Barrister warns transport managers
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• More than 70 per cent of operators are no longer fulfilling the statement of intent which they made when applying for their operator's licence. This opinion was expressed by barrister Mr A. W. Balne, when he addressed the Transport Managers' Club, London area, last week. Mr Balne warned that such a practice could lead to action by the Licensing Authority.
The speaker drew on his experience as a lawyer, an operator—he was at one time employed by Pickfords Ltd—and on his visits to the United States for his address.
Mr Balne said that road transport had always existed on faith, hope and charity and he could see nothing in current legislation which would change that and advanced the opinion that the industry would benefit from less Government interference rather than more. He went on to say that people today appeared to be possessed of civil service minds and as flaws were found in one piece of legislation so further legislation was introduced to rectify it.
His great fear was that one day this country would become as constipated by legislation and regulations as was the USA today. It was Mr Balne's opinion that the 1933 Act properly implemented would have been perfect and adequate legislation to meet the needs of the 1970s.
He warned his hearers that they should be keeping a constant watch on costs and rates. As a safeguard against rate cutting he suggested the introduction of rate registration, as practised in America.