F" Licence Loophole in Act Misused
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THE loophole in the 1933 Traffic Act,
which allows farmers to carry their neighbouri' goods under C licence, has been misused over the years by people using the cloak of being engaged in agriculture. This was stated last week by Mr. J. A. T. Hinlon, Northern Licensing "Authority, when a farmerhaulier applied for the renewal of a twovehicle B licence.
He was Mr. R. Davidson, Ainstable, Penrith, who said he had used a C-licence vehicle when he could not do all his work under B licence. He had carried goods for farmers living within five miles of Ainstable.
Adjourning the application, Mr. Hanlon pointed out that• Mr. Davidson had only 50 cattle, yet.he had undertaken haulage for 109 people supposed to be in the locality and engaged in agriculture. For these customers he had carried 4,400 cattle, over 26,000 sheep, 1,500 pigs and 1,000 tons of other goods.
To this, Mr. G. N. Worthington, for Mr. Davidson, submitted that the two B-licence vehicles had also been engaged in the work.
Mr. Hanlon continued: "I shall consider your previous Conduct as a carrier of goods with a C licence and a handful of cattle—carrying thousands of sheep for hire and reward for over 100 people -under this loophole in the Act. I shall have the matter investigated and seriously consider whether you are carrying unlawfully and whether you shall be
prosecuted." . .
He said Mr. Davidson should have put his cards on the table and asked for more B-licence facilities instead of using a loophole which had been a source of great loss to genuine hauliers, B.T.C. AND COUNCIL LOSE APPEALS
TWO appeals have been dismissed by the Minister of Transport in decisions released on Tuesday. One was by the British Transport Commission against-the grant Of additional picking-up points to Mr. W. T. Nash on an express service-from West Bromwich to Paignton. The grant was made by the West Midland Traffic Commissioners, Of whom Mr. W. 13,. James is chairman.
The Minister agrees that there was evidence of need for. the additional points to reduce the present inconvenience to Mr. Nash's passengers. There might be some abstraction of traffic from British Railways, but as Mr. Nash's vehicle allowance was not increased,. it would not be great.
The other appeal was by Martley Rural District Council against the West Midland Traffic Commissioners' decision to change a fare stage at Knightwick on services operated by the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., between Worcester and Leominster and Hereford and Worcester. The Minister holds that the change would notcause substantial hardship.