Absence of Choice Not Overriding
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I N an appeal decision, the Minister of Transport has emphasized that, in his opinion, there is nothing in Section 72 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, which binds a Licensing Authority to authorize a road service merely, because there is no alternative to travel by rail.
" The absence of .a choice between rail and road may be a fact to he taken into account, but it will not necessarily override other considerations to which the Licensing Authority are bound to have regard, including those referred to in Section 72 (3) (d)," he states.
The Minister rejected an appeal by the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co.. Ltd., and Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., against the East Midland Authority's refusal to grant them permission to operate a joint express service between Leicester and Liverpool, and against the East Midland and North Western Licensing Authorities' refusal to grant backings for the service.
Costs were awarded against the companies.
The appeal was heard in London last November by Sir Robert H. Tolerton, a Ministry of Transport Inspector.
SHEFFIELD'S NEW "BEAT STAFF SHORTAGE" PLAN
TO reduce difficulties arising out of staff shortages, Sheffield Transport Department has introduced a system of "regulated overtime" by agreement with the Union. The system provides for scheduled duties to be increased from 49 hr. to an average of 52 hr. It has also been agreed to reduce by half the number, of days off taken from Monday to Friday.
A condition of the agreement is that the number of one-man-operated private-hire coaches, which the department is using to relieve peak period difficulties, will not be increased, and that part-time labour will not be engaged.