Mr. Wells is very tired of Perth
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"QUITE sickening", was how the Scottish deputy Licensing Authority, Mr. L. A. Wells, described the non-appearance of applicants at a sitting of the authority in Perth last week. And he added: "I hope the road haulage fraternity in this area will note my comments, because I am really getting very tired of this."
Out of five cases listed, there were three non-appearances, and in the other two no supporting evidence other than letters. Objectors were represented in three of the cases, and the whole sitting lasted only 17 minutes.
Mr. Wells said: "Perth, I think, is about the worst place this happens.! think it is the third occasion straight off. The result is that lots of people have been inconvenienced. Objectors have briefed advocates, who have the trouble of coming to this court for absolutely no purpose whatsoever. This is really quite sickening, and I hope that in future people will have the common courtesy, if they do not intend to proceed in the case, to let my office know in good time."
By that he meant a week's notice in advance, so that other arrangements might be made. A week's notice in advance was really too late for him, but he asked it for the sake of objectors.
A B licence-holder, Charles Ross, of Burrelton, had his licence revoked at the Perth sitting. Mr. Ross did not appear when his name was called.
The LA said: "This licence was restricted to carriage of lime for a particular named customer, and in fact on 101 occasions in a very short period the licence-holder carried all kinds of commodities for another firm altogether.
"As a result he was fined £20 at Perth Sheriff Court on November 16. I have no hesitation in Mr. Ross's absence in completely revoking the licence."