1926-11-10 — Page 8

DUNLO

CORD

BALLONS.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH, 1926.

HARMONY!

TF motor tyre is to serve well--to pinkl good etilengu and | alford incurity on all the varied rond auriacan cowered by your car, the trend and casing soat work, harmoniously kunther they mask wwe uniformly 1 the casing inst. be strong enough to carry the stove tough tread.

IN THE

|

DUNLOP

CORD TYRE

THE CASING AND TREAD WORK IN COMPLETE HARMONY.

The materials used in the Dunlop Cord Tyre are the best obtainable. Not only that but they are applied by the most skilful tyre builders in the world.

DUNLOP RUBBER

DISTRIBUTORS:

HaxGxONG HOTEL GARAGE.

SHE

(Shell)

CO.,

LTD.

SHELL

SHELL

LOCAL BUON OFFICE:

16, Dzs VuY BOAD CENTRAL

TEL: 0. 4554.

- [A.P.B.]

DELIVERED BY OUR OWN LORRIES Direct into CERTIFIED

SHELL PUMPS

IS ALWAYS THE SAME

PERFECT QUALITY AND 'CORRECT MEASURE

The Asiatic Petroleum Co, 18. G. 1 Zat lacorporated in Eagland)

SOCONY

MOTOR OILS

HONGKONG METEOROLOGICAL

REGISTER

Hongkong Observatory, November 2th..

(Previon On Dato On Date

st

AND GASOLINE

Day" rock

י

HONGKONG TIDE TABLE.

From November 10th to 16th, 1928, Hrou Watz.

Height

י

LÒN WATER, •.

Hong

Brandani

Time.

Height,

b. m. ft. in. 1464-6 in so I 6 11 49. 7. 8 5 14 1 24 al 4 · 5 m 74 1

B'kong Standard

DAY

jat 2 p.m.

Vime.

Bargmater Temperature

Wind

30.05

30.00

30.03

76

70

62

-81

ION...

74 687 NJE-

b. m. ft. it.

Wed. 10

3

Thur. 11

B

Hain

0,00

0.00

B 0.00

Fri.

17 0 48

Sator. 13 m

Highest open-air Temperature on

8th

75 km 9 8 1. $1 4 8 6 26 47 146

1-1 i'm 10 19 8.14

Lowest open-air Temperature on

Sun. 14·3246 7. 62954

B-Blue sky; C-Clondy; D-Drizzle; Mon. 15m 54.

0 14

20

F-Fog: L-Lightning; M-Mist; O=

5. B

Overcast: P-Passing showers; Q TO 16 m 6 22 Equalis; E-Rain; T-Thunder

6 4

ឆ.

ก

Motoring Notes:

A Weekly Review dealing

with matters of interest to all local motorists.- Motor and Ferry Traffic-Work for the Police-Local Skidding-The £100 Car.

[BY AN OWNER-DRIVER]

MOTOR AND FERRY TRAFFIC.

During the debate อด the Annual Budget quite a lot was said about matters that affect motorists.

A CRIMINAL "ACT. Owner drivers who have left their cars unattended la Statue Square complain that their tyres have been deliberately

cut.

The definite pronouncement, that the New tyres have had what is obviously Government intend to run a proper ferry a slit made with a knife. Cars have service for carrying motor-cars across the found their tyres flat and investigation More quick, has revealed that someone has deliberate- harbour is good news, more better" a we say in the locally made a puncture. idiom.

What motorists really would like to know is. When will these new ferries for motor-cars be ready. It will not be possible to bring vessels of the design and dimensions needed alongside any of the existing piers.

Some entirely new pier will have to be built and this should be fairly central and get out of the way of the main streams of traffic,

After considerable consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of various! possible places there seems to be only one suitable site. This is on the Praya between the Hongkong Club and the Naval Yard.

To be really well done the scheme will probably involve a certain amount of

reclamation for there must be sufficient

space off the road for the cars to park while they are waiting for the ferry. The ferry will no doubt be so constructed that the cars can get on and off easily. For that purpose it will need to run in to a dock-like berth so that both sides of the ferry may be used at once for un- loading.

Where shall we land on the Kowloon side -Motorists would like to disembark their cars as near to Nathan Road as possible. The existing, arrangements are not at all satisfactory because the cara have to get at once into the stream of traffic that whirls around the space out side of the Star Ferry.

To cross over to the present landing place in the space belonging to the Wharf and Godown Company means, if the ferries start from the Murray Pier position, cutting right across the route of the Star Ferries.

Surely there is some suitable space not far from Holt's Wharfy but perhaps the tide is too strong at that end of the peninsula?

KOWLOON PROBLEMS.

34

As to the great problem of traffic at the Star Ferry and Railway entrances we are assured that something will soon be done in the way of improvements.

