Operating Aspects of
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PASSENGER TRANSPORT
OPERATORS WIN BIG GROUP OF APPEALS
r\NE of the largest groups of appeals
ever heard under the Road Traffic Act, 1930, has been decided by the Minister of Transport. In practically every case, the Minister's rulings are in favour of the appellants, the North Western Road Car Co., Ltd.; Lancashire United Transport and Power Co., Ltd.; Yorkshire (W.D.) Electric Tramways, Ltd.; West Yorkshire Road Car Co., Ltd. ; Northern General Transport Co., Ltd.; United Automobile Services, Ltd.; London and North Eastern Railway Co., and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co.
The appeals, which were against the decisions of the Northern, Ycrkshire and North Western Traffic Commissioners, were heard from June 21-23.
They concerned the operation of joint services by the six road-transport companies from Liverpool to Newcastle and Redcar by various routes, and applications by the first four companies, together witn East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd., in respect of services from Liverpool to Hull. In group A (Liverpool-Newcastle), the Minister has overruled the Commissioners' action in refusing to allow United Automobile Services, Ltd., to join the pool. He regards as no longer important the appeals against the Commissioners' refusal to classify the services as stage services, because it is possible under the Road Traffic Act, 1934, to issue children's tickets at less than 1s.
On appeals against the refusal of permission to issue through tickets at less than the summation of separate fares, the Minister has ruled that through bookings shall be allowed between Liverpool and Redcar and Hull.
He has set aside the Commissioners' decision in imposing the well-known duplication ruling, on account of the fact that no evidence or discussion on the matter took place at the hearing•
before the Commissioners. The Minister's decision on this point is without prejudice to the free reconsideration of the matter by the Commissioners.
The Minister has overruled the decision of the North Western Commissioners in excluding return tickets from the services, and in making the Order he quotes his previous statement on the subject, reported in The Commercial Motor on September 14.
In group B (Liverpool-Hull) the Minister makes no Order concerning the refusal to classify the services as stage services, but overrules the decisions concerning duplication and the issue of return tickets.
In group C (Liverpool-Redcar) the Minister has upheld the appeals against the refusal of the Commissioners to grant licences and backings for a through joint service.
Finally, in group D, consisting of appeals of the L.N.E.R. and ,L.M.S. against reductions in fares on coach services from Liverpool to Newcastle and Hull, these were upheld.