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The Innocent Suffer

11th April 1952, Page 28
11th April 1952
Page 28
Page 28, 11th April 1952 — The Innocent Suffer
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

ASCANDAL of the first magnitude was revealed in the Divisional Court, last week, when Mr. Justice Vaisey dismissed petitions for the compulsory winding-up of three haulage undertakings which had been acquired in 1949 by the British Transport Commission. The petitions had been presented by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue and were based on balances of judgment debts totalling less than 0,500.

The good name of the principal of the three businesses had been stigmatized by an advertisement which alleged, in effect, that they were insolvent. In fact, the B.T.C. owed them £41,000 and had done so since 1949. To preserve his personal reputation, the proprietor settled the debts out of his own account.

This case is one of hundreds in which hauliers whose businesses have been wrested from them have been made to wait for years for compensation. It is, however, worse than others in the unfortunate consequences which have attended it. Mr. Justice Vaisey's comment left no doubt about his view of the affair.

When the delay in paying compensation is questioned, the B.T.C. normally lays most of the blame on hauliers, who are accused of deliberately drawing out proceedings for their own gain and of failing to supply full information on which a settlement can be reached. Responsibility cannot, however, rest entirely with one side. The B.T.C. should examine its own machinery of negotiation and offer some more convincing explanation why a haulier must wait for three years for payment for his business.

Meanwhile, the Government should take rapid action to undo the harm caused by its predecessor in office, and relieve ex-hauliers of the stock with which they have been saddled and return the acquired businesses to free enterprise. The Government is heavily in the debt of the road haulage industry and early repayment is expected. This matter cannot be allowed to rest.


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