MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2461, 14 May 1915, Page 9

MOTORS & MOTORING

[BY CLTJTOH.]

A Cood Route. As one who is often motoring (cycle) to and from Wellington aud elsewhere, writes Mr. F. H. Spencer, r 'l am interested in the roads, etc. I offer tlio following addition to your routes: From Levin to Bulls '(for those who do not wish to go to I'almerston) by far the best route is to branch off, at Levin to Foxton, 13 miles; Foxton to Sanson, 20 miles; Sanson to Bulls," 4 miles. This is 37 miles along a practically lovol and good road, as against 54 via Palmerston —a difference of 17 miles, and on, in most places, a good a road. I am glad that roads are improving in most places, but in tho Auckland province and Taupa, Kotorua, and Bay of Plenty, the.y are still, generally speaking, execrable."

The Land of tho Motor. An idea of the tremendous growth of the motor industry in tho United States of America can bo gathered from tho fact that in 1914 soino 1,200,000,000 gallons of petrol were used in that country. In the samo period, England used just ten pur cent, of that quantity. 'Iho American tire trade also affords striking evidence of the popularity of the automobile; one big company alone sold over £16,750,000 worth of tires during its last financial year. Shortage of Cars. A trade hint which is pretty obvious is the forecast of a shortage of highquality motor-cars in Now Zealand from now onwards, owing to the manufacturers in England and Europe being unabls to fulfil orders. Even where they can, shipping space is now so limited that it is a difficult matter to get. cars to this country.' In both directions, it is suggested, matters are likely to got worse before the year is out, consequently intending purchasers of cars will do well to "get on early," and securo what they want at once. It was thought that relief in this direction would come from America, but with a keen market in Europe, and. better shipping facilities to that country, it is stated that America is unlikely to bo able to fully cater for Australasian requirements. The Abuse df Brakes. Throttle-driving is an art which is not sufficiently practised. The average motorist does far more of his pulling up for corners and obstructions by means of the brake pedal rather than the accelerator pedal. In some cars the throttle has a better retarding effect than in others, and the light car in particular lends itself to this type of speed contral. In fact, it has been proved possible to cover an entire journey without once depressing tho brake pedal. This, of course, is carrying tho method a trifle too far for the ordinary man. At tho same time, if motorists realised the great saving which can be accomplished in tires by driving as much as possible on the throttle, and resisting the impulse to press the brake pedal on all occasions when a slow-up is desired, they would , pay moro attention to the subject. An Appeal. It hiust be apparent to everyone, says tho "Car" (England) that further large supplies of motor vehicles are needed for the work that lies beforo the Allied armies in France this spring, and the' inevitable wastage of war requires to be made good in oars, lorries, and drivers. The manufacturers are making every effort to meet the domands of the Government orders for cars in regard to the first-named two; but there is also urgent need for a large number of capable and skilled mechanic-drivers. The War Office au-' thorities • are now asking for the services of men with mechanics,! experience ; such men, as we have already seen many, times; are worth their weight in gold in cases of emergency. Apart from the drivers of public motor conveyances, of taxi-cabs, and of commercial lorries, there must have been in existence at the outbreak of the war 6ome 150,000 drivers. Many of those men have offered their services, but there are many thousands who are still employed in private service. A certain amount of self-sacrifice may he entailed in parting with a trusty and valued driver, but it is time when such personal considerations must be pub aside. There will be no necessity for curtailing the use of a private' car, for the Royal Automobile Club has undertaken not only to superintend the arrangements connected with the enlistment of a motorist's present driver, but also to replace him by a qualified substitute. The patriotic action on the part of the club officials mitigates the inconvenience caused by losing the driver, aud every owner should realise his duty and persuade his driver to respond to the .War Office's urgent appeal. I

Lamps Alight. ■ Legal lighting up time for motor-cars and motor-cycles:—To-day, 4.43 p.m. Next Friday, 4.37 p.m. The Motor in War. It is impossible, of course, to ascertain with any approach to even tolerable accuracy how many motor vehicles of all sorts are engaged in active service by the different armies, but one estimate places it at half a million vehicles. We hesitate to express any opinion on the estimate, but we are at least aware that tho "number is so high as would have been considered incredible a short year or two ago, while the' money value must be stupendous.' Think of the swarms of motor-cycles, all of them of the. best types, engaged in dispatchcarrying and other similar work; the enormous number of convoys of lorries transporting munitions, food, and all the impedimenta of great armies in tho field; the fast touring and enclosed cars conveying officers about their duties; the splendid fleets of motor ambulances carrying on their work of humanity in all parts of the front; the armoured oars fitted up with quick-firing guns; tho motor-cycle machine-gun sections; the many thousands of motor buses taken from their profit-earning duties to carry trops as swiftly as may bo from point to point; think of the other uses to which the motor vehicle is now being put in the war area, and it will be found difficult to discredit an estimate which at first sight seoms far.tastio.