TRIBUNAL ISSUE CONTEMPT WARNING
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pRIOR to the hearing of an appeal on Monday, Mr. G. D. Squibb, QC, president of the Transport Tribunal intimated to the court that a letter had been received by the registrar from a third party. "It may not be generally appreciated but any attempt to influence this Tribunal", he said, "is contempt of court".
Mr. Squibb explained that if the writer of the letter had been advised by any of the parties appearing before the Tribunal, then this also was contempt on their part.
The appeal was brought by D. M. Metcalf, of Brighouse, who appeared on his own behalf, against a decision of the Yorkshire deputy LA. The deputy LA had refused to grant a B licence for the carriage of furniture and household effects for one vehicle of 1+ tons unladen, confined to a radius of five miles of Brighouse.
The respondents were Transport Clearings Ltd. and Huddersfield Film Transport Co. Ltd. They were represented by Mr. J. P. Evans, proprietor of Transport Clearings Ltd.
Mr. Metcalf pointed out that he was a furniture dealer who frequently bought the property and contents of houses of people recently deceased. It was not uncommon for relatives to ask him to remove certain pieces from the houses to their homes. He was also required to deliver furniture purchased in his shop.
He claimed that the two respondents were fully committed at present and that other operators travelled into Brighouse from Huddersfield and Bradford, both of which were beyond the radius he sought. It was his submission that two operators were insufficient to meet the needs of a population of 32,000.
Mr. Evans said that there were more than two operators licensed to carry household effects in Brighouse. The respondents claimed that they had suitable vehicles to meet the need. Mr. Evans said he had an application pending for a 25 cwt. van. He claimed that to grant the appeal would create an excess.
The respondents were concerned that Metcalf, once granted a licence would enter road haulage by increasing its unladen weight in subsequent applications.
The Tribunal allowed the appeal in part. The licence granted covers furniture bought from the houses of deceased people together with heirlooms required to be delivered by those who act as administrators or executors of property.
DAY OF REST
RIBBLE Motor Services Ltd., of Preston, was granted permission at Kendal last week to withdraw Sunday bus services between Lancaster, Kirkby Lonsdale, Sedbergh and Dent. Figures submitted by the company to the Northern Area Traffic Commissioners showed that there were generally no more than one or two passengers.