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Answers to Queries.

17th February 1916
Page 19
Page 19, 17th February 1916 — Answers to Queries.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

The Weed Non-skid.

[2914] (Tramway).—The Weed non-skid chain is the American version of the Parsons original non-skid, which is well known in this country. The address of the maker of the latter is 23, Store Street, Tottenham Court Road, London, W.C.

Reserve A.S.C., M.T. Drivers and Compulsion.

[2915] (Lance-Corporal).—As you are a married man the Compulsion Bill will not apply to you. On your discharge it is open to you to attest like any other civilian, should you feel inclined. if, however, you do this, it is more than likely that when, your group is called up you would be sent to the Infantry and not to the A.S.C., M.T., again. On the whole, however, we do not think you need do other than take your discharge, and in view of the special circumstances of your wife's serious ill-health, you will no doubt decide for yourself whether you will voluntarily attest to 'be called up in your group as a married man under the Derby scheme, or seek civil employment.

Magnetos for Five-tonners for India.

[2916] (Leadenhall).—Messra. E. and J. Hall, Ltd., of Dartford, have asked us to furnish you with any information we can in reply to your request for people able to supply you with magnetos. We are afraid your letter is somewhat uninformative in respect of your requirements, but no doubt you will be able to take the matter up direct with the three firms whose names we give below. They all handle American magnetos :— Morris, Russell and Co., Ltd. (K.W.), 75, Curtain Road, E.C. Walter Harte Johnson (Remy), 14, Panton Street, Haymarket, S.W. American Supplies Co., Ltd. (Splitdorf), 1€2, Ct. Portland Street, W.

Is Mere Acceptance of a Roadside "Fare" Legal "Plying for Hire" in the Absence of Importunity or Solicitation by Conductor or Driver?

[2917] (Motorbus Owners).—The decision to which you refer, at Weston-super-Mare, was probably wrong in law. It is, of course, no offence for a member of the public to importune a conductor, driver, or owner of a hackney carriage, but it is an offence for a conductor, driver or owner to yield to*the importuning, and to take up the would-be passenger. Of course, if you can successfully plead the same way at any local police court, all that we can say is that we wish you

good luck." We are none the less convinced that your driver has been guilty of an offence, in that he accepted the person as a passenger, and the fact that he was importuned by the intending passenger does not alter the position.

Can you get a copy of the report of the case at Weston-super-Mare to which you refer ? You seem to have in mind that " plying ' involves importuning, but it has been held that there is plying for hire although the driver makes no gesture or sign (Clark v. Stanford 40 L.J. MC. p. 151). The construction of the Town Police Clauses Act of 1847, we are legally advised, means that an offence is committed if a man is found " driving " for hire, "standing" for hire, or

"plying" for hire. As regards importuning, you must remember that there is occasional complaint in London that. it is difficult to get a driver to stop for the purpose of accepting passengers. This is the equivalent of a complaint that the driver does not importune or seek passengers, but the facts in London do not support the contention that the omnibus is not plying for hirer which. isea parallel of your contention. We findfthat in Case v. Storey (L.R. 4 Ex. 319) chief Baron Kelly said : "Plying for hire means that the carriage is to be at the disposal of any of

the public who may think fit to hire it." There does not appear to be a High Court case which is precisely concerned with the same points as those which you raise—taking up a, passenger in an area where licences have been refused.

Rates of Depreciation.

[2918] (Birmingham).—We consider depreciation on the basis of a life of 125,000 miles a correct one, with a minimum of 10 per cent. per annum on the first cost. You,are correct in assuming' that there is no recognized rule, on the part of surveyors of income tax, with regard to the rate of depreciation to be allowed on this class of machinery. Most surveyors err on the low side, in order to keep allowances as small as possible. The above-mentioned "flat" rates are generally applicable either to steel-tired or rubbertired vehicles, in our experieace, and that has embraced the collection of a very great deal of data during a number of years.

Chains for American Chassis.

[2919] (Great Eastern).—We regret that we have not, in detail, the information about driving chains on American chassis, for which you make a request in a recent letter.

We suggest that you get into touch with the following, who are the principal chain maker g in the U.S.A. It is more than likely that they will be able to give you the particulars, and probably will have chains of the correct pitch, strength and width in stock for immediate delivery.

The Diamond Manufacturing Co., Indianapolii, Indiana.

The Whitney Manufacturing Co., Hartford, Conn.


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