An Operator Called Alice
Page 44
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AN applicant who interpreted the conditions of his licence differently from anyone else, was described by Mr. F. Williamson, chairman of the North Western Traffic Commissioners, at Manchester, last week, as a character from " Alice in Wonderland."
He was Mr. Harry Stott, a partner in Stott's Tours and H. Ramsden, Ltd., Oldham, who were applying for variations of their excursion and tour licences, including linking of originating points and increased vehicle allowances.
In spite of his so-called inex-perience and ignorance of licensing, said Mr. Williamson, Mr. Stott read the conditions to his own benefit. He was a difficult witness and his attitude had gone a long way towards destroying his own case.
Mr. J. Backhouse, for the applicants, said the variations arose out of the Commissioners' proposals to restrict unauthorized linking. For many years. Oldham operators had indulged in passenger exchanges, whenever there was an overflow or insufficient bookings for a payload. Because of difficulties when Mr.. Stott took over the Shearing licence in 1956, and continued to operate it as had been done in the past, he had been in trouble over irregularities concerning period returns and
vehicle allowances, and now sought to regularize matters.
Cross-examined by Mr. J. Booth, for British Railway's, Mr. Stott said he had interpreted the wording of the additional vehicle allowance for Oldham holidays as being for the full fortnight, and not for Saturdays only.
Replying to Mr. F. D. Walker, objecting for North Western Road Car Co., Ltd., Lancashire United Transport, Ltd., W. C. Standenvick, Ltd., Yelloway Motor Services, Ltd., and other express operators, he admitted that figures produced by
H.Ramsden, Ltd., were unreliable.
The existing vehicle allowance had not always been fully used, although bookings were available, because on occasion vehicles were let • out on hire to Yelloway, which was more
profitable. So far as linking was concerned, he' was not prepared to accept thata vehicle used under bothlicences should count as a vehicle against each allowance.
Mr. Williamson commented that a shortage of vehicles to fulfil licence commitments because of hiring to other operators was not evidence of need for an increased
allowance. With the exception of a number of alterations in picking-up points on the Stott licence, both applications were refused.