the staff of a world-famous firm of motor-cycle manufacturers, is making the trip on behalf of his firm, and Mr Castley is o ut to gather details for the Motor Cycling Weekly, of which he is assistant editor. “ Allow me to remark here, as I have remarked before,” said Mr E. D. Mosley. S.M., interrupting defendant in an alleged negligent driving case recently (states the Lyttelton Times) “ that the motorists in Christchurch are marvellous people. Nobody seems to go more than 10 or 12 miles an hour, according to the evidence they' give in this court.”

‘'lt seems to me that some little latitude should be extended to medical men; they have a lot of ground to cover in a day,” said Mr C. Campbell, in the Magistrate’s Court the other afternoon, when he appeared for a Wellington doctor (says the Evening I’ost), and pleaded guilty’ to exceeding the speed limit of 15 miles an hour at Eastbourne recently. “I’m afraid I can’t look at it that way,” said Mr J. 11. Salmon, S.M., in imposing a fine of £l, and costs.

The Dunlop Rubber Company has decided to stage a big cycle race next November on similar lines to those on the Continent, and to be known as the Dunlop Grand Prix. The course will be through Victoria, a distance of 685 miles—the biggest road race ever held in the British Empire and the second longest event in the world. The field will be limited to 100 of the finest long-distance road riders in Australia and New Zealand. FIRST CAR TREK ACROSS AFRICA. Amusing reminiscences of his trek across Africa from the West Coast to the Red Sea, the first to be made by motor car, were related by Mr Frank Gray at a London luncheon given in his honour by Sir George Beliarrell on behalf of the Dunlop organisation. " There were two things which were important to our journey—the human factor and mechanical appliances,” said Mr Gray. “In no part of our journey did the latter give anxiety. The gallant little Jowett carried through to the end. With regard to the former we had two ‘ black boys,’ Bismarck and Joseph, our interpreters. “ Unfortunately Joseph scalded Bismarck so seriously that he became a passenger for 21 days. Joseph, however, was wonderful in presiding us with food and water. This he did by stating that I was (a) Mr Baldwin, Prime Mmister of England, or (b) his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. We did this journey from Lagos to Massawa without dumps in advance, and I have come back with an immense belief in the trading possibilities of West and Central Africa.”

Sir George Beharrell, who presented Mr Gray with a silver model of the car in Which he made his trip, explained that the two cars used for the adventure were not Bpecially designed ; they were ordinary stock models which had to face innumerable difficulties. On the whole journey Mr Grav and his companion, Mr John Sawyer, averaged 65 miles a day through completely

wild country. The success of the expedition was a triumph for British industry as a whole.

AMERICAN BOOSES POPULAR. Figures relating to the imports of motor car bodies and chassis into Australia in the 12 months ended on June 30 show the. extent to which, the United States dominates the Australian market. Of a total number of 12.746 motor car bodies imported in the period, 11,133 came from the United States. The value of the motor car bodies imported into New South Wales and Victoria and the total importations into the Commonwealth were as follow : Country of CommonOrigin. N.SAV. Vic. wealth. United Kingdom 43,105 28.653 95,066 Canada . . . . 77S 5,595 8,466 United States . . 625,773 376,2G3 1,260,759 Euronean countries .. .. 19.070 19,682 45,428 Totals . . 688,726 430,193 1,409,719 The value cf the chassis, assembled and unassembled, imported into the Commonwealth from each country in the 12 months was as follows :—• United Kingdom . . . . £ 3,198,290 Canada 1,008,176 United States 7,555,717 European countries . . . . 480,295 Total from all countries . . 12,242,478 JOY RIDING THEFTS. Motor car thefts in Auckland have been unusually numerous during recent months, and it is an open secret that the prevalence of this form oLcrime has caused the authorities considerable cause of anxiety (says the Star). A reporter was informed that car insurance rates have not been increased, and there is at present little likelihood of a rise, but several companies have had to pay substantial claims, and the matter is exercising the minds of those in what may perhaps be termed the “ higher command ” of the insurance world. The manager of one of the principal companies expressed the opinion that the imposition of more severe penalties would go a long way towards stopping car thefts. “ What alwut safety devices?’’ he was asked.

