1931-01-31 — Page 17

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THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. MOTORING SUPPLEMENT. SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 1931.

SAFER ROADS IN GREAT BRITAIN.

Walkers Asked. to Give Signals.

125,000 UNINSURED DRIVERS.

[By Maynard Greville in the Daily Mail.)

TOO MANY MODELS. OWNING TWO CARS.

U.S. Dealers Urge Stabilisation.

GENERAL PROTEST.

[By Israel Klein.)

A Transferable Licence.

STIMULATING TRADE.

[By H. Thornton Rutter in the Morning Posi.)

45

When the present horse-power The draft of the new lghway acceleration is usually unnecen-

tux was discussed before its adop Code at Home, lasued under theory and always disturbing.

Detroit, Dec. 00.-Automobile tion, a large section of motorlats It is Road Traffic Act, was circulated pointed out that under the Act itselves the targets of a nation-wide when more than one car was own. manufacturers to-day find them-asked for transferable licences by the Ministry of Transport is an offence not to have an complaint which they, strangely ed during mall week.

efficient silencer or to une The Code starts with general re-vehlete in such a way as to cause It's the general compinint of dent their insurance policies covered

enough, happened to have started.

These motorists claimed that, commendations to all users of the excessive noise which could withers, long individually hinted but any one car on the road, as long only now openly expressed, against the others remained inactive in models at any and all times of the ben transferable

practice of submitting new the garage, there should equally rond eenee which could be paid on the largest transferred to each car in turn tax rating of the cars owned and

as taken out on the rond.

highway as to the care and con-reasonable care be avoided. alderation they should show to. Other recommendations 10 the wards others.

motorists include the subject of speed,

The next section is devoted to the rule of the road, and points: out that

all vehicles and animal (ridden, led, or driven) we to keep to the left or near side except when overtaking or avoiding obstructions.

Pedestrians are advised to wick always on the footpath where one is provided; if there is no footpath it is generally better to walk on the right of the carriage-way.

White Lines,

The recommendations under the Code the ignoring of which may also constitute offeners under the Act concern first of all the obser- vance of white lines.

Motorista

are warned to look out for these and keep on the proper side of them even when the road appears to be clear.

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is pointed out that it is offence under the Act to fail conform to the directions of a can stable engaged in the regulation of traffic or to the indication givea by an authorised traffic sign.

"The next point which is covered by both Code and Act is obstruc- tion. In the Code it is stated that when leaving a vehicle at standstill one should not cause in- to residents or to ⚫onvenience

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ither rund users. "Draw in your ear close to the kerb, and do not obstruct the entrance to a house or shop." It is an offenen under

the Act to leave a vehicle in a position or in a condition or in circumstances likely to be dan, gerous.

Motorists are advised not to pult up alongside of a constable on point duty to ask him a ques- tion which other people could,

answer.

Nolny Motor-cycles. With regard to mator-cycles, the Code staten that sudden noisy]

ONE-EYED · CARS.

A Sign of Ignition Trouble.

USEFUL HINTS.

By Israel Klein.

year.

They are urged to regulate

This complaint, however, has their speed to suit the circum-turned into vociferous demand, on stances and weather, and should the part of auto dealers every have their vehicles under full where, and now manufacturers are control and be able to pull up to decide on a polley of announcing within the distance that they new car models only once-or pos- can see to be clear.

sibly twice a year. The National They should give signals clearly Automobile Chamber of Commerce

on deride to overtake a vehicle theyuto manufacturers in its member And in good time, nad when they in New York, which includes all should sound their horn. are urged never to overtake automotive executives for this pur- They ship, has named a commitico of vehicle unless they can see suf- ficiently far ahead to do an withi safety.

Motorists must not cut in the righthand side of the road helongs to on-comiu traße.

Cross-Rontis,

pose.

motorists who would add a second There are a large number of

car to their garage to-day if the an extra £1 charged) covered two one road licence fee (with perhaps

carriages.

Numerous occasions occur when would be left in the garage if the the family five or soven neater

owner stabled A

two- emaller Even Ford is represented, with seater. The latter would serve Edsel Ford on the committee, for the family needs for shopping. of the N. A. C. C. He still is a hold-than the more roomy earrlage. It his Lincoln makes him a member golf, and similar duties even better out so far as his small car is con- would certainly be easier to find cerned. Thus every manufacturer space for the smaller car in park- is seriously concerned over this ing areas, problem of announcing new cars. which they recognize as one of the big problems in their industry.

