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Bird's Eye View By The Hawk
Page 44
Page 45
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Doesn't Anybody Love Them ?
MOT in my most optimistic moments would I count me a
financial wizard. Mathematics beat rue after I run out of fingers and toes to count on, income tax baffles me, and company accounts are utterly beyond my comprehension. All this is said by way of explaining (if such be proved necessary) why I am -confused by an item in the B.T.C. accounts.
An examination of the consolidated balance sheet, and comparison with previous years, tells me that the total fixed assets and goodwill, at net book values, for 1961 are worth £2,097m., a rise of £107m. over 1960. That figure was over £133m. in excess of 1959 which, in turn, was £128m. better than 1958—which was some £111m. in excess of the 1957 figure. If you've lost track, let me tell you that 10 years ago, in 1952, these commodities were a " modest " £1,385m. The value has, therefore, been written-up by £712m.—over 50 per cent.
No Goodwill
How much of this mind-boggling total of £2,097m. is, in fact, goodwill? Ah, now this is where I got confused. B.R.S. are credited with £10,865,286 of it, the Tilling and Scottish busmen shoulder no less than £31,642,555, London road services are modestly given £44,683—roughly the same as the railways' collection and delivery services (£44,403).
All this adds up to within £15,173 of the B.T.C.'s total goodwill (as 1 read the balance sheet, it totals f42,612,100)—atid that minute item, in fact, belongs to the Inland Waterways. British Railways, it seems, have no goodwill value! Not even in Dr. Beeching's eyes. Does nobody love the railways?
No Comment
A T the sublime end of the B.T.C. report scale, I offer these two ruminative pieces: "Rail transport is characterized by a dombination of advantages and disadvantages . . ." (er, yes, if you put it that way) and "There was a somewhat greater response . towards the British Railways Staff Suggestions Scheme" (and what were the suggestions?).
No Solace •
DESPITE strenuous efforts with bat and ball by president D. R. Pearce, the cricket team drawn from the Metropolitan area of the National Association of Furniture Warehousemen and Removers had once again to admit defeat last week. Their opponents were the combined forces of the East and West Midland areas, ably led to victory by the chairman, A, R. M. Walker. The occasion was, of course, that enjoyable annual event so capably organized by S. L. Stanion at the Overstone Solarium, Northamptonshire,
For the record, the scores were claimed to be: East and West Midland areas 68 for 6, Metropolitan area 56 for 9, whilst the maximum number of participants on the field at any one time inexplicably reached 18! A figure of more lasting significance is that over 1410 was added to the Association's benevolent fund as a result of these pleasurable activities.