Answers to Queries.
Page 17
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A Small Bread Van.
1,7'20] " DORSET " writes:—'' As a reader of your valuable paper, I beg to ask your advice as to whether a steam or a petrol ear would be most suitable for bread delivery van in a very-hilly district, with constant stops and restarting. Also, what h.p. for loads about 12 cwt. ?"
ANSWER.—Petrol is generally superior to steam. You should obtain complete satisfaction from a Lotis van, of which the makers are Sturmey Motors, Ltd., Coventry. The transmission arrangements of the Lotis van are particularly suitable for hilly country ; 16 lep. should be enough.
Acetylene Roof Lamps.
11,721] " COACHIMILDER " writes :—" I am e tinting acetylene roof lamps for the internal lighting of singledeck motorbuses, after the style of lamps used on railways, with glass dome inside and other parts of lamp projecting through roof, so that odour and heat may escape, the dome not to be too prominent inside. I should be pleased if you could give address of makers."
ANSWKR. Acetylene lighting outfits, suitable for motorbus service, may be obtained from the Acetylene Illuminating Co., Ltd., of 268-270, South Lambeth Road, S.W., the Allen-Liversidge Portable Acetylene Co.' Ltd., of 106, Victoria Street, S.W., and from the Lewis Lighting Co.,Stanhope Terrace, Regent's Park, N.W. The last-name
makers are contractors to the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd.
Licences and Stands for Motorbuses.
[1,722] "Pluseemon" writes :—"I have been running a public service between and ------for some months, and am licensed by the Council. There are about
20 brakes also licensed, and of course I have hit them rather hard; in fact, some have given up. The buses are very much appreciated. When the licences were granted to me by the --Council, I was told to stand in a certain place, which I have done. The brake drivers have worked round some of the councillors, and they now order me to stand in another place, so that people have to pass all the brakes, and walk a distance of 100 yds. or more to the buses. Unless I stand where they want me to, they will withdraw the licences. The reason the Council give for moving me is that it is dangerous turning where I do, but it is not so. Supposing they cancel the licences and I run without licences, how long can I stand in one place? My time-table gives five minutes at . I believe a bus can stand 10 minutes without a licence. If the conductor takes the fares before passengers board the bus, I suppose that will be legal, and I need not then have a ticket-office ?
" Could you recommend me a book on motor laws, as I think 1 should find one useful? "
ANSWER.—The local council, as the licensing authority, has the power to make what regulations it, likes with regard to the control of licensed public-service vehicles, but all such regulations, we believe, have to be submitted to the Local Government Board for approval. We fear that an appeal to the Board as to the unreasonableness of the -Council's action with regard to your standingplace would result in a confirmation of that council's decision. The licensing authorities are under no obligation to issue licences unless they see fit. We are unable to discover any actual time limit during which you will be quite within your rights if your machine stands in the highway. The point to remember is that you would probably be summoned for obstruction, and before most Benches of magistrates a charge of technical obstruction is not difficult to sustain. There is no limit to the time during which you can occupy an authorized stand.
It not be sufficient for your conductor to take the fares before the passengers enter your unlicensed vehicle, unless he books each order for future fulfilment. The distancefrom the place of ordering and the time that should elapse before the journey commences may both he as small as convenient. Why not hire a piece of land or a shop near the high road and " ply for hire " from there as you think fit ? It then becomes private hiring. We do not think you would find any book suit your purpose. We can advise you further, if desired, re running a service without a licence.
Hackney Carriages and Taxation.
L1,723] " CARRIAGES write:—" In your Answers to Queries ' on page 165 of your issue for 27th ult., it is pointed out in answer 1709 that all hackney carriages have to pay excise duty of 15s. per annum, and, in addition, in common with pleasure motorcars under the Locomotives or Highways Act. 1896, to pay a tax of two guineas per annum.' Would it not be more correct to say that motorcabs pay a tax under the Act of 1896, because, under the Finance Act of 1910, the existing taxes on hackney carriages were not to be increased, therefore the old law still applies to them ? The question of weight is also not referred to.
" Another point is that the Acts of 1896 and the subsequent one of 1903 did not refer to Ireland, but they do so now, so far as cabs are concerned.
" You say steam vehicles pay no fuel tax. We presume you mean motor vehicles not using petrol, for this would imply that a White steamer paid no fuel tax? "
ANSWER.—The alternative expression which you suggest is perhaps the better one. As a matter of fact, your wording is very similar to that used in a comprehensive reply on the subject which appeared on page 439 of our issue for 28th July, 1910. The question of weight (i.e., the 2 2s. and £3 3s. qualification), as we read the Finance Act-, 1910, is unaffected so far as hackney carriages are concerned.
Your point with regard to the extension of hackneycarriage taxation to Ireland by virtue of the Finance Act, 1910, is interesting. Will you refer us to the section, which you consider formulates this extension? The application to Ireland of the new horse-power taxation for pleasure cars appears in See. 86, par. 1. We are of opinion that those owners of hackney carriages who have hitherto not come under the 1896 and 1903 Acts do not incur additional responsibility because of the new Act, and this by virtue of See. 86, par. 3—" nothing shall increase or affect the duty, etc."
Your remark with regard to the fuel tax for steam vehicles is correct in the isolated cases of the White, Stanley, and such cars. Our reference was to commercial vehicles generally. There are several similar types of cars made in this country on which paraffin alone is used as fuel. You, no doubt, are aware of them.