What about the Taipo Bridge 1 It is now nineteen months since that problem forced itself unpleasantly on the atten- tion of motorists. To all intents and pur-· poses there is the prospect of many more

months of irritation.

WORK FOR THE POLICE. ~-

During the last few weeks motorists have been suffering from the unwelcome attention of local chauffeurs

"As far

19

The first impression is that this has been done by some chauffeur who wishes to earn & dollar tip for helping to change

the tyre.

It would, however, be as well for any owner driver who finds himself in this fix to demand the licence number of any paid driver who offers to help him out of his difficulty.

UNEMPLOYMENT. -*

There may be an even deeper plot Owner drivers are being perpetually. bothered by unemployed chauffeurs who are trying to get a job.

During the last month one owner driver has received five latters (some with stamped addressed envelopes enclosed) and many personal applications.

There seems to be a deliberate plot on the part of some of the local chauffeurs to make things as unpleasant as possible for local owner drivers in the hope that their paid driver friends will be employ-

ed.

It is up to the local Automobile Association and the police to carry the war into the enemy's camp.

ABSURD PRICES..... 3 The whole problem of local paid drivers needs to be thoroughly ventilated for car owners have been badly exploited in the past.

a

A good mechanic, who has had a five years apprenticeship, is paid $40 month. He works hard with his hands for that wage.

A difficulty, is the pressure required, but is it impossible to make use of the fire brigade appliances for the purpose i One engine on duty from midnight to. say, e a.m. would do a great deal. The central part of Victoria requires the greatest attention.

Even if the engine were needed for an emergency these, working it could be easily communicated with by a metor cyclist.

After the road has been flushed dawn with a hose, a squeegee" is needed to complete the work of making it suitable for motor traffic.

་

There are a couple or so of old brushes on carts drawn by bullocks that used to be seen on the streets but they seem to have disappeared.

In any case it would not be very ex- pensive to obtain some improvement on those old and out of date brushes.

WATCH THE LORRIES. Keen motorista are all in favour of in- creasing the number of motor vehicles: in Hongkong. They do, however, think that the very casual drivers of some of the lorries require to be taught a lesson.

Not only do they leave half bricks on the roads and park their vehicles at awkward bends, but they are so care- less that they leave great patches of pil

on the road.

Apparently what happens is that Lubricating oil collects on the tray under the engine the tray is probably never cleaned! Then when the lorry goes up alla sudden acceleration or braking jerks out a splash of oil on to the road.

The unfortunate car driver coming down hill finds his car skidding helplessly as soon as a wheel gets on to the oily sur- face."

The difficulty is that he has no idea of the identity of the offender. Perhaps somebody the local Automobile Associa tion may be able to afford a patrol to watch lorries. Or better still the num- ber of motor cyclists in the police force may be increased.

Meantime one wonders if it is possible

THE £100 CAR.

For many years motoring enthusiasts have talked about the £100 car. At last an ambitious, British firm has produced abe...

The engine is rated as 8 horse-power and has four cylinders. The dimensions are 36.5 by 100 mm Overhead valves are provided.

There is a multiplats clutch. A three speed gear box is arranged with central control.

Quarter-elliptic rear springs are fitted. A rack and pinion gear is steering,

A speedometer and spare wheel pre supplied as standard fittings.

There are two front seats and a chummy type rear.

The wheel base is 9 feet 4 inches and the track is just one inch short of four feet.

It is said that the coach work is attrac- tive.

We can only hope that the car will prove as good as it sounds. The £100 car will be within the means of many who cannot afford the cars now on the market.

It must be remembered that a light 6 horse-power car the weight of the £100 car is not stated but it is probably about 10 cwt.-will cost much less to run for petrol, oil and tyres than a car of, say' 20 horse-power.

The tax in England will be less!

We shall all be only too delighted if this effort means keener competition to cater for the buyer of very moderate. means. Will the £100 car be a success? We can only wish it luck.

INSURE

TOUR

MOTOR

CAR

WITH

GILMANS.

THE

learns his job at the expense of some to enforce some regulation that the trays OCRAX - COMPREHENSIVE POLICY

The pampered local paid driver had had no long apprenticeship. He usually ignorant owner of,& car in a few weeks.

He refuses to clean down the ear and says that a coolie should do that.

The actual market value of a good local chauffeur is not more than $30 and owners should support the energetic secretary of the local Automobile Asso- ciation in his landable endeavours to reduce to a reasonable price the wages Any misconduct of local paid drivers. should be at once reported to the police. They know the reliable men.

LOCAL SKIDDING,

-"

Anyone who has experienced the sensa tion of being in a car when there is a bad skid will agree that it gave them a very unpleasant feeling. Even the ex perienced driver is more or less dazed when he feels that he has no control but the man at the wheel does have the ad- vantage of having to concentrate on the problem of getting out of the difficulty.

