MOTORING
SUPPLEMENT
OF
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. SATURDAY - 5th MAY, 1928;
Being The Official Organ of
THE HONGKONG AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION:
Magazine Gap,
CURRENT
COMMENT
perly rus, should not be a paying proposition. From the public point It is with pleasure that we can of view they have two distinct ad- report the start of the actual work vantages over the "public hire" cars of excavating the hillside corner at now operating on the streets. The Magazine Gap in connexion with theirst is that they can be taken for much-to-be-desired road improve short journeys for 40 cents, ind ment at that spot. Work was con- the other is that there is a properly menced on Monday-last-and-a-good-Tegnisted-scale-of-fares-governed- nized "bite" has already been made by a scaled meter of officially ap into that part of the tennis court proved pattern. The present pubile attached to the house of the Com-cara have no fixed scale and many missioner of Customs which is re-farguments have taken place quired to straighten out the road, between drivers and passengers at Thus we are well on the way to area) the end of a journey, No-one ing the removal of one of the most likes to underpay a driver, but on dangerous corners on the Stubbs the other hand no-one wants to he Iload. Good progress is also being made, to overpay and it is very made with the big scheme in hand desirable that the public should by the Naval Hospital and Wesleyan know the legal rate of hire. Church, and at the moment there is a fair amount of interruption Public ricksha and chair fares are caused to traffic by trucks trans regulated and the conveyances have to carry a scale of fares for porting the "spoil" earth the roadway. This temporary in- the information of the public convenience can be cheerfully borne which uses them. Taxicabs when one has in mind the great im-similarly regulated, the world over provement that will result.
Peak Garages.
across
used.
J
Education Wanted.
are
·MOTORISTS GO A-SKIING.
The monastery of St. Bernard is 4,600 feet up at the top of the Alps in Switzerland. So when tourists want to visit it, they take this form of travel-# Citroen car, 'with. cater- pillar equipment in the rear and skis In front. No slipping or skidding here.
DREAMS OF THE FUTURE.
THE TUNIS-TRIPOLI RAID.
THE PETROL TAX.
Petition to Parliament.
The Petition to Parliament, or- ganised by the Automobile Asso- ciation and signed by over 320,000 motor owners and users, was pre- sented in the House of Commons recently by Licut. Col. C. K. Howard Bury, D.S.O., M.P., who was supported by Members of all Parties, including Major H. E. Crawford, M.P., Mr. Charles Dun- cnn, M.P., Lieut.-Col. Sir Philip Richardson, O.B.E., M.P., Mr. T. D. Fenby, M.P., and Mr. Ben Smith, M.P.
In presenting this Petition, the signatorica express their grave con- cern at continuance of the systern of motor taxation which taxes motor owners by levying a lump sum per vehicle and antirely ignores the extent of road usage.
It is pointed out that the special taxation of motor vehicles was ori- ginally imposed solely for road costa and is to-day mainly levied for that purpose. This being so, whilst realising the need for maintaining the machinery of registration, the Association submits that the only reasonable basis for the taxation of motor vehicles la road usage.
Parliament is therefore asked in this Petition to amend the present
—a far more satisfactory arrange- ment than leaving the question of hire price to be "haggled" over.
method of motor taxation in favour There has been quite a lot of For this reason, if for no other,
of a flat rate duty on patrol, plus a critical comment made by motor we wish the new service well-
small registration fee, thereby more car owners on the Peak regarding
equitably distributing the burden what they describe as the selfish capecially no because of the high
over all motor owners. ness of the Government in reservquality of the machines being
America in 1950? Success of Fiat Entries. It is also the submission of the 3ng the use of the public garages there for civil servants. It is
Association that the present tax is Unlocking of almoat limitlesa re- Organised by the R.A.C.I., with arbitrary in its operation, unjust atated that during the past few
sources, great increases in wealth the permission and collaboration in its incidence, and irritating to months there have been one or two
We are again compelled to draw and in individual well-being, and of the French and Tunis A.C. the the tax payer. The following are such garages vacant and that when attention to the dangerous practice stronger barriers against war are Tunin-Tripoll "Raid" (759 kilome-a few instances of the unfairness. enquiries have been made by pri-of pedestrians who are in the seen by Capt. Eddie V. Ricken-tres) took place from the 7th to of the existing tax:- vate residents with the object of habit of crossing the road from backer in improvements to trans-the 9th March. A very large num renting them, such residents have behind a tramcar. Accidents | portation which are bound
(a) A great number of owner to her of competitors commenced the drivers who are only able to use been informed that the vacant gar frequently occur through this take place during the next 25 "Raid" but, owing to the bad state their cars occasionally or at week- ages were being reserved for cer- stupidity and motorists have very years. Mr. Rickenbacker, who was of the roads, the majority of them ends are unduly penalised by having tain Government oflicials who wore
of avoiding an recently appointed assistant gen had to withdraw not being able to to pay the same tax as those who either due to return from Home little chance
accident as a driver's view is eral sales manager of the Cadillac tinue. with a car or who contemplated
are using their cars continually. It is contended that obscured until his car la right "on Motor Car Company, in charge of buying one.
