Troubles stemmed from sabotage
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• At a Section 127 inquiry a Glasgow p.s.v. operator, J. and M. Harris, had its licences restricted to four vehicles and future applications made subject to detailed consideration, in Glasgow last week. The firm admitted eight immediate prohibitions since October 1967 and contended that troubles stemmed from sabotage of engines when undertaking a workers' transport contract in the Grangemouth area. Some of the eight vehicles involved had been scrapped, some returned to the supplier and two retained.
Mr. J. Harris, director, said a mechanic who had been trusted to keep vehicles in good order had been dismissed and the partners were now undertaking their own servicing. He further claimed that three of the p.s.v. immediate prohibitions referred to vehicles which were off the road, but Mr, R. Rutledge, MoT examiner, said that they were only advised that they were "not being used". In any event, one radiator was warm when examined, he said. The defects were, in his opinion, dangerous.
Mr. A. B. Birnie, chairman of the Traffic Commissioners, said that the evidence was confusing but the Commissioners proposed to "put on the brakes". They would limit the firm to four vehicles and no further applications were to be considered without his personal knowledge.