Heavy Fines for Allowance Frauds
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FINES totalling £120 were imposed at Bradford City Court last week upon six drivers and six mates employed at the Manningham depot (Bradford South Group) of British Road Services, for fraud in obtaining subsistence allowances in respect of a night which they had actually spent at their homes.
The prosecution stated that the defendants' log books purported to show that they had spent the night in Manchester, but their lorries were seen parked on some spare land at Huddersfield.
For the defence it was pleaded that there had been no intention to defraud. The British Transport Commission had not lost anything but had gained by what the defendants had done, because instead of leaving their lorries in Manchester the men had brought them to Huddersfield, thus making them available earlier for the next day's journey.
The presiding magistrate said that recent prosecutions suggested that such offences were becoming too common. But for their previous excellent character, the defendants might have been sent to prison.
PLASTIC PANELS UNDER TRIAL
pLASTIC panels, for bus bodies are being tried by Birmingham Transport Department, who are reported to have a double-decker that weighs 15 cwt, less than normal types.
' A number of vehicles has been fitted with rear corner panels and decorative wheel discs in plastic. It is proposed to use plastic for the front-dome, the radiator panel and grille, the wings and winking-light direction indicators.
OBITUARY
WE regret to record the death of VY MR. JAMES FRANCE, Of France and Brook, Ltd., haulage contractors, Crimble, near Huddersfield. Aged 70, Mr. France was a former national president of the Commercial Motor Users' Association, on whose national council he served for many years, and a past chairman of the C.M.U.A. North Eastern Division.