MOTORS & MOTORING

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 298, 12 September 1919, Page 2

MOTORS & MOTORING

(By "Clutch'.") .' Question of Taxation. A deputation which waited on the Ilntfc County. Council this week in reference to tho proposed main west road to Plimiuerton'via Pukerua, mentioned.that. motorists were willing ..to pay a.tax on tyres, tho revenue from which would bo devoted to tho maintenance of roads. As a. matter of fact there 13 some divergence of-views on. this question, but the following remarks by a writer in a southern.paper are interesting:'"The: tyre tax is advocated by most motoring bodies'. iri : preference to any other form of tux," hesays. ''Since the object of. the,.'tax.tin motors is to assist 1 in the maintenance of the'roads, the tyro' tax,6ccm.s'rb mo to be singularly suited to meet the case.'. As tho tyre wears the road, .so 'the road wears tho lyre. The faster, tho speed,"tho, longer, tho running, the heavier the load, the sharper the turning, the more negligent tho driving, the greater «rp thewear. and tear on tyres riiid road. ; In short,' tho wea? and tear of the read la-kesplaco! pari, passu with the wear and tear of tho,tyres, and the ; owner'who' his; tax'on_ tyres is paying as near .as sible'his fair shar'o towards the cost'of. the maintenance of tlie-'ronds'. Suppprr-' ere of tho tax on petrol argue their, case similarly. "They claim wider this 'system- that 'the motorist 'would bo taxed according to tho number of miles run. It woul<l be' simpler, more' equitable, and more effectivo if the entire tax was' born ■by tho petrol. The motorist would.'their realise that by reducing his mileage aiitf : sp£ed ho was affecting.a saving in running expenses. " '■ Petrol consumption as tho solo basis of taxation .would 'also deal satisfactorily with another" important factor, and that is tho'weight question. The heavier tlio'car 'the;,greater is the road wear, High horse-power cars 'are usually very heavy' and are driven fast; and, therefore, if the tax were based on petrol consumption alone, they would'have \to pay heavily for'the 'damage they-were causing by their weight and speed. On { tho other hand, low . horse-power cars cAuso less damage to' the, Von.ds. .and their taxation would iW moderate. Even in the case of, old cars this system would not create an injustice. No doubt these ears use inoro petrol than modern vehicles capable'of as high a speed,* and they are considerably heavier, power for power.' and ' ebns'eiqucntly create more "rbnd wear than a modern car giving ■ the same amount of power. Hence any hardship caused by an increased petrol■ consumption does no more than balance the increased damage done to tho road bv the weight. In fact, from every point' c'f view petrol -taxation .would be in approximate proportion''to road wear.' Taxation,is coming.-•' The non-motorist usually supports the tax-on horse-power, but' tho tyre-".tax appeals to the motorist -s?,the more equitable. Should a tax on tyres-prove unsuitable then passibly a tax might be • levied"''on petrol, but never, I trust, on horso-, power." '"'.'. Thefts of Motor-Cars:A Brisk Business. There is a fortune awaiting the man .who'invents a simple device for "locking ;a.motor-ear so that an enterprising .thief 'cannot dri v e pS with fH vehicle when it is left unattended. ThV","'-' of motor-cars off the streets of Londoll'j.;Ve been going' on for tho past two yeafe; but latterly, the thefts have become, so numerous that if is ovident the business has been properly organised. The thief, knows where ho can dispose of a ear as soon as he arrives with it, and the "receivers" employ skilled mechanics arid craftsmen who are able to change tho appearance of .1 car in a fow hours. There is 116 difficulty in selling tho changed car to ah innocent purchaser, for the market fgr second-hand cars is unlimited at pressnt. .Tho'demand arises from tho faot that no' now cars' were made during tho latter years of the war, tho manufacturing firms gaged exclusively on war work,. ~ Anyone who wants :a-new car'has.to-plane his name on a manufacturer's waiting list, and wait for at least two years, white those-.ahead .of him ion the.-.Ust.* a re-sup-plied. Owing "to-the .scarcity of ears, ■second-hand .vehicles;.-are.,. bringing..;-os m;ieh. as 'they did .'.when ■ -.-■: Mo'torTcar thieves.(says tho.Loudon -cor.respondent of the "Ago").are'most daring, in. their methods.- A'ear -left unattended, for a few minutes .ouside a building in ii.;strect crowded with trame.is as likely to disappear as one left oii'.d, -lonely ; ,rbad- by a .picnic party., -Cars have disappeared while left unattended outside the: .War ; Office, fashionable hotels, West End theatres, and city merchants'offices. 'lii.bno day three ears were stolen from a fashion'--able golf courso near London whiCe tho owners were going, round the links. ■ A youth of 22 years who was recently ai\ rested by the police on a charge of steal-ing'motor-cars is said toliave been .netting J2500 a week from .his'sales of stolen, em's to receivers, who in turn sold the vehicles at four times.. what-they paidfur them. This youth is said to havestolen over 30 cars.. As a rule the theft, of a ear is discovered within a. minute ov two , of" tho. disappearance of the, vehicle;' but this is generally■',. top ;late for pursuit. In 0110 iuslnnce a' thief drove off. in a car and-waved his hand in--genial farewell to the' iiifuriated owner,' v/ho appeared in time to' witness.■ its. de; parture. It is not surprising that, motor--flar owners are asking manufacturers for some form of device which will lock tho! car when it is unattended. •;• When the .Generator Fails. - -'• When tho generator fails and reliance must bo placed in the. battery -.for starting, lighting and ignition, it. is'well to follow- a little science in using- up the precious store of says an exchange. In/the'first place,.knowing-tiio ampere-hour . capacity and its approximate condition, it is easy to! make afairly accurate guess as to what the- 1 battery may. be expected to.:do. Suppose, for. example, that it is a 100-aihp.- lir. battery. Incidentally, -..the • term means that this battery, theoretically,-.at'least, will giye 100 amp.- for 1 hr., 1 amp.- for. 100..'hr., or proportionately, any currentflow between.- This is assuming that tho battery is fully charged and in tho pink of condition. If tho battery is not fully charged,'or if its lifo of usefulness is nearing its close, the .rated capacity must be discounted somewhat-- Thus the stock' uf electricity on hand, if wo' may !uso- the term, is determined with reasonable-110-curacy. j If our stock is small, it may not be-advisablo to use the starter'at all. On the other hand,-if the rbajttcry is. well charged aud not 100 much current will be required for "lighting and i"ni■tion, it may bo permissible to' : use . :tho, starter. -Likewise, knowing .by ..readingthe ammeter how much current is''required fpr ignition, in case:the ignition apparatus calls for a mensurable- quantity, it is easy to.- figuro what' is available for lights during a.given time. By taking into account the current used for ignition and that called for by headlights and sidelights,' it ie possible to show whether there is enough to rim.--the headlights during this period or whether tlrbinuse'must be avoided alloi-perhaps part" <>f,. the time. This method, «£. is-.really-'of .great advantage loirg" night run or perhaps several night runs must be made without the generator and without opportunity to recharge the bat-1 tery. Al?o, -when it is just .a question of. getting home when the generator fails/ Quite often under those .-circumstances, the. battery is low, thd generator having been producing less..than-.the' requisite' amount of, current-before .finally..giving OUt..' .' ..'...' -.'-,.. -.'-I-;,- ' ■ ■;,('. ■ I Here and There. , ".: .. .".' ..,.."'•...;,'!..' ' It appears., that Brnoklands—the> fine automobile racing track- in England, and' upon which many world-famed ■ speed records were established in pre-war-days-was considerably damaged, by. war vehicles during the past, few years.« It is in such a stale, that speed stunts'arc out of the question . until the surface hns been repaired.* This fine .banked-track , has- been of great vnluo' to . the EngliAh -| makers in the past as a testing ground/ • and efforts are to .bo, made to get'Brboklands back into racing trim. ..There, is little doubl but that .(his track will soon again bo the scene of many -fine motor speed performances. In this connection it.is, interesting to note that there is talk' of a lingo motor speedway being- constructed near Paris. If proceeded with it , will be. modelled on . Drooklands linrs, but;.will be about■ seven miles in circumference. An important stand has ben taken ,hy .tho-British linbbcr Tyro Manufacturers' .-'ssoHulioii, which has .decided to.abolish I the mileage guarantee usualy given with solid lyre*. It is-a move- towards, mod-.' cruising the conditions under jvhich litis-1 class of tyro has Jipe'n sold to owners of motor trucks, wagons, etc. There is cer-

