ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
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"Annoyed."—You have been misinformed by these people. "Tim COMMERCIAL MOTOR" was the first weekly journal announced, viz., on January 31st last. We can quite understand their being considerably embarrassed.
"Van Trials."—We are pleased to hear that you regard these as of great importance to the home industry. Such a competition serves to "weed out" faulty vehicles, and the distances are amply long 'enough to provide reliable data for maintenance charges.
Robt. Brown (Dundonald).—Your letter of June 7th is the first communication we have received, and no stamped addressed envelope was enclosed. We are indebted to the editor of the " Belfast News Letter " for sending you a copy of this journal. We are unaware of the nature of the cutting from "The Northern Whig," but it will doubtless interest us if you can furnish a copy. The annual subscription is 6s. 6d., or you can order through your local newsagent.
Enquirer" (Clapham Common).—The companies to which we referred are not yet in a position to do more than hire out a few vans, and these are already contracted for privately without any difficulty. If you wish to buy after trial, any maker will arrange to put a van at your service—without an actual commitment on your part beyond the reasonable hiring charge—for a fortnight. Messrs. Phillip° and Son, Ltd., jobmasters, 44, Worship Street, E.C., may be ready to take hiring orders. The G.W. Railway accept hiring orders for motor omnibuses and wagonettes in certain special cases.
C.L. (near Canterbury).—We thank you for congratulations. You will need one-third the capital value in cash to buy on the hire-purchase system. Balance can then be spread over three years. You must see an assured income of Is. 3d. per mile run, on a minimum weekly distance of 400 miles, i.e., L'25 a week, before the scheme can have any financial attractions. It is not safe to go in on less, except that this includes £4 los. a week for driver and conductor.
J,R." (Manchester).—The question of haulage by motor wagon is now fairly settled in its main points of application with a view to working at a profit. Where a 5-ton wagon, costing, say, Zsoo, cannot be used so as to earn
a revenue of at least a week, for total journeys not exceeding 200 miles a week, there is not sufficient in the enterprise for a return on the labour involved. The earning of ,ICk a week will cover one wagon-whether it is owned privately or by a haulage company—and it means looking round to find regular loads to secure the desired income. The necessary money is sometimes earned with loads in one direction only, but this is the exception. In regard to demurrage, you should reckon that every hour a motor wagon waits anywhere costs 45. With proper maintenance, 121 per cent. is now a sufficient depreciation rate.