‘‘There arc several,” he said, *‘ and some of them are quite effective, but only too many motorists neglect to use them.'lt ; s the exception rather than the rule for a driver to lock his gears, turn the key of the magneto box, or fasten up his steering gear for a short stop. The consequence is that a thief who comes along and finds the starting mechanism in operation is often tempted to ‘borrow ’ the car. This is bad enough, but no words are sufficient, to condemn the thieves who, after stealing and using a. car, deliberately wreck it or allow it to burst into flames. The penalty in such cases should be drastic.” Mr G. W. Hutchison, of the Auckland Automobile Association, whilst agreeing that owners should make more use of the safety devices on their cars, and also that the penalty for crime should be heavier, said a big step forward would be made by the compulsory publication of the names <>f all the parties concerned in the case of theft. In the majority of cases motor cars were stolen for “joy-riding” purposes, and as often as not the girls were as much to blame as the young men. In Mr Hutchison’s opinion there should be no suppression of names. EFFICIENT SPRINGING. Of recent years a great deal more attention has been given to springs and spring maintenance. Springing has been studied from every angle and under ail conditions, and the result of this concentration of expert attention on the matter is seen ; n the very fine suspension which the modern car can boast. As a matter of fact, there is little to complain about in car suspension to-day, even in vehicles which may be considered to be in the low price category; and what is perhaps more noticeable and. in a way, more remarkable, is the fact that a large proportion of designers have adopted what is, perhaps, the oldest form of spring suspension as applied to automobiles—the semi-eilipt:c spring. Many designers have come back to the semi-elliptic springing who have previously flirted with other and perhaps loss orthodox methods. Finns who have at one time or another adopted full cantilever or semi-cantilever (otherwise known as quarter-elliptic have returned, after much actual trial of these methods, to the semi-elliptic, having found the older the more

efficient type considered from every point of spring service. Not all chassis constructions are best suited by the semi-elliptic system, however, and some are expressly built to be adapted for other special springing systems. But the best springing system cannot operate successfully unless it is properly looked after and due care is taken by the user in the matter of maintenance. Springs need attention just as much as any other part of the car mechanism. The shackling of the spring is a point in question. Perhaps the bulk of motorists do not realise how much the shackles have to do with efficient car operation. Loose and wrong shackles cause rocking and side sway. Loose shackles make for side-skidding especially in the case of well-loaded five-seater tourers and closed cars. They make the car unstable on greasy loads, and they add to the wear and tear of tyres because they cause sudden side strains of considerable weight to be imposed upon them. Shackles should have good, rigid, side plates, and the best makers adopt the very sensible practice of fixing the side . plates rigidly together. Really good fitting is an assurance against side sway, but ample and constant lubrication is necessary, or such wear will take place as will cause looseness and “ wobble.”

SYDNEY’S MOTOR CASUALTIES. The fact that the traffic problems of Sydney are very real, and are attended with ever-increasing danger, is revealed by the death or injury last year of one person in every 220 of the city's population, as a result of street accidents (says an exchange). The greatest number of accidents was attributed to motor cars, which killed <5B people and injured 2075. This somewhat grim record is not sur-

prising, in view of the fact that, of the 100.060 motor cars in use in the State last year, the great majority were registered in the metropolitan traffic district. Lorries, vans, and fire engines were responsible for 30 deaths and 488 injuries; motor cycles, 25 deaths and 661 injuries; motor buses, 18 deaths and 244 injuries; and trams, 11 deaths and 303 injuries. The inclination, nearly always, on an emotional wave of indignation and sympathy, is to blame the drivers of vehicles for accidents. That they are not always to blame is obvious to anyone who knows Sydney, and realises the risks which people often run. The spectacle of people, not ) all of them irresponsible children by any ; means, jumping on and oft’ trams while ; in motion in a sea of traffic, is quite com- ; mon. Women as well as men -indulge in ■ the practi ' and the miracle is that more arc not injured. Unless the authorities awake front the laissez faire attitude, and tack e. along bold, co-ordinated lines. Sydney s traffic problems, the grim toll of accidents in tne streets will grow even out of prop?, ion *o the increase in population.

