Britain Loses Big Turkish Bus Order
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ECAUSE British manufacturers
were not allowed to offer sufficiently long terms of credit, the German Bussing concern has secured an order for 50 buses from Izmir Municipality, Turkey. Tenders for the contract were submitted by British, French and German manufacturers, ancrthe British offer was considered to be the most favourable, the prices quoted being 5 per cent. below the next best, offered by Bussing. The British manufacturer, however, could offer only two years' credit, whilst Bussing gave 34. years.
The Export Credits Guarantee Department would not extend the British maker's terms, and the order went to Bussing, which reduced its prices and agreed to accept 15 per cent. of the value with the order, the remainder being payable over 3i years.
Two years ago, Istanbul Corporation bought 50 vehicles from Bussing, the price let that case being 17i per cent. below the best British fignie. Shortly afterwards another 50 were ordered. Izmir Corporation also ordered 25 buses from Biassing.
LICENCE FOR BULK-CEMENT VEHICLE
A LICENCE was granted by the Northern Licensing Authority, last
week, to Mr. R. Durham, of Hayerton Hill,, to, operate a vehicle for carrying cement in bulk. It was stated that the machine was fitted with three hoppers which could be loaded and discharged by compressed air.
Mr. Durham said that he ran 27 vehicles, of which a number was used to carry bagged cement. The lorries were working to capacity and a large amount of hiring from other hauliers had to be done. Mr. J. W. Mack, of Thomas Armstrong, Ltd., Cockermouth, stated that special 'storage facilities for bulk cement had been installed at a new factory of his company. It was essential that deliveries be made by the type of vehicle concerned.
For the objectors, the Railway and Road Haulage Executives, Mr. A. W. Baffle told the Authority: "I cannot address you on the general merits of this application as I am not in a position to satisfy you on alternative facilities."
PURCHASE TAX NO LONGER JUSTIFIED
THERE is no longer any justification for retaining purchase tax on
vehicles as an anti-inflationary measure, states Sir William Rootes, chairman of Rootes Motors, Ltd., in his annual report. The Government should realize, he says, that a flourishing home market is a necessary foundation for volume production without which goods could not be sold overseas at competitive prices.