Answers to Queries.
Page 14
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Tire Inflators Wanted.
[1,740] " LONDON OWNERS " Write :— • • Will yon kindly give us the name of the best tire inflator suitable for the garage? "
Aisswee.—Brown Bros., Ltd., of Great. Eastern Street, E.C., supplies good tire inflators of various types for garage use. You can obtain them for operation either by hand or foot.
Motorbus Costs.
[1,141] " J.B.D." write :—" Some clients of oues in New Zealand are contemplating starting a service of motorbuses. The district is practicallylevel. The buses are required to carry about 30 people each. Can you refer its to any details of working costs? "
ANSWER.—The Editor's paper before the Road Congress nt Brussels will perhaps give the information you want. A copy will be sent on receipt of 6d. in stamps.
Carriage Duty on Commercial Traveller's
Car and Sample Carrier.
[1.742] "Boors ...ND SIIOES write :—" We should he glad if you would kindly give us your opinion as to whether we are liable to pay the licence on our commercial traveller's car, which is used for business purposes solely. We have our name and address painted in oneinch letters, according to the usual requirements of the law, but the licencing authorities of ---are demanding payment on the ground that a commercial traveller is not exempt. We fail to understand this, seeing that commercial travellers on the other hand are allowed a rebate on the petrol tax. ['This is not so.—En.] Kindly let us have your opinion as to whether you think the authorities here are correct, for, if so, the general idea of having the firm's name on the car is thrown to the wind. We can absolutely prove that the car in question is used for no other purpose than for carrying traveller's samples, our representative himself driving the car."
Asswita.---If you are able substantially to rebut any suggestion by the Inland-revenue authorities to the effect that your traveller occasionally, or even on a single instance, has given private trips to relatives or customers, you need not pay carriage duty. You are entitled to exemption, in those circumstances, under Section 4 of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act of 1888, which exempts " a wagon, cart or other such vehicle which is constructed or adapted for use and is used solely for the conveyance of any goods or burden in the course of trade or husbandry, and whereon the Christian name and surname and place of abode or place of business of the person, or the name or style and principal or any other place of business of the company or firm keeping the same shall be visibly and legibly painted in letters of not less than one inch in length." In our experience, it is exceedingly difficult to prove that this requirement has been strictly observed in respect of any traveller's car which has seating space to carry any person in addition to the driver.
London-owned Vehicles.
1,743] " SCOTLAND " write :—" A client of ours in Sydney, Australia, has asked us to obtain for him certain information regarding the number of motor vehicles in t.se in London, and we should be greatly obliged if you could give us any indication or tell us where the information could be obtained. What is required is
" (1) The number of commercial motors above four tons carrying capacity.
"(2) The number of motor omnibuses.
"(3) The number of taxicabs.
" We regret troubling you in this matter, but we think you will be able either to give us the information, or tell us where it can be obtained."
ANSWER.—(1) Approximately 400 petrol-driven vehicles, and 500 steam-driven vehicles, at the moment ; (2) 1,097; (3) approximately 6,300 at the moment, which will be augmented to not fewer than 7,500 by April.
Australian Haulage: Orders for "Home" Copies of the Overseas Special.
11,744] " F.P." writes:—" Attached is a small item out of your One Hears' column:
' From a returned Colonial pioneer, who has made lots of money by team haulage between Australian gold-fields and the coast, that there are several fortunes to be made by running 3-ton and 5-ton services for passengers, goods and gold in the same districts, and that 5s. a ton-mile is a quite-usual rate in these Elysian fields.'
" Would it be asking you too much to give me the name of this genteman, as I am much interested in this Australian haulage. I have no doubt that he would give me some information. Enclosed find two stamps for a copy of your Overseas ' edition."
ANSWER.—We have not permission to give the name of the Colonial gentleman to whom the paragraph which you attach refers. He is a wealthy and influential man, and we do not think it is likely he would care to be approached in this manner. If there is anything we can tell you from this office on the subject of haulage in Australia, we shall he happy to do so, as we have facilities for the acquisition of infornation from most parts of the world.
We are requested by the Business Department to state that, if you will send another six stamps, the Overseas Edition of this journal will be posted to you later. This special number is priced at 6d., and the postage is extra.