Cut Petrol Tax As Well
Page 55
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MAY we protest against your campaign for the reduction
of tax on oil fuel and ignoring the tax on petrol? We operate a number of rural stage services, and have to use the same vehicles on contract work; private hire, school services, and excursions and tours. This is, of course, fairly common practice with many small operators, and, like theirs, our rural stage services are not particularly. remunerative. Like them, we find that oil-engined vehicles are not economic for such services. Their maintenance costs are too high and the bodywork does not stand up to the vibration caused by a combination of oil engine and bad country roads.
For country stage and general work, petrol-engined vehicles, such as the Bedford, are more suitable than oilcrigined buses, and over a period of years are more economic. On rural stage services, where stops are often some distance apart, there is little difference between the fuel consumptions of petrol and oil engines. Spare parts for petrol engines are much cheaper, and last as long.
'. It is surprising how many operators of nine or 10 vehicles, „having tried diesels, are reverting to petrol. So, please, • when campaigning for a fuel-tax reduction, do not forget the small rural operator and his petrol-engined buses. Admittedly, a cut in petrol tax would increase competition between private cars and stage services. Why not, in fair, ness to all, give a rebate of tax on both petrol and dery used in public service vehicles, or, for a start, used by stage carriages? We hope that the Passenger Vehicle Operators Association will see these observations. We are not members of the Association for the very reason that in matters of this kind they do not truly represent the small operator, or, at best, they are out of touch with him.
Cattistock. A. PEARCE AND CO.
Deprive Criminals of Licences
I APPLAUD Mr. 1. A. T. Hanlon's comments reported in your March 25 issue. Of course, operators who use their vehicles for criminal activities should lose their right to hold a licence. Apparently some influential people hold the view that, once a man has been punished by a fine or imprisonment, he has paid the price of his sins, but do they also suggest that criminals should be handed back their housebreaking implements, knuckledusters, gelignite or what have you? After all, the vehicle has been used as a tool of crime, and the threat of withdrawal of licence is a further deterrent, With load losses at the level they are today, no lawful means by which we can improve the situation should be overlooked, and Section 6 of the 1933 Act should be rigidly applied. May I say to Mr. Hanlon: More strength to your arm. Perhaps the police will now be allowed to provide you and your colleagues with the evidence you require. London, S.E.16.
J. T. BROWN,
London Manager and Director, Atlas Express Co., Ltd.