Unfair . Competition in Private Hire I IMAGINE that there are
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many sMall independent I coach. operators like myself who are gradually. being. pushed out of the private-hire field by gross undercutting on the part of the nationalized companies.
• Recently, I have been able to obtain definite inforinaeon which, in my opinion, proves that, they will go to considerable trouble to take work away from the small man.
have been for at least 10 years contracting to convey on their outings every summer the bowling'club team of a big Chelmsford works. Last year I discovered that the Eastern National Omnibus Company of Chelmsford were submitting quotations considerably below mine for those trips. I was then given the opportunity, of revising my figures, Which I decided to do.
This year, I have obviously had. to increase the rate quotedfor last year, owing to , the higher prices of petrol and tyres and the rise in wages. I am informed, however, that I am still £15 7s: 6d, above the Eastern National's figure for the list of 14 tourneys which I append.
am 'fully aware that this work has been and will always be, competitive, but I am sure that no private concern could operate at such a figure as that with which I am. faced and that the company in question Would not think of operating stage services at such unrenannerative rates.
It is quite apparent to me that those concerned who are allowed to offer these quotations for private-hire work have no proper conception of costs. They seem to be given a free hand to watch these tenders from year to year and obtain the work even by running at rates which are grossly uneconomic.
. The nationalized companies seem to think that they have a right to participate in the better paying services, but from what I know of their prices for private-hire work they would be better off without this.
am approaching my. M.P., who is a Conservative, and will appeal to him to take up this matter with the Minister of Transport. If you are able to publicize this matter, so that the Ministry can be made aware of the situation, it might do the smaller operator -some .good.
My figures for the 14 runs from Chelmsford on Saturdays and Sundays, are as follows: 33-seater, Clacton-on-Sea, all day, £8 12s.6d.; Southall (Middlesex), all day £9 I0s.; 29-seater (from noon), Colchester -£5 15s., purfleet £5 15s., Corringham £6 7s. 6d,, Purfleet £5 15s., East Ham £6,. Wood Green £6, Seven .Kings £5 158., Charlton £8 7s. 6d., Tottenham £6, Waltharnstow £6! Barking £6', Hornchurch £4 5s. The total being £90 2s. 6d.
Chelmsford, Essex. • W. LODGE, • Lodge Luxury Coaches.
Fuel for Gully-emptiers Should be Tax-free
lax are wholly in support of your suggestion (March 8) " that auxiliary units on a vehicle for discharging its load should be permitted to use untaxed fuel. We are running a number of vacuum-tank cesspit and gullyemptiers, which we have constructed ourselves, and the exhauster which creates the vacuum in the tank is driven by a single-cyliadered oil engine. The whole of this subsidiary unit is mounted on a-special frame between . the front of the tank and the back of the cab, and is separate from thevehicle engine, and has its own -fuel tank.
We suggested to the local office of the Customs and , Excise that we should be permitted to use untaxed gasoil •in this engine, but in their opinion, we must use taxed derv. We are still in the process of arguing about • it.
Botley, Southampton. E. A. HART, • Governing Director, Cleaning Service (Southern , Counties), Ltd.
[On page 274 our legal adviser explains the law relating to fuel tax at it stands at present. A leading article on page 247 calls for relief, fromfuel tax in, cases such as Mr. Hart outlines.----En.]