I further declare that the unloaded and loaded mileages in this claim were necessarily performed for the fulfilment of the contract and that only fuel duty paid at the rebated rated of duty was used in all vehicles.

The public's later "deep disappointment at their non-fulfilment" was to coincide with an eventual "scandal growing out of the transportation contract", with revelations that James Johnson had been practically guaranteed against loss and had thus taken little care to see his equipment was of sufficient character to ensure a prompt fulfilment of the contract.