OPINIONS FROM OTHERS:
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The Editor invites correspondence on all subjects connected with the use of commercial motors. Letters should be on one side of the paper only and typewritten by preference. The right of abbreviation is reserved, and /4.0 responsibility for views expressed is accepted.
Motor Haulage and Railway Rates.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[16531 Sir,—If it were not for the danger such letters create in conveying wrong impressions, on would be inclined to dismiss " Lancaetrian's " letter -with a smile.
" Lancastrian " has made a statement that motor transport can still undercut the railway 5 per cent., if not 10 per cent., and have a thee margin for profits, and he 'states that ' he could mention over a dozen firms bilis own certain knowledge who are doing this at the present moment, many emplcying petrol wagons and almost every known make of steamer.'' If he can prove this statement by figures he will confer a great boon on many commercial motor users.
I hope in future references to my. letter " Lancastrian" will quote me eorreetly and not waste time enumerating possible causes of failure which are common to all businesses, and which commercial motor Users, as business men, have every regard for. Perhaps the following figures will assist " Lancastrian " to understand the position better.
%
Rive in operating coats of Riaeraisnearaxil.way
Wages ... ... 100 „ Oil ...
Insurance ... 100 „ Repairs ... 50 „ New vehicles ... 75 „ Nothing. Losses, if any, guaranteed by Government Subsidy.
It is to be hoped that in any further expressions of opinion in which 'Lancastrian" may indulge, he will give those interested in motor haulage credit for having ordinary business capacity and, therefore, being alive to the necessity of conducting their bust 'leases with reasonable efficiency, even to the extent of finding their own traffic in preference to paying a Chamber of Commerce 5 per cent, for the pleasure of providing it.—Yours faithfully, MOTOR HAULAGE CONTRACTOR.
Disposal of Government Motor Lorries.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
. [1654] Sir,—To the user of motor transport the question of returned army lorries is one full of difficulties. In the first place the term "user" covers so wide a field that it is impossible to advise any course of action which shall prove suitable to all classes of users, whether large or small. In this connection it is important to remember that the majority of returned W.D. lorries will be 3-4-tonners and, in many eases, this type of vehicle may prove too large, especially for those who have not made use of this form of transport in the past and are now contemplating the purchase of a lorry for trial purposes.
Take, again, the ease of the larger user, who has been carrying on under the greatest difficulties during the last four years. Is it not a fact that the majority of firms coming under this heading find that, to-day, they have on their hands a number of lorries laid up through lack of spare parts and replacements? Judging, too, from the number of hides one sees daily cm the road in need of a thorough overhaul, it seems vitally important that arrangements should be made for this overhaul to he carried out as early as possible. A good deal of this class, of work could be done in commercial motor repair shops, thus provids ing work for a number of men and leaving the manufacturer free to execute the Orders on his books and
overhaul his own vehicles returning from army service.
• Should the user decide to purchase returned army lorries without a guarantee he is, in the writer's opinion likely to, add to his difficulties, unless he is in the fortunate position of being able to execute his own repairs, for it must always be borne in mind that the greater the work performed by a moter lorry the greater the loss of work involved when it is out of action, and experience proves the importance of this factor, especially to the owner of one or tVso vehicles.
In the writer's opinion, it would be fairer to the manufacturers if they were allowed to take back their own lorries at a, reasonable figure than to flood the market with a number of machines sold without a guarantee, a course of action which would, in many cases, bring a great deal of undeserved discredit to the makers.—Yours faithfully, For H. GADSDON AND SONS, LTD., R. B. GADSDON, Managing Director.
. The Editor, THE. COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1855] am rather inclined to agree with Mr. Edge's views as to lorries returning from military service.—Yours faithfully, HERBERT W. WIGAN.
EASTERN MOTOR WAGON CO., LTD.
The Editor, TEE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1656] Sir,—From the users' point of view the lorries and tractors returned from service should be put upon the market and sold for what they, will fetch.
By this means many will be able to purchase a fairly serviceable vehicle at a, moderate cost, which will tide over the transitionary period until prices for new machines recover from war hysterics.
No doubt there will be an appreciable number of the machines that are to damaged for further service without extensive repair, but buyers who will go to the expense of having professional guidance need not incur too serious a risk.
