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Answers to Queries.

4th May 1911, Page 18
4th May 1911
Page 18
Page 18, 4th May 1911 — Answers to Queries.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Our readers will be informed by the Editor on any points connected with the construction or use of commercial motors. Where a direct reply is desired, a stamped and addressed envelope should be enclosed : if a request tor privacy is not specially made, any query and answer may be Published. Some replies, owing to pressure on our space, are held several weeks.

umerous requests reach us for lists of motorcab and commercial vehicle owners ; these we never supply. Our advertisement columns are oiled to those who desire to make announcements to owners for their own oenejit.

Speed of Rubber-tired Trailers.

[1,799.1 "MAKE4s" ie We should be pleased

if you would favour us with your advice upon the question of rubber-tired trailers in use with petrol rubber-tired vehicles l On reference to the law books we have, this point does not appear to enter at all. We are desirous of knowing the legal speed of such a combination, Presumably they would come under the 12 m.p.h. restrictions ; of course, we mean where the axle weights are in accordance with that speed."

ANSWER.—In our opinion the speed of a heavy motorcar drawing a trailer is restricted to foie miles an hour whether the trailer has rubber-tired wheels or not. By Article 7, of the Heavy Motor Car Order, the maximum speed of heavy motorcars generally is fixed at eight miles an hour, but this speed is restricted to five miles an hour if certain weights mentioned in the article are exceeded, or if the heavy motorcar draws a trailer. So far as the speed depends upon the weight of the heavy motorcar, the provisions of the article are relaxed in the case of a heavy motorcar having all its wheels fitted with rubber tires, but we cannot read into the article any provision for an increased speed in the case of a heavy motorcar drawing a trailer so fitted.

Nowhere to Ply for Hire.

[1,800] " CAM:AGE AND COAL" writes :—We have recently started a motor in our business as jobmasters, taking out a hackney carriage licence. The Excise authorities refuse to allow us the rebate on petrol, stating that our car is not put in a public place for hire, but -being a small town there is not a public place where we could stand for hire. The police would not allow us to stand in the street. We have two public yards in the town. We also send cabs to meet all trains, as we have the station privilege. Can the Excise legally refuse to allow us the rebate ? "

ANSWER.—It appears to us that the machine which you own qualifies as a private. hire machine only, owing to the peculiar circumstances existing, that. there is nowhere where r,u can ply for hire. As we understand it, you have no police plate licence to ply for hire. Is this due solely to the fact that the police at — have no power to issue such a licence, 'being only county police? Under existing circumstances it would therefore appear to us that you are not entitled to the rebate, as that can only be procured for petrol which has been used for public hackney carriages whilst standing or plying for hire. So clear is the wording of the Act on this point, that petrol used on duly-licensed hackney carriages for cleaning owing to a breakdown, or for anything other than standing or plying for hire, does not rank for the rebate.

It occurs to us that there is a possible loophole for you as indicated by your statement that you have " two public yards in the town." You do not give us sufficient description of these two places to enable us to advise you if you can ply for hire within the meaning of the Act in those two yards. If they are public places from the legal point of view, then it would appear that you can ply for hire from there and so qualify for the rebate. Perhaps you will let its know if the public has right of access at all times to these yards. Three Uses For One Chassis. [1,`,401] " FORESTER " Three Uses For One Chassis. [1,`,401] " FORESTER " writes:—' As a reader of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR, will you please be good enough to inform me upon the following points "I. am thinking of going in tor a, two-ton petrol chassis, for which I intend to have interchangeable bodies, viz., a wagon platform and char-a-bancs or brake body. " During the first part of the week I would try to fill in with various goods haulage, keeping the week-ends free to cater for pleasure parties. Now, the larger part of the week-end business would be ' private hire,' but I contemplate, on open dates, organizing excursions on my on account, which would mean standing in .public thoroughfares and picking up passengers. A.m I right in conjecturing that this is plying for hire? ' Our town, in any case, does not require a licence for this. " What I want to know is, do you think this arrangement practicable As I am doubtful if sufficient work of each specific kind could be found fully to employ this chassis. "Also, I would ask you, how would I stand with

reference to licences, petrol-rebate claim, etc.? what would be the licences required and the coat of them, in order to put this machine on the road for this work? I understand a two-ton chassis would make a 25 to 30 seater for passengers. Is this correct? Any advice or suggestion would be esteemed.

"What is your opinion of ' Leylands ' and Lacres,' also chain and gear drive."

ANSWER.—In view of the fact that in your town no licence to ply for hire is necessary, you will be at liberty to pick up passengers on the highway with a vehicle which has an ordinary hackney-carriage licence. As you contemplate, during part of each week, turning your machine into a hackney carriage, you will have to pay the hackney-carriage licence, which is 22 17s. if the machine be of not more than two tons unladen weight. Your case, it would appear, is covered by the Finance Act of 1910, and, by virtue of sub-section 3 of the fifth schedule, you would be fully entitled to the rebate. This sub-section applies the exemption " to a, motorcar which is constructed or adapted for use or is used partly for the conveyance of any goods or burden in the course of trade or husbandry and partly as a motorcab motor omnibus or other vehicle

bemg a hackney carriage within the meaning of Section 14 of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act 1888, standing or plying for hire." Petrol used during the private hire of the machine is not entitled to a rebate, but while the machine is plying for hire the rebate can be earned. You will probably have a difficulty in securing the rebate if part of the work which the machine completes is of the nature of private hire.

With regard to the general practicability of your combined scheme, we think it is possible, although its success entirely depends on the amount of the various classes of work which you can secure. With regard to the seating capacity, it is not probable that you will he able to accommodate with any degree of comfort more than 25 passengers on a two-ton chassis. Both Leylands and Lacres are good machines. The relative merits of chain drive and gear drive are far too complex for Hs to discuss on the "Answers to Queries " page ; both types have been proved.

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