Costs Against Absentees
Page 28
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WHY should those who cause unnecessary expense and inconvenience others. in the traffic courts not pay for their inconsiderate conduct? Every year the annual reports of the Licensing Authorities for Goods Vehicles refer to the withdrawal without adequate notice of applications and objections. The Minister of Transport is well aware of the situation and he is justified in introducing legislation to permit the Licensing Authorities to impose costs in such cases.
He would find support in the Road Haulage Association, who, at their annual conference last October, carried a motion calling for penalties on lax applicants. The proposal was that a new applicant for an A or B licence should have to forward with his application the fee that would be payable if it were granted. If he attended the inquiry and the application were refused, the fee would be returned. If he failed to appear Without giving reasonable notice to the objectors and Licensing Authority, he would forfeit the fee. 'The idea was sourfcl within limits, but it discriminated unfairly against newcomers and did not go far enough. Established operators may be equally guilty of inconsiderate behaviour in failing to prosecute applications for variations and new licences. Such a case was reported last week and called forth deprecating comment from the Licensing Authority.
On a recent occasion a Licensing Authority and his staff travelled many miles, for the convenience of a haulier, to hold an inquiry into one application. The applicant did not appear and the day was wasted. The country cannot afford unnecessary expense of this kind. Moreover, objectors who go to great trouble and expense to prepare cases are entitled to be reimbursed by applicants who fail to attend inquiries without giving fair notice. The Licensing Authorities could be relied upon to use justly the power to impose costs on defaulters. Their right to take such action would probably obviate the offence.