Passing Comments
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The Change Made by rINE of our occasional Bass was not so ‘ft" correspondents writes as Bitter follows: "The always refresh ing subject of beer, referred to under 'Passing Comments' in your issue dated December 15, reminds me of a fact likely to interest quite a number of readers. It is that what is probably Britain's best-known brew—and I think that Fremlins will pass the description—was originated by a road transport operator. In the eighteenth century William Bass was, however, known by the simple title of carrier. He served the public in the area between Burton-on-Trent and Ashbourne, Derbyshire, and his loads came to consist increasingly of barrels of ale from the former place. From this he concluded that the brewing trade must be a good one, and he ultimately took to it, with the result we all know. Having established his brewery at Burton, Bass gave up the carrying business. According to the late C. G. Harper's account, that eventually came into the hands of Pickfords." The cycle has recommenced, for many hauliers forced out of the business have turned to beer—on the retail side.
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Brush -Aboe Group THE latest publicity film, Produces Fine Export I "Power," produced by Film the Film Producers Guild,
Ltd., for the Brush-Aboe Group of Companies, is essentially international, as the commentary, advisedly, is obtainable in English. French, Spanish and Portuguese. Tracing the development of power from the earliest days, we were more interested in the development of the oil engine, which caused the Brush concern to extend its activities to the rationalizing of manufacture in this field and thus to form the Brush-Aboe Group, which embodies Mirrlees, Bickerton and Day, J. and H. McLaren, Petters and Henry Meadows. The range stretches from the small and portable Petters' units to 16-cylindered monsters of 2,880 h.p. produced by Mirrlees. Many of the shots taken in the various works are of great interest, as showing the use of the latest machine tools and jigs and the employment of lint production wherever possible. The film was introduced by the chairman, Sir Ronald Matthews who was congratulated by the Minister of Supply, in turn thanked by the Hon. Alexander Geddes: Taking Work Home WIVES of famous men are in the ,Transport " reputed to complain that Industry they occupy second place in
their husband's lives, and that in. all things work comes first. We suspect that keen road transport men must be similar in many ways, so much so that even in their private transport they endeavour to retain the flavour of their occupation. One .heavy haulier is said to have a Perkins P6 oil engine in a large private car designed some 20 years ago, because, it is said, it is the nearest thing he can get to one of his beloved Scammells. Another has fitted a Leyland 7.6-litre oil engine in an imposing Continental vehicle—and says that he obtains a fuel consumption rate of 40 m.p.g. Yet a third has equipped an elderly car with the Bedford sixcylindered petrol engine, of which he is so fond in his fleet. We wonder what would happen if passenger transport operators adopted a similar policy. In particular we would like to hear of the general manager of a municipal undertaking wiring up his depot-home route with surplus equipment and fitting a, battery-electric car with a pair of scrap trolley booms. Alternatively, there is the possibility of a keen development engineer mounting an underfloor oil engine beneath his private car—in order, of course, to keep an eye on its performance.
Balancing Charges: AANY hauliers whose busi Hauliers May Have to "Inesses have been, or are to Pay Surtax . bp, acquired are anxious about
the effect of balancing charges on income tax. Appeals against the inclusion of these charges for taxation purposes have been lodged and are to be taken before the Special Commissioners. Meanwhile, hauliers who are asked by the income-tax authorities to pay balancing charges are advised to give notice of appeal "The Commercial Motor" is informed that, if such charges be upheld by the Commissioners, they would be levied in. the year of transfer and could not be spread over the years during which the vehicles concerned were depreciated. As a result, many hauliers would have to pay surtax.