Crocodile Tears
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Bird's Eye View
NOT all the passages between the police and counsel at the London waiting-ban inquiry have been acrimonious. Light relief was supplied when a witness. appearing for the police, suffered a severe bout of coughing which interrupted an impassioned interrogation by opposing counsel.
During the agonized lull in the proceedings, the witness removed a handkerchief from his streaming eyes to say: " Sir, your eloquence is making me weep."
Eyeing the witness severely, counsel replied: We fear they are crocodile tears! "
Inside Information
DON'T let anyone know I told you, but the manufacturer of a popular medium-weight vehicle is experimenting with air suspension. He will probably have to use independent suspension at the front to accommodate the bellows. Other makers are watching with interest.
Quick Decision
PROBABLY a new speed record was set up in the Metropolitan Licensing Authority's court, the other day, when an unemployed ex-Serviceman applied for a B licence. The Authority's questions, and the replies be received, went like this: Have you brought any witnesses? No. Have you any supporting letters? No. Any evidence of public need? No. Do you think there is public need? I don't know. Have you any
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thing to show me at all? No, 1 didn't bother with anything like that. Then why are you here? Oh, I just want a B licence, that's all.
Believe it or not, the application was refused.
Touch Their Pockets
I T is a pity that in their report on administrative tribunals and inquiries, the Franks Committee did not recommend that Licensing Authorities should have power to award limited costs to applicants and objectors who are put to unnecessary expense and inconvenience through the unnotified failure of the other party to appear in court.
Many of the Licensing Authorities have said publicly that if they had possessed powers to award costs in certain instances they would have done so.
The Poorer Sex
THE latest silly suggestion about fares is that women should be charged less than men because they earn less. Needless to say, it was made at a council meeting.
Penny Unwise
BECAUSE Durham County Council have refused to pay an extra Id. an hour to ambulance drivers for undertaking light maintenance on their vehicles, county ambulances are to be temporarily serviced at garages at an estimated cost of 10s. 6d. a week each. I am no mathematician, but this sounds extraordinarily like false economy.