1928-07-14 — Page 9

MOTORING

SUPPLEMENT

OF

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

SATURDAY 14th JULY, · 1928.

Being The Official Organ of

THE HONGKONG AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION.

Road Repairs.

CURRENT

COMMENT

Suggested Improvement,

It is with pleasure that we In pursuance of our policy of notice that the work of repairing calling the attention of the Mount Davis Road has been put in authorities to places where danger hand, for this stretch of much-exists." and can be removed,

used highway had lately become in especially with regard to bad condition. Serving as it does dangerous corners, it would per- the residenta of Felix Villas and haps not be out of place to call neighbourhood, this road is now a attention to the point at which the really important artery, and it is Castle Peak and Taipo Roads join. to be hoped that our Roads This is a junellon which offers no Department officials will pay due difficulties to motors travelling attention to its condition. While either too or from Taipo, but in on the subject of roads, we have our opinion there is distinct dif- heard that the work of repairing feulty experienced by drivers the Shek-O Rond is about to be put approaching the junction from the in hand-news which will come na direction of Laichikok. In pro- a pleasant surprise to those who cceding up the small hill which have dispaired of anything ever finishes at the junction, drivers are being done there. If the road unable to see, without consider- does receive the early attentionable difficulty, whether any traffic promised, there will still be lots is approaching from the direction of summertime left for bathers of Taipo, owing to amall hillocks and golfers to reap the beneft, and large, rocks obstructing the We have alan to record that two view. A large quantity of rock roads, which have been temporarily has been removed on the other side closed, are again open to residents of the junction, which does not who have permits. The castern affect traffic in the slightest, and end of Kennedy Road, which has been closed for two or three weeks we think that it would be a simple on account of alteration and widen-matter, coating but little, to re- ing, can again be used, and Conduit move the small mounds of earth Road, which has been impassable and rocks that at present obstruct for many months owing to a land- the view of drivers approaching side, has been built ur We notice from Laichikok." that a large wall has been built at the spot where the fall occurred, thin strengthening the road con- alderably.

Not Drivers' Fault.

When drivers of motor vehicles are often summoned and fined for failure to exhibit a rear light it

Their removal.

SHANGHAI'S NEW OMNIBUSES.

SPECIAL I DE P

Pictured above is the first of the new type of omnibus to be completed for the China General Omnibus Co., of Shanghai who are shortly to put 20 of these splendid conveyances on local bus routen. These new 'buscs are known as the Tillings-Stevens Express low loading They 'buses and have been specially designed and constructed for Shanghai conditions.

will be used to inaugurate the new express service which was to be commenced last week.

would be of considerable henta in which means der OUR PUBLIC HIRE motorists and would greatly leasea many drivers park their the danger at this spot.

Parking Places,

cars along this road, some of them not taking the trouble to get off the road on the right as far as they

CARS.

petition.

might. Lately, there has been a The Value of a large number of public hire cars (whether waiting for bathers who had engaged them or being there on the off chance of custom, we do not know) and these

are often among the offenders. It would be of great assistance if one or two more parking spaces could be pro- vided between the road and the mataheda.

Lighted Signals Wanted.

Com-

We have received the following communication from a motoring reader:~~

high; new and luxurious vehicles being always obtainable. The standard of the driving is also high, notwithstanding the fro quent, and often unfair, criticism

ono rends in the local newspapers.

As a class, the drivers are honest and well-behaved, for I have yet to read of a case in which an Inebriated man has been molested

robbed when using a public hira car as he is liable to be when in a ricksha or chair,

We would like to congratulate In connexion with the "honking" the P.W.D. for having provided nuisance in the city, observation parking places at one of the leads us to re-assert what we hint-popular beaches along the Castle ed at in this column last week, Peak Road. At the beach just namely, that the dilatoriness of the past the village of Shan Taeng, traffle pointamen is a very contri- about 12 miles out, there are now butory factor. As a rulo à points-over a dozen matsheds and owners man takes little or no notice of have hitherto had to park their

your local comments on motoring, Sir, I noticed the other week in

It would be a great mistake, sir, an approaching motor vehicle until cara alongside the road, which is | the driver of it has sounded his only wide enough for two ca.a to

a suggestion that there should be the trafic authorities of this horn several times.

a limit put by the authorities on Colony ever attempted to set an Instead of pass each other comfortably.

he number of public motor cars rbitrary limit to the number of being on the alert and in an antici- With a string of cars parked on With the continued increase in which are allowed to ply for hire these hire cars, for the supply will patory frame of mind, pointamen one side (and on some occasions motor traffic there is one place at the streets of the Colony, and inevitably be regulated by the Kenerally wait until they are the ears have not always been which lighted signals would be because I think the writer of that nexorable law of demand.