VALUE OF LONG FLIGHTS. One of the most important points about trans-Atlantic flying is the evidence of the long service which is now being obtained from aero engines, and as aero engine design has been largely influencing automobile engine construction these long distance flights should be of great interest to motorists. Practical experience indicates that motor car engines built by firms with extensive aero engine experience give unusually good service before requiring periodical overhaul. It will lie remembered

that Sir Alan Cobham, in his flight from England to Australia and back, used the same engine which carried him from London to Capetown and back. The engine used by Chamberlin had already carried the plane a distance of 20,000 miles before it was used on the transAtlantic flight, which involved a non-stop journey of 3.005 miles, and liis average speed was 93 miles an hour. When a

motorist has travelled 20,000 miles on his car he frequently believes that the time has arrived to purchase a new vehicle, but these long distance aero flights iitJicaie the long life of the modern engine constructed by reliable builders.

MOTOR THIEVES. CHRISTCHURCH, August 2. A motor car, the property of Mr A. Grigg, of Longbcach, was stolen from Ashburton and has been found abandoned on the Port hills. Mr J. Murphy's car, which was taken from the Riccarlon racecourse on Saturday, has not been recovered, and the suggestion has been made that the person who- used Mr Grigg’s car ‘‘borrowed” Mr Murphy's car for the return journey. Several thefts from cars and garages belonging to residents of Moncks Spur, Sumner, are reported. Mr T, Ilickinbottom had tools taken from bis garage, in addition to two pairs of new trousers, which he had bought on the day of the theft and left in his car. About £lO worth of tools disappeared from Mr C. Hart’s garage, which was properly ransacked. Mr (J. 11. Papps lost tools, and his car was tampered with. It is believed that the battery was removed. Anollmr resident of Monck's Spur left his car in

tho drive and found that thieves had paid i attention to the tool-box. Mr L. Grant, of s Clifton, had a pair of motor dungarees t taken from a bed»oom while the occupants t were in another part of the house. I MOTOR REGISTRATIONS. * Nearly two-thirds of the cars and trucks running in New Zealand are on North Island roads, and current importations are being distributed in a proportion which should maintain the ratio (states the Auckland Herald.) The Auckland province leads tho Dominion in the absorption of cars, and one-seventh of tho automobiles registered are owned in the Auckland postal district. Of the 103,127 cars in use on April 30 last, 15.940 hailed from Auckland. Following is an analysis of the total registrations:—

Of the 4726 now cars sold in the Dominion in the period January-April, 1927, 3063 went to North Island buyers and 1663 were distributed in the South Island. _ Following were the provincial sales of ordinary cars during the four months: —

DUNLOP RUBBER COMPANY.

?T.c plates al. vicwmwof cm c c cmfwypxx The recent announcement by the directors of tho Dunlop Rubber Company of Australasia that they have entered into a provisional arrangement with the Dunlop Rubber Company, England, providing for the financial association of the two companies and a close technical and commercial alliance, is one of the most important amalgamations of manufacturing interests which has yet been suggested to further the development of an Australian industry. The principal object of ths amalgamation is to extend the scope of the Australian Dunlop Company’s manufactur-

ing interests, to secure the greatest possible efficiency and to obtain the rights to all new processes and developments in the rubber industry. The alliance with the big British company will make all the latest technical information available for the Australian company.

RECENT MOTOR FATALITIES. v WELLINGTON. August 3. j The immunity which judges of the | Supreme Court enjoy from parliamentary £ criticism was brought to notice in the | House of Representatives to-day, when , the Speaker called Mr D. Buddo (Kaiapoi) . to order for trespassing on forbidden ground. Mr Buddo was giving notice to the ! Minister of Justice to ask if his attention 1 had been drawn to the penalties recently ' imposed by various judges in motor ' fatality cases, and was proceeding to en- ' large on the subject bv mentioning a penalty of six months’ imprisonment which had been imposed on a man charged with false pretences. At this stage lie was called to' order. “It is a rule of this House,” said the Speaker, “that the decisions of the judges of the Supreme Court must not be called 1 in question.” ■ Mr Buddo commenced to explain his question when he was again interrupted. “Order, order,” called Mr Speaker. “The honourable member has again mentioned a specific case. He must not do that. The rule is perfectly clear. The action of a judge may be referred to only when he has been guilty of such gross misconduct as to warrant both Houses presenting an address asking for his removal from the bench.” Mr Buddo, however, was still insistent; but he had spoken only about a dozen words when the Speaker told him that he had better postpone asking his question until to-morrow, and that in the meantime the member could interview him (Nlr Speaker). The House then proceeded to the next business. x — WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE J CAR? WELLINGTON, August 3. A case with unusual features was heard > bv-JJr J. IL Salmon. S.M., in the Lower r Hutt'Magistrate’s Court to-day, when, ' on a charge of being drunk in charge of a. car, William Howard Morris was fined ! ‘ £lO, in default one month’s imprisonment. q Sergeant Reid prosecuted, and Mr W. E. n Leicester appeared for Morris. |. It appeared from the evidence that c Morris became very drunk at a party, and. r- realising his condition, he asked a friend

