Mr. Muir grants B 'with hesitation'
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• In a written decision, Mr. D. I. R. Muir, the Metropolitan Licensing Authority, granted a B licence to R. A. Saward and Co. for four vehicles previously on Contract A licences. It was stipulated that no more Contract A arrangements could be entered into during the currency of the B licence.
It was stated in the decision that one of the customers for whom Saward sought to carry was the Co-operative Wholesale Society Ltd. It had written to the LA saying that, although it supported the application, it was its policy "not to appear in person or to support personally these applications". Mr. Muir thought it would be unrealistic to refuse the application solely on the ground that the Co-operative Society had decided not to co-operate.
The "modus operandi" of the applicant, said Mr. Muir, was to advertise for a driver who either owned a vehicle or could obtain one on hire purchase on the understanding that he would be provided with the necessary licences. He would then transfer the ownership of the vehicle to a near relative. The original owner would then become the driver and Saward "the person using the vehicle". Mr. Muir considered that this type of operation tended to "divorce the licence holder from his responsibility for the proper care and maintenance of the authorised vehicles".
It was with hesitation, said Mr. Muir, that he decided to grant the licences.