Minister Approves Trial Licences
Page 24
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WHERE the issues between competitors are finely balanced, the grant of a road service licence for an experimental period may be in the public interest, the Minister of Transport observes in dismissing an appeal by the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co„ Ltd., against the West Midland Traffic Corrunissioners' grant of excursions and tours from Kenilworth to Priory Garage and Coaches, Ltd.
The licence was granted for an experimental period of a year. Midland " Red " argued that the introduction of competition experimentally was not in accordance with the Road Traffic Acts.
The Minister says that the public demand for tours from Kenilworth did not seem to have been satisfied by Midland " Red." Priory Garage were already carrying passengers from Kenilworth on their tours from Leamington. and had taken the initiative in applying for a licence to meet the unfulfilled demand for additional tours from Kenilworth.
To protect Midland " Red's " more popular tours from Kenilworth, Priory Garage were refused some of the destinations for which they applied. The vehicle allowance for the 75 tours granted was only one. In the circumstances, the Minister does not think that wasteful competition will be created.
He has rejected a recommendation by Mr. S. A. Bailey, who heard the appeal, that to reduce the risk of wasteful ,competition 14 tours which appeared to duplicate those of Midland" Red" should be deleted from Priory Garage's licence. In 1957-58; B.M.M.O. carried only 124 passengers from Kenilworth on 45 separate tours to these destinations.
OBJECTIONS TO R.H. (65)
THE Road Haulage Wages Council were to meet yesterday to hear objections to the proposals for a 5s. wage increase for adult road haulage workers contained in R.H. (65).