OPINIONS FROM OTHERS.
Page 29
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The Editor invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of commercial motors. side of the paper only and typewritten by preference. The right of abbreviation, is reserved,
Letters should be on one and no responsibility for
views expressed is accepted.
The Unfairness of the Taxation Methods.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1888] Sir,—The present method of collecting taxation from motor vehicle users seems to me not only stupid but far worse; it is actually injurious. The old method of paying on petrol consumption was the true way.
The Government seem quite unable, with their Socialistic ideas, to realize that there are no businesses exactly alike, or even similar classes of business, and that many thousands of persons may be injured, because their circumstances do not fit in with legislation. In the case of the altered method of collecting motor vehiclerevenue, it is the small business man who is hit. The Government appears only to think_in terms of large businesses.
I will give my own case, and there must be many in a like position, as well as in otherclasses of occupation.
I own a business which I can work with two small motorvans. But these must run regularly. To ensure this I need to keep a third, on which I have to pay full tax, although it is hardly ever used. Had I a bigger business, requiring, say, 12 vans, the spare van would be one for twelve instead of one for two. So I pay half as much again, whereas the bigger man pays only one-sixth as much as I pay in taxation on a spare van.
can give a further instance of a stupid result. I own a small business 100 miles away, when I go each week and where -I keep an old Lancia ear ready to take me round the town, about four miles, when I need to go to sundry places, but to which age and rheumatism makes it wearisome to walk. But if I were to use the car at all I should need to pay a licence fee of £16, so the ear lies in the garage, jacked up off the ground, waiting for common sense to prevail, if it ever will.
The result is loss to the revenue of the original 6s. tax, and some petrol duty. Also loss of my time to the community. The gain is "nil." The alteration of method of taxation is unjust. The more interferences there are by the Government the greater the amount of injustice and the greater the difficulties of the small business man—to the advan. tage of the big businesses. Yet the small business man is of the utmost value to the country. He does not ask the Government to bolster up his business. He asks for nothing except to be as little interfered with as possible, and he gives of his best in hard work and careful living.
The practical way, if taxation must be put on ears instead of upon petrol, is to give a far greater reduc. tion to old vehicles. How can users buy new vehicles if they cannot sell their old ones' Southampton. DISGRUNTLED.
The Cyclist a Source of Danger.
The Editor., THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1889] Sir,—I have followed with considerable interest the recent correspondence occurring in your columns on the subject of cyclists' rear lights.
It seems to me that this is a subject where logic and expediency are essentially at variance. The logic of the situation, at any rate viewed from one standpoint, is that the road is the common highway, and therefore just as much permissible to be used by the slowest traffic and, incidentally, the lightest as it is by the modern relatively heavier and faster traffic, 'which, naturally, tends more and more to monopolize it.
I believe it has been repeatedly laid down by judicial authority that, for example, a foot passenger
has a perfect right on the highway, and that it is the duty of other traffic, therefore, to avoid hitting foot passengers, if they care to walk in the highway, lighted or not.
A cyclist may be regarded as one step removed from a foot passenger, and one can readily appreciate his point of view that the rear light is to be avoided —if merely because of its being such a nuisance in making the use of the simplest transport machine extant sometimes awkward and difficult—on account of the known unreliability of the sort of lamp at present offered for rear lights. Surely a compromise • between strict logic on the one hand and expediency on the other is called for, which would be gained by enacting that all bicycles be equipped with an efficient reflex rear-light mirror. One has only to oliserve what a very small amount of illumination will suffice to show up the red, disc of the Lea-Francis type reflex mirror to realize that this 'would, for all practical purposes, give a solution of this vexed question.—Yours faithfully,
RAYMOND J. MITCHELL M.I.A. E. , A. M.I.E. E. , etc.
London.
The Parades: The Driver's Point of View.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1890] Sir,—As a reader of The Commercial Motor and a C.M.U.A. driver, I was interested in " The Inspector's" article headed "Provincial Parades." "The Inspector" says that they are held to promote the following objects :—To encourage the driver to use his machine sensibly and intelligently to get the most out of it, and to maintain it in first-class order.
I wonder if " The Inspector ," will define the objects
fully, as it seems that the majority of drivers regard the Parade as an annual polishing competition, not realizing that this high-class condition should obtain the year round. The comments on the allocation of the challenge cup are a repetition of what has been voiced by drivers after the show. The steam vehicles, admitted., have heavy mileages, which affords them a great advantage, this factor enabling them to carry off the cup frequently, but it will be noticed that the mileages of petrol teams are overtaking the steam, and eventually they will carry away the cup as often as the steamers. If a separate cup for each class of vehicle is offered, the value of the cup will diminish, and it would not be fair if, after years of trying to obtain The Commercial Motor Cup, a separate cup should be offered.
None but a petrol driver who has paraded will realize the great opportunity the single cup affords of returning some of the complimentary (and other• wise) remarks of the steam drivers after the show. I notice "The Inspector's" remarks on the mar
shalling; it did cause annoyanceeto have a beflagged and otherwise decorated guide to place us. I venture to say that once our stand number is known, we would occupy it more quickly without his flag.
wagging and remarks: "Left lock, right lock; blow you! Can't you reverse ?!' and so on When working, those same officials do not assist, and, somehow, they do not realize that their " left " is our " right." I am pleased to think that perhaps some arrange
ments may be made regarding refreshments. Usually show day, means "no dinner day " ; cannot spare the time; the morning gone doing the round and the final touch up. Oh! yes, we did gat two hours last year. Awaiting "The Inspector's " comments, and hoping it is not a "chew up.'—Your a faithfully, London, S.W. F. IiirrnALs.