OPINIONS FROM OTHERS.
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Editor invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of conimercial motors. Letters should be on one of the paper only and typewritten by preference. The right of abbreviation is reserved, and no responsibility lot views expressed is accepted ,
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Road Freight Rates.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[18691 Sir,—I was interested in letter No. 1863, which appeared in your last issue on the above subject. Instances of superfluous rate-cutting are of frequent occurrence, and those responsible are known. Finally, and there is a finality, the consignors, creditors, or vehicle owners have occasion to deplore their. optimism. Responsible firms of distributor e require reliable service with immunity from breakdowns and losses, not merely competitive rates. Of course, certain commodities are classified at low rates, but clearly in the instance named it was a return load, and that is the raison d'être of clearing ,houses. Exceptionally out rates frequently point to undesirable methods. A firm of removal and warehousing contractors who always out rates recover part of their sacrificed expenses by hiring out their clients'
pianos.—Yours faithfully, 11. J. ADAMSON. London, E.C.
Ruinous Coach Taxation.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1870] Sir,—Everything is supposed to, be coming
• down in price, so why not these ruinous taxes ? Up North, the chars-h-banes season now closing has been a very poor one, owing to the coal strike and. general labour unrest. Several motor firms have closed down as a consequence and others are on the verge.
I sin a chars-a-banes proprietor, and for one of my vehicles I have paid £54 in taxes in nine months; for another I have paid 236 for 18 weeks-22 per week!
Now I am faced 'with the six winter months, for which I must pay 272 or keep them off the road.
As only football teams are likely to be available as customers, at 2s. or 3s. per passenger, and as I cannot average more than two runs per week, I have reluctantly decided to lay the vehicles up and place the drivers on the unemployment dole.
Had the petrol tax been etill in existence, I would gladly have paid, say, 40. per gallon extra for my fuel and kept the chars-abancs on the road. I consider the petrol taxpay according to use—the anly, fair means of taxation, and,auntil this system is reverted to, I feel sure other chars-à-bancs proprietors, like myself, will lay their vehicles up during the winter months, thus adding to the already form]dalale unemployment numbers.—Yours faithfully,
DURHAM.
Excessive Garage Charges.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1871] Sie,—We feel we ought to draw your attention to an incident which happened to one of our lorries last week, which was out working a long circular route.
We enclose you copy of invoice from the Garage, — where they charged our driver 3s. 6d. for one quart of ordinary engine oil, which brings the price out to 14s. per Fallon. We cannot understand why some firms delight in making exorbitant charges to the trade. Even had this been a private sale, the charge, we consider, would have been excessive, and a thing which all private owners are up against when touring.
We garage a great number of lorries coming in from the Midlands, and our charges to them are only 1-id. per gallon over the cost -price of petrol, and ls. per gallon profit on oil, for we believe that the policy of making a prohibitive charge is detrimental to the trade at. large.
'When will garages come into line with our charges? We certainly think that The Commercial Motor could do a great deal towards this, as it would help commercial users 'generally, and lorries coming long-distance journeys could buy at a, figure which would' show them a profit for return journeys.— Yours faithfully,
THE UNITED TRANSPORT (LONDON), LTD., JACK MILLS, Managing Director,
The Cyclist Again a Danger.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1872] Sir,—I lxg to thank you for publishing my letter of the 9th ult, in full ; and with further reference to the SAM& subject (paragraphthe,aded "The Cyclist Again a Danger ") should be greatly obliged if you could spare me a little more of your valuable space to make a few comments-upon your article of the 20th ult. dealing with my letter. I also am in the fortunate position of having very many years' experience as -a road-user (i.e., as pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist, and motorist) and I feel that the point of my letter has been missed. I am endeavouring to emphasize the impossibility (and undesirability) of preventing pedestrians using the roadway, where no footpaths are provided ; the fact that, as suggested in your article, at some remote period, pedestrians,will all be illuminated by some simple, reliable, and universally obtainable means, does not, to my mind; affect the discussion, which relates to present conditions. It has not been my experience that a cyclist is less easily visible than a pedestrian, when I am overtaking him—whether I am driving at 3 m.p.h. or are–and, in fact, I am strongly of opinion that the exact con trary is the case.
I am unable to find ane cyclist, with any foulweather experience, to agree that there is a single reliable rear lamp (oil, gas, or electric) upon the market, and I find that my tramping friends have decided objections to the idea that it is their duty, pending the invention of a suitable illuminant for their use, to jump into the ditch 'at the sound of an approaching motorcar—I have, indeed, acquired quite a reputation as a road-hog .in consequence of my innocent inquiries! Apart from matters of opinion, what consdlation could one imagine a decent-minded driver getting, when surveying what he had made of a recently living, • breathing, child, in the reflection that" she ought to have known her rear light was out " ? No, sir! The path of sanity and decency lies in the direction of adequate headlights and cautious driving for every one of us—and also, as far• as we can ensure, for those whom we employ. Again, thanking you for your courtesy, which I trust you will extend to permit the publication of this letter, I remain—Yours faithfully, R. E., DEWBERRY.
The Rear Mirror.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1873] drive a speedy van, on the silent
running of which I pride myself, but I spend half ray time on the road in the dusty wake of noisy, rattling four-tonners, steam tractors and' their trailers, and steam wagons. Their drivers rarely hear my warning signal, and never give a look to the rear. Should it not be made illegal for any vehicle to be on the road without a rear mirror? Oh! yes, I know about my speed !—Your s faithfully, Luton. QUICKFIRE.
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