-Leyland Chairman Champions Small Hauliers
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I N his annual statement, Mr. C. Basil Nix-on, chairman of Leyland Motors, Ltd:, joins the chorus of protest-against the revocation of hauliers' permits. "Greater concern ought to be shown for the legitimate interests of that fine, tiody of owner-drivers, mostly Veterans Of -early wars, who, in middle age, are threatened with deprivations of their life's work and means of livelihood," he sayi: •
, It was suggested in certain Government quarters that road transport had, Perhaps, reached saturation point. "We dissociate ourselves emphatically and entirely, from such a reactionary and Mistaken idea;" says Mr. Nixon., "All over the world, branch railways ale losing money, and rqa'd transport is Proving Itself as a succesSful alternative Spite of discriminatory taxation in some countries."
An impartial inquiry over the whole field of land surface transport should be.undertaken before the British Transport .Commission's new 'rates structure was approved. A gooddeal of coal could be saved by transferring more traffic to road
trah-Sport, • especially over short distances, Mr.Nixon :criticizes Government policy in several respects. Purchase taxon goods chassis, assessed on selling price, was a great deterrent to the purchaser of the larger, more durable and more expensive vehicles.
" Heavy-vehicle manufacturers," says Mr. Nixon, "suggest that if, for the time being, this tax must be retained, it would be more equitable and logical to change the basis of assessment from ad valorem to tonnage of declared payload."
He calls also for reforms in company taxation policy on the lines laid down by the Association of British Chambers ,of Commerce.
" Government policy is progressively forcing industrialists, in the interests of their shareholders, and to the advantage of the countries themselves, to transfer their activities to more enlightened and progressive Dominions," Mr. Nixon declares. "The pilot plants we are establishing abroad will, if on economic grounds such drastic action is necessary, prove of great benefit to the company."
During the first three months of the new financial year, orders received by Leyland Motors, Ltd., were substantially higher than in the corresponding period of 1949. A higher proportion than ever before was from overseas. The company's results for the year ended September 30 last set up a record. The net profit was £783,866, compared with £674;097 in the previous year. ,