DECISION IN PETROLPUMP TEST CASE
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ON Tuesday the Coleford magistrates gave a decision of great interest to users of accommodation petrol pumps, when they fined Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., £1 for using for trade purposes a petrol pump that was not stamped. The ease was heard a month ago, when the magistrates deferred their decision in view of submissions made on behalf of the defence.
Mr. H. J. Balchin, the Gloucester manager of the company, stated that there was an agreement between a number of• transport companies to purchase petrol in bulk, amounting to 70,000,000 gallons a year. Associated companies, he said, were enabled to obtain • supplies from each other's depots, and there was a definite rule that any company selling such petrol would be excluded from the association.
The clerk, announcing the finding of the magistrates, said it was proved, and not disputed, that on December 13 last a servant of the defendant company had supplied, at the Coleford depot, a certain quantity of petrol for a vehicle belonging to one of the railway companies. Under Section 59 of the Weights and Measures Act, where any measuring instrument was used, it was deemed to be used for trade purposes unless it was proved otherwise.
"No evidence was called to prove that the petrol was supplied in accordance with an agreement," the clerk proceeded. "In the opinion of the justices, the defendant company has not discharged the onus imposed on it by the Act and it will, therefore, be convicted."
STANDARD CONTRACT RATES FOR NORTHERN AREA.
ASUB-COMMITTEE has been formed to prepare a scale of charges for contract tickets, which could be considered as the standard for the Northern Area. This development affects private operators of services running into the areas of municipal bus undertakings.
BOOTLE BUS PROTEST MEETING,
A MEETING was held at Bootle, last .1-1. week, to protest against the curtailment of the Orrell bus services and the conseauent dismissal of 30 men. Resolutions were adopted calling on Bootle Corporation to take steps to ensure an efficient bus service within the borough, and to, secure the removal of further fares anomalies.
Mr. A. Jackson, who presided, said the old Merseyside company operated an efficient service and Liverpool Corporation became envious, as it was losing revenue. Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., acquired the Merseyside concern and then started negotiations with Liverpool Corporation, and it was decided the municipality should run the services. Then the " Ribble " took over the services. Criticism was made concerning certain of the facilities offered by the company.
-TIPS" CLASSED AS "CONSIDERATIONS"
IN a case in which a car owner was
penalized by the Llanelly magistrates for carrying colliers from work in 'his car, without having a stage-carriage licence, an unusual plea Was made.
It was contended that the defendant did not receive payment or a " consideration," hut was awarded sums, which varied with the amount of work the men did, in the way of " tips:" A " tip" was not a " consideration" or payment. For the Commissioners, it was stated that they regarded a " tip " as being a "consideration" in the meaning of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, but it was denominated by the operator " tip" to evade the regulation.
PROTECTION PROPOSAL "RIDICULOUS."
Ciancrsm was passed by Mr. A. ‘.....Henderson, chairman of the Southern Scotland Traffic Commissioners, on a lam-table submitted by W. Alexander and Sons, Ltd. He pointed out anomalies in the fares between certain points, the object of which appeared to be to protect the Falkirk and District Traction Co., which operates tramways.
It seemed that an additional id. was to be charged between points on the -tramway route, which meant that the passenger had to pay more for a short journey than for a long one, This, the
chairman said, was ridiculous. The Commissioners took back the fare-table for examination.