OPINIONS and QUERIES Educating the Public in Road Sense. Unprotected Inventions at the B.I.F. The R.H.A. for
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Every Haulier Will the New Act Save the Haulage Industry ? The Effect of Taxation on Economical Vehicle Operation
NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN, The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[4258] Sir,— The Minister of Transport has announced to Parliament that a national educative campaign on an intensive scale will be undertaken during the forthcoming spring and summer months, as one of the measures to be adopted in order to reduce the abnormal number of road accidents. He has asked this Association to play an important part in the campaign, which, in the words of the Minister, "in the main will be directed towards the development and extension of local activities in the more important centres of population throughout the country," with the object of encouraging the observance of the principles contained in the Highway Code.
The Minister of Transport has promised towards the cost of this work a special contribution of £5,000 from the Road Fund.
This is the first occasion upon which a grant for such a purpose has been made from the Road Fund, and the Association hopes that it will act as an incentive to local authorities, other organizations and the general public, to subscribe generously towards the cost of such a campaign. The Automobile Association has already contributed £1,000.
The National "Safety First" Association will require a fund of at least £25,000 if this educative campaign is to secure a sufficiently widespread publicity to achieve a really useful result May we appeal through your columns to all interested in this work of great public necessity to contribute to this fund?
Contributions sent to the undersigned will be grate fully acknowledged. HERBERT E. BLAIN, President,
National "Safety First" Association (Inc.). 524 Grosvenor Gardens, London,
EXHIBITING UNPROTECTED INVENTIONS AT THE BRITISH INDUSTRIES FAIR.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[4259] Sir,—I wish to draw the attention of your readers, many of whom may be exhibitors at the British Industries Fair, to the danger of taking advantage of Sections 45 (1) and 59 (1) of the Patents and Designs Act.
Under these sections an Unprotected invention may be exhibited, provided the Comptroller is notified on the prescribed form. An application for a patent may be filed for the same invention within six months of the date of the opening of the Fair. However, no priority of date is given and anyone seeing an invention may file an application for a patent in this country and other countries, and unless the first and true inventor can prove fraud the applicant will obtain a valid patent.
A well-known patent counsel, in his evidence before the Commission, presided over by Sir Charles Sargent, dealt with this matter and endeavoured to have these sections of the Act strengthened, but without success.
The importance of this matter to exhibitors at the British Industries Fair cannot be over-estimated, in view of the "International" attendance.
London, S.W.1. G. DRURY COLEMAN, General Secretary, Institute of Patentees.
THE ASSOCIATION FOR HAULIERS, LARGE AND SMALL.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[4260] Sir,—In reply to a query published in your issue dated January 19, as to what association the small haulier should join, a man who carries only for hire or reward, whether he be in a large or small way of business, would be well advised to join the Road Haulage Association, as this Association has set out to protect this class of man. It is specializing in meeting the needs of the haulier who depends upon his vehicles
for his livelihood. C. A. HODKINSON. Atherton.,
DIFFICULTIES OF THE HAULAGE INDUSTRY.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[4261] Sir,—IC have read with interest in your issue dated January 26 the letter from "Disgusted," to which this will serve as a reply, but for various reasons I would prefer you not to disclose my name.
As the head of a large haulage concern I agree with the remarks, as the Road and Rail Act has only just come in time to prevent the total eclipse of the real contractor. The Road Haulage Association is doing its utmost to secure better rates, and the valuable assistance your paper is rendering to the trade is an established fact.
One or two haulage contractors have tried to secure better rates, with the result that they have found their customers going into the country and other parts of London for their requirements in the way of vehicles. I am afraid " Disgusted" does not know many of the difficulties that have to be faced by the haulage trade. Owner-drivers swarm the country, and generally are in the hands of merchants who hold them under their thumbs. If the drivers be unable to pay their taxes, the merchant advances the money. In many cases, the hire-purchase payments are guaranteed, and the drivers are paid just whatever the hirer thinks fit. On the other hand, you have the wharfinger who handles goods, owns his own transport, and does not trouble to make any profit on his lorries, provided his wharf is kept going. The same applies to builders' merchants, etc.
The haulage contractor wants to obtain better rates, and the foregoing are some of the difficulties he has to face. The customer says, I will not pay any more, as I will not sell my products, and if you make a general agreement I will buy my own lorries. The Class C licence has no terror for me, and the questions you may have to answer to disclose your rates to the Licensing Authorities do not concern me.
We hauliers must press for a much tighter hold on Class B and C licence holders, otherwise we shall be squeezed out of business between the millstones of re
gulations and ancillary users.. TROUBLED. Brentford.
COMPARATIVE TAXATION FIGURES FOR OLD AND NEW VEHICLES.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
142621 Sir,—I shall be glad if you will let me have your free brochure on operating costs for carrying loads by road, also, if such a thing be available, a note of the new licence duties which came into force on January 1.
My haulage problem is a somewhat unusual one; most of my work is done over very bad roads—a few long journeys, but most of the trips are comparatively short. Hitherto, the work has been done by old lorries, which, though very reliable, are somewhat slow. The lorries are fitted with solid tyres, and the new taxes, I am afraid, are going to make them prove very expensive.
What I am trying to arrive at, at present, is what would be the most profitable machines for me to use if, on examination, the old type prove to be uneconomical.
Cumnock. DOUBTFUL.
[The taxes on pneumatic and solid-tyred vehicle-,s:as from January 1 this year are as follow :— Petrol. Oilers.
PneuPrimmatics. Solids. matics.
The additional tax if any of the above vehicles be used for drawing a trailer is :—Where the weight of the vehicle unladen does not exceed 2itons, £10 ; where the weight of the vehicle unladen does not exceed 4 tons, £15; where the weight exceeds 4 tons, 220. If you will let me have some notes of your annual mileage, annual tonnages and the distances I will advise which is likely to be the most satisfactory type of vehicle.-----S.T.R.]