Hope of Fuel Tax Relief in Autumn
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1_10PES of another Budget in the I autumn, "when the industry may reasonably expect a substantial reduction" in fuel tax, at least on oil fuel used in their vehicles, were expressed by Mr. J. S. Wills, chairman of the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., at the company's annual meeting on Wednesday.
Mr. Wills said that with the Chancellor of the Exchequer's need for "classic purity and simplicity " to speed the progress of the present Finance Bill, it was perhaps too much to hope that the Budget would give relief.
The company's burden represented by the tax was equivalent to 2.6d. per vehicle-mile, or £834,000 a year. It seemed certain, therefore, that the Chancellor must have it very near the top of his list for relief in what he described as the " process of liberation."
During the year, a further 15 new services were introduced, and the frequency on another 148 services was increased, Mileage rose by some 865,000 to the record figure of 77m., and the number of passengers increased by more than 5m to over 457m.
There was also an increase of 92 vehicles, which now totalled 1,910.
FUEL TAX DEPLORED
IN the debate on the Budget in the I House of Commons last week, Mr, Thomas Oswald (Lab., Edinburgh Central) was the first to regret the absence of a cut in the fuel tax. This, he said, would have enabled fares to have been lowered and road haulage costs reduced, which might have reduced the cost of many goods.
Mr. J. Rodgers (Con., Sevenoaks) called for an efficiency drive in nonproductive industries. At present, millions of man-hours were wasted through transport delays, he said
RECORD SALES IN LIST 9 IST 9 of transport units has broken all records. By Tuesday, 86 per cent, of the lorries in vehicle-only units had been sold.
Results were: Sold, 365 units (671 vehicles); all tenders rejected, 52 units (83 vehicles); no bids, I unit (1 vehicle); awaiting decision, 7 units (22 vehicles); total, 425 units (777 vehicles).
No decision had been reached on tenders for the four units with premises, including the London meat-transport system of British Road Services. , MORE "SMOKE" POWERS SOUGHT
EGISLATION to strengthen municiLei palities' powers to control fumes from oil engines has been urged by several Middlesex boroughs, but the Association of Municipal Corporations think that no action should be taken pending the introduction of a Government Bill dealing with clean air.
The A.M.C. recall that the Committee of Air Pollution regarded the present law as "explicit and adequate."