to take charge of the car. The friend was unable to start the car, which was found to be without petrol. Another car towed Morris’s car to a pump, but no petrol was available. During this trip the friend had steered the car and Morris and a companion, who was also drunk, were placed in the back seat, where they went to sleep. The other car proceeded to Wellington with passengers, the driver having first arranged to tow Morris s car home on his return. Meanwhile a constable arrived on the scene, and found the two men sleeping in the rear seat. With the assistance of another constable he arrested them both. Mr Leicester contended that Morris was not in charge of the car in that he gave it into the charge of his friend, who was competent to drive, and he had not con sciously received the car back into his charge. The Magistrate said that he must find that the accused was in the car in the disgraceful position alleged, and there was no evidence to contradict the police evidence of how he got there. In his lopinion when an owner or driver was in the seat of his car. even if he was in the back seat, he was in charge of it- Had Hie defendant attempted to drive or steer the car his license would have been cancelled for some years and a substantial penalty imposed.

POWERS CF BOROUGH COUNCILS WELLINGTON, August 1. The Full Court consisting of Sir Charles Skerrett (the Chief Justice) and Mr Justice Reed and Mr Justice MacGregor gave judgment to-day in an important case, the Hobson Motor Service v. Sayers, affecting the propnetora of all motor car services in the Dominion. The court held that the fact that the proprietors of the car hold a license under the Motor Vehicles Act of 1924, a heavy traffic license under the Motor Vehicles and Public Works Amendment Act of 1924, and a license to carry passengers by the Wanganui Borough Council, does not prevent the application of the by-law of the Stratford Borough providing for the charging of a fee in respect of vehicles plying for hire. “The by-laws providing for the licensing of vehicles plying for hire are justified as being in the interests of the good rule and government of the borough. The Stratford Borough Council by-laws do not deal with the carriage of passengers from a place outside the borough to a destination outside the borough, although the vehicle passes through the streets of the borough, but to use a vehicle for the carriage of passengers or goods for hire from a place within the borough to a place beyond it

appears to us to be the same thing as plying for hire within the same limits. It is sufficient if a contract wherever made contemplates a carriage from Stratford to a place beyond it. The by-law does create an offence for the carriage for hire of passengers or goods within the borough or from places within the borough to a place beyond the borough. The by-laws are neither invalid nor unreasonable, and therefore the appeal must be dismissed.” The Ful] Court consisting of Sir Charles Skerrett (Chief Justice), and Mr Justice Reed and Mr Justice MacGregor, heard the case on July 18. The defendant, who runs a motor service between Wanganui and New Plymouth, was charged with picking up passengers in Stratford without having a license under that borough’s by-laws. The company contended that it had a heavy traffic licence as well as an ordinary motor license and a Wanganui license, which gave it the right to use any road. The Borough Council contended that none of these overrode the right of boroughs to make special regulations for their own traffic... and Mr R. W. Tate, S.M., upheld this contention. From this conviction the company appealed, and the judgment of the Full Court is final.

Motor Postal District. Cars. Trucks. Cycles. Auckland . . 15,940 4,758 4,069 Thames 2,701 675 688 Hamilton . . 0,849 1,730 1,948 Gisborne 2,812 450 430 Napier 6,394 1,325 1,696 New Plymouth . . 6.030 1,011 2,344 Wanganui . . 4,573 917 1,586 Palmerston North 6,328 895 1,971 "Wellington 11,810 2,870 3,412 63,437 14,631 18,144 Aggregate of the nine South Island Postal Districts 39,690 5,978 13,990 Dominion total.. 103,127 20,609 32,134

Auckland Province .. 1501 Wellington .. 1035 Canterbury . . 752 Otago . . 429 Hawke's Bay 2S5 Southland .. 26S Taranaki ,. 242 Nelson . . 96 Marlborough 73 Westland .. 45 472G