"Inequitable Position" in Licensing, says P.V.O.A.
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AN inequitable position in passenger transport licensing is mentioned in the annual report of the national council of the Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association.
It points to recent cases where licences have been granted to freeenterprise operators in the face of objections by State-owned companies and the railways. Although Ministry of Transport inspectors recommended that subsequent appeals by the railways be dismissed, the Minister had allowed them and reversed the Licensing Authorities' decisions, In some instances this has meant the cessation of services. "Many cases are known where the Railway Executive, although consistently objecting to applications made by independent undertakings, do not object to comparable applications by their associated road companies," states the report. "This is obviously taking an unfair advantage of their rights and tends to bring the 1930 Act .into disrepute. A need for a road service either does, or does not, exist and a Licensing Authority should not be placed in the position of saying that, because in one case there is an objection there is no public need, whilst saying on the other hand that there is public need for a similar service by another operator simply because there is no objection.
"The position is inequitable and attention should be drawn to these matters by members wherever such cases arise, either in traffic courts or on appeals."
A further cause of complaint lay in the decisions of certain Authorities in indicating that although an applicant had proved public need, the licence would be granted to another operator. This appeared most unfair, especially where camp services previously operated by the original applicant with contract carriages were concerned. These matters are receiving the close attention of the Association.
Concern is expressed in the report over the low expenditure on highway repairs. Lack of road maintenance, it asserts, without doubt increases vehicle operating costs.