MOTORING

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18905, 21 January 1927, Page 3

MOTORING

"Roadster" invites articles and paragraphs of interest to motorists for this page. NOTES. The remarkable increase in Great Britain's export of motor-cars during the last two or three years can be explained to a large extent by tho efficiency of the British light car. It is only during this period that British makers have seriously studied tho problem of such cars for overseas use, and have succeeded in producing a car which is of service in practically every export market and acceptable 'on the score of price. The fact that it is British carries with it a general recommendation on the ground of quality in material, workmanship, and finish. In the few years that this type of ear has been in vogue, it has proved inexpensive to buy, economical to run, and, most important of all, its lasting qualities have exceeded all expectations. "Oh, I've got one of those things, but I don't know how to use it," said one of a small knot of motor-car drivers, pulled up on the Great South road in the Lower Waikato, to watch a car blazing merrily (says the "Times"). ''One of those things" was an extinguisher, which the latest arrival at the conflagration had rushed along with from his car. Out of the six motorists who had drawn up to ex-' press sympathy, even if they could not do anything in the fire brigade line, only two possessed extinguishers, and the one who didn't know how to use it, was driving a very valuable car People who cannot afford these vehicular luxuries can never understand why the lucky owners don't go to the trouble of learning at least something concerning their protection. The latest American development is the system hy which a customer may hire a car, use it as long as he wishes and return it at a convenient depot, which may be thousands of miles from hia starting-noint, if he so desires. This "chain store" system of hiring depots, or ' 'renting stations,'' is being organised by the General Motors Cor- I poration. It will bo known as the I Hertz Drivurself. An unusual type of theft occurred at Blockhouse Bay one evening last week. A motor-car was left outside the owner's gate when he returned from work. Next morning he found that all four tvres, valued at about £3O. had been stolen, and the car had been pushed into a hedge.

The grand total of Canadian trade for the twelve months ended July 3lst last shows an increase of 403,750.381 dollars over the total for the nreceding year. For the twelve months ended July 31st last Canada's trade amounted to 2,327,199,145 dollars, while for the previous twelve months the total ,was 1,923,448,764 dollars. An interesting decision was reached at Brentford Police Court (Eng.), when an A.A. scout was summoned for having warned motorists of a police trap on the Great West road. It was stated that, as a result of the warning, motorists went through the trap "at an absurdly low speed" and jeered at and raised their hats to the police. The defence contended that there was nothing wrong in warning a person about to commit an c-ffence, and the Bench, after deliberation,. dismissed the sum'mons. A London evening paper, commenting on the Brentford case, gave the following clever parallel: "Magistrates would give short shrift to a person who looked on but did nothing while a burglary or murder was committed, and said that he so acted in case he should be interfering with a police experiment.''

Official registration figures for the vear ended August 31st, 1926, have just been released by the British Government, and they Bhow an exceedingly healthy growth in automotive activity. The total number of motorvehicles registered is given as 1,690.000. This is an increase of 180,000 vehicles over the previous twelve months. Of the total, 630,000 are motor-cycles. Even eliminating the motor-cycle registration, Great Britain for the first time has touched the 1,000,000 mark in automotive vehicles. "When we consider the terrific taxes that Englishmen must pay out of incomes, it must be acknowledged that the growth is extremely good.

BY "ROADSTER."

At its meeting last night ilio executive committee of the South Island Motor Union reaffirmed its previous decision against the proposal that highway lighthouses should bear advertisements. There is at least one Auckland motorist who has decided views about the lack of business methods of the New Zealand Railway Department. He motored to Rotorua for a holiday at Christmas, and was suddenly taken ill, with the result that he had to rail his car back to Auckland. Having given the customary 48 hours' notice, he took his car to the railway station to have it loaded on a waggon for the trip. "When I announced my purpose," he informed a '-.Star'' representative, "the man in charge told me the staff was too husv with routine workto undertake the "job. He ponded out a waggon, which was some 200 yards down the line, and. though I was unwell at the time, 1 had to find a friend to help me push the truck to the loading bank, wading in water 'to the hocks.' and load the car. after which I was thrown some ropes with which to complete the loading. Finally -I was presented with a bill for £o. the charge for using the railway 'facilities in getting my motor-car trucked back to Auckland. No wonder Rotorua is distinguished by a sulphurous odour.

A highway experiment is being tried in New Bridge street, City of London. Rubber as a road surface is to be subjected there to a severe test. Although rubber has been used before, it has never been used in quite the same way as in this experiment. Heavy terracotta blocks, lOiin by Bin, are laid as a base to hold a superimposed rubber cap, five-eighths of an inch in thickness. This is put on by a process which, it is claimed, will withstand the pounding-and-spreading-forco of the heaviest traffic. The blocks with these rubber caps arc laid on a 12in concrete bed, with a cushion of sand threequarters of an inch thick, They arc being set in by means of joints, composed of a special bitumen and rubber mixture. The Guildhall experts think that the New Bridge street test will he the most drastic which could possibly he devised, for the traffic to and from the Blackfriars Bridge is the heaviest in the city, and probably in London. The rubber, it is claimed, absorbs vibration, and this is of great importance both to vehicles and to propei'ty. It is grooved to prevent skidding, and is expected to bo more silent than either wood or asphalt. The Executive Committee of the South Island Slotor Union decided last night, subject to the approval of rlic affiliated Associations, to hold the halfyearly meeting of the Union in Christchurch oh March 25tli.

S.I.M.U. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The executive committee of the South Island Motor Union met last. evening, Mr W. L. Minson presiding. Others present were Messrs B. Falck, J. S. Hawkes, P. W. Johnston, W. E. Oarey, E. Egglestanc, and H. O. Harley. Tho Southland Motor Association forwarded a list of the routes whier had been colour marked. The colours were approved, but it was stated that it would hare beon preferable had tho colours been submitted to the Union before being adopted. _ Tt was decided to write to the Association expressing appreciation of the vrork_ done, and pointing out the desirability of submitting such works to the Union. Keep all connexions on the exhaust pipe packed and tight. Otherwise the exhaust gases will come through the floor boardß, resulting in headaches, and Often mbre serious rosults. Carbon monoxide gases are dangerous and give no warning. Never allow water to stay on nickel trimmings long endugh to dry off. Lamps, bumpers, etc., soon become speckled with rust spots, which are found difficult to remove. Strenuous polishing is necessary to. remove the rust, and this does the nickel much injur)'.