Take-overs Disclose