Hire "called" several times by a driver parked on the same side) there desirable, and we refer to Queen's hote has overlooked one or two rates are so low and cars so and then give the necessary signal. was danger to through traffic Road West, at the junction of very important points 1 would like plentiful that the law of supply This is to be noticed particularly at which was very real. Now, on the Duke of Connaught Statue in account of representations recent Pokfulum Road. In the day timeo put the following considerations and demand is already in opera-

the pointsman's signals can be bofore you

tion. There are fewer new cara front of Blake Pier and at the top ly made, two parking spaces have clearly seen, but at night this le of Pedder Street, near the Asiatic been, provided by the inexpensive a difficult matter.

going into the hire service to-day A short time It is only a few years ago since than there were some months ago, Building. While there is far too method of filling in some waste ago two cars collided at this spot, the rate of motor car hire in this and one need never fear an much "honking" on straight roads, ground between the roadway and the reason being that neither Colony was $8.00 for a large car obstructive saturation such as the which has nothing whatever to do the hillside on the south. We driver could see the officer's signal, and $6.00 for a small one. At that writer of your note suggested. with traffic officers, it remains a would like to see similar action When approaching the pointsman. time the hire car service was main-The more hire cars and taxicabs fact that there could be consider-taken at Castle Peak itself and at who does his signalling by hand, tained by a few garages, there there are on our streets the ably less on busy corners if other points along the road, so it is the custom for drivers to dim being no taxicabs on the streets cheaper will be the transportation drivers had the earlier co-opera-that all cars used by matshed their headlights so that he not A little later, the hire rates were costs of residents who sometimes tion of pointsmen.

owners could be parked off the blinded by their glare, but the reduced to $7 for a large car and need the help of a motor vehicle, roadway. Admittedly, the con- proceeding makes it difficult for a $5 for a small, this being the re- and once the authorities impose a Unilghted Trucks,

figuration of the land at some of driver to ace the pointsman Itsult of competition. Then, when limit to the number then they will the beaches renders the making of would be a decided improvement If the first taxicab service was start inevitably interfere with competi parking places a more difficult problem than it has been at Shan a lighted signalling device could ed (a service which failed because tion, which, in turn, will make for

be installed at this spot.

it was not properly managed) the dearer rates of hire. So long as la only fair to expect that all other Tseng, but the safety of the road

garages brought down their rates the hire vehicles are kept road- vehicles should be similarly treat would be greatly increased if all Parcel Cars.

to $8 for a large car and $4 for worthy and manned by good ed. Leaving out motor cycles, stationary cars were off the road-|- As announced in the advertise- small one, and these rates have drivers there should be no restric- ment elsewhere in this issue, the been maintained by the garagestions as to numbers, beyond that new Harley-Davidson parcel cars right up till a week or so ago which naturally operates through are due to arrive in the Colony After the collapse of th old taxi- the ordinary economics of bust- prising that police action is not

drivers to-day and will be on inspection cab service, public hire cars were ness. The community has bene- more frequently taken against, the men in charge of man-handled generally proceed at a slower pace until Wednesday at the garage of allowed on the streets and, owing fitted too greatly from competition trucks. Not infrequently one aces than is usual along the lower road the Gascon Motor Company, Kow-to keen competition between these in the past to allow itself to be I think these a truck heavily laden being hauled at Repulse Bay (that which serves loon. The cars will be sent to Chinese owner-drivers, rates of robbed of it now. through the town at night with the beach and mataheds) there is Macao on that date where they hire came down with a rush to considerations are too important to nothing at all to Illuminate it. bound to be a serious collision in will be employed in the Postal ser- figure at which it puzzles one to Usually, however, it is the custom the not-far-distant future. There vice. Retail stores desiring to give know how some of these men for the front coolles to carry

is no need or justification for fast quick service in the delivery of manage to earn a living, let alone lantern while tugging at the fore driving along this stretch, but it customers' purchases could not do profit. In the early days of public rope-a paper lantern of Chinese is notorious that cars proceed better than interest themselves in hire vehicles on the streets theref type. The real danger arises from alerg it at anything up to 20 miles this latest and up-to-date method the fact that the truck itself is per hour, even at busy times when of transportation.. not Illuminated, there being parked cars make the road very nothing to show the width or narrow. There is a bridge, just

