Impressment Values : Points
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That Have to be Remembered.
The impressment of thousands of this country's commercial vehicles has considering the tremendous nature of this suddenly-imposed task, proceeded with the minimum of disagreement. We should not have been surprised had the exceptional circumstances, which called for so large a number of immediate impressments, resulted in a much larger crop of complaints with regard to the prices received from the Government. It is evident that the officers have, on the whole, undertaken their task with considerable tact, and, moreover, have been empowered to agree upon values, which, at any rate, are not ungenerous. Of those who have drawn our attention to what they consider are inequitable offers on the part of the Government for the machines they are seizing, we would ask their consideration for a few points which may not have occurred to them in this connection.
A large proportion of owners has, we are able to state from our own knowledge, met the Government very fair-mindedly, and has cheerfully borne the inconvenience and pecuniary loss arising therefrom, to say nothing of adjustments as to prices received, without grumbling. It is fair, also, to state that certain owners of suitable vehicles have unfortunately looked upon this necessary forced sale as an opportunity to drive a fat bargain with the War Department, but it is satisfactory to record that in only a few cases have such unpatriotic endeavours been brought to our notice through various channels. We have "noted them in our Book of Memories." The people concerned will in no way be entitled to a place in any roll of honour which the commercialvehicle industry may one day compile as a record of its share in the present crisis.
To those who have been grumbling, we have these few reminders to suggest. It is not always easy for the impressment officer to ascertain exactly what was paid for a machine he is endeavouring to seize. Of course, he has right of access to invoices and other documents, but some fencing has on occasion taken place when a demand has been made to know upon what terms the actual catalogue price has been agreed. For instance, one man may have acquired a suitable type of chassis on hire-purchase terms. He will have paid a bigger sum for his vehicle than will another man who bought his for cash at list price. There may be a third who secured a similar machine with a 15 per cent. discount off the catalogue quotation. Another man may have got an even better price . because he purchased a large number of such machines. All these facts have to be taken into account. It is obvious, for instance, that the Government cannot pay a larger sum to the man who purchased his machine on hire-purchase terms than it can to the man who secured his at list price. The first owner must regard the additional sum he paid as the cost of the easy terms, and not as an additional sum to be recovered from the Government.
Other things being equal, the Government should not be asked to pay basic amounts above the standard 08 prices in the maker's current list or catalogue. Then, again, owners must remember that there are all sorts of allowances made, with obvious equity, in respect of bodywork, lighting, and such maker's extras as taper bonnets, additional brakes, etc. We know for a fact that the Government is reasonable in the matter of depreciation. We also know for a fact that, in spite of the keenness of impressment officers, instances are available where machines have been palmed off on the Government which are in a disgraceful state of repair. We have seen such machines. There is only one way to deal with people who are prepared to take advantage of the Government in a time of crisis like the present. Our readers will not need to be reminded of what is in our mind.
We have in our possession particulars of certain cases in which there appears just cause for complaint on the part of the erstwhile owner, but it is correct to say that the Government will, after investigation in the proper quarters, meet all such cases in a fair and conscionable manner. Already such adjustments have been made ; others will follow, we feel sure, providing that the civilian parties to the sales bear in mind the one or two points of differentiation which exist as we have pointed out above.