"-Hanson : Acquired Derelict. Vehicles" A FTER it was contended for
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the 1-1 British Transport Commission that Hanson Haulage, Ltd.,. Huddersfield, had taken over three derelict vehicles from a Mr. Leahy, the Commission's appeal against the grant of a licence for the vehicles ,by the Yorkshire Deputy Licensing Authority was partially allowed by the transport Tribunal in London last week.
Mr. Hubert Hull, president, said that the Authority. would be instructed to. i9Stle a licence for one vehicle.
Mr. C. Samuel-Gibbon, l'or the. B.T.C., said that the licence had been sought for a business which had been" dying " and which. from November.; 1955, had been left to be I On entirely' by Hanson.
The three vehicles of Mr. Leahy had been absorbed in the Hanson fleet and used to serve persons who had never been Mr. Leahy'scustomers: Earnings were not sufficient to keep even one vehicle fully employed. • Mr. A. Goss, for Hanson, sitid that when Mr. Leahy offered his business for sale it was by no means moribund. The three vehicles were now being fully employed and -were genuinely 'needed.
Mr. Hull said it was impossible to say that the respondents had acquired new customers. for' the Leahy business.
MORE VEHICLES FOR HOLIDAY TIMES THE North Western Traffic Com missioners have giveri their reserved decision on the applications made by operators in Burnley, Colne and Nelson for increased vehicle allowances at local and general holiday times.
As reported in The Commercial Motor on March 15, each town had formerly had its holiday weeks separately, hut they had now been combined into a common fortnight and local operators were swamped at peak periods.
The allowance of Bracewells (.Colne.),
• Ltd., has been raised from 12 to 18; Mittons Motors, Ltd., Colne, 6 to 9; Sandown Tours (Burnley), Ltd., and A. Storey, Ltd., Burnley, 2 to 3; . and Messrs. Y. Ifelliwell and Sons, Nelson, 6 to 8. The allowance of W. C. Standerwiek, Ltd., for Wakes fortnight is raised from 12 to 15, and for September holidays 8 to 12.
DRIVING-TEST APPLICATIONS RESUMED
NEW applications for driving tests may now be made because more examiners have been released from fuelrationing duties. Many candidates who applied before November last are still waiting, and new applicants in some areas may have to wait a long time before being tested.
For the time being, [carrier drivers still need not be accompanied by a qualified driver if they had held a provisional licence for at least a month.
B.R.F. Attack Slow Road Progress THE total amount of work done in three road schemes announced 3+ years ago which have been completed comprises four miles of dual carriageway and 1,200 yd. of single three-lane c:trriageway. This is pointed out by the British Road Federation, commenting upon the Economic Survey of Europe, 1956, p u bl is Ii ed by the Economic Commission for Europe. If there were a. dramatic refusal to accept a lethargic. rateof .prOgress' iii both the planning anttekeention _Of road work, state the federation, no ..international report could say, as -.did this survey, that although Britain-jaad the most serious traffic problem in Enrone, it had spent by far the smallest amount on roads
PROTEST OVER "2G" ABOLITION
APROTEST against the abolition of the 20-mph. speed limit has been 'made by the Scottish Horse and Motormen's Association. The executive council of the Association is stated to view with alarm 'the raising of the limit to 30 rn.p,h., because higher speeds would harm the health of road transport workers. The Association also wish the maximum spell of driving per day to be reduced from 11 hours to 10.
30-YEAR-OLD-SERVICE ENDS A FTER a meeting with _the local authorities concerned, last week, Blair and Palmer. Ltd., Carlisle, reaffirmed their inability to continue the 30-year-old service from Ainstable to Carlisle, which has been losing £1,000 a year. It was withdrawn last Saturday. [Proceedings. before the Northern
Traffic Commissioners on the with drawal were reported last week.]
Mr. Ernest Hartness, of Penrith. agreed to provide a modified service, but had to withdraw his offer because of a lack of staff.
• AUSTIN IN TOP GEAR
CULL-SCALE overtime working is L. being introduced at the Longbridge factory 'of the Austin Motor Co.. Ltd. Following a discussion held with the trade unions, all shifts will be on a fiveday week, and output of all types of vehicle will be increased to meet heavy home and export demands. Although a 50-per-cent increase in production since March last is near attainment, there is still a delay of three months' in the delivery of some models.
MR BRAKES FOR COMMERS
AIR.PRESSURE brakes are • now fitted to Comrner petrol-engined 7-ton forward-control goods vehicles -as well as the models in the Avenger passenger range. . The pedal effort required for an emergency stop is stated to be only a third of that necessary with the vacuum system. Fitted as a production option, the air-pressure system costs £59 10s. plus £14 17s. 6d. purchase lax.
