DOES MINISTER DIRECT LICENSING AUTHORITIES?
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A serious question concerning the relations between the Ministry of Transport and the Licensing Authorities was raised by Mr. F. G. Bibbings, A.R.O. Yorkshire Area secretary, when addressing members of York Sub-area last Saturday.
The time was overdue, he suggested, for Members of Parliament to ascertain whether confidential instructions were sent by the Ministry to the Licensing Authorities, and whether such instructions, if any, indicated what was the Ministry's-administrative policy in connection with road and rail transport.
Mr. Bibbings also wished to know to what extent, if any, had the Minister defined the duties of the Appeal Tribunal. So far as he (the speaker) could see, the Tribunal's decisions were usually unfavourable to road operators. " Or is it," asked Mr. Bibbings, " that
there are two separate Road and Rail Traffic Acts, :one for the ordinary private haulier and one for the railway companies? If so, surely the second document should be produced."
Wages of Ancillary Users' Drivers.
Further consideration has been given by the committee of the Road Transport Section of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce to the wages of. employees of C-licence holders, following a communication from the Association of British Chambers of Commerce. The committee reaffirms the opinion that the wages paid to ancillary users' drivers should be no less favourable than those paid to drivers of A and B-licensed vehicles, in proportion to the services rendered.
Need Admitted, But Licence Refused.
At the hearing of his application at York, last Friday, for authority to operate a 30-cwt. vehicle, Mr. Alfred Addyman, of Dale House, Spofforth, put in about 30 letters and brought several witnesses in support of his case. The application was refused.
Mr. Addyman said that the vehicle was formerly operated by a man in Spofforth, who had gone out of business, and from whom he (applicant) had agreed to buy the business. Questioned by the Licensing Authority, Mr. BI8 Addyman said that he had agreed to buy the goodwill and a lorry, which was really scrap.
The Authority: " This is an application to take over a business. I am not satisfied this is a business, but I am satisfied there is a need." Nevertheless, he refused the application.
Another Step Towards Unity.
The Scottish C.M.U.A., which has for many years been associated with the parent body, has now become more closely linked, and arrangements have been made for it to be represented on the National Council of the C.M.U.A. It is hoped that the connection will be even stronger when the merger of the C.M.U.A. and A.R.O. is completed.
Stafford Level Crossing to Go.
The level crossing over the L.M.S. railway at Weston-on-Trent, Staffordshire, which has been . the scene of many road accidents, is to he replaced by a bridge 50 ft. wide. Thescheme, including the diversion of parts of the existing roads, is estimated to cost £42,800. Two important highways meet at this level crossing, one being the Chester-Tarnworth road and the other the Stafford-Uttoxeter road.
L.M.S. Wellington Case Fought.
After hearing long arguments from the L.M.S. Railway Co. and a number of objecting members of A.R.O., the West Midland Licensing Authority, at Wellington, last Friday, reserved decision on the railway company's application for an additional vehicle. HAULIERS TO APPEAL AGAINST L.N.E.R. GRANTS.
There is to be a fight before the Appeal Tribunal concerning the granting of several railway applications for additional vehicles in Yorkshire.
It is understood that many A.R.O. members in Hull and district are to appeal against the grants to the L.N.E. Railway Co. in respect of Hull, Bridlington and Beverley. The Yorkshire Licensing Authority has also allowed the L.N.E.R. to operate from York seven additional vehicles and three trailers. At the time of closing for press, it is not known whether appeals will be lodged against the York decisions.
• Liverpool's Efficient Cleansing System.
Information is given in the annual report of the Liverpool medical officer of health• of the work of the fleet of vehicles under the control of the city engineer, used for street cleansing.
During the past year, the quantity of domestic and trade refuse collected was 347,823 tons, the average amount dealt with per working day being 1,207 tons. The work of the city engineer's department consists of cleansing and watering 695 miles of streets within the city, the periodical emptying of ashbins, street gullies, etc. The whole of the 695 miles of streets are swept weekly, but the principal thoroughfares receive constant daily attention.
Seven sweeping machines . are employed regularly, five on night Work (two of which collect, as well as sweep), covering approximately 109 brush-miles of roadway nightly, and two on day work, brushing the roadway and picking up the sweepings in side streets. Three mechanical gullyemptiers are now in use.
The department has introduced the beat system of street cleansing in all districts. The work of sweeping by gangs has been discontinued and, instead, the work is divided among the men, each of whom is provided with a trolley containing two galvanized bins.
Specially adapted motor vehicles, each equipped with platforms large enough to accommodate. 40 bins, visit each trolley three or four times daily, replacing the full bins with empties.