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Scheme for Tax Cut and Bigger Road Spending
Page 66
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A PLAN for reducing road taxation without hitting the Exchequer too 1-1 hard has been submitted to the Chancellor by Lord Derwent, chairman of the British Road Federation. His suggestions include a cut in fuel tax from 2s. 6d. to Is. 6d. a gallon and the abolition of the 30 per cent. purchase tax on commercial-vehicle chassis. He claims that if the Federation's scheme were taken up Government expenditure on roads could progressively increase while still leaving £250m. a year for other purposes.
Livestock Hauliers Get Stern Warning
THE conduct of hauliers carrying livestock during bad weather brought strong comment from Mr. 1. A. T. Hanlon, Northern Licensing Authority, in a general statement during the hearing of cases at Carlisle on Monday.
Mr. Hanlon said that on January 22 he saw a vehicle depart from Longtown for Liverpool. He warned the driver that Shap Fell had been blocked twice within the previous two days, that Hartside was blocked, and that it was snowing at Haltwhistle and Carlisle. Yet a haulier told him that the weather was not inclement.
People who were granted licences to carry livestock must be subject to a scrutiny by R.S.P,C.A. inspectors and members of that Society, and it was also the concern of the Licensing Authority, he declared. Some people objected and had brought pressure to bear to stop him going into cattle markets.
"I have every right to go, and I shall go with an inspector of the R.S.P.C.A. or any other officer I think fit to take with me to see how hauliers behave," Mr. Hanlon continued.
"Let it be known that if I catch anyone behaving in a way which is brutal to animals I shall take steps, whatever the Technical Press or any other organization may think about it. Others think as I do. If infringements of the Transit of Animals Order take place I regard it as a matter of my concern."
YORK IN COMPETITION: OXFORD ARRANGEMENTS
THERE will now be 12 eliminating rounds in the Lorry Driver of the Year Competition this year. York, Subarea of the Road Haulage Association, who last year conducted a private competition, have joined the national organization. The secretary is Mr. J. H. Tait, Beechland, Bishopthorp, York.
The latest date for entries for the Oxford round is July 1. The event will be held on July 19 at the premises of Smiths Motor Accessories, Ltd., Witney, Oxon, beginning at 8.30 a.m.
Mr. H. I Wall, Ebor House, Blue Boar Street, Oxford, to whom entries should be sent, told The Commercial Motor that the new venue promised to be the best yet. Smiths had offered every facility.
The Plymouth round will be held on July 19. Entries go to Mr. R. Flory, W. Mumford, Ltd., Mill Street, Plymouth.
c28 Detailed calculations accompany the letter aimed at proving the Federation's point that by 1965 there could be a 300 per cent, increase on current road spending without touching the £250m. annual surplus.
One calculation shows that, after deducting Government expenditure for all road purposes, net road user tax has risen in the past nine years from £187m. to £440m. Another shows that for the coming six years, if net yield is stabilized at £250m., a rate of Is. 6d. a gallon fuel tax and 30 per cent, purchase tax on cars and motorcycles, instead of 60 per cent., would permit total Government road expenditure to reach £247m. in 1965— treble the present outlay.
These tax cuts would solve many of the difficulties at present facing bus operators, says Lord Derwent. They would also let the motor industry meet its European rivals on more equal terms and would, by reducing production and distribution costs, provide a valuable fillip to the national economy generally.
Moreover, an expansion of the road building programme would bring into use present under-employed resources in a number of associated industries. And the whole process would pay double dividends, because a speed-up of highway modernization would halt the waste of time and money caused by traffic congestion.
HAVE A CARE, WARNS MAJ.-GEN. RUSSELL
GREAT thought will be required to put the road transport industry into better shape than it is now, believes Maj.-Gen. G. N. Russell, president of the Institute of Transport. He told the Institute's Western Area members last week that in the struggle to carry goods and passengers, road operators were not being properly remunerated.
While this was the case there was the danger that something would "go bust." He did not suggest that rates should be raised, nor was he advocating nationalization, but something had got to be done about the situation. Taken as a whole, the industry was not acting sensibly.
"RESTRICT MOBILE SHOPS"
A CALL for a revision of the Shops Act, with a view to restricting the activities of mobile shops, is to be made to the National Chamber of Trade by Leeds traders. At last week's meeting of Leeds Chamber, Mr. S. J. Batchelder said mobile shops were "a law unto themselves," although in rural areas they often served a useful purpose.