Arrangements have been made by length of the load. Motorists before reaching the Hotel bunga- cannot always see what load is lows, which is only wide enough Indicative of the standing of the it. The community of this Colony the Automobile Association where- being carried, and timber and for one car, and yet car drivera Cadillac car abroad, a list of pro- has to thank the much-maligned by British motorists touring in long bamboo poles are especially (European as well as Chinese) minent owners was recently sent to public hire cara for saving Germany may undertake flights dangerous, We auggest that will drive up to it at a speed that Lawrence P. Fisher, Cadillac pre- thousands of dollars every month over the cities of Berlin, Esson, Whalen, general in the cost of transportation, and Hamburg, Frankfurt and Main, something be done in the matter, entalle the screeching of brakes sident, by W.

LeipziTM aud not the least important require- and the skidding of tyres if manager of General Motors Exports once again the garages have been Cologne, Halle,

These flights 'may ment being that a red light should another car should be approaching Exports Company. The roster in- forced to lower their charges ao Munich.

made every The cludes Princess Juliana of Holland, that to-day one can engage a car he

day over. always be showing to the rear. it from the other direction.

the ense of The width of the truck might also wonder is that there has been no Queen Mother of Holland, King of by telephone for $5 per hour for Berlin, and in be indicated by a light on the off-Barious accident already. As this Spain, the Royal Household of a big car and $3 per hour for the other cities by notice being to the Aerodrome. The elde at least that would be suffis purely a pleasure road, it would Japan, the Japanese Royal Navy, small one. That would not have given cient if the trucks kept to the be a good thing if there was a Shad of Persia, President of the Ar- been possible except for the keen charge in from .12/- to 15/- por extreme left of the road as all strict speed limit imposed-say, of gentine Republic, President of Po- competition created by the public person according to the number car- The fried. It is often a cause for regret slow moving traffic should. We eight miles per hour. Unless land, Baron Beaverbrook, Queen hire cars on the streets. suggest that the matter is worthy something of this nature is done, Marie Christina of Spain, Governor standard of Hongkong's public to motorists that they are unable of the serious attention of our we shall regretfully have to record General of New Zealand, President hire cars is, thanks to the airict to see more of a city during a brief for of Brazil, and General Smut of supervision exercised, by the visit,but by aid of the aeroplane s traffic authorities.

a smash-up. There is room

Traffic Department, extremely rapid survey can be made.

which are not expected to carry a way, rear light (though we have often

argued that they should), it is sur. At Repulse Bay,

Unless

motor cur

SOME CADILLAC USERS.

South Africa.

be overlooked.

was good money to be made, but "JOY FLIGHTS" FOR MOTOR to-day the number of ears has

TOURISTS. forced down the hire rates to a really amazingly low level, and

Is the public which gets the bene

NOW ARRIVED

and

AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON PARCEL CAR.

The most economical method ̈ of small parcel transportation, specially suitable for retail stores.

YOUR INSPECTION INVITED UP TILL WEDNESDAY NEXT.

THE GASCON MOTOR CO.,

REPAIRS UNDERTAKEN ON ALL MAKES OF MACHINES. Tol K. 1242

2. Kwong Wah Road, Kowloop. (Opposite The Storm" Laundry} A GOOD ASSORTMENT OF SPARE PARTS AND ACCESSORIES IN STOCK.

CHINA UNDERWRITERS, LTD.

FOR

ALL CLASSES

OT

MOTOR INSURANCE

WRITE FOR PROSPECTUS

HEAD OFFICE :-

TELEPHONE:

ST. GEORGE'S BUILDING, HONGKONG. 0.1121-22

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