PIB: GARAGE CHARGES TOO HIGH
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By Sam Buckley
THE average increase in charges for repairs and servicing is higher than necessary; the Ministry of Technology should have talks with manufacturers and the garage trade to review improvements affecting repair and servicing activities; the Board of Trade should require insurers to demonstrate, before increasing premiums, that they are prepared to play their part in ensuring that repairs are carried out with maximum efficiency.
These are recommendations in the 11,000-word report—published on Tuesday —by the Prices and Incomes Board on costs and charges in the motor repairing and servicing industry.
Although primarily concerned with the 8.8m cars out of a total 11.9m vehicles on the road, the report records that the RHA estimates that 95 per cent of large commercial vehicles are maintained by their owners while the corresponding estimate by the TRTA is over 60 per cent of C-licensed vehicles.
The Board offers no guidance as to what would be considered reasonable repair charges. It also admits that for every £100 invested by the average motor trader in his workshop, his profit was £3 6s. in 1965 and probably even now is less than £4.
At a Press conference organized by the Motor Agents' Association immediately after the report appeared, MAA president Mr. Graham A. Norris said that in principle they accepted the report—but with reservations.
He disclosed that they had had discussions with the British Insurance Association on the lines suggested by the FIB report to improve efficiency in repairs and services. When asked whether the MAA might go it alone if necessary he said they looked forward to the possibility of a "retail" MIRA M0T3NO' TO HAULIERS
THE Ministry of Transport has refused a request by Tees-side road hauliers for a commercial vehicle testing station in the area. The Ministry says its station being built at Darlington (about .15 miles away) will cover Tees-side and a second station would be too costly. But Tees-side firms maintain it will be expensive to send their vehicles every year to Darlington for testing.
but were obviously dependent for finance on their membership.
Rebutting KB criticism of the MAA for giving its 20,000 members guidance on the effects of SET, Mr. Norris said that if the Board complained that the trade did not understand accountancy, it should not also complain when the Association gave its members advice on the subject.
RAC to alter fleet membership rate
GOODS VEHICLE owners joining the RAC before the end of the year gain the advantage of having subscriptions pegged until January 1, 1969. New rates then will be the same charged to those joining from January 1, 1968.
Fleet membership (minimum of 12 vehicles) and vehicle hire membership, which is now Li 1 is 6c1 a vehicle (10s first vehicle), goes up to £2 2s a vehicle (£1 Is for first vehicle, special rates over 200 vehicles).
For a goods vehicle over 30cwt present subscription of £1 1s a vehicle with minimum of two (10s for first vehicle), goes to £1 Hs 6d a vehicle up to 25 with reducing rates (f.1 1 s for first vehicle).
Goods vehicle under 30cwt goes up from the present £2 2s subscription and lOs entrance fee to £3 3s and Li Is entrance fee.