Answers to Queries.
Page 21
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Oar readers will be isformed by the Editor on any points connected with the construction or use of commercial motors. Where a direct reply is desired, a stamped and addressed envelope should be enclosed : if a request for privacy is not specially made, any query and answer may be published. Some replies, owing to pressure on our space, are held several weeks. Numerous requests reach us for lists of motorcab and commercial vehic.e owners; thEse zue never supply. Our advertisement
columns are opea to those who desire to )nake announcements to owners for their own benefit.
Petrol Tax on Trade Cars.
[1,882] " CANTERBURY '5 writes We should
esteem it a favour if you could kindly give us some information as to rebate in respect of the petrol tax on trade cars ; can the half rebate be obtained for cars used solely for hire work, whether hired from the garage or the hackney stands At present we are given to understand that half rebate can only be obtained in the latter ease."
AN-mule—Under the 1910 Finance Act, a rebate of half duty can be obtained on all spirit used by motorcars, etc., which are hackney carriages within the meaning of Sec. 4 Customs and Inland Itevenue Act, 1868, while they are standing or plying for hire. If your machines are used for private hire, the rebate cannot be obtained for spirit used in inch service. it; has not, to our knowledge, been settled as to whether a vehicle van be considered to ply for public hire from private property. You must do your best to persuade the local. Inland Revenue authority that your machines always work as hackney carriages, and that they always stand or ply for hire. As a matter of fact, the Act of 3.8to makes no reference to plying for pubhc hire.
Coming Home from South Africa to Run a Taxicab.
[1,883] " JOHANNF,SBURG " writes I am writing
to you for some information re taxicabs, which I am unable to obtain out here. I shall be very grateful to you for same, and any further advice you could give me to help me to a decision. I may state that I am at present in the Transvaal Police, and that I am desirous of returning to England for future residence, but I have reached that age when I expect I should find it difficult to earn a living at my previous occupation, so I thought of purchasing a taxicab. That is why I should be glad to khow: (1) the prices of taxicabs ; (2) average life of cab ; (a) gross takings in fares per cab foe any period, number of hours running, costs of running and repairs, as for period in gross takings, from any cab company's returns ; (4) standard of qualification for driver's licence, costs of cab and driver's licences."
Asswen.—We note that it is your intention to purchase a taxicab on your return to England, and to earn a living with it here. We may tell you at once that, unless you have a very thorough knowledge of the topography of London, you will stand not the slightest chance of procuring a licence to ply for hire from the Scotland Yard authorities It may be, however, that you have in mind to get to work in some provincial district with which you are particularly acquainted. There, again, you will meet with some difficulty, as most of the paying districts are already well provided for. You will need to exercise the very greatest care and discretion in coming to a deeisien on this point. Yoe will be able to secure a good taxicab model, including tires, for a sum of about £875. Some models, however, are cheaper than this. You will do well to base the life of a taxicab, providing it is main tamed efficiently, on an actually-completed mileage of 150,000. The gross takings in fares per cab vary according to the district and to the capacity of the driver. The total takings have fallen very considerably in London recently, on account of competition, and you will see the difficulty in Riving you very close information on this subject when we tell you
that one fleet of which we know in London is earning an average of well over :30s. a day, whilst many others are taking very little more Limn o;,1 a day. this is for one man one cab, and is the gross recorded earniug. There are, also, the unregistered
" extras " and the " The total cost of running, including all possible charges, is slightly over 4d. per mile run. The items included are fuel, tires, repairs, depreciation, interest on capital, etc., eta. Under the existing conditions, whereby the drivers purloin almost the whole of the extras, it is doubtful if many of the companies operating taxicabs in the Metropolis are making a profit. Ii. is probable that there are sufficient cabs licensed in London for its present requirements, buait is certain that there are nothing like sufficient drivers to man them.
A Light on the Extreme OH-side.
[1,88.1] HAULAGE CONTRACTORS •" We en
close for your perusal a summons which one of our drivers has received. We also enclose a photo. of the steam wagon in question, which was carrying a lift van and drawing trailer at the time, the sides having been removed. She was carrying two headlights at the time, on the brackets shown---[Practicaliy in line with shell of boo type boiler.—.Erea The police contend that we should have had a light attached to the extreme outside right of the vehicle. We are under the impression that there was a similar case at Portsmouth a few months ago, but that the ease fell through. We shall be glad of any assistance you can render us, or suggestions that will enable us to defend this."
asswee.—If _your company belonged to the Commercial Motor Users Association, the defence would he taken up for you free of charge. We suggest that you base your defence on the following point: the summons does not quote Regulation 7 of Article 2 of the Motor Car Use and Construction Order in full. The wording of that regu
lation proceeds thus: . . a white light visible within a reasonable distance in the direction towards which the motorcar is proceeding or is intended to proceed." The words which are italicized are an integral part of the requirement, and it seems to us that you can, if the case is put before the magistrates in courteous fashion, substantiate your argument that the arrangement of the brackets is strictly in accordance with the requirements of the regulation, seeing that, if you were to put the brackets back on the sides of the body. which is probably the police suggestion, and which suggestion you should allOw them to develop in their prosecution before you disclose your line of defence, neither lamp could possibly show any light in the direction towards which the lorry "is intended to proceed,' i.e., as when turning a corner.
We shall be glad to hear how you succeed. Incidentally, you might allow the prosecution to close their ease, and then, if they fail to prove the regulation by putting in a copy, pleading technically and alternatively that you have no case to meet, as any such Order must be formally proved in court to make
prosecution good, by a production of a copy of the Order.
[The case was dismissed on payment of costs (9s.), and on the driver's promise to fix a bracket on the off side of the body.—ED.]