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26 MORE FOR B.T.C.: TOTAL • OVER 700

1st July 1949, Page 4
1st July 1949
Page 4
Page 4, 1st July 1949 — 26 MORE FOR B.T.C.: TOTAL • OVER 700
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

ANOTHER 26 road haulage undertakings were acquired by the British Transport Commission between June 19 and June 25, the Road Haulage Executive announced on Tuesday. They are as follows:— mama Mills (Unit B.89), Dundee; British Road Services (Unit E.69), Ashbourne; •Ford (Unit E.1 18) Stapiefeird; Mercer (Unit F.90), Bristol, 3; French (Unit B.110), Fraserburgh; British Road Services (Unit Bill), Fraserburch: Ingalls Garage, Ltd. Beaks; Bloomhelds (Unit A.123), Brentwood; Victoria Garage Co., Bristol. 1; British Road Services (Unit r(.138). Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 3; R. W. Guymer and Sons. Ltd., Lowestoft; A. W. Denney, Beccles; Robson (Unit D.140), Gateshead-on-Tyne; Foulkes and Bailey, Ltd., Manchester, 17 Bragg (Unit A.123), Brentwood; Robinson (Unit D.I79). Gateshead-on-Tyne: British Road Services (Unit F.84), Southampton; Hudson and Spence. Spilsby; British Road Services (Unit C.130), Burnley: Harris (Unit C.119). Northwich; Powell. (Unit

0.61). Hampton Bishop; Powell (Unit 0.61) Hereford; Robinson (Unit; 0.61), Hereford British Road Services (Unit C.108), Newtown British Road Services (Unit F.85), Southampton Grekson (Unit C.134). Ormskirk.

The Minister of Transport stated in the House of Commons, last Monday, that up to June 1, 359 concerns, with 15,000 vehicles, had been voluntarily acquired, and 346 undertakings, operating about 6,500 vehicles, had been compulsorily acquired.

Sir Cyril was speaking at the annual luncheon of the Road Haulage Association in London. He said that, in practically all cases, negotiations for the acquisition of road haulage undertakings by agreement had been concluded. The cost to the Commission was estimated at nearly £25,000,000.

Settlements with hauliers had conformed as closely as possible ° with the terms of the Transport Act, but included consideration for net current assets, cash reserves, etc., which would not pass to the Commission under a compulsory acquisition. Nearly 1,300 compulsory acquisition notices had been served up to the end of May. The Commission was anxious that there should be no unnecessary delay in payment, although to set up the necessary administrative and financial nriachinery had not been easy.

Act Prevents Quick Settlement Although it was the intention that hauliers should receive a payment on account at the earliest possible date, and that the small man, to whom less than £20,000 was payable, should get similarly prompt payment of up to £2,000 in cash, the Act did not allow payments on account except by way of provisional ascertainments.

Moreover, there were serious difficulties in issuing stock at times other than the half-yearly interest dates, so that in some cases there might have been a lapse of a further six months before a haulier received any provisional payment. Sir Cyril hoped, however, that settlements would be made more speedily in the future.

Small, men were being offered an immediate payment on their cash option, and those who received stock were being offered stock at intervals of about. a month, instead of six months. A large and widely spread organization of valuers, accountants and lawyers had been set up for the express purpose of speeding up provisional ascertainments.

"We have indeed gone to the limits of prudence in devolving responsibility and authority in the

making of these settlements," Sir Cyril declared.

Inviting hauliers to make the best use of this machinery, he said that the Commission was largely dependent upon operators and their advisers in agreeing the scope of the acquisition and in furnishing details of the assets involved and accounts. Although snore than 200 undertakings had been transferred by Apnit 30, the Commission was still awaiting, in respect of nearly 100, the accounts or other information essential to the making of a provisional ascertainment.

Ultimate Compensation Not Prejudiced "Let me emphasize," he added, "that a provisional ascertainment does not prejudice in any way the ultimate amount of compensation due, and is largely a device to ensure that the transferors shall receive a substantial payment on account as soon as possible."

Sir Cyril again said that latitude wouldbe allowed in the issue of original permits, and that when the time came to consider their renewal, a reasonable view of all the circumstances would be taken, although more difficult decisions would then have to be reached.

He denied that hauliers could claim that they were being unduly hurried in being required to submit applications for original permits by July 31.

He said that the formation of the Road Passenger Executive (announced in "The Commercial Motor" last week) had been required by the acquisition of the Tilling and S.M.T. groups of companies, the work involved in preparing area schemes • for road passenger transport, and the rapid expansion of the Commission's road haulage interests. He recognized the essential differences between goods and passenger transport.

Sir Cyril said that there would be no needless multiplication of bodies or posts. The new Executive would advise the Commission on all important


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