tainly something very archaic about'a' mileage guarantee, and- probably tho association is right in'attributing its existence to the -need of educating the user to the practicability aud economy of the solid tyre, notwithstanding its high cost, It has now served its purpose, if. it was projected, with! the sole object of popularising the tyre, because no one interested-in motor transport today is left with any apprehension as to .its efficiency. ■ The importance of keeping car springa Well lubricated has been recognised for bunny years.. It .is- only' comparatively ■ recently, however, thattli'o'importance of .'enclosing the springs was considered. An uncovered spring cannot maintain its lubrication'for any appreciable length of 1 time,..and unless the springs receive freiquent and periodical 'attention tliey are ; bound to get into 11 bad"condition,-There 'is evidence to show that car manufac--turers are-beginning'to'-see the-desira- ■ bility of enclosing the springs of their productions,•■■ - • ■ . ■ ,-■; ; Not infrequently something is required on tho road -to servo as blocks to bus--taintho'axle of a car, when the jack is 'desired- for other uee. -'Getting into a mud-hole miles from any house often willreauire the rear to'bo,raised so chains lean bo put on or-the hole filled in with-' brush'of'dirt: • It may hnppen- that- a 1 ifenee-is not handy, and more probably there will be nothing in the car to servo :the purpose. Bricks come in handy"-'if thev can-bo found, but this is not likely .on a cou'nirt road. 'Paving blocks of the ■creosoted kind are just-the right size ; and-shape to-be handy in 'such oases. Three or- four: jiieces of scantling, 2 by '4in. -ciit-to-different-lengths, are quite as iL'ood; in fact,'almost' any sizes or kinds ;of blocks that have well'defined edges ,and are whole will be most useful."" If desired;-one or-more may bo slotted on oue end. .to permit the axle to rest thcre-' : iii. • ':e blocks may be used in winter ;tn L„\ the tyres off' tho floor.- They will come iii handy whe'.i the car is being ■overhauled. ' -They are excellent for use iii holding under a fe'nde'r'wlien attempting to. straighten it after a bump, mid 1 thev can be used iu many other ways. 'There' is always room for two or threo' under tho'-'b'aefc' ''seat, and they should' :form a part of the' kit, particularly for '.lone-distance motorists. r

