OPINIONS
Page 52
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and
UERIES
ENCOURAGE THE USE OF GAS-PRODUCERS.
[5292] Your correspondents, Messrs. H. E. Crawfurd and J. Bowden, writing on the subject of the Falmouth Committee and related subjects, in your issue of February 25, both rightly point out that the tax on petrol is in fact a burden on the transport industry, reflected in the higher cost of all goods transported.
There is, however, one solution: I refer to the gasproducer operating either on anthracite or semi-coke. If the solid fuel thus used were exempt from tax (as is the case with home-produced petrol), the cost of the equivalent of a gallon of petrol would he approximately 4d. at present prices.
' The objections to which the gas-producer has hitherto been open are being gradually overcome. If the companies manufacturing gas-producers were given sufficient encouragement to enable them to complete development, both the transport industry and national security would benefit. This would not incur high capital expenditure such as is envisaged by all methods of extracting oil from coal mentioned in the report of the
Falmouth Committee. B. E. M. GOLDMAN. London, W.C.2.
RATES FOR GENERAL HAULAGE.
[5293] Having been a-reader of your valuable paper for a number of years I would be very pleased if you would let me know, through your paper, the price to tender for the haulage of gravel for the local coancil.
I shall use 4-ton tipping lorries carrying 4 cubic yds. The gravel is to be hand loaded by me and hauled distam es from half a mile up to about 9 miles, and I am to
give a price for each half. .
I would be very grateful if you will answer this, as I have been told that the prices-I tendered last year were too high and, although I do not want to.1,fise. this work, I do not wish to do it at a loss. HAULAGE.
Hants • [The following are minimum rates per cubic yd., which you should charge for the haulage of gravel under the conditiOns named. Any rate below that will fall short of returning a minimum reasonable' profit-1 mile, 11d.; 1 mile, Is.; li miles, Is. 2d.; 2 miles, Is. 4d.; 21 miles, Is. 6d.; 3 miles, Is. 8d.; 31 miles, Is. 10d.; 4 miles, 2s.; 4i Miles, 2s. 2d.; 5 miles, 2s. 4d.; Si miles, 25. .6(1.; 6 miles, 2s. 8d.; 61 miles, 2s. lOd.; 7 miles, 3s.; 71 miles, 3s. 2d.; 8 miles, Ss. 4d.; 8i miles, Sc. 6d.; 9 miles, Ss. 8d. —S.T.R.] ASKED TO COMPETE WITH EMPLOYERS.
[5294] Foa the past two years I have been employed as a driver on contract work, which is tendered for each year. For six months our lorries have disappointed the contractee so often that.I have been advised to submit my own tender for the next year, commencing in April.
The points on which I would like your advice are these: Do you think I would have any difficulty in a18 obtaining my contract licence if I were to get the job? Should.•I apply for this before getting a lorry or after? You see, it is rather doubtful whether I can get this job without having a lorry; on the other hand I do not wish to be left with it on my hands if I cannot obtain the licence.
My present employer would, I think, be the most likely objector, although there will be the usual hall-a. dozen firms sending in their tenders.
These other firms never get the work, and 1 do not expect any opposition from them, as they are not dependent on it. I may add that I am a regular reader of your journal and that I look forward to it every week.
Lancaster. A.M.W.
[There is nothing to prevent you from buying the lorry at once, but the vehicle must be employed solely on the contract in question, which must be arranged for a period of not less than one year. The licence would be granted automatically, if you produce the contract, and no objection would be permissible.—ED.J ARE SOME TRAILERS TO BE SCRAPPED?
[5295] We hear that all trailers (unlicensed) are to be scrapped early in 1940. We have been given your name as an authority likely to know the truth. . A.G.
York.
[We have heard no suggestion that all trailers (unlicensed) are to be scrapped early in 1940, and do not believe that any such move is contemplated. There is, of course, the point that if any vehicle be not employed for a long time, the owner is likely to lose his A or B licence—in other Words, they may be deducted from his licensed tonnage, but that is an entirely different matter.—En.] HOW SHOULD TRAVELLERS' CARS BE PURCHASED?
[5296] You kindly wrote me recently with reference to travellers' cars. I take it that you advise that each traveller should buy and keep his own car, partly because this will then free me from laying down any conditions as to 'the use of these on pleasure runs and any other purpose outside business conditions that might not be desirable. I take it, however, that not many travellers have the cash to buy new cars. Do you suggest that they buy them on the hire-purchase system?
I presume that the 2d. per mile, which equals, at 15,000 miles per annum, £125 per year, includes depreciation, say, at £50 per year, so that the traveller at the end of two years would have £100 towards a new car, which, together, with an allowance of, say, £50 for the old vehicle, would enable him to buy the new one without costing him anything, and that this would go on indefinitely. I am asking only for enlightenment and shall be glad if you will kindly explain this. Ought he not to pay something-towards the depreciation and replacement?
Then I do not see how a fair mileage on business purposes can be arrived at without a trial made over some