For and Against
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Licensing Sub-committees
READERS continue to send us their views on the controversy over the activities of the road-rail licensing sub-committees. The hare was started by "Tantalus" in the issue of "The Commercial Motor S' dated August 23, when he declared that the subcommittees should be disbanded at once. Some readers have echoed that opinion and others have supported the sub-committees. A representative selection of views of operators and others interested in the subject was published in our issues dated September 6 and 13.
Sub-committees Have Reduced Objections by 611 THE following paragraph I venture to think may interest your readers and I shall esteem it a favour if you would kindly give some publicity to it:— " The scheme agreed between the four main-line railways and the Road Haulage Association, under which road hauliers could voluntarily discuss their applications for licences with Regional Licensing Sub-committees, set up for that purpose, with a view to achieving a substantial decrease in the number of objections lodged, has been in operation since the resumption of licensing on July 1, 1946. The results of the first eight weeks are regarded by the railwayi and R.H.A. as an indication that the scheme is proving itself highly satisfactory, as is evidenced by the fact that 1,189 applicants voluntarily agreed to discuss their applications with the Regional Sub-committees, with the result that in 611 cases agreement was reached and applications or objections were withdrawn." You may also be interested to note that more than 50 per cent. of the cases heard resulted in agreement being reached.
F. L. SABATINI, Rates and Charges Officer.
(For Road Haulage Association, Ltd.) London, W.I.
Strong 'Objection to Licensing Sub-committees THE National Conference of Road Transport Asso ciations desires to give the widest publicity to its objections to the road-rail licensing sub-committecs, which have already been subject to adverse comment by certain licensing authorities. We particularly call attention to the danger that some applicants are supposing this body to have some sort of official authority. These committees have no' official standing or constitution; this was made clear to the representatives of the Conference by the Minister's under-secretary at a recent interview. Our members are advised to have nothing to do with any such joint committee, but, having made an application which they believe to be sound, with, if they wish, the aid of the officer of their particular association, are urged to submit themselves only to the authority and decision of the appropriate Commissioner.
J. S. HOWARTH (Secretary, National Conference of Manchester, 8. Road Transport Associations).