OPINIONS FROM OTHERS.
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The Editor invites correspon'tlence on all subjects connected with the use Of commercial motors. Letters should be on one side of the pager only and typewritten by preference. The right of abbreviation is reserved, and no responsibility for views expressed is accepted.
Devon's Proposed Coach Capacity Limit.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[2144] Sir,—The Devon County Council propose instituting the following by-law :— " The use within the Country of Devon after the 31st March, 1924, of any omnibus or char-a-banes designed to carry 8 passengers or More is prohibited unless the same be fitted with pneumatic tyres," and have given notice of their intention to apply to the Ministry of Health for confirmation of such bylaw after the expiration of one month from the 29th inst.
The matter is one of national importance so far as the motor trade and passenger transport business is concerned.
There would be nothing to stop the county council introducing freak by-laws as to the style and make of vehicle to be operated by the proprietors, bearing in mind that the char-a-bancs industry is taxed to an enormous extent, especially in the cases of seaside firms which do only a small mileage during a short season, and therefore pay far more in proportion for the use of the roads than heavy lorries which are daily in operation.
In effect such by-law must scrap up a considerable amount of invested capital of proprietors, besides handicapping transport.
I am of opinion that such by-law is unconstitutional and such interference with the liberty of the subject could not be brought about except by Act of Parliament;. further, also, that such by-law is ultra vires to the powers of the council. • It is essential that every user should urge his local association immediately to take up this matter and formulate a consolidated opposition against the confirmation of th by-law by the Minister of Transport. --Yours faithfully,
SMITH'S MOTORS (ENGINEERS), LTD.,
E. H. STOCK, Falmouth. Director.
The Projected Haulage Trade Association.
The Editor, TEE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[2145] Sir,--The article in your issue of January 23rd is very interesting ; it has only just been brought to our notice.
We shall be glad to learn whether anything has been done on the lines suggested by you, re the formation of a Haulage Trade Association, which should have for one of its objects the educating of every Motor owner 'who does haulage, whether light or heavy.
We think there ought to be sent out to every haulage contractor in the country, whether he desires to become a member of the Association or not, a circular dealing with costs, depreciation, etc.
This circular might be so drawn up as to form a guide for the beginner, as to the various items of expenditure which he. will be called upon to meet and which are not pointed out to him when he is signing an agreement for a monthly payment for a vehicle.
We think a lot of the rate-cutting is due to ignorance of oosts, and, of course, whilst one knows that these people who cut rates will eventually gO to the wall, it is essential that rate-cutting should be eliminated.
We think, therefore, that it would be a wise policy for all motor associations to spend a little energy on the outsider, by giving him such information as would cause him to think before quoting prices that pay nobody.-Yours faithfully, For JEWSBURY'S MOTORS, LTD., ARTHUR WATKINSON, Director.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[2146] Sir,—I am sorry to observe an apparent waning in the interest shown in " The Skoteh's " proposal for the formation of a Haulage Trade Association. Are the big people standing off because they prefer to crush out the little man, and is the little trian4tanding off because he is ignorant of the need for price maintenance I Co-operation in the transport industry is eminently desirable.--Yours faithfully, A SMALL MAN. Nottingham. .
Rear Lights on Cycles.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[2147] Sir,—I was interested in letters No. 2114 and No. 2136 which appeared in recent issues of The Commercial Motor, referring to rear lights on cycles and for cattle. I entirely agree with the writer of No. 2114, and suggest that thewriter of No. 2136 is very ungentlemanly to class such as us as "Road Hogs.
I can assure him that I for one am far from being a road hog. I am the driver of a 4-ton, lorry and always consider my fellow motor drivers. If it were necessary to have rear lights when D.O.R.A. was-in operation, why not now? Why does he consider it unnecessary now?
• The danger arises when a lorry driver with one acetylene headlight meets. a car with two glaring headlights. His one light is practically useless, so far as seeing ahead is concerned. If a cyclist should be ahead of him (going in the same direction) using a, red rear light, the driver of the-lorry would see the light much more easily than he would the person. I have experienced• this myself.—Yours faithfully,
East Peckham, Kent. W. BALLARD.
The Effect of the Irish Duty.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[2148] Sir,—We have seen in several papers (not in The Commercial Motor) a statement to the effect that now that the Irish Free State has adopted a 3B* per cent. import duty on motor vehicles; this will destroy the trade hitherto done with Ireland by English con. dessionnaires for, and traders in, American cars, because 'they would have to pay two duties—the British and the Irish.
Whoever started this "hare "—and lots of papers ran after it—knew nothing about the export business.What will happen, of course, in the case of English importers of American vehicles supplying Irish customers will be that, just the same as is the case when dutiable goods are re-exported to the Continent or any other foreign country—the Irish Free State is now "a foreign country ''—the English,duty will not be paid at all if the goods are transferred on arrival in an English port to an Irish boat, or if they are put into bonded store ; whilst, if English duty has already been paid on the vehicle which is to be exported, the English duty will be recoverable from the Customs on exportation, so that the Irish customers will only have to pay the Irish duty, and the only effect on the English concessionnaire or trader will be to put him to -a little more trouhle.—Yours faithfully, BRAMCO (1920), LTD. A.J.C. 043