No vehicle has a right of way at emsn-roads, but traße on a major read hus priority over traffic nra minor rund. It is understood Dealers say they have been the that the Ministry proposes to con- special victims of a system that has duet a new prvey of roads and rown worse with the years. At indicate major or minor roads by first it was generally recognized colours at junctions,

among manufacturers that the Drivers of heavy vehicles are time of the New York Auto Show that when travelling in con- the first of each year was the best they should leave ample spacetime for introducing new mode's faster car to pull in if necessary. between the vehicles to allow a Bat competition soon became too Pedal-cyrlints ahould

keen at that time, and one manu- not ride facturer after another stepped out more than two abreast.

of line and planned the announce- ament of his new models for some

other period.

Pedestrians before crossing a

road (except where there is one

their right and then to their left, way Traffic) should look first to

Dealers Hold the Bag. and step off the footpath so as to brunt of these changes.

The dealers have bad to bear the

With ne face oncoming traffic.

models coming unexpectedly, pros- They are urged to get to knowpective purchasers held out as long the signals used by drivers and as they could. Dealers, as a re to give signals themselves, as it sult, have found their stock-roms is a helu to motariats to know filled with new cars that have be- when they intend to cross the

come "old" with the introduction road.

An appendix to the Code in- cludes complete signals, with diagrams, which police and drivers are exported to give.

The Code has to receive the approval of Parliament-

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Increased Sales, Already the Chancellor of the Exchequer is considering his next Budget.

ownera never to have any concessions to

Are motorcar encourage them to continue steady supporters of a great in- dustry?

ILA

If there is no chance of motor the

tax reduction, why cannot Chancellor encourage the two-car hubit and so help the motor many- facturers largely to Increase their home sales?

None of these ownera of two Lara would wish to run both vehicles at the same time, so that the actual use of the ronda would be no more than if only one car were kept.

At present; the burden of having to pay for two full licences when only one car at a time is in use is an overpowering objection to many motorists baying a second car

the

of the unexpected new models. To-day that second car can be The problem of getting rid of bought now at as low a

price as these has been about a great as £100, and if second-hand, from £20 thint of selline their "trade-ins."

upwards. Such a transferable This situation has made itse'f car licence would practically solve felt even more seriously in the present glut of excellent increased periods of non-"used" cars which are awaiting activity, when salesrooms were al- buyers, and are marked down to most empty of customers. Instead wonderfully small cost. Increased light is out the other is much more of having only one such period of sales of ears, whether new or brilliant than ordinarily,

"nosales," which would ordinarily second-hand, mean more employ- come the month or so before the mont. numal auto shows, the dealers had several coming at various times of the year, when the Bublle suspect circuit. ited a chenge in models, would be best to eherk all con- nexions, particularly the batterg terminala, ground connexions and

Sometimes the cause of the high charge into the headlights is a poor or loose connexion in the battery generator

cut-out.

Here, then, is a chance to the Government to put their promises into practice without expense, beyond, perhaps, the extra booking to the registration authority noting the cars covered by the transferable rond

fund" licence. No Loss of Revenue.

Couldn't Buy More. of old models on his hands, many Furthermore, left with a stock

n dealer was in a poor position to Corrated terminals may prevent buy new models. Many dealer The motor carriage owners who the charge from the generator changes had to be made by the keep more than one vehicle at going into the battery, where it manufacturers in order A frequent aight on the streets instead into the headlight and i

intended to go, and be diverted their stock moving.

to keep present do so because they use them. Consequently there is little these evenings is an automobile taillight bulbs.

The practice of changing models chance of diminution of present IL therefore with only one "eye." Not only is

has been most prevalent in the revenue if a single transferable cence is procurable to cover the aution is keenesi. It was the only

this disconcerting and dangerous important that the battery ter-medium-price field, where competi- iional use of more than one ear

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minals be serajerd elenn

further corrosion,

to approaching motorists, but it thrhtened. They should be cover-way manufacturers saw in which owned by the same person. should be

a sign of trouble to theed with grease in order to prevent they could get the jump on their automobile's owner.

If a car appears on the road It should be attended to imme-

competitors.

to-day without its proper licence. diately, not only for the sake of

Now, however, it is realized that its owner incurs the penalties safety to others, but to prevent not be definitely told, each indivi- stands or falls on the good fortune laws.

