FULL PROOF NEEDED FOR C. and D. VEHICLES

1st June 1956, Page 72

1st June 1956

Page 72

Page 72, 1st June 1956 — FULL PROOF NEEDED FOR C. and D. VEHICLES

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IS a trunk haulier entitled to maintain as a matter of right that his I long-distance vehicles shall always be used only for long-distance work? This question of principle was raised on Monday by Mr. J. M. Cowan, for the British Transport Commission, in two appeals by the B.T.C. to the Transport Tribunal in Edinburgh.

Both appeals were against the granting of B licences, in one case by the Scottish Deputy Licensing Authority, and in the other by the Licensing Authority to Munro's Transport (Aberdeen), Ltd„ for collection and delivery vehicles at Aberdeen and Glasgow. The vehicles were for use in connection with the company's extensive trunk services. Both appeals succeeded.

Question of Proof Mr. Cowan said the question which he had raised involved the extent of the proof which the holder of a special A licence had to produce to obtain a licence for collection and delivery

vehicles. He maintained that applicants should show that their A-licence fleets were fully occupied and that collection and delivery could not be done by other hauliers.

No other hauliers had objected at Aberdeen and he suggested that they knew that, whatever the result, no work would come anyone else's way.

Mr. W. D. Connochie (for Munro's Transport), asking the Tribunal to uphold the Licensing Authority, quoted a precedent of 20 years' standing which held that where an operator running trunk services could show that he could better co-ordinate his services with a collection and delivery vehicle, he should be granted a licence for one. The only objectors, were British Railways, who did not provide a service such as he asked for.

Sustaining the appeal relating to the Aberdeen base. Mr. Hubert Hull, president, said that Munro's case failed because of an insufficiency of evidence. Before an applicant sought an additional vehicle, for whatever purpose it be employed, he should supply full information as to how he was using his present fleet.

Precise Data Required It was inadequately explained what part of the goods Munro's Transport carried required special collection and delivery service. Precise information on the quantities and the occasions on which a collection and delivery vehicle was required was essential in all cases.

On the second case, concerning a Glasgow-based lorry, the Tribunal formally sustained the appeal.

Mr. George Arbuckle, 138 Farmeloan' Road. Rutherglen. was unsuccessful in his appeal against the Scottish Licensing Authority's decision in December, when his application for a B licence for carrying general goods, coal, coke, dross and ashes within a radius of 50 miles was refused.

Mr. Arbuckle told the president that c22 his application had been refused three times. He had produced evidence— two letters on each occasion—but the Licensing Authority took no notice of them.

He was challenged on this point by Mr. Hull, who said that in the shorthand notes of the proceedings there was no mention of letters having been produced. In any event, the court did not take much notice of letters, said the president.

B.T.C. SICK-PAY TALKS TO BE RESUMED

AT an informal meeting between Sir Brian Robertson, chairman of the British Transport Commission, and union representatives on Monday, it was decided to resume talks on a sickpay scheme for some 650,000 employees of the Commission, including the nationalized bus companies and British Road Services.

The unions had asked for the meeting after rejecting a draft plan proposed by the B.T.0 It is understood that the Commission may be prepared to make minor concessions and that, on this basis, the unions are ready to continue negotiations in the joint committee which has been handling the matter.

The B.T.C. offered sick pay to adult male employees, after a year's service, at the rate of Ll 10s. or £2 a week, according to grade, but not for the first 10 days of absence and not for more than a period of six weeks in any calendar year.

NEW JOINT SERVICE PLAN

A DRAFT joint working agreement -1-1 on certain services between Ramsbottom Urban District Council and Rawtenstall Borough Council is now being prepared. It is understood that only one or two minor points remain to be settled. The agreement provides for Rawtenstall to provide 75 per cent. of the assets.

Some four years ago, Ramsbottom, Rawtenstall, Haslingden and Accrington began negotiations for a through joint service in the Rossendale Valley, but Accrington and Haslingden have since dropped out.

MAKERS ENTER COMPETITION THE first contractor members .of the

Public Transport Association to enter for the safe-driving competition of the Road Operators' Safety Council are Leyland Motors, Ltd., and the Maudslay Motor Co., Ltd. At the last meeting of the P.T.A. Council it was announced that R.O.S.Co. would welcome entries from manufacturers and suppliers.

"Diverting Attention from Removals"

WHEN A. Moore and Sons VY (Windsor), Ltd., appealed to the Transport Tribunal in London on Monday against the South-Eastern Licensing Authority's refusal of an A licence for a vehicle, the respondents alleged that the company were seeking to divert attention from their intent to use the vehicle for furniture removals by emphasizing the need for horse transport facilities.

The vehicle concerned was adaptable and would be used as a horse trans porter during the show-jumping season The Household Cavalry, it was stated, sought transport for their polo ponies three times a week. The Authority had suggested that the company should apply for a B licence for the carriage of horses.

For the company, Mr. C. R. Beddington said that the Tribunal had ruled on several occasions that when an A-licensee with an established business applied for additional tonnage on an A licence he was entitled to it.

Mr. J. Amphlett, for the British Transport Commission, said that it was clear that the applicants were more interested in the removals side of their business than the carriage of horses.

Messrs. Sirl and Son and G. E. Dodd and Son, Ltd., also responded.

The appeal was dismissed. Mr. N. L. C. Macaskie, Q.C., chairman, stated that the Tribunal concurred with the reasons given by the Authority in his refusal of the application. The chairman commented that the appellants had not given figures relating to refusals of work. Although letters had been submitted in support of future need, no attempt had been made to quantify it.

An appeal by Messrs. -R. Greig against a decision of the Metropolitan Deputy Licensing Authority was to have been heard on Monday, but the appellants did not appear.

"MANY ORDERS LOST," MR. GUY WARNS

" A T the moment we are losing I-% hundreds of orders because we are quoting months and months for delivery," stated Mr. Sydney S. Guy, chairman and managing director of Guy Motors, Ltd., last week. He told employees that production must be increased, and expressed concern over rises in costs of materials and labour.

He believed that the price limit which overseas buyers were prepared to pay, compared with those offered by foreign competitors, had been reached.

Mr. Guy made a presentation to his nephew, Mr. A. E. Guy, who has been appointed a director of Guy Motors Africa (Pty.), Ltd. Mr. A. E. Guy will assist Col. G. W. Purser, director in charge of the company's African interests, and later will establish a subsidiary in Johannesburg and be responsible for those in Capetown and Durban.