: 'Several I 'different■'compounds can bo purchased for application'to the outside fiurfncir-D'f"-wind-screens to prevent the' formation of rain spots, which dazzle thn'driver, and'unde'r '.certain-condition's, > seriously affect his fvision of the road ahead.'; These compounds cause the .rain-water'to 'run down the glass practicallv as a solid sheet, and, while tho view' through tho screen is even then I slfchtlv blurred, the .advantage is very' - appreciable. It is ljot generally known, however'.''that the same end can bo served bv' the application of apple juice, arid, even bv a piece of damp soap rubbed on ' the-' glass. 'The apple juice is best applied bv cutting an applo in half and ■ rubbing one' of tho flat surfaces all over the screen. This treatment is preferable to; the'.use of soap, and even to that, of'some Of the 'compounds,' for no time'or trouble need be expended in ensurimr'"an; even distribution, whereas unless, top'be' very'carefully and-equally applied, the driving-screen becomes even lea transpa'r'eii.t than'-if tho treatment We're omitted, entirely. Another very aood {rea'tnierit. and one that is preferred bv many drivers, is a mixture of-glycer-ine and. methylated spirit, and a small bottle of.this, mixed ready for use, may wiui .advantage be kept in one of tho sockets of tho car. The proportions should be. approximately, a teaspoonful ,qf s:lvce'ri»o' to.a tablespoonful of me^Jiy■lated''snirit.-'. The! mixture, may be applied cniite sparingly with a piece of. cloth.'althouKh the.latter should.be rub-, bed over the whole, surface of the screeif. These, preventives of -rain'spots do not last, anv -great- length, of "tinic 111 continuous rain, and it may be necessary on a lona run.to renew- the application every Uiirfv. miles or eo. . ' When Vnu hear-a'clatter as though you had-run-over a' tin can or somo other niece of metal scrap wliich has found its way on 'to the road, do not be so optimistie, 'as to" think'it did not fall off. the car" but ""eiHac-k and look carefully. One'motorist, losfciat license tog- this -way, ■another b'loko "the coiVplmg ■•■•betweenolutch:aiid'- gear-set' because he' did not stob'to look'"when'"a out He Oieal'd it: but thought nothing of it. Ailr other.lost two good wrenches and a tj'ro pump wliich ho-had absent-mindedly left on tlie .ruhning-boai'd.' Still'.ana her last a-spa"re tvro on the tear in the sanio way. It, is better to be 611 the safe side and investigate. ; ." ._ . "LighHn?-nP. Hme:-To-dfl,y,. 5-36 p.m. Next Friday, 5.-13 p.m. .