Co-ordinated Action by P.S.V. Associations
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ON Wednesday last there was an attendance of about 100 people at the public meeting called under the auspices of the National Council of Public Service Vehicle Owners Associations, at Olympia, London, to discuss problems arising out of the Road Traffic Act, 19'30.
Mr. C. B. Jenkins, in the chair, spoke of the imperative need for the national
council which has now been formed and of the good which could be expected to result from the recent change in the political position of this country. He said that the extra expense thrust upon operators as a result of the Road Traffic Act urgently called for reduction, and criticized various matters in the administration of the Act. One suggestion which he made was that, of the
three Commissioners appointed for each of the areas outside London, two ought to be appointed by the operators' associations. Mr. Guihnant (Ledbury Transport Co., Reading) spoke on anomalies of the present appeal system.
In the course of the discussion which followed one gentleman complained that, although no reasons are given for decisions announced by the Commissioners, yet any operator who wishes to appeal must give his reasons for appealing. Incidentally, it is also true, of course, that the Minister is not bound to give the reasons for his decision in respect of any appeal. Another speaker criticized the fact that the railway companies, in offering wholesale objections, not only cause operators to incur considerable expense at these hearings, but also extract from them minute and valuable details of their businesses.
The ridiculousness of intermediate Commissioners being able to refuse hae.kings for long-distance services on the ground that in their particular areas the services do not supply a large enough public need was also argued, it being pointed out that all the operator ask; for in such a case is permission to use the King's highway, and that the matter was one which the Minister should put right immediately.
Mr. Berry, of the Northern Road Transport Owners Association, Ltd., said that appeals should be to local quarter sessions ; be also urged the increase of fhe speed limit of public-service vehicles to 40 m.p.h.
Resolutions were carried requesting the Minister of Transport to see that the free use of the highway should not be lost in a manner never intended by the Act, that the appeal system should be modified and that the speed limit should be increased.
Mr. Jenkins, in a concluding speech, said that, in his view, reference ought to be possible to a local court prior to the stage of appeal. Dealing with the National Council, be said that this body must obtain the support of the majority of associetions in the country.. According to his information there were 23 such local associations and, of these, the following were members of the National Council :—
Motor Uirers and Coach Services Association, Ltd. (about 300 members). East Midland Area Omnibus and Coach Owners Association (about 600 .members). West Midland Area Omnibus and Coach Owners Association (about SOO members). Stourbridge and District Coach ;Owners Assn. dation (about 50 members). I
Nuneaton and District Omnibu' and Coach Owners Association (about 50 members). Mansfie2d and District omnibus owners Association (about 60 members).
Northern Itoad Transport OwnerS Association, Lid. (about 100 rsembers).
North-Western Area Omnibus and Coach Owners Association (about 300 members). Southern Area Omnibus and Coach Owners Association (about 150 members).
(Established by Mr. Jenkins within the past Sew days.) Blackpool and District Motor Coach Owners Assamation (about 50 memberi).
A resolution to the effebt that the National ,Council deserves the fullest measure of support was proposed by Mr. H. T. Rickards, president of the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association, Ltd., and seconded by Mr. Guilmant, also of that association, and was carried unanimously. I At the luncheon which fbllowed the toast of "The Guests" was proposed by Mr. N. A. Hardie, the redpouse being by Mr. H. T. Rickards and Mr. C. B. Jenkins. •