(b). The payment of a lump sum Leaving Tunis on the morning this discrimination is contrary to top" of the person concerned. LaSalle sales, was seen in Detroit
March 7th. for Gabes, the first tax in advance presses hardly upon the spirit of the announcement of The foolish 'habit is carried out recently upon his return from a the Government when the garages both when tramcars are moving seven-weeks' business trip through alt on the road, the competitors motorists of moderate means.
(c) The keeping of reserve vehi- were being erected, namely, that and stationary. Another danger- the West. He left on the follow ncountered such violent storms the garages were to be public and ous practice which calls for at-ing day to visit Cadillac-LaSalle for the benefit of Peak residents tention is that of alighting from distributors throughout the East.
tramcar, so generally no matter whether they a moving
In less than a generation the were civil servants or not. If it is Chinese failing to step off facing former ace expects improvements true that this discrimination has the right way or to see that there in transportation by air, water, rail been shown we think the Govern is no overtaking vehicle to en- and highway. far beyond the ment has laid itself open to the danger their presence on the dreams of the geneal public of to- charch of creating special privi-roadway. It often happens that a day. leges for its servants. This ques-passenger will alight from a mov Some of the featues included in tion of garage accommodation on ing tramear just an a motor the picture which he paints of the Peak will doubtless be largely vehicle is about to overtake the America in 1850 are the following: solved when the garage being built tram with the result that the by the Hongkong Land Investment
Fifty million automobiles owned trees we do think that if a Goy- the faster moving vehicle. The and operated in the United States. Company is completed, but never-passenger is right in the track of ernment garage is vacant it, should Tramway Company is not in any
super-highways be rented to the first applicant and way to blame and the servants of criss-crossing the United States bet inft empty for months just be the Company already do much to with hoth through and local trame.lass (up to 1100 cc.) the 500 the tax only being payable as and
to the practice. But cause a civil servant might be want put a stop
lat equipe was the only one to when the vehicle uses the road." ing it inter. The large number of we do suggest that a little "aafety
each the goal obtaining the much Peak residents who are forced to first" campaign by means
'esired victory, being classified garage their cars down town and notices and pictures inside the
rst, second, third, and fifth have them driven up in the morn- tramcars would help to lessen ings bears testimony to the fact the evils complained of. We call w that further accommodation has mind an admirable campaign con-road. been and still is badly needed. ducted a few years ago by the Edin- "The Austin Owners.
many
of
A half-dozen
A speed of 75 to 80 miles an hour on the through highways.
All passenger traffic moving over airways.
and heavy downpours of raincles fa discouraged, as the person which inundated the boundary line owning two cars, only one of which 'rom Ben Gardens to Pisidn leavis on the road at a time, is compell-
isased to pay full tax on both cars. ng the ground in such a rous condition, that the Adjudica- (d) Large numbers of second- end and last lap until the 9th. Lax would be occasionally used, ars were obliged to postpone the hand cars which-with the petrol are lying idle throughout the coun- March.
try, because of the liability to heavy Starting again on that day the taxation immediately they are taken mall number of competitors left into use. accomplished the second half of This Petition is part of the cam- 'he "Raid" which had for its goalpaign by the Automobile- Associe- ripoll, and which was victorious-tion to secure a just system of reached by Italian drivers and motor vehicle taxation, which will not only vary the individual tax in proportion to the extent of road use, In the minor cylinder capacity but have the added advantage of
ara.
hrough the merit of the drivers TIDE WAITS FOR NO
Malta, Pagianelle, Daletti and
MOTOR Panara, and driven by Mancuso and Wertemberger.
the
Air lines parelleling every rail-
burgh tramways in which, by a Mail, express and light freight Ar there are probably 60 or 70 all cars, the dangers of thoughtless
Such a brilliant result as this Capt. Campbell Duped. series of photographs displayed on moving through the air. Austin-7 ears in use in the Colony action were pictorially conveyed to reality.
