Cycling and Motoring Notes.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 September 1915, Page 2

Cycling and Motoring Notes.

i'loia the JJuiilop Rubber Uoinpauy ol Australasia, lor tlie week ending August 28th., l'Jlu. • • w S • - *

Close observers ol blie :eommejrcial vehicle situated in America. lia<ve noted several tendencies oi lato which seem to portend an entirely new epoch in this industry—one tuat seems destined to liavo a far-reaching eii'ect on the whole system or' manufacture, sale-, and maintenance ol commercial motor vehicles. This change is being .brought about entirely through economic causes, apparently, and 'will do much, it h> believed, to oiiset some oi the unsound conditions .which have been more or less ol a disturbing .factor to the best growth ol Uie industry ever since its inception. The experience ol recent years is that the large user of motor vehicles ican, and dues 'make motor traction pay. bet-au.se h< , can use tliem to advantage, and handling is spread over a ini.m'ix" ul,. velueii , *; thereby keeping down the running ejtst und mainten.Mii'!. , u each vohicle. -Not so 'the man oi com mereia I hoiisei that li.seis perhaps only one or buy vehicles. I In America this is the type of user who will probably ibe the means ot causing to ibe introduced a new system of handling this phase ot motor traction. it has 'been found in the United State* that in most instances the commercial motor is not a payable proposition In the small man, lor he must either empluy one good driver-mechanic to earn lor his machine, and also o.wn or rent proper garage 'facilities, or he must pay some garage lor its repairs, storage and maintenance in cither instance his expenses are likely to bo considerably out of proportion to the trucking facilities received, for in one case he maintains equipment ami skilled labour bufKcieut tor a iinu\h larger number oi vehicles than he actually uses, and in the other he must pay regular garage rates with the repairman's protit added. i'he question illierefore uatua-ally arises would it jiob be better for the .small motor truck iiaer, if, instead ol attempting to purchase and maintain vehicles of his own, he rent them from a motor company either regularly or by tho trip? Wouldn't ho really save money, to say nothing of escaping the worries and troubles i>l trying to maintain

■one's own transportation equipment Y There aro indications that not only tho small users but also the lnanufaeturjrs themselves are beginning to see Ihe light and are rapidly coming to an affirmative conclusion in the matter From the manufacturers standpoint there is no question but that the

present system of marketing conuncrcial vehicles and keeping their owners satislicd its both wasteful and defcrimental to the best development- of the industry. The very [act that the small truck iiAi-r will iu>i, beeaiiwe economically lie really cannot, properly mainUiin his vehicles, has, in America lorced tiic maniilactiiiers to provide expensive free repair services, though braiieheti and travelliny represent-a.t-ives, at ruinous co*t. 'J'heoretically, ihe advantages ol the rental system appear very attractive both lor the. small user and the mnnulacturer. As lar as the lormer is eoncerned , lie cshoiikl roceive adequate motor trucking I'adJiti'w ai considerably Je.« cost than at present. His time anu attention could be devoled strictly to his ariid.: [ruin Die regular uvorsi»lil ol hh trallic, .schedules, roil ten etc. Liu could .•secure a vehicle of proper capacity lor each particular load instead ol' lor instance, trying- to make a threcton truck carry a live-ton load, an is likely to be the temptation under thu present conditions, and he would be saved a considerable iiivestniicut in rapidly depreciating equipment. Whether thi,s development rental linos will conn; in the- from of subsidiary companies or blanches of the manuiaoturers tjieniselvcs or as .scpairate. organizations is ol minor importance compared willi the sound economic leatnms ol' the movement in gv>ne.ral. 'llui't it is destined to play an important part in the future m Lhe motor

: iiioss sooms evident, and it would appeal- u> <be &hnvly evolving as a necessary step in tin- advancement of this important industry toward a lirmer and broader foundation.