Opinions from Others.
Page 16
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Ownership versus Contracting.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1135] Sir, --Referring to your reply to " Buildings" (enquiry No. 2074, issue of the 19th December), you will readily understand that, as the manager of a motor-carrying company, I am very interested in this letter. Your paper is very widely read by potential users of motor wagons. and the figures which from time to time appear in it respecting the running costs of motor vehicles are often repeated to me by my customers, with the object of comparison with my own charges. If I cannot substantiate the fairness of my terms, my customers consider the question of purchase.
I would, therefore, be extremely obliged if you would kindly explain in your next issue how you arrive at the figure of 9d. per mile for the running cost of a three-ton petrol lorry, including maintenance, depreciation and all charges—even after extra allowance for tire cost due to bad surfaces.--Yours faith fully, C. LE M. GOSSF,LL't;. Preston.
[For reply see page BSI-End
The Quest Tor Benzol. Wanted near Swindon.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1138] Sir,—With reference to your article on benzol, we shall be very glad if you will let us know the nearest source of supply for ourselves.--Yours BOND AND SON.
'Wootton Bassett.
iThe Wigan Coal and Iron Co., Ltd., 6, Corporation Street, Birmingham is the nearest reference we can give you at the moment. --Ers.J
The Quest for Benzol. In Monmouth Collieries.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1 137] Sir,—I shall be obliged if you will let me know where I can obtain benzol. I have made inquiries at several collieries in Monmouthshire without result. I have used over 6000 gallons of petrol this year. What is your opinion of the Motor Owners' petrol combine ? Do you think it is worth while putting money into
it 1—Yours faithfully, A. W. HARRISON. Abergavenny.
[We are not hopeful of the prospects of any of the co-operative petrol. supply schemes which have, to date, been mooted. We underotand that the particular proposal which is mentioned is not progressing. Sec notes to other letters herewith re supply of benzol.-En.)
The Quest for Benzol. Who Makes the Plant?
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[11381 Sir,—I have read with interest your leader on benzol. Could you inform me as to the names of the makers of plant for the recovery of benzol? We have large gas works here, and the manager does not appear to know anything about the subject. No doubt it would pay to lay a plant down. What is the nearest town to Wesfbn-super-Mare where benzol could be
got?—Yours faithfully, WM. LALONDE..
[The principal makers of bor zol-recovery plant are : Carl Rtill, Recklinghausen, Westphalia ; Gebr. HInseltuenn, 10, Miirkische Strosse, EssenRuhr: and Topper's Coke Oven and Bye Product Co., 10I, Glossop Road, Sheffield. We know of no depots nearer to you than the Wigan Co. referred to above, and the Bircbenwood Colliery, Nidsgrove.-End
The Quest for Benzol. At 91 per gallon.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1139] Sir.—We notice that on page 358 of your issue dated 26th December, you say that the present market price of benzol, at. those gas or other works which sell it, is 91d. per gallon in bulk. We should be exceedingly obliged if you could kindly let us know the names of a few firms who are supplying at this figure, as we have ascertained the price for delivery over 1913 to be exactly the same as that of petrol, and in one instance slightly higher. If we could obtain supplies at 9-id. per gallon in bulk, we have no doubt that we should
be able to buy in large quantities, and even if we did not obtain such good results with benzol we should feel justified in using it, as we should consider that we were doing something towards reducing the present exorbitant price of petrol.—Yours faithfully, W3.1. HANCOCK AND CO., LTD., Per G. GARNELL, Asst. Gen. Manager.
Cardiff.
The pfee named was recently quoted in Leeds. Try Brotherton and Co., Ltd., of that eity.-E.D.] L G.O. "Spots." A Trade Union View.
7'he Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1140] Sir,—In your issue for the 19th ult. some remarks were made about the National Society of Motorbus Workers which were not strictly accurate. You state that one of the drivers' grievances is the introduction by the L.G.O.C. of inspectors to report reckless and inefficient driving, owing to the prejudice to which this has given rise, and you conclude that the drivers lose sight of the fact that this is in the interests of the majority. May I suggest that before this new departure on the part of the L.G.O.C. is approved, we should inquire whether it is necessary and will justify the expenditure in this direction, that is so far as reckless driving is concerned. As a matter of fact there have not been a dozen convictions, during at least the last 12 months, against motorbus drivers. Police-court and stipendiary magistrates, who are by no means lenient towards motorbus drivers as a rule, have to dismiss the majority of summonses for reckless and wanton driving owing to the difficulty they encounter in deciding what constitutes " wanton and reckless." I submit that the L.G.O.C., by appointing these inspectors, are slighting the police who are ever ready to pull out the pocket book for any offence committed by drivers of stage carriages. That being so these inspectors are superfluous additions to an already unnecessarily large staff of officials.
However, should you interpret reckless to mean increased although not furious speed, I can honestly say, after having journeyed over several roads, calculating the number of stops, delays through congested traffic and other causes, that to complete the journey in the time set by the time card without " setting-emalight," would be an utter impossibility. If by chance a driver was caught putting a spurt on, making his way through traffic smarter than he would do under normal conditions, you would not, I am certain, condemn such a man for having driven recklessly.
With regard to the inefficient driving, that seems to me an open confession by the L.G.O.C. that they have sent men to pass the test atlScotland Yard who are
totally unfit to qualify throi gh inefficiency. Some of the candidates have got through by the skin of their teeth, which casts a slur upon those officials of the Public Carriage Office whose duty it is to test a man as to his efficiency. also it reflects against the instructors, whose duty it is to make these candidates thoroughly fit before being recommended as fit to pass the police test. I have not, nor will I now defend any driver that drives his bus to the common danger. nor could I tolerate a driver that was so wooden-headed that he could not grasp the principles of changing soeecl. braking, or the correct use of the throttle, but I still ion of opinion that something different could be introduced that would be beneficial to both sides. I am able to prove by my own experiences that additional officials mean more friction and discontent. Discipline by all means, but a little reason with it.--Yours faithfully, R. E. CROSS.
Organizer, National Society of Motorbus Workers.
[we refer our readers to a brief leading article on this subject which we rnblish in this issue on page 570.-En.]