The passengers feel themselves ab- The less they know solutely helpless. about skidding and its dangers the better for them.

י

During the past few weeks there have been many cases of bad ear akids. There was one on Stübba Road only a few days ago. A particularly good driver, careful and experienced, suddenly found his car completely out of control, can be ascertained the It hit the bank and bent the front axle demand for paid drivers is not as great and wings. He was lucky to get off as

cheaply. as the supply. The number of owner drivers in Hongkong is increasing. More and more people are learning that a chauffeur is such an expensive luxury that there is a very real inducement to do without one.

As a result of the efforts of the local Automobile Association the wages paid to a reliable chauffeur are much less than was the case three or four years ago, That has also been made possible by the law of supply and demand.

During the "boom" times absurd wages were paid to local, chauffeurs. In one case as much, as $120 a month was given and this exaggerated standard made it almost impossible to keep wages within a reasonable figure.

CIVIL DRIVERS-BUT 1.

The experience of one owner driver has been that the average Hongkong paid driver is usually a very civil and obliging fellow.

On many occasions he has received Roadside help in changing a tyre of trying to trace a fault that has put the headlights out of action.

CAUSES OF TROUBLE.

There are two chief causes of skidding in Hongkong.

One is the current practice of sprink. ling the roads with water from carts and the other is oil from lorries.

If, as has been suggested, the water used for the purpose is sea water that probably accounts for the fact that the local roads just after being watered are particularly bad.

The object of the authorities is, of course, to lay the dust and make things more pleasant for all users of the roads.

It is generally believed that the aug- gestion about using salt water for this purpose originated with the active Dr. Koch. No doubt his idea-if it was his iden-was that to use salt water for this Purpose would be an economy.

Unfortunately, the ples of economy often leads to experiments that prove costly. In this case the coat comes on the unfortunate motorist who skids on the salined surface of the roads.

After all the economy so secured mast be very little. The total amount of water On more than one occasion at Repulsensed during the dry season for road Bay, when the battery had run down and sprinkling is said to be less than one the temperature and humidity was what day's supply for Hongkong

it can be during summer in Hongkong There are several nullahs that run

a paid driver has very civilly come along

}

and -cranked up 'à sluggish engine.

A dollar was the usual reward but it

during the whole year and the water from them could be used.

-In any case salt water on the roads

is only fair to add that a more than one is a menace to motorists, occasion it has been smilingly refused.

A complete stranger in the uniform of

WASHING ROADS.

a paid driver has said "Maskse, you: The water cart as a means of cleaning b'long my friend."

All this makes it is hard to accept the evidence about the misdeeds of local chauffeurs.

The facts of the case are, however, sufficient to call for publicity so that anwary owner drivers may be on their guard

roads with a 'tar macadam surface is out of date. What is done in other cities is, worth noting. The roads are cleaned with a boge which flushes the surface.

This is done alter

fight so as not

to impede trafic.

It is said that from time to time the

| drains are flushed. If so the same water

Also the police may be called in tal might possibly be used on the roads for try and catch the criminals concerned.

cleaning purposes,

shall be so constructed that the lorries and not the roads shall suffer if the trays are not properly cleaned out.

35 miles on an Imperial gallon of

petrol

55 miles an hour-5 to 30 miles in

13 seconds

4-wheel brakes-stops in 1 feet from

a speed of 40 miles an hour Turns in 34-root circle-parks in 14.

feet of curb space

5 feet 9 inches high-lower gravity.

centre-greatest safety

Modern-type body-provides more inside room than other light cars

Amazing Performance

FOR

No light car equals it because no light car is so far advanced in modern engineering

OR over three years Willys-Overland engineers have been developing the Overland Whippet 500,000 miles of road tests have proved its practical advantages beyond all doubt.

cat..

The OVERLAND WHIPPET is a complete new designed and built as a unit. The enclosed models, or the touring model with the top up are only as tall as the average man. Yet, interior ar- rangement is spacious and comfortable:

The especially designed steering mechanism for balloon tyres and four-wheel brakes make steering casy. Its high-torque, 31-horsepower engine of small bort and long stroke gives you power to pull. through deep mud and sand.

Here at last is a motor-car that will run 35 miles on an Imperial gallon of petrol... well over 1000 with incredible mile- miles on a gallon of oil...

age on tyres.

In fairness to yourself see this remarkable car. Drive it find out for yourself its amazing

performance.

OVERLAND Whippet

World's New-Type Light Car

GILMAN & Co., Ltd.,

Hongkong Bank Building,

Des Voeux Road Central. MTC, GL 290.

Service Representative

dr. A. AHWEE.

WILLYS OVERLAND PINE MOTOR CARE

034