CHEAP “JUICE.”

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16216, 22 August 1918, Page 7

CHEAP “JUICE.”

A CHRISTCHURCH SCHEME. FOR REDUCING HAULAGE CHARGES. “Power supplied at prices that make petrol look positively silly!” This was the characteristic remark of Mr. E. E. Stark, the Christchurch City Electrical Engineer, as he addressed a “Press ’ reporter who called to enquire just what the city council were prepared to do for business firms in the matter of haulage charges. And the pressman was not kept waiting long for. actual figures given to support the somewhat astounding statement. “Take, say, a half-ton delivery motor,” said the city electrical engineer, “and the position is we’re prepared not only to supply an efficient delivery van, but we’ll enter into a contract with any business firm —and that for throe whole years—to keep it running daily, we supplying tho ‘juice and doing all minor adjustments, also providing garage accommodation, for the modest sum of £3 6s 8d a month!” In response to the pressman's queries it was further explained that, of course, electric delivery cars could ho plied in Uf° n > 1 -Lon 2-ton, or o-ton sizes, and that the distance capable of being covered daily was anything up to 60 miles or over; also that each vehicle would travel at a walking pace or 15 mile an hour speed at will. Therefore they possessed all tho efficiency—and more—which could he claimed for the ordinary petrol-driven lorry. “How do we arrive at comparative percentages?” said the engineer, as he re-eefloed the pressman’s question; “well, that’s simple enough!” Then followed some interesting figures, Mr. Stark still figuring on the half-ton delivery van by way of an example. “Now, I want to be fair to petrol,_ said' he as he proceeded to “show his hand” in the matter of comparative prices, “therefore I’m putting the electric truck down as doing only 60 miles a day, though it will do no more than that. At any rate, with tho petrol-driven delivery van three gallons of spirit at 4s a gallon would he required to accomplish the same amount of work as our half-ton car will do. Three gallons, of petrol at 4s a gallon is 12s; and 12s multiplied by six working days is £3 12s; and £3 12s multiplied by 52 weeks equals £lB7 4s per annum—and that is what wo do for £ls per annum!” It was explained that £ls was the total debit charged for “juice”—the balance of £25 which made up the total of £4O charged being credited to repairs and garage charges. This £25 item, the city electrical engineer said, there “was no need to discuss,” because firms which have petroldriven vans knew only too well that £2 Is 8d monthly was only a literal “drop in the bucket” to the general repair and garage bill usually paid. Therefore out of consideration for the petrol-driven agents be was not particularly anxious to make them appear absolutely ridiculous. “We have just such a proposition,” said Mr. Stark, “that business firms are simply _ besieging the department with enquiries concerning the arrival of further delivery cars.” It was mentioned also that in addition to a few on hand at present there were fourteen others now on the water, and these would soon be running on the streets of Christchurch. Two of these vehicles are 2-ton and 5-ton lorries landed to the order of the New Zealand Express Company, Ltd. So much so, in fact, does the Board of Trade recognise the increased efficiency and the reduced haulage costs of the electric commercial vehicle that it was on the urgent representation of the members thereof that shipments were being expedited from America and End and to Christchurch. The pressman at this stage remarked upon the enterprise of the Civic heads of the city in thus having negotiated an agency for commercial vehicles, which was going to mean so much to the business community at large. But the city electrical engineer wasn’t looking for “plums”—he busied himself further among the papers to find something still more convincing concerning the adaptability of electricity for pleasure purposes, just as lie had proved its possibilities for business utility. “Imagine running a taxi at a total cost of £4 3s 4d a month—less than a pound a. week! And this total cost to include all charges for ‘juice,’ garage, and adjustments!” This was exactly the proposition of the city council was offering taxi-proprietors. It was little wonder that taxi-drivers had been literally sitting on the doorstep of the electrical engineer’s office awaiting the arrival of the man who could give them fuller information concerning the complete revolution which electrical science was effecting in their calling. And yet this was really no exaggeration of tho position, as electrically-driven taxis were not only every bit as efficient as the petrol-driven motor, but they were really more comfortable to ride in, and could bo driven conveniently at a 25 mile rate, or ouickly reduced to walking pace by the simple working of handy levers.