T.A.T. Make Big Cut in Claim
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WHErHER a garage was worth £3.867, as assessed by the applicants' surveyor, or £1,050, as offered by the British Transport Commission, was argued before the Transport Arbitration Tribunal in London this week.
Thomas Hewstone and Co., Ltd., Eastcombe Avenue, Charlton, claimed £3,867 compensation for premises including garage, workshop, offices and stores and a yard covering 15,800 sq. ft. In April, 1939, a 21-year lease was granted the company by Mrs. D. M. Hcwstone, wife of the late principal director.
Mr. J. Royle, for the applicants, said that Mrs. Hewstone received a rental of £78 a year, plus a sum equal to Schedule A tax; in effect, she received £78 tax free. This rent bore little relation to the value.
When the B.T.C. acquired the undertaking in October, 1949, they also took mes the lease, but before this date the company had levelled and asphalted the yard, built new offices and made other improvements. Their surveyor had valued the property at a 1949 rental of £678 10s.. a year and multiplied it by 5.7 years' purchase, giving a total of £3,867.
The Tribunal announced on Tuesday, after a two-day hearing, that an award of £1,656 would be made. There was no order as to costs.
Mr. Patrick Browne, presenting the Road Haulage Executive's case, said they were offering not £1,050, but £1,234 as compensation. Both the applicants and the respondents had been wrong as to the area of the land in question-the applicants had made it larger and the respondents had made it smaller than it actually was. They had now agreed on that point.
Mr. Browne said that the Executive's surveyor valued the property at a rental of £287 a year multiplied by 4.3 years' purchase.
PARIS SALON THIS YEAR
THE former decision to stage the 40th Paris Salon de l'Automobile in 1954 has now been altered and the Show is to be held from October 1-11 this year. Cars will be shown at the Grand Palais and commercial vehicles at the Parc des Expositions, Porte de Versailles. It is understood that Commer and other British-built chassis will be displayed.