Concern About Transport Tribunal Decisions
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APART from speculation about who will lead the Transport Tribunal after Sir Hubert Hull, their presmt president, retires in September (See Bird's Eye View" on page 692 of this week's issue), concern is felt, I understand, about two matters that the Tribunal have so far not dealt with. When, it is being asked in legal circles both in the Metropolitan area and elsewhere, are the Tribunal to give their judgment in the appeal of H.M.W. Transport, Ltd., of Stepney, E.1.? When, also, will they g:ve the reasons for their decision in the successful appeal by Securicor„ Ltd.?
The former, which was an appeal by I.M.W. Transport against the Metroolitan Licensing Authority's refusal to How a transfer of 28-odd vehicles and railers from contract A to ordinary A ieence, was heard by the Tribunal in 4arch. It was described in" Licensing .`asebook " at that time as the first of everal " Merchandise-cum-Arnold-type "ases, the forerunner of several similar pplications then pending, which could yell go through to the Court of Appeal. understand that the Tribunal's guidance a this type of application is urgently equired by certain Licensing Authorities. The second case—the Securicor appeal —is already in the Court of Appeal's list, scheduled for hearing during next term. This matter came urgently before the Tribunal in November of last year when, after a long hearing, the Tribunal made it known that, for reasons that they would give " soon," the appeal had succeeded and Securicor would be granted 35 armoured vans on B licence. (They had been allowed only 10 by the Metropolitan Deputy Authority.) Upon receiving the Tribunal's decision, Security Express, Ltd., who had objected to the application and were the chief respondents in the appeal, lodged an appeal in the Court of Appeal.
I have been informed that a judgment in the H.M.W. Transport case is nearly complete and will be given "soon after the Whitsun holiday." But Security Express are not to be so lucky. There is no chance," I was told, of the Tribunal's reasons for the Securicor grant being given yet. Is it possible that there is disagreement within the Tribunal?
Presumably Sir Hubert will do something about this before his retirement. and it is to be hoped that this will happen before Security Express' appeal reaches
the top of the Appeal Court's list.
(incidentally, 1 am told that the Tribunal itself will hold two further sessions before Sir Hubert's retirement— one in London and one in Scotland. Any appeal that is lodged with the Tribunal now will, unless there is an absolute urgency, be dealt with by a court under the presidency of Sir Hubert's successor.)