Answers to Queries.
Page 16
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Public-service Uniforms.
[1,851] " OUGHTERKNOW " writes :—" We shall be .glad H you will give us the addresses of a few firms who supply uniforms suitable for motor-omnibus
• drivers and conductors."
ANSWEIL—We give you a list of a few firms who are in a position to quote you for uniforms of the land for which you are asking. H. Lotery and Co, 4-8, St. Mary's Street, Whitechapel, H.
A. W. Gamage and Co., Ltd., High Holborn, London, E.C.
Dunhills, Ltd, Ruston Road, N.W. Samuel Bros., Ltd., Ludgate Hill, E.C. These names will probably be sufficient for you, but we can give you others if you so desire. The first-named makers have supplied a very large number of uniforms for the cab companies in London.
The Only Authority.
[1,8521 "STRAWBERRY" writes :—" In a book which I am now writing on transport questions in general, I propose to deal very briefly with commercial motors, and, as I understand that you read before, I believe, the Royal Automobile Club, some 18 months ago, an exceptionally-interesting paper on the history of these vehicles, I should be greatly obliged to you if you could let me see a copy of the paper. I would undertake to return it in a few days, if so desired, and I should make due acknowledgement of source in regard to any facts I might quote or reproductions I might make from the paper."
ANSWER.—The Editor read a paper on the subject of heavy motor traffic before the Royal Automobile Club in November, 1903, and a further paper on the same subject in November, 1908. We regret that we have no copies of these papers by us, and we can only refer you to the files of the Royal Automobile Club Journal in the library of that club. It is possible that the Secretary might afford you permission to have access to the files in question, in view of the fact that you are engaged upon the compilation of a book.
Plying for Hire in a Show Ground ; is a Licence Necessary ?
[1,853] " WYTORBE " writes :—" We should be glad if you would advise us on the following matter. In this town there are taxicabs, duly licensed by the police to ply for hire in the streets, and there are also some privileged by the railway company to ply in the station yard, and for these latter no police licences are required On the occasion of the local agricultural show, we obtained permission from the show secretary to send two of our taxicabs, which are not licensed by the police, into the show ground to convey passengers to the station. The police interfered with them and demanded to see the driver's 'licences ; they have threatened to proceed against them for plying for hire in a public place without a licence.
"Now what we wish to know is, have the police any ground for their action in this matter, as the place where the show is held is a private park ? The police contention is that, as people pay for admission it becomes a public place, hence a police licence is required. We think this is a matter of interest to cab owners, and shall appreciate your reply."
AwewEa.—We advise you that the contention of the local police is wrong. The very fact that the Ipublic has to pay to get into the show grounds is
proof, in our opinion, that it is other than a public place, as one is not accustomed to pay to go into a place to which the public has free access. We do not think that your vehicles require a licence. A carriage to be a hackney carriage requiring a licence, must both ply for hire and be in a public place. We do not think that it can be held that a show ground is a public place "This is a question of the publicity of a place to which the would-be hirers only gain access by payment. It is well to remember that the police cannot enforce the holding of a licence by a taxicab which exclusively plies for hire in a railway-station yard. Such a yard is private property."
For Running-cost Accounts.
[1,854] " DONEGAL!, " writes :—" We would be obliged if you could supply us with the names of stationers who would be likely to be in a position to send us sample sheets illustrating different methods for making up running costs for a number of machines, both hiring cars and heavy types, also for inaking returns of costs in overhauling and repairing ears. if there are any published in your immediate vicinity perhaps it would not be troubling you too much to ask them to forward samples."
ANSWER.—We regret our inability to refer you to any stationer who will supply a complete set of forms for any particular business. We are personally not in a position to supply you with the samples which you require. It is usual for the engineer in charge of a garage to be competent to draft his own costs systems. The Stolzenburg Patent File Co., 50-53, Bishopsgate Street Without, or Library Bureau, Ltd., 4, Cheapside, will be pleased to suggest a suitable card system. The headings for an ordinary set of cost books should be easily drafted by any competent accountant.
Would £100 Be Enough?
[1,855] "VENTURER" writes :—" I propose buying and running a char-e,bancs for seaside trips, in place of the ordinary coach which is usual on the East Coast. Would 2100 capital be sufficient to buy a small second-hand car and for working expenses? What would be its total running expenses 1 What is the most suitable type of machine? What type of body is most favoured, and what number of passengers ought I to carry ? What would be the probable profits, gross and net, with the owner to drivel I should like to know the most suitable place for the venture, East Coast preferred, but this is not necessary."
ANSWER.—The sum of 2100 will not be sufficient for you to purchase a suitable machine and to make the necessary provision to put it into service. You will be well-advised to purchase nothing in the way of a second-hand machine unless you have it very thoroughly examined and reported upon by an expert. Unless you are able to command a considerably larger sum than that which you suggest, we should not advise you to embark on the venture. You will realize that it is impossible for us to give you any estimate of working expenses until such time as you have decided what class of machine you are to employ. A first-class 30-seated char-h-bancs should not cost more than 9d. per mile all told. You will find that a considerable number of suitable chars-hbanes for this class of work have been illustrated in recent issues of this journal.