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Alleged Speeding Conviction Quashed

24th January 1936
Page 46
Page 46, 24th January 1936 — Alleged Speeding Conviction Quashed
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'THE question of the use of speedo

' meters on buses was at issue at Leeds Quarter Sessions, last week, when Mr. W. Vane Morland, general manager of Leeds Transport Department, successfully appealed against a conviction for "aiding and abetting, counselling and procuring" a Leeds Corporation bus driver to exceed the speed limit of 30 m.p.h.

The appeal was against a decision by the Leeds Stipendiary Magistrate (Mr. Horace Marshall), who had fined Mr.

Morland 25. The case against the driver was dismissed at the police court, under the Probation of Offenders Act.

It was stated that the bus was driven at 35 m.p.h.

The driver said that he did not know the speedometer was not working until the police spoke to him. Leeds Corporation drivers were trained to judge their speed without the aid of a speedometer. The witness said that the presence, or absence, the working or nonworking, of the speedometer had nothing whatever to do with the speed at which he was travelling.

Mr. Morland said that drivers were taught to keep their eyes constantly on the mad, In practice, he stated, speedometers on buses which had to make frequent stops were unreliable.

Mr. G. H. B. Streatfield, for the appellant, submitted that Mr. Morland could not have aided and abetted, because he was not present when the offence was committed. As to "counselling and procuring," it must be show.n that some act or omission by Mr. Morland facilitated or caused the offence; but there was no law corn B36 pelling the use of a speedometer on a public service vehicle, unless it were used as a long-distance coach. The only thing that must not be done was to remove a speedometer from a bus if that action would deprive the driver of the only means for knowing his speed. In this case the driver was in no sense dependent on the speedometer.

Referring to the case in which Bradford Corporation's transport manager (Mr. C. R. Tattam) was fined in Leeds for a similar offence (and which had been quoted for the police), Mr. Stieatfield contended that that was quite different from the present one. In the case against Mr. Tattam, said counsel, the bus driver did not know that he was exceeding the speed limit, bemuse the speedometer had been disconnected under orders given by Mr. Tattam.

The Recorder (Mr. J. Willoughby Jardine, K.C.), in allowing the appeal and quashing the conviction, said he accepted the evidence that the driver had been trained not to drive by the speedometer. Mr. Morland was responsible, through others, for the fact that the bus went out with a speedometer that was not working, but the defective speedometer did not cause or even contribute to the offence by the driver.

LATEST S.M.T. DEAL.

IT is reported that the Scottish Motor 1 Traction Co., Ltd., is negotiating for the business of David Lawson, Ltd., East High Street, Kirkintilloch. The latter company operates daily services between Kirkintilloch, Waterside, Lenzie, Torrance and Glasgow. It holds stage service and excursion and tour licences. Terms are not yet agreed.

BIG TYNESIDE DEAL?

I T is understood that negotiations are proceedirg for the taking over of the Tyneside Tramways and Tramroads

Co. the Northern General Transport Co., Ltd. The former company operates buses between Newcastle and North Shields, via Wallsend, and has an issued capital of 2157,940.

It is believed that the "Northern General" has offered 23 3s. for each 210 ordinary share and 25 10s. for each 210 preference share, making a total of 2.56,000. In addition, provision is made for the transference, at par value, of the loan mortgages of the Tyneside concern, which, it is estimated, would yield to the shareholders 1110,000.

In 1929, the Tyneside concern abolished its tramways and introduced buses. Three years ago Newcastle Corporation offered to buy the company out for 2118,000, hu..t this figure was rejected.

TILLING-B.A.T. INVESTMENTS TOTAL 13,522,013.

THE extent of the interests of Tilling and British Automobile Traction, Ltd., may not be generally realized, but the annual report of the company for the year ended December 31 last shows that it has investments in 24 associated and subsidiary concerns, totalling 23,522,013. This figure is based on the normal value of the shares. The fallowing are the concerns in which the Tilling and B.A.T. group is interested, with investments:- COURT ACTION ON " SINGLES."

I T is understood that an affidavit has been lodged in the High Court by some dozen operators who are disputing the action of the Minister of Transport and the South-Eastern Traffic Commissioners in refusing to allow single tickets to be issued on seasonal express services from the coast to London. The date upon which the action will be heard is not yet known.

HIGHER PAY AT SALFORD.

THE minimum rate for Salford Corporation's bus drivers is to be raised from 22 17s. 6d. a week to 23 Is. 6d., increasing to a maximum of 23 3s. 6d. a week after 12 months' approved service. Hitherto, the maximum wage has not been attained until three years' service has been completed.


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