1925-10-10 — Page 7

Commonsense Texing.

MOTORING

CURRENT

COMMENT

SUPPLEMENT

OF

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

SATURDAY, 10th. October, 1925.

Being the Official Orgim of the Hongkong Automobile Association).

t

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Hongkong.

Telegraph.)

MOTOR TAX.

THE EQUITABLE SYSTEM

..'

REPLY TO "OWNER DRIVER.".

Interesting series of motoring articles will appear weekly in The specially contributed ar- this supplement. Some few weeks ticle by "Logician" oleowhere in ago, we published a letter from a this issue deals offectively with local motorist who suggested that a suggestion which appeared in a thore are many who would wel contemporary recently that motor come some articles which taxation should be on the horse-plained in simple language, the power basis. "Good roads are intricacies of the automobile. CHsential for the motorist's com- For our ability to accede fort, and are also a very great to this request, wo are greatly factor in keeping down his repair indebted to Mr. P. W. F. Mills, bills, and it is therefore only fair who has kindly agreed to write a that there should be an equitable serios of explanatory articles basis whereby motor vehiclo The first of those which appears owners contritgute to the upkeep on page 5 is "by way of preface, of roads. As "Logician" points and we consider ourselves ex- 35 miles an hour, such as "Nera, light cars for, say, four passen. out, the h.p. basis is not equitable, tremely fortunate in being able to and the particular ratio of charges publish such instructive items

NOT SO VERY DRY.

949 REVOCATIONS FOR DRUNKENNESS IN NEW

YORK.

}

Sir. The letter you published in Saturday's Motor Section from

Figures just to hand from New Anxious," pleading for the

The motor expert of The Hung-York show that motorists, at any lowering of the age at which kong Daily Press who contributed rate, do not wholheartedly sup motor licenses can be obtained, an article to that paper on Mon-port Prohibition, for during ten raises a question which should be day last above the pen-name of months ending August 21st. last dealt with by the Government.An Ownor Driver" must, surely, no loss than 949 motor car drivers There are many young inen' who he the owner of the smallest lost their licences on account of would like to enjoy a motor cycle possible make of car and a biassed drunkenness whilst at the wheel at who are not allowed to do so and or parte enthusiast on behalf 97 were deprived of their licenses because they are not vot eighteen. of small cars in general. In the for reckless driving. 96 for speed- That seems very wrong, because first part of his article he moansing, 67 for driving away aftor pedal bicycles are useless here

very loudly, about the big cars serious accidents, 40 were under owing to the hills and climate. being the roal menace to the age, 68 made false statements, Every young man does not want

Colony's motoring. Ho com-142 for being unauthorised taxi to travel at great speed, but he plains that the big cars block the drivers. There were 3740 suspen- would like to be able to ride a roads, and that they are less sions for less serious offences motor bicycle. Some motor easily controlled than the small against the traffic laws. bicycles cannot travel faster than ears." They are quite safe, and girls of 14 are allowed to ride of say 15 or 16 here? Thank you for helping in this matter.

gers.

as put forward by the author of from the pen of a writer who thent in England. Why not boys can only blame himsolf if others ye who sit in little runabouts of 1

the Daily Press suggestion in knows his subject thoroughly. question, is not only inequitable,

"Owner Drivor" gives himself away so obviously that he

under 12 h.p, and gaze enviously see through the speciousness ofat

the higher powered the argument--if his vapourings vehicle, please rise up and slay can be dignified by the tiltle of this Owner Driver" who so

argument."

wantonly throws away the per- It is when "Owner Driver" fectly, good case you have to pay comes on to the question of taxa-less in proportion than you do tion, however, that he becomes now.

The Home method, let alone most interesting as a dissemina.

13

but absurd in the extreme. Even Road Hogs,

Yours etc. the present weight basis fails to

We have heard a great deal

NORMAN... distribute roads upkeep costs ac-

Sir-The article you recently cording to the use the motorist recently about the dangerous

driving of some motorists in published on the question of a may make of the rond. Some