The proper rate of charge came the sucesas of their new models already laid down by the existing further trouble in the ear's light-dual car creating its own demand of their dealers, that their owncluded in the single transferable Those chartments would ing system.

cover the illegal use of enrs in- teenuse of the variance in candle-profits depend considerably on the power of the bulbs and in their profitable business of their dealer licence.

The motor trade would welcome Manufacturers now realize that this concession to their customers, is introduction of new models at any be received by the Government and more revenue would eventual-

greatly handicapnett their dealer throu expected times of the year organizations.

through the traders increased

Practically everyone in the in- large ears at low prices.

prosperity.

Our export motor trade demanda year, right after a period that has dustry here regards the first of the British makers could

If our increase the factory output by

rate of about six volts.

bas

Often the charging rate is put number and method of use. How-organizations. up too high, with the resulting ever, it can be set after one danger not only of overcharging observation of the way it the battery but of burning out the charging the battery. headlights.

If the specific gravity of the Light bulbs are designed to give battery goes up rather quickly, the 100 hours of service at a regular generator charge should be lower- voltage goes up to seven or more to reach full charge, the generator If this somewhat. If the battery fails the life of the bulbs will go down charging rate should he raised been regularly dull so far as auto-development of two-car ownership, to as low as 25 hours.

little. And when a bulb goes out, the

motive buying goes, as the best entire charge of the generator is day, the best rate of charge can

By testing the battery each time for such Announcements, Sec- they could lower prices on thrown into the other remaining be determined and the generator July, right after another lull in

ond best comes in June

larger carriages suitable for the headlight bulb, thus shortening set to that.

export trade. its life still further.

It is advisable to have ant

It will be noted that when one ignition service man do this.

ONE OF THE 1931 NASH MODELS.

shows the Nash "Ambass

неплод.

or

Agreement on one announcement

their

the

buying following the active spring licence for two cars, there would If one had to pay only one

be a large increase in the sale of period, even two periods, would tourers, drop-head coupes and two- greatly stabilize the industry, it seaters generally, irrespective of Is declared,

201 THORNYCROFTS.

37 Repeat Orders in 16 Years.

RAIL-ROAD TRANS-

PORT:

their horse-nower rating. These would form the second car in mest motorists' gurages,

MORRIS IN LISBON.

Extensive new showrooms for Morris cars have recently been' oponed by the firm of. A. M. Almeida Lda., of Lisbon-a wel- come testimony to the growing popularity of Morris products in Portugal.

Great

Although it is only two years aince the British Railway Com- panles Becured Parliamentary Thornycroft chassis. All powers to operate road transport vehicles instead of, or in conjunc

Western Railway for 201 theso vehicles are now in service, but the tion with their railway services, it road transport activities of the In a little known fact that the Great Great Western Railway are still Western Railway first commenced expanding, and what was their 37th to run motor vehicles 10 years ago, repeat order to John 1. Thorny- when they acquired a flest of croft and Co., Limited, was recunt- Thornycroft vans for expeditingly placed for a further 64 six-ton their delivery services in the Lon- chassis,

Jon

distriota.

"It is of interest to add that all

In after years repeat orders wore the other big British Railway are pinced for replacement or extra vehicles, as well as many railways extensive users of Thornycroft vehicles, until in 1929 the record Tallway contract was placed by the In overseas countries,

70 HORSEPOWER 114-INCH Wheelbase, anD

STUDEBAKER

THE

QUALITY.

"HERE are certain motor car features which unmistakably indicate quality, and this Studebaker Six has them in greater abundance than such a price has ever commanded. Its 70-horsepower engino is. the most powerful in any car in its price class! It is roomier and more comfortable because of its 114-inch wheelbase. A trial run today will convince you that the Studebaker Six is better in quality and a bigger value than you think possible—even from the resources and 78-year-old reputation of Studebaker.

THE HONG KONG HOTEL GARAGE

25, Queen's Road Central-

and at STUBB'S RD.

The Hong Kong & Shanghai Hotels, Ltd. (Incorporated in Hongkong)

$3,300

HONGKONG CURRENCY

ACS

FIAT 520

SIX-CYLINDERS!

TRUMP THAT!

Arrange for an early demonstration.

Service Station FIAT GARAGE

and

LANCIA GARAGE Hennessy Road.

Tel. 24841,

Tel. 23557.

A. GOEKE & Co.

Tel. 22221.

FIAT

AGENTS.

Spare Parts Dept.

CHINA BULDING

Fourth Floor.

Tel. 22221.