Half Battle Won, says P V.O.A.
Page 5
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ALTHOUGH Mr. W. H. Smith lost his action against the London Transport Executive and costs were awarded to the Executive by the Court of Appeal, the Passenger Vehicle Operators Association, wnich has been backing him, is not entirely dissatisfied with the result.
The Association states that the Court's decision has firmly established that the L.T.E. has no power under the Transport Act to run services anywhere it likes, but only in its own area, as defined by the London Passenger Transport Act, 1933.
According to P.V.O.A., the action has also secured a statement of policy from the British Transport Commission that there is no intention, at present, of interfering with the structure of the voluntarily acquired Tilling and Scottish Motor Traction groups, which will be preserved until the time comes when the various component parts of these groups may require to be organized under area schemes.
The Association takes this statement to imply that the licensing provisions of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, will continue to apply to such undertakings until their incorporation in area schemes under the Transport Act.
The statement on policy attributed to the B.T.C. is presumably that made by Sir Cyril Hurcomb, chairman of the Commission, at the annual luncheon of the Road Haulage Association on June 22. Sir Cyril's speech was made before the decision of the Court of Appeal was given.
Other Operators Safeguarded
P.V.O.A, also thinks that the Court of Appeal's decision will prevent " any other operator in the industry being adversely affected by any similar action of either the London Transport Executive or one of the passenger undertakings voluntarily acquired by the British Transport Commission, commencing to operate over a member's existing route."
Members of P.V.O.A. backed Mr. Smith in his appeal to the Court of Appeal from a decision of the Divisional Court "in an endeavour to correct a position involving an injustice which, it was felt, was never intended by Parliament when passing the Transport Act."
LOAD INSURED FOR £200,000 INSURANCE cover of £200,000 was *taken out by Evan Cooks Depositories, Ltd., London, S.E.15, when the company carried 60 "old masters" from the National Portrait Gallery to KenWood House, Hampstead. The pictures were part of the Iveagh Bequest.