LICENSING AUTHORITY'S VIEW OF DRIVER'S CULPABILITY.
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At the Nottingham Guildhall, on March 14, before Mr. H. T. Snook; chairman, and Mr. Seely Whitby, a Boston haulier was charged with permitting a vehicle to be used while in a dangerous condition, and the driver was charged with using the vehicle aid for failing to keep a current record, as required by the regulations. Counsel for the defendants pleaded " Guilty " on all charges.
It was said that the Licensing Authority did not take so serious a view of the driver's culpability, as drivers often had little option as to whether they took out a machine or not, but it did attach importance to tho records and considered that the charge against the owner for permitting the vehicle to be used in a dangerous condition was serious.
Defendant's counsel pleaded for leniency on the ground that the owner employed mechanics and that he would not have allowed the Vehicle to have gone on to the road if he had known of its condition. With regard to the keeping of records, he said that drivers _regarded these as a nuisance and did not attach the importance to them that they should.
The owner was fined £10, and the driver-5s. and costs in respect of the records, the charge against the latter in respect of the vehicle being dismissed under the Probation Act.
I.A.E. Repair-certificate Practical.
The next practical tests for the Institution of Automobile Engineers' repair-certificate scheme will take place in London, Birmingham, Bradford and Bristol on April 6 for Section A (mechanical), and in London. Birmingham and Bradford on April 13 for Section B (electrical). Mechanics who wish their names to be included amongst those to be examined on either of these dates should communicate with the secretary. of the Institution, Watergate House, York Buildings, London, W.C.2,
Transport in Glasgow to be Restricted?
The first annual dinner of the Scottish branch of the Industrial Transport Association was held in Glasgow last week, Mr. G. S. Vickary, chairman of the branch, presiding.
Mr. A. Henderson, chairman of the Southern Scotland Traffic Commissioners, said that an organization such as the I.T.A. was a necessity. The transport industry was the link on which all other trade depended. Carriers, he said, resented the restrictions by which tb9y were hedged and he sympathized with them, but control was inevitable. In return for t`hese restrictions hauliers were securing protection.
Mr. P. J. Dollan, of Glasgow, said that, in a city like Glasgow, hauliers would have to solve the problem of congestion, otherwise it would he done for them. Heavy loads would have to be carried by night or in the early
morning. In Glasgow's main streets there was a waste of time and energy which added to the cost of goods. He thought that a Scottish Ministry of Transport was needed..
' Other speakers included Mr. J. Cairns, vice-president of the branch, and Mr. Andrew Morton, chairman of the Scottish section of the Institute of Transport.
Anglo-Persian Buys Morris-.
Commercials.
Morris Industries Exports, Ltd., the sole exporter of Morris-Commercial vehicles, announces that an order has been received from the AngloPersian Oil Co. for 22 sixcylinder left-hand steering 30-cwt. chassis, equipped with large-section low-pressure tyres and big oil-bath-type air filters, the vehicles being for desert operation. All-steel lorry bodies will be mounted on eight of the chassis, and nine will have all-steel end-tipping bodies`, the remaining five chassis are to be supplied with only drivers' cabs.
Garage-equipment Display in Leeds.
Brown Brothers, Ltd., is holding, at its Lombard Street premises, in Hull, a demonstration of garage equipment and a display of tools during the week commencing -April 1. The manufacturers of certain of the products to be shown will have their own representatives in attendance to give expert advice.
With reference, to a recent Court case, RC have been asked to state that the accused, John Harrington, had no connection with Economy Garage, Ltd., 18-22, Union Road, Clapham, London, S.W.4 (previously known as Barrington and Bigden, Ltd.).
DRIVER'S LOYALTY PRAISED BY MAGISTRATE.
That he had been convicted on nine previous occasions for exceeding the speed limit and had been fined a total of £52 in just over two years, was a statement made at Knaresborough Police Court, when a driver was fined £15 for exceeding the speed limit with a lorry and trailer when taking a load of fish from South Shields to London.
Announcing that the bench had decided not to suspend the driver's licence, Colonel W. F. Collins, the chairman, said the magistrates felt convinced that the employers were responsible for the defendant habitually
driving at an excessive speed. He added: "The first chance we have to deal with that firm, we shall not forget to do it. We are also of the opinion that the firm should pay the defendant's fine in this particular case and should not dismiss him because of this offence. He has been loyal in not giving them away."
A Portsmouth Morris-Commercial Service Station.
Wadham Bros. have opened a service station exclusively for MorrisCommercial vehicles at Goldsmith Avenue, Portsmouth. It commands a big frontage and is close to Fratton Station. The equipment includes such modern devices as a 5-ton hydraulic lift, Tecalernit oiling and greasing appliances, air compressor, boring machine, E.P.C.O. degreasing plant, Lucas battery charger, and a motor X-ray which is claimed to reveal the true condition of an engine in a few minutes.
The head office and main works are at Waterlooville, where commercial coachwork of all types is undertaken.