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"Small Farmers Poorly Served by Hauliers"
BECAUSE livestock hauliers disliked dealing with small loads of attested cattle, small farmers in the Winsford area of Cheshire were poorly served by existing operators, Mr. R. Lindsay. North Western Deputy Licensing Authority, . was told„ on Monday. Messrs. H. and H. R. Vernon, Winsfordc sought a B licence for a vehicle to carry cattle; sheep, pigs and horses within 50 miles.
Mr. A. R. Vernon • said that there were no livestock hauliers in Winsforcl, arid it was impracticable to send beasts by rail to cattle. auctions at Crewe, Chester, Market Drayton and other places. Re was supported by the ideal branch of the National Farmers' Union.
he was now dealers who transport
Mr. A. J. F. Wrottesley. for' the 13ritish Transport Commission, who objected, submitted that the more vehicles that there were on the road licensed to carry cattle, even within a limited radius, the more opportunity there would he for those operators authorized to carry cattle for long distances to compete with the railways. Other objectors were Messrs. Jones and Son; Kingsley, and A. Rowlands and Son (Boughton), Ltd. The hearing was adjourned.
Figures Wanted for Six Months' Work
WHEN on Monday Mr. H. Whittaker, Sutton, near Macclesfield, applied to add a vehicle of 4+ tons unladen to his B licence and delete one of 3 rolls, Mr. J. R. Lindsay, North Western Deputy Licensing Authority, adjourned the hearing so that details about work done between July, 1956, and February, 1957, could be produced. Mr J. A. Dunkerley, for the applicant,• said that his client wished to substitute a heavier oil-engined vehicle for a petrol lorry. The vehicle of 4* tons had a B licence until July, 1956, when it was surrendered upon the grant of a B licence for two vehicles previously operated' under contract-A licence. Mr. Dunkerley said that a grant would make little difference to the carrying capacity.
Questioned by Mr. A. J. Wrottesley. for' the British Transport Commission, who objected, Mr. Whittaker said that
he had no idea what the 4•1--ton vehicle had dope between July last year and February, but from. February to April this year it had been on temporary substitution under a short-term B licence. Mr. Wrottesley submitted that the matter should be investigated. The vehicle had, according to the applicant, probably been worked tinder C licence, although he held no such licence.
• TOURS FROM VICTORIA
THIRTEEN tours are described in a I leaflet issued by London Coastal Coaches, Ltd., Victoria Coach Station, London, S.W.1. The most expensive. at :E3, is a tour of London by night which includes a meal and dancing. There are seven whole-day tours to places such as Stratford-on-Avon, Cambridge and Canterbury, and five half-day tours of the Thames Valley. the Chiltern Hills and elsewhere.
Operators of the tours are Samuelson New Transport 'Co., Ltd., Eastern Counties Omnibus Co.. Ltd., East' Kent Road Car Co.. Ltd., and international Services. Ltd.
Appeal Numbers Must be Quoted
WHEN Mr. L. Pratley, for the British Transport Commission, was unable to tell Mr. S. W. Nelson, Western Licensing Authority, the number of an appeal decision given by the Transport Tribunal—which counsel had quoted in support of a contention that an applicant firm had not established a prima facie case—Mr. Nelson said that he ' could not take judicial notice of_ it.
Mr. Pratley said that the decision, which was to the effect that a prima facie case could not be established with letters alone, had been given last week. Champion Delivery Service, Barton Hill; Bristol, on Monday sought to add a vehicle to their B licence and to vary -.the • conditions to be "able to carry electrical components, office-equipment, flooring equipment and mechanical
• handling 'equipment within radii of 35, 50, 100 and 150 miles, respectively, also ' general goods within 10 miles.
Mr. L'Sanders, a partner, stated that *the business began in March, 1956, with a'5-c-Wtl-van, and in 1957 a partnership was formed tci•take over the two vehicles at present standing on B licence.
In the12 months ended February, 1957, earnings had totalled £1,075. Sup'porting letters were produced from four customers. Mr. Nelson adjourned the case so that witnesses from the citStomers could appear, but they did not do so.
Laterthe application was granted under: an agreement whereby the extra vehicle would be permitted to . carry retail deliveries and furniture and *household effects within 10 miles, and the two existing vehicles to carry for a floor specialist within 100 miles and a builder within 150 miles.
DRIVERS' WAGES UP WAGES of drivers in the cement vV. industry have been . increased by 5.3 per cent. from April 15.
Wages of drivers in the Co-operative Wholesale Society have been raised by .7s. to 16s. a week, as from April 22, and vehicles have been re-classified in *accordance with R.H 461).
Increases ranging from 7s. 3d. to lls. a week have been made in the basic wages of drivers in the petroleum -industry,
MORE PAY FOR REPAIRERS?
