"Necessary to Pay Bribes"
Page 44
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AN allegation that it was sometimes necessary to pay bribes to secure business was made by a former haulier at Nottingham Bankruptcy Court last week.
Charles Fetter, Orchard House, Beckingharn, was said by the Official Receiver to have unseeured debts of £2,059 17s. 2d. and after preferential creditors had been paid, there was a total deficiency equivalent to £2,023 10s. 3d.
Petter said that he carried fruit and vegetables under contract for a company of canners, until this concern began their own haulage in January this year. This was a severe blow to him. One of his three lorries was taken by the income tax authorities in July to pay for arrears and was sold by them for /250.
NO ALL-DAY CHEAP FARE FOR PENSIONERS
A PROPOSAL 6 to introduce a 1—i universal all-day concession fare for old-age pensioners has been rejected by Belfast Transport Committee. The id. concession fare at present extends only to 4.30 p.m. and costs the department 5,0013-.E6,000 per year.
There are 17,000 old-age pensioners in Belfast, and the committee have reaffirmed an earlier decision that concession rates should be granted from 6.30 p.m. until the times of the last buses, to enable old people to go out in the evenings.
MAGISTRATE DISILLUSIONED
"1i1 experience is that B.R.S. get a IV". very good type of driver and it is beyond my comprehension why they do this sort of thing," said the Hull magistrate, last week, when five British Road Services' drivers were fined for falsely claiming a night's lodging. The magistrate gave a warning that one day he would punish such offenders by a jail sentence, Fines of up to 10 were imposed.
BAD ROADS BREAK SPRINGS?
THE attention of Middlesbrough Highways Committee has been called by the transport committee to the large number of springs being broken on corporation vehicles. During the first eight months of this year, 190 springs were broken. It is suggested that this was largely because of the bad condition of the roads. Each breakage costs £14. plus labour charges, to repair.
BEN PAYS OUT 131,527
THE Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent. Fund gave assistance to the value of £31,527 to 424 beneficiaries in 1953. Membership at December 31, 1953, at 14,757, was 70 higher than in the previous year, but, states the _Bind's annual report, there is little cause for satisfaction with that total. A membership and propaganda committee are investigating the problem.