OPINIONS and Q UERIES
Page 41
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iN Kenya lorry drivers are of many kinds ; white men, 'Indians, Goans, Arabs, and natives of numerous tribes, but, so far, lions are not in great demand.
Romeo and Juliet, a -pair of pet lions, have enjoyed motoring from the age of two months. They regard the farm lorry with interest, for it brings them their food in the shape of antelope and zebra. When a little over a year old they used to go out for the day and treated the lorry as one of their favourite playgrounds.
About noon, when it is hot on the equator. Romeo hopped into the cab and, as can be seen, sat in the driver's seat as to the manner born. His effort at giving the " overtake'' signal is not perfect, but it is very fair for a first attempt.
Nowadays, at the age of 21 months, they grunt full bloodedly as soon as the engine is started up. Maybe it is a plea to take them too or just to say "good hunt ing.'' S. R. CLELAND SCOTT. Nanyuki, Kenya.
THE SELLING VALUE OF A HAULAGE BUSINESS.
WHAT would you estimate to be the value of three VI' A licences and one B licence if you were selling out?
Milngavie. A.E.F.
[Actually there is no value in A and B licences because they are not transferable, the new owners of the vehicle sold .being compelled to apply for new licences. The value must be based upon the profits of the business and its capital value. We may add that if the business has not been progressing well, it is hardly likely that the new licence will be granted. Usually the selling price is considered as the value of the vehicles and premises, plus that of the nett profits over a period of two years. Hostilities, however, upset conceptions of value.—ED.]
VOUR readers will probably be interested to know " that it is an offence not to have exhibited on a trailer a "20" (m.p.h.) disc in addition to the usual letter T.
It is, of course, generally understood that the fact of a trailer being attached to a wagon limits the speed to 20 yet I have recently been fined El in the Midlands for the omission.
In -this district I have never yet seen a trailer with the "20" disc exhibited, so it will perhaps be advisable for operators to take this as a warning.
Batley. G. OLDROYD.
[Our reading of Regulation 519 (ii) of the Motor Vehicles (Use and Construction) Regulations, 1937, is that only where the trailer is attached to the drawing vehicle by partial superimposition so that a substantial part of the weight is borne by the driving vehicle, is the " 20 " disc required. Mr. Oldroyd does not say whether his vehicle is equipped with a separate trailer or a semi-trailer. In any ease, it would seem obvious that a " 20 "-disc on an ordinary trailer would be redundant and an unnecessary expense to the operator. If he will let us have further details of the case and we Ehd that be has been wrongly convicted, we will take up the matter with the court concerned.—En.]
A BUDDING DRWER OF NIGHT LORRIES.
I AM writing to you to ask you if you know of anyone who could send me some sort of correspondence on road transport, as I am very keen on anything to do with lorries, particularly big ones, such as the Leyland, Scammell, etc. It is 'my ambition in later years to drive a night lorry, as this sort of work seems to appeal to me more than anything else. I hope that you can oblige me by giving me someone with whom I can correspond on this subject. By the way, I am 16 years of age. R. LAIINDY, 23, Tichborne Street, Brighton, 1, Sussex.
[We think that the best thing is to publish your letter. Perhaps some drivers, either in civilian work or in the various Services, would like to open up a correspondence with you.—ED.] DESIGN REQUIRED FOR A 20SEATER BUS BODY.
wiE should be very grateful if you could supply us " with a blueprint or specification to build a modern 18-20-seater bus body suitable for a Bedford 2-ton longchassis. If you are unable to supply this yourselves, would you kindly advise us as to where one can be secured. About what price are such blueprints?
Ballymahon.
[In response to your request, we have asked our bodybuilding expert to write you direct, quoting for a print and asking for further details.—En.1