APPLICATIONS have been made by the unions to the employers in the motor. vehicle retail and repair trade 'for higher wages, an improved rate for night work and an enhanced plus rate for seven-day work.
MR. WHITE JOINS M. AND D.
Prsucceed Mr. W. M. Dravers as general manager, Mr. A. J. White, general manager of the Devon General Omnibus and Touring Co., Ltd., joined Maidstone and District Motor Services, Ltd., and the Hastings Tramways Co. on Monday. Mr. Dravers will relinquish his appointment on May 31, and Mr. White will assume his duties on June 1.
69°/. of Services Do Not Pay
I-1 AST year, 69 per cent. of the stage carriage services of the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., representing 40 per cent of total stagecarriage mileage, were run at a loss. This was stated by Mr. J. S. Wills, chairman, at the annual general meeting on Wednesday.
Restriction in the use of private cars caused by petrol rationing resulted in anoticeable increase in the company's traffic, greatly reduced road congestion and enabled services to run to schedule with advantage to passengers, crews and the company's affairs generally.
" The end of petrol rationing will, it is feared, result in a return to the previous chaotic cenditions, and it is hoped that those responsible now realize at last that, as a nation, we cannot afford not to spend money on the creation of a modern and adequate road system," he stated, Mileage operated by vehicles rose by 500,000, compared with 1955, to a record of 79m., and the total of passengers carried, at 484m., was 6.5m. greater than in the previous year. Eighty-eight double-deckers and 66 single-deckers were added to the com pany's fleet. • Interesting technical developments aimed at improving, passenger comfort, . operating economy and maintenance cost were in the experimental or drawing-board stage.
NO DISCRETION ON WORKS SERVICES
AN .application by the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., for the inclusion in three of their licences of -a 'condition that additional services should be operated according to traffic requirements, was refused on Monday by the West Midland Traffic Commissioners in Birmingham. The routes concerned were from Warwick to the works of the Lockheed Hydraulic Brake Co.,Ltd., at Leamington, to Radford Road and. Rushmore Estate.
It was stated that, because of shorttime working, local industrialists were giving the B.M.M.O. extremely short notice of changes in hours. The condition sought had been included before the war, but because of an oversight it had not been renewed, Disallowing the condition, Mr. W. P. James, chairman, said it was difficult • to accept as a matter of principle that timetables and licences should , be variable to deal with every instance of short-time working or a strike.
OLD LORRY RALLY
TO inaugurate a club devoted to the collection and preservation of old commercial vehicles, a national rally is to be held on July 14 at the Montagu Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Hants. Lord Montagu is offering prizes for a concours d'elegance in two classes: "veteran, 1896-1916, and vintage. 19171930. "30" Only. Permissive, Drivers Told' I N the May issue of Transport and General Workers' Record, Mr. F. Eastwood emphasizes that there is no compulsion on drivers to accept the new maximum speed limit of 30 m.p.h. for
heavy goods vehicles. Our members must remember that the regulation is no more than permissive," Mr. Eastwood says.
Although the Union had no desire to obstruct the exports by which the country lived, the higher average speeds which the new regulation set out to encourage would not be obtained generally until the roads were suitable for the traffic. "
The problem of wages must be settled before full benefit could be obtained from the higher speed limit. The problem could be solved only by a Wages Council Order preventing any employer from evading his responsibilities.
PART GRANT FOR EXCURSION OPERATORS
A PPLICATIONS by Rogers Motor r-k Coaches, Leeds, to double their existing Vehicle allowance for excursions, to introduce period returns to Whitley Bay and run a number of twoor three-day extended tours, which were hotly contested by the LiverpoolNewcastle express operators . and Wallace Arnold Tours, Ltd., have been granted in part in a reserved deCision ' of the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners. The overall vehicle allowance has been increased from five to six. Period returns to Whitley Bay have been authorized for the Leeds annual holiday fortnight only. Three out of five twoor three-day tours were granted.
[The hearing of the application was reported in The ConunerCial Motor on March 29 and May 3.]
NOT FIRST STEPPING STONE
WHEN Mr. S. W. Nelson, Western VY Licensing Authority, granted a ' licence to Mr. L. Ridd, Clevedon, to carry furniture and household effects, and goods to and from auction sales, within a 10-mile radius, at Bristol on Monday, he told the applicant that he must not regard the decision as the first stepping stone to obtaining a large furniture vehicle and entering the removal business.
A vehicle of 1 ton 1 cwt. unladen was specified. Objection was made by the Pickfords undertaking.
FAMILY OUTINGS
SUMIYIER "family outing" trips by 0--) London Transport Green Line buses from 91 outer London areas to popular pleasure-resorts will start on May, 19. Buses will be run on Sundays.and Bank Holidays, and the 61 special routes have been designed to afford people from country towns and villages around London facilities . for reaching resorts easily.