Minister Dismisses Five Appeals: American Analysis
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Licensing Procedure Criticized
THE Minister of Transport last week
dismissed five passenger transport appeals. Messrs. William Cooper and Sons, Bastion Road, Prestatyn, had lodged an appeal against the refusal by the North-Western Licensing Authority to grant them a series of tours and excursions. During the hearing before Sir Oswald Allen, Mr. H. Backhouse, for the firm, alleged that Crosville Motor Services, Ltd., the existing operator, had• been running • illegally by "marrying licences" for tours from Prestatyn and Rhyl, providing services with. the same vehicles.
"Subsidiary" Services Mr.' Backhouse contended that the Authority should not have had any regard to such working when he was assessing the provision of adequate facilities. The company was providing services in Prestatyn subsidiary to those which it offered in Rhyl, instead of operating independently for Prcstatyn's benefit. Competing resorts all had local operators.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Backhouse said that under the Road Traffic Act, 1930, the Authority made his observations on a case after an appeal had been lodged, whereas under the Road. and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, he gave reasons for his decision and any appeal could be based upon them.
There had grown up to alarming proportions" a practice on the part of Licensing Authorities to give " post appeal " consideration to issues involved rather than to state reasons for their original decisions.
Mr. G. H. Beames, for Crosville and the Railway Executive, denied that Crosville had infringed the law. Even if it were guilty, was it right that it should be deprived of its licences and replaced by another company, he asked.
Fresh Application Recommended In his observation on the appeal, the Authority suggested with regard to Crosvilles " marrying" of licences that the company should make a fresh application to regularize its position. Sir Oswald stated that there was room for an improvement in Prestatyn's tour facilities, but he recommended that the appeal be dismissed.
Barton Transport, Ltd., and the South Notts Bus Co.., Ltd., appealed against the decision of the East Midland Licensing Authority granting Nottingham Transport Department" a licence to run a service to Clifton housing estate. The estate had been purchased and developed by Nottingham Corporation. Part of the route ran outside the city boundary.
For the appellants. Mr. L. W. A. White said that the department's claim to provide the service was " startling.It could not be argued that the migration from Nottingham of 20,000-25t00
a2 people would cause loss of traffic. It might create demand. There was no .suggestion that existing services could not deal with the traffic, and it was never proved why a new service should be superimposed on present facilities.
Mr. G. Shawcross, Q.C., for the department, alleged that_ the appellants sought to establish a monopoly by excluding his client. Mr. E. C. P. Lascelles, the Ministry of Transport inspector, recommended that the appeal be dismissed.
When Mr. F. A. Stockdale appeared before Mr. Lascelles and represented George Ewer and Co., Ltd., which appealed against the Metropolitan Licensing Authority's refusal to authorize an additional tours feeder service in North Chingford, he said that 'London Transport services were not designed for picking-up tours traffic and that the Executive's claim for protection on the route concerned needed scrutiny in view of the L.T.E.'s extension of recreational facilities.
Mr. J. R. Arnphlett, for a number of objectors, contended that there was no need for extra facilities, as five London Transport services converged on the local railway station. The Minister upheld a decision of the West Midland Licensing Authority in granting Messrs. Grimsley and Son, Lozells, Birmingham, permission to operate a number of tours. Mr. Lascelles. who heard an appeal by the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., said that there was a need for tours starting from Lozells, as it was unreasonable that passengers should have to journey into the city centre to make day or part-day tours. Mr. J. J. Cunningham, who heard an appeal by the Railway Executive and Scottish Omnibuses, Ltd., against the Scottish Licensing Authority's authorization of French and Italian Riviera tours from Edinburgh to be run by McKelvie and Co., Ltd., Glasgow, said that there was a need for such tours in Edinburgh. These would abstract negligible traffic from the appellants.
Mr. A. Thompson, for the Executive, said that the existing facilities of the railways and its subsidiary, Thomas Cook's, were adequate. McKelvie was a newcomer to Edinburgh.
Mr. 0, Jeffrey Aitkeo, for McKelvie,, stated that no one else ran an inclusive, tour from Edinburgh, and there was evidence of demand.
of Sterling Area
REVIEW of motor production and exports is contained in "The Sterling Area—An American Analysis," a report by the Special Mission to the United Kingdom of the United States Mutual Security Agency. The book is obtainable from the Stationery Office, price £1 ls.
The section devoted to the automobile industries in various Sterling countries lays accent on British activities, but it is mainly a historical account of trends in output and marketing over the past few years and no markedly strong comment is made. Some factual data are given in tables obtained from official sources.
The analysis deals not only with vehicle production, but with every industrial activity in the countries concerned. As such it is of value to politico-economists, and to historians in later years, who will best be able to appreciate the vast amount of information it contains.
"ROAD TRAFFIC LAW" RE-ISSUED
piPUBLICATION that was greatly valued in pre-war years has made its appearance again. Messrs. Mearns Publications, 7-9, Union Row, Aberdeen, have re-issued "Road Traffic Law," compiled under the direction of Chief Constable James McConnach, Aberdeen City Police.
There have been many demands for its re-publication, and it was decided to widen the scope of the work. This entailed an amount of research which delayed its production.
All legislation to date is grouped under four categories—licensing and registration, regulation of traffic, goods vehicles and lighting. Any reference can be made quickly and easily. Copies of the book can be obtained from Messrs. Warns, price £1 10s., plus Is. postage. A set of the latest legal amendments is included free with this edition; future amendments will be sent at a charge to subscribers.who wish to keep the book up to date.
The book is comprehensive in scope, authoritative and does not sacrifice precision in its intent to be of wide appeal.
B.B.C.'s SCOTTISH TELEVISION UNIT
THE B.B.C.'s outside television unit in Scotland has been equipped with six vehicles and has already started to cover outdoor Scottish events. A Bedford-Scarnmell articulated vehicle has been fitted out as a control room and a low-badeof the same make is used as a mobile workshop to carry recording gear.
Two Bedford 30-cwt. vans accommodate microwave equipment. They have Marshall bodywork and incorporate aerial-mast sockets, self-operating jacks. for use when stationary, =,and built-in steps to give access to the roof. Two Standard Vanguard utilities make up the unit, which is staffed by a feam of 30 men.