Oakleys Under New Management
Page 43
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AT apublic inquiry last week, Mr. D. I. Muir, Metropolitan Licensing • Authority, heard from Mr. P. J. W. Wells,
for Oakleys (London and Scottish Trans
port), Ltd., that the company was now under new management. The inquiry
was held under Section 13 of the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, to decide whether the company's licences should be suspended or revoked.. •
On March 3, Oakleys were fined a total of £140, with £147 costs, for offences
relating to drivers' hours and records, at Thames magistrates' court. Subsequently, Peter Rhodes and his brother, Allan George Stone, received prison sentences at the Old Bailey in respect of Offences involving conspiracy to defraud the
Inland Revenue and making false P.A.Y.E. returns for employees (The Commercial Motor, March 27).
Addressing Mr. Muir, Mr. WellS said that, since the offences occurred, the company had been reorganized under a new director, Mr. Richard Henry Stone. Neither Peter Rhodes nor A. G. Stone
at present held his 'former directorship. Mr.-Wells was confident that all matters concerning 'operations, vehicles and drivers had now been put in order.
Mr, R. H.Stone.said.that he had been appointed director in sole control of
management and transport. He had
instituted a stricter check, on his drivers, ensuring, that the .regulations were
properly kept. He had himself left his office to conduct personal checks on the road and, he had scrutinized the log sheets.
Answering Mr. Muir, Mr. Stone said that during the period of the offences referred to he was employed as assistant traffic manager. He was concerned with the, haulage of meat and general 'goods,' but not with log sheets. He repeated that records were now his responsibility as sole director.'
Six contract-A and two open A licences were under review. Decision was reserved until Wednesday this week, when it was announced in court.
CHANGE GEAR ON ROAD WORKS: B.R.F. CHAIRMAN
ROAD building should be geared to the IN nation's needs, not to the capacity of the administrative machine, said Lord Derwent, chairman, at the British Road Federation annual meeting in London last week. Britain had the physical and material resources to build roads at three times the present rate, he said, and experts had warned that current road spending should be trebled to meet the rapid increase of traffic on our highways.
Lord Derwent added that so far there has been a deplorable tendency to back away from the implications including new roads iti urban areas, but every city and town depended on good communications for its prosperity.
If necessary, trade and industry must be prepared to defend the right to select the form of transport most appropriate to their needs.