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TILLING CASE CONCLUDED AFTER 31 DAYS' HEARING.
THE hearing of the claim of Thomas Tilling, Ltd., for compensation for the transfer of its metropolitan undertaking to the London Passenger Transport Board was concluded, last week,
by the Arbitration Tribunal. The proceedings occupied 31 days, during which period over 1,000,000 words were recorded.
Mr. Gavin Sitamonds, K.C. (for Tilling's), said that if, by any chance, it proved that the company's profits were not maintainable, that circumstance would apply also to other constituents of the Board. Counsel maintained that the Tribunal could bear in mind the settlement reached with the Common Fund Group, although the Tilling undertaking was not similar in all respects to the former organization. He also referred to the Board's failure to disclose certain important documents, except after close crossexamination.
The Board has contended that the settlement with the M.E.T. Omnibus Co. was independent, but Mr. Simmonds pointed out that, under the settlement with the Board, the losses of the London United Tramways and the Metropolitan Tramways Co. had been transformed into profits, whilst the income of the M.E.T. concern bad been reduced. It was claimed that the three companies were so closely connected that it was impossible to say whether there was any distinction between them.
Mr. Stuart Bevan, K.C. (for Tilling's) applied for costs. He maintained that the Tilling concern was fighting other people's battles, as well as its own. Mr. Craig Henderson, K.C. (for the Board) doubted whether the case could be regarded as a precedent He also replied to the statement regarding the failure to produce certain docu ments. The Tribunal will make its award later.
QUESTION OF JURISDICTION.
DOUBTS as to the jurisdiction of the South Wales Traffic Commissioners in an application by Cardiff Corporation for permission to extend its Newport service to the Capitol car park, in the centre of the town, were expressed at a sitting a few days ago.
One of the questions at issue was whether Newport Corporation would be able compulsorily to acquire the carpark site for the erection of a bus
station. Some time ago it was announced that, subject to Cardiff Corporation obtaining permission to run to the Capitol car park, a co-ordination scheme embracing Red and White Services, Ltd., was to be introduced.
Newport Corporation and the Great Western Railway Co. objected to the extension of the service, Newport's counsel submitted that the matter was
outside the Counikissioners' jurisdiction, Cardiff Corporation's service to Newport was run under an agreement between the two authorities, and an annual sum was paid to Newport.
Power to make such agreements was provided by the Cardiff Corporation Act, 1920, but an Order from the Ministry of Transport would be necessary to overcome a prohibition imposed by Section 70 of the Act. Counsel for Cardiff Corporation applied for the adjournment of the application so that the corporation could obtain an Order.
In reply, Newport's representative contended that the Commissioners had no power to adjourn an application that was outside their jurisdiction, with which view the Commissioners concurred and dismissed the application.
MUNICIPAL COMMITTEE TO ACQUIRE PRIVATE SERVICES, I T is understood that Burnley, Colne
and Nelson Joint Transport Committee is to acquire the BarnoldswickEarby and Earby-Skipton services of Messrs. E. Laycock and Sons, Cowling. FIFTY-EIGHT MILES OF TROLLEY+ BUS ROUTES FOR LONDON?
CONTINUING its programme of the conversion of tramway routes to trolleybus working, London Transport is promoting a Bill in Parliament to secure powers to run trolleybuses on approximately 58 miles of route. The districts concerned are Hendon, Finchley, Wood Green, Hornsey, Tottenham, Walthamstove, Chingford, Leyton,
Wanstead and Woodford, West Ham, East Ham and North Woolwich.
The Bill will also provide for powers in connection with the railways. The Board has already power to convert some 90 miles of tramways.
PROTECTION LIMIT REACHED.
THE question of , protection was raised during the hearing of an -application by Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., to the North-Western Traffic Commissioners for increased frequency on its Chorley-Wigan service.
For Wigan Corporation, it was submitted that, before Lhe recent agreement between the parties had been drawn up, the corporation was awarded a protective fare. This had been sacrificed on condition that services entering Wigan were prohibited from picking up passengers at certain points.
In granting the application, Mr. W. Chamberlain, chairman of the Commissioners, said that, having laid down the necessary protection, they, could not also restrict services in this detail.