It the machines are sent to the makers to be put right before being put upon the market there will be no bargains to be had, and there will be little difference between them and the price of new ones. The makers will do all right, but the users and the taxpayers generally will occupy the back seats.—Yours faithfully, W. J LOBJOIT.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1657] Sir,—As motor transport contractors and large users of Feden steam wagons, we are very pleased to note Mr. S. F. Edge's contention that transport users should be given the first opportunity of purchasing the machines returned from the Front. We would go farther, and state that those firms from whom the Government impressed lorries should be studied first of all in the question of allocation of returned machines. e We had several vehicles impressed by the Government in the early part of the war, and have been unable to replace them, excepting at exlsorbitant and inflated prices. Surely firms who have saffered in the same way should be given priority in re-purchasing from the Government similar vehicles to those impressed.
Our repair shops are quite capable of repairing and overhauling Foden steam wagons, no matter what condition they may be in, and we are willing to take the risk of the condition of any wagons which the Government like to let us purchase. We feel sure that there are many firms in the country in a similar position to ours, and therefore heartily c43
endorse Mr: Edge'ssuggestion that the user should be given the first opportunity of purchasing, and that the manufacturer should be content to make and sell new models.—Yours faithfully, FRY BROTHERS, LTD.
GEO. F. FRY, JNE.
Assistant Managing Director.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1658] Sir,—I have read Mr. S. F. Edge's suggestions concerning the sale of Government second-hand vehicles, and I cannot help thinking that he is looking at this purely from the point of view of the manufacturer. As a user of a large fleet, I think his suggestions to flood the market with thousands of vehicles in a more or less worn-out condition is wrong; it would be a fatal mistake both to the would-be user and to the good name of the manufacturer.
During the past few months I have inspected fleets of well-known makes that have mostly been offered in a deplorable condition ; only the most inexperi enced would purchase. It is to the maker's interest to protect themselves, and they can only do this by arrangement with the Government, whereby the whole of the vehicles for disposal go through their workshop for overhaul ; I am sure the makers would prefer this, and that it would in no way interfere with their manufacture of new models. They would, in any case, be asked to supply replacements for each vehicle put into the hands of a local agent for overhaul.
Now that most manufacturers have made arrangements for a largely increased supply with a doubtful demand, I feel sure that the repair of their own vehicles offered by Government would ensure steady employment in their works, enabling them to prepare for that happy time when demand is again bigger than supply.
There is also another view of the matter. There are a large number of fleets of 50 to 500 vehicles in this country, mostly bought new from makers, standing in their books at a very considerable sum. To flood the market with 50,000 or more vehicles, at any price that they would fetch, would seriously affect the position of these owners. The prospects of this happening is already affecting orders, although many companies are placing orders to meet the work on hand. They are reluctant to order largely until the attitude that will be taken by the Government is 044 better known, and before very, large sales of old stock take place. On the other hand, sell these worn-out crocks ever so cheap, they will give a bad impression if they do not even turn the owner over to the horse.
We must not lose sight of the fact that a small proportion of users only have engineering knowledge, and may be easily discouraged if they are led to purchase a machine that spends more time in the shop than out. Transport has had many difficulties to overcome in the past—but nothing to what it has to face in the future, and it will need to be well equipped.—Yours faithfully, W. Frx.xmAN FRENCH. French's Garage and Motor Works, Ltd.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1659] Sir,—I notice that a strong recommendaition is being made for the selling of returned army machines as quickly as possible, such sales to be made all over the country in small lots direct to the user.
The manufacturer, no doubt, would appreciate this procedure, but, in view of the fact that it is practically impossible to get the usual wearing spare parts even in ones or twos from manufacturers in England to-day, what possible hope has the unfortunate purchaser or garage proprietor of getting the machines reasonably overhauled and fit to go on the road?
A cheap motor of this kind sounds well, but, from a commercial point of view, is a very bad investment and will do a vast amount of damage to both the maker and users' trade. If some of the army machines returned from France, which I have inspected, are a fair sample of the thousands, it will take years to get them into condition except the makers give some sound guarantee as to the delivery ..and price of spares. E. W. RUDD, E. W. RUDD, LTD.
• The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1060] Sir,—I agree with the general purport of Mr. S. F. Edge's views that it is -in the interest of all concerned that Government commercial motors should pass directly into the hands of the users. Mr. Edge does not, in my opinion, however, quite cover the ground. I will go more closely into the matter and write you again.—Yours faithfully,
JOHN ALLEN,
Oxford Steam Plotuth Co., Ltd.