Oceanic air travel an every-dayan but confim once more
perfect adaptability of these cars Captain Malcolm Campbell was owners of these handy little vehicles travellers. Perhaps something of will doubtless be interested to hear the kind could be attempted here with six or seven airports, instead numerous victories gained in the ly, given by Sir Charles Wakefield Towns of 300,000 population in any ground whatever, and the the guest at two luncheons recent- that there is being advertised in with great benefit, for no-one will of one.
st two years over most trying and the Royal Automobile Club. some Home journals a simple can deny that our Chinese friends have trivance whereby, the length of the a very limited amount of traffic
ourses and under all kinds of At the latter he told some inner tmospheric conditions. It is suffistorics of his expériences at Day- gear-shift lever la cxtended. This sensu" and that the perils of the
ient to recall when, in January tono. extension clipa an to the existing rond are greatly increased accord lever and enables all forward gear |Ingly. changes to be made without the
Families owning four or five autos instead of one.
100t, at the Monte Carlo Rallye One of them concerned the last
City workers commuting miles to work by plane and auto,
Railroad terminals roofed over for airports At the ceremony of laying the
Television perfected so that the foundation stone of the new St. whole world sees and hears big Stephen's College, performed by nowe, sporting and entertainment His Excellency the Governor, fully events in its own home.
driver having to lean far forward. At Stanley. The price which Messrs. A. W. Gamage, Ltd., are making for this device is only 6/6d.
Now Taxicabs.
two 509 Fints were proclaimed day of the meeting, when, the rst, one arriving from Bukarest other competitors being here de Km. 3030) and the other from combat, he took the car out to beat own record. It was two Koenigsberg, and how, for the his Thousand Miles Cap last year, o'clock when he reached the spot even 609 Flats succeeded in ob-from which begins the long 4- aining the first places in the 1100 mile run to the starting line to get won the up speed.
There he waited for the signal that the course was clear. But there was a conspiracy amongst his friends to keep him there until
The ten- Clyno-taxicabs ordered 120.cars were parked near the alte, Regarding the future of war, c. class, one of which through Messrs. Lane, Crawford,which is probably 500 or 600 yards Mr. Rickenbacker sees in aircraft "Raid" at the marvellous speed of Ltd., have commenced to arrive in past the Stanley Police Station. Anot only the greatest weapon of Km. 66.743 per hour. the Colony. A special description rough road was made enabling cars war, but also the end of all war. and photograph of the new taxis to reach the spot--a provision were published in Tuesday's Tele-greatly appreciated by all Doubt
"The fow succeeding genera-
all was clear of people. By this time the sands were partially
"To the airplane there is no and the building of international-the tide came in, and it was twenty graph and the public has learned less, when the College is completed front," he says.
ism, war will be impossible, except minutes to alx when they signalled with much interest the particulars a modern road will be provided and "With the airplane there will be in one event. of these new vehicles. We learn this will entail widening the road no such thing as a noncombatant that there are other people intarest- which leads from the Island Road Every inhabitant of a country is an tions, between now and the time covered by the incoming lide, so ed in the proposition of operating to the Stanley station. A certalaenemy and the airplane can sub-this will be accomplished, may not he had to be content with ours have learned the costly lesson of ing" past the crowds at a beggarly
120 m.p.h. Clyno fleet and it is fairly certain now accommodate 40 or 50 cars. "But the tremendous transpor-war as we have learned it.
He said that he has no intention that before the present year is out Hitherto, this parking place has tation developments that the air "If the development comes soon of retiring from racing, and Major a good many taxicabs will be on the been lacking but there is now plenty plane will bring, the close contacts enough so that the lesson cannot Segrave, in his turn, said enough roads of this Colony. There is no of room for all the cars that usually with all the nations of the earth,e forgotten there will never be a to indicate that one must not take reason why a taxicab service, pro-visit this popular spot.
the wiping away of nationaliem | world war.”
bis retiral too seriously.
taxicabs in addition to the New portion of the ground opposite the joct them to the horrors of war. 'Taxi Company which is to run the beach has been levelled off and will.
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