Opinions from Others.
Page 16
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The Jones Taximeter.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
L1,185] Sir,—We have to thank you for the illustrated paragraphs on the Jones taximeter appearing in the current issue of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR. Whilst, however, in paragraph 3 you expatiate on the advantage of " extras " being shown separately, you surely contradict yourself further on (see paragraph 5) " In fact, the Jones meter also provides him with an opportunity for ' doing ' the hirer," etc., etc.
We cannot see for a minute how the Jones meter could be said to encourage the driver in dishonest practices as suggested, any more than, or indeed as much as, other meters, and your previous remarks in paragraph 3 are to the point in this respect. The whole question of " extras " being shown separately would surely discourage rather than countenance a thing of this kind, and surely the lethargic passenger which you suggest is the kind of passenger that would be better without a taximeter of any kind ?—Yours faithfully,
MARKT AND CO. (LONDON), LTD.
[If the driver puts the flag to the correct" tariff'' position, we agree that the owner is safeguarded, We do not agree that the two words " included above" alongside the hand-recorded " extras " are sufficient to prevent swindling either of the hirer or the owner ; the dishonest driver can register too many " extras," omit to record them altogether or demand them twice. The Jones taxitueter is a perfect instrument as such, but our point is Ibis it can still offer scope to the unscrupulous driver.—En.
Users' Experiences.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
_r1,186] Sir,—My silence during the past few weeks has been due to exceptional pressure of business; the public is keeping us "on the run," and, to judge from my own .experience, your prediction that motor road transport was rapidly gaining the confidence of the public was apparently a very true forecast. In confirmation of this view, I recently received a letter from a customer, who wrote in the course of a reply to a quotation we had submitted. The following is an extract from his communication:— " We have been offered a much lower rate than yours, but feel that you will be reliable, which in this matter is of .great importance." I am glad to say that as events proved our customer's confidence was not misplaced, but I had a latent fear lest the law of compensation should rule a breakdown to be the natural sequel to such a display of .confidence.
By way of contrast I have recently suffered from one of those inexplicable cases where the intelligence of the human being appears to suffer temporary extinction : one of my drivers was recently directed to take a certain .country laze as " a short cut home" by someone, At the very commencement it was palpably unfit for even a heavily-laden horse vehicle, and it steadily became worse; after passing a level crossing over the railway it proved to be nothing but a grass lane between fields, and abruptly ended at a hedge. The whole length of the lane was about three-quarters of a mile, and yet, in broad daylight, this otherwise intelligent driver pursued his mad career to the very end of the lane. Then, to his apparent surprise, as soon as his vehicle came to a stop his wagon began to settle down into the bowels of the earth. I have, for many reasons, given this case a considerable amount of thought, and, if possible, I should like to find -a suitable explanation for the occurrence, the man being a staunch teetotaler. So far, the only solution which presents itself to me is that it was due to an attack of fever contracted while watching the manceuvres of some Boy Scouts. Now that the Home Secretary is turning his attention to the police courts, I venture to suggest that the lot of the motorist who is " brought before the Beaks " for technical offences is worthy of attention. I refer both to drivers and owners. As matters are conducted at present it is practically impossible for a self-respecting man to conduct his own case. To begin with, he is herded with the "Great Unwashed" who throng these courts, and his case is frequently sandwiched in with that of drunks and disorderlies, and ladies of easy virtue, and, by the time he has an opportunity to speak, he is so demoralized by his surroundings, that he prefers to say nothing, but to pay any KUM which will free him from this purgatory. Bad it not been for the pressure of business, I verily believe I would have" gone down" recently for seven days " hard," which sentence, I was informed, was the alternative to paying a fine for a slight overweight. That is another point which appears to me to require attention. Would it not be possible to alter the alternative? We do not want to fill our prisons with honourable citizens, even though they be poor.
I am holding back the log sheet until your next issue, when I hope to give some comparative figures for six months of work.—Yours faithfully, " Moroa-Waaosr CARRIER."
Magneto "Experts."
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL Moron.
[1,187] Sir,—We are informed by several of our friends that a man who claims to be an expert on magneto ignition is touring the country demanding from motorcar agents and manufacturers different fees rising up to as high as £4 4s. for lessons and instructions on the setting of our magnetos. The man in question has at various times made statements about our manufactures which are derogatory to our interests and wholly incorrect, and we should be glad through the medium of your columns to warn the trade and public against the impositions of any such individual, who is unable to give reliable information with regard to any of our machines as he has never been employed in our works or in any one of our branches. It is now quite well known to all those interested in the automobile industry, that we have published a series of instructive booklets, which are produced by the actual manufacturers and consequently contain correct information most fully, in which every possible detail is dealt with and illustrated ; then, naturally, from such publications as we from time to time put out, the individual in question can gain his knowledge, but the possibility of his gaining useful experience is very remote.—Yours faith fully, THE Thsscn MAGNETO CO., LTD. Arthur E. Bennett, Technical Manager. 40-42, Newman Street, W.
Taxicabbies' Earnings.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1,188] Sir,—If the taxicab proprietors really desire to put a stop to the absorption of "extras" by their employees, surely a speedy and effective remedy lies ready -to their hand ? If three detectives (or two, with luggage) were employed, the number of convictions for embezzlement, which they could secure, would doubtless approximate very closely to the number of taxis jointly hired by them. The moral effect of even one day's battue would probably suffice to secure the desired end. If Dot, it could be repeated (with change of detectives, of course), as often as required. That the public should be appealed to, to protect the proprietors, whilst the obvious remedy is neglected, seems little short of grotesque.
If 75 per cent. of the London taximen habitually falsify their accounts, as your leading article of June 30th seems to show, the aggregate sum embezzled must approximate to some £50.000 per annum. Nore like £150,000 a year.—En.] The shareholders in the motorcab companies, whose position, in the matter of dividends, is by no means a rosy one, will hardly join with your correspondent Mr. J. E. Davies (July 7th) in dismissing this sum as "some odd coppers." Yours faithfully, E. BENNETT. fir:specters on bicycles, who record and report "extra" loads, are found to be much more effective—En.]