Hongkong. Scarcely a day passes Signal Code for motor drivers, owners of heavy or high horse but what motor cars can be seen should certainly be followed up

tor of bad thinking. He, in this "Owner Driver's" is so bad that if powered cars use their cars but a few hours per week, and it has speeding in congested districts, The other day I had the un- to be remembored, incidentally, or, in outlying districts, examples pleasant experience of driving your of grace one thousand nine there is any truth in the rumours are given of how to totally dis-behind a European driver who hundred and twenty-five, has the going around this Colony to, the that a heavy touring car, by virtue of its scientific construction, does gard the rule of the road. Only although merely crawling along, brilliance to suggest that we in effect that it is Government's in- the other evening a local motorist failed to take any notico of my Hongkong should adopt the Eng-tention to change the basis here hot injure road surface nearly as much as a light weight goods narrowly escaped disaster on presence, as indicated by constant lish method of taxation, ie, that to one of horse-power then thera

necount of the criminal disregard horn-blowing, and who would not based on horse-power. truck carelessly driven) and yet for safety of a driver who swept condescend to give me the signal ask any thinking motorist and he mous outery against any such an Owner Driver" suggests that round & blind curve on the to pass. Fossibly he did not will be informed that the horse-proposal. The present method is they should rach provide the same wrong side of the road coming know that there was one, or power basis is the most pernicious much better, but it is not the best down from the Peak. Our in- equally possible he was deaf. In and ridiculous system that has method because it is not the fair- provided by fifteen fais which are formant stated, that it was only any case, there should be definite been applied anywhere and that est. The only fair way of taxing in constant use for the greater part of the day! Such a suggestion is by jamming his brakes down that instructions attached to every there have been many serious atmotor traffic to help pay for the the offending driver managed to driver's licence in the matter of a tempts made at Home to get it upkeep of the roads is to tax mo-

amount of revenue as" would be

cannot be taken seriously. Fair Distribution.

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Let him will be a great and almost unani- THE GASCON MOTOR COMPANY,

mainfestly absurd, and, of course, miss a collision. Unfortunately signal code. Soveral exist and altered. In any case "Owner tor. Fuel. The heavy cars and he had disappeared round the it only remains for our Traffic Driver" is wrong on his facts as motor buses (which inflict much bend before note of the number Department to decide on sonic-regards Hongkong, where the tax wear and tear on roads as com could be made.

the

annual

automobile tax,

An Immoral Act.

the road.

է:

thing definite.

Yours etc.

L.M. S.

1

is levied on a weight basis. Hepared to light cars) will then bear There is much to be said in

says that tiny little cars, like their fair proportion according to perambulators, pay $16 per year the number of miles they run; the favour of a tax on petrol, because

tax and that a huge seven owner of "a low-priced car who there appears to be no other

It is possible, of course, to method of distributing the cost of

seater limousine pays only $24 uses it only on week-ends for ples- road upkeep according to the use punish persons who drive to the

scator limousines weigh over his fair proportion as against the beach individual driver may make danger of the public. But there especially amongst the native year." That is not true. Seven-sure will then only have to pay of the roads. In some parts of is no regulation which can abolish population, and the thought of a 30 cwt and pay $48 per year, owner of a precisely similar vehi the world this manner of taxation immorality, and to drive a car driver being so handicapped is although it is quite true that all ole who uses it all the week; and has ready proved stresssful: rock lossly and badly is emphatic-one which must receive serious such cars as the Ford, Dodge, Che- the owner of a light runabout ind, by the last mail, we notice ally an immoral act. It is not consideration with a view to pro-vrolet, Overland, Light Studeba which does about 40 or 50 miles that in the United States it is accessarily mero speed which viding against such a risk.

kor, Essex, and those of that class to the gallon will pay his fair proposed to increase the present constitutes the danger, but speedPublic hire Vehicles.

Espacially in regard to public pay $24 per year. It can safely amount, also. Owners of similar tax on gasoline and to eliminute in the wrong places ignorance

of, or indifference to, the rules of hire vehicles should a standard he said that about 85 por cont. of cars are rarely equal sera ono the Colony's cars come under the man will run 1,000 miles per With the increasing physical test be imposed." Take $24 por your scalo, "that a few month and another man only about making only a nominal charge number of motor vehicles in the the case of a motor bus carrying (comparatively), come under the 200. If thoy paid their tax through for registration and the provision Cuinny, the matter is one which from twelve to twenty-five pass-$16 scale and that all the heavy their petrol consumption there "of number platos.

This pro- Codure, it is pointed out, will do calls for firm action on the part engers. It is not an exaggeration cars, such as seven-seaters, come would be equity. The high horse- away with the annual rush for of our Traffic Department, and to say that the lives of the pass underthe$48 scale. Now, if "Owner power heavy cars which have renewal of licence, thus saving a we rust that some outstanding engers are in hands of the driver. Driver "Largued that cars had to high petrol consumption would rast umount of work. Further examples will be made of a few who, should he be physically un-bear a fixed amount per horse-pay their proportion, and so would

of those drivers who so richly fit, may be the cause "of an ac- moro, the car owner will only pủy

oident resulting in loss of life or power per annum in tax he would the big motor trucks and lorries white his cur is using the road, and deserve; punishment.

not be quite so idiotio as he is and buses. The ideal arrange- serious injury, A driver who when he contends that there ment would be for a small flat not for the weeks or monthsit may Unfit Drivers.

knows his disability is not likely should be a graduated charge per nominal charge to be made, for be idle in his garage. Obviously,

Referring to our comment last to make it known when his horse-power, increasing as the the registration of any motor vre- the man with the high-horse powered car pays more, because week concerning physical dis- means of making a living may be horsepower is greater. He would hicle, whether it be an Austen or he gets less miles to the gallon ability of drivers, it is surprising at stake, although he is unques have anything under 12 hp. pay a 40/60 h.p. Rolls-Royce, or a The greater $1 per horse-power; and this motor truck. Make the registr than doos his neighbour who only that present fconsing laws do tionably at fault. uses a light machine. That is not cover the important question measure of blame and even re- would include all such cars as ation just a matter of formality equitable. By the same process of the physical fitness of the in-sponsibility rests with the laxity Austin sevens, Rover Eights, Mor- for the sake of identification and of reasoning, publie hire vehicles dividual who seeks permission to of the law which allows him to ris 11-9's and so on. All cars bot-the issuance of number plates,. contributo a greater amount to drive a car. Quite an outcry has jeopardise the lives of the public.ween 12 h.p. and 20 h.p should he and levy the tax for road-upkoop the revenue for the simple reason arisen at home on account of There is no possible oxcuse for argues, pay $2 per horse-power, through the medium of motor that they make greater use of the many accidents this year where granting licenses to the physical- so that a car of 19 h.p. would pay fuel, because there would, there- road. We can seb. only one ob- drivers have been involved who ly unfit

$38 por yoar as against $14 by an by, be introduced the spirit of jection to auch, a scheme, and have been shown to be totally un-Small Cars in Hongkong. Auston. That doesn't seem quite equity into the motor taxation that is where lorries fitted with fit to handle a ear. It is however, The number of small cars is fair, but he would have all system.

over 20 h.p. and under solid tyres do unquestionably some consolation to know that rapidly increasing in the Colony, cars

In closing, let me point out that damage the road surface to a the authorities are at last moving which fact, taking the bills into 30 h.p. pay five dollars per the leading motor writors, of the greater extent than the same type in the matter, and that drastic consideration, further enhances year per horse-power. Thus a of vehicle fitted with pneumatic ammendments will be made em- the reputation of British manu- Ford (which is just about 24 h.p. United States are all clamouring tyres. Such an objection is easily bodying regulations covering the facturers of this particular class would have to pay $120 per year for a rovision of motor taxation in overcome by the imposition of a point.

of vehiolo. The sturdy little tax, whilst other cars of a nearly that country and that the tax on apocial tox applicable to solid-

"Austin Boven" is very much in approximate horse-power (and tyred vehicles. With the rum-

evidence, and "Morrie Cars" are they predominate) would have to fuel finds almost universal favour oured alteration in the Colony's Hore in Hongkong.it would ap.also proving popular. The latest pay similarly high and ridiculous with them. In England, too, those motor licensing laws, wo do sug poar necessary to formulate a arrival-the 10-26 h.p. Singer has sums, just for the privilege of who have studied the question gest that the Government makes standard test through which all quickly made a name for itself, going on the roads and totally a careful investigation of the present drivers und future up-owners being most favourably im-irrespective of the miles run, most are keen advocates of the potrol tax suggestion, believing plicants for driving licenses pressed with the flexibility of the Where is the justice or logic of petrol tax. If Hongkong is going that such investigation would should pass: We are quite aware engine and the general excellence it? When Owner Driver to revise its motor taxation system conclusively support the conten- that it would take some time to of the product of this well-known suggests that a car over 30 h.p. tion that such a method is fair to give offect to outch a regulation, factory. Although, the first "Sin should pay 815 per horse-power at all, let it be in accord with the

but nevertheless, on the ground gors" arrived here at a time when per year he becomes nothing best thought of the times of public safety, any such legisla. business and conditions generally if not frightfully enthusiastic, based on principles of justice, not Know Your Car.

tion would be well worth the wore at a very low ebb, no less Fancy paying $525 in taxation initial trouble. Defective eyesight than seven have taken the road every year for a 35 h.p. car before on the arguments of the thought- ncing from to-day, an is quite common ja the East, already

having run a single milo? All 1688 LOGICIAN,

all.

We are glad to be able to state,

Hongkong's Concern.

and

GARGOYLE

Mobiloil

Make the chart your guide

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་

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