MOTOR AND CYCLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1919, Page 10

MOTOR AND CYCLE.

NEWS AND NOTES. , It lias been admitted on all sides that engineering saved the Empire. Germany's challenge to the world to a conteat of strength was answered by a remarkable output of munitions, automobiles, etc., in Great Britain. Few in this country realise what a vital part jthelcading manufacturers at Home played in this connection. Tlje following output of one English flriu (The Austin Motor Co.) will serve to bring home to readers the vast efforts of the English motor industry. The goods delivered during the war period by this company comprised:—Shells: ■ 18-pound-ers, 6,500,000; 15-pounders, 100,000; 13pounders, 25,000; 9.2 shells, 350,000; Bin. shells, 080,000; 210 mm. 60,000; guns CSO; aeroplanes 2,000; night tracers, 500,399; percussion tubes, 682,808; burster containers, 167,791; shrapnel heads, 47,7tf8; lorries, 2,000; armored cars, 480; ambulances, 14S; .touring cars, light vans, etc., 750; switchboards and resistances, 4,422; electric generating sets, 4,702; pumping equipment, 40; aeroplane engines ous kinds) 2,500; electric motors, 2o; workshop training wagons, 25; searchlight sets, 20; cable drums, 54; limber wagons, 1,003; Lewis gun carts, 2,000; draught poles, 3,405; track .troughs, 34; and also large quantities of spare parts for lorries, aeroplanes, etc. This was only one of many other big motor concerns who did wonders to meet the call for munitions, motors, etc.

The legal claim of a non-fare paying passenger who is injured in a motor accident has hitherto been rather a contentious point. Realising this, the Royal Automobile Club, England, have just taken counsel's opinion on the matter, The eminent authority by whom the club were advised cleared up' a number of the intricacies of the question. Counsel held that a car owner is liable for any personal injury caused'to its passengers through his negligent driving, even although such passengers are not paying for their conveyance. The car owner ig also liable "if injury is caused to passengers through the careless driving of his servant, provided that the passengers are being conveyed with his consent. But he is not liable to them if they are being given a "joy ride" by his chauffeur without his permission. Regarding injury caused to passengers by defects' in the car of which the owner was not aware, counsel held that there is no liability on his part, except, of course, where gross negligence is evident-. There is, counsel suggested, no distinction between a servant of .the car owner wlfo may happen to be a passenger and any other free passenger. The servant injured by his master's negligent driving has a claim against him.

During the war period vast strides were made in England in ,tbe production of benzole, from coal, and in 1918 over 32,000,000 gallon's of this motor fuel wa9 produced, some 8,412 ovens being used in the operation, English motorists are watching with interest this development in fuel production, as it promises in time to become a formidable competitor of petrol, which is now costing motorists a high figure at Home. Over 1,000,000 tons of shipping had to be constantly kept set apart during the war to provide for the transportation to Europe of petrol supplies. The proposed restrictions on import of motor vehicles into England are on a basis of 50 per cent of 1913 figures, plus a tariff of 33 1-8 per cen,t.

An interesting little auxiliary motor attachment for using on an ordinary bicycle is to be marketed in England at about £lB. The power unit is a 1 h.p. two-stroke engine,' and is carried in a special attachment over the back wheel. Tho drive is first by chain, then by a fibre-lined'V sectional reel. The weight complete is about 261bs, and 20 miles per hour is said to be easily obtainable. Petrol consumption will work out about 150 to 200 miles a gallon. It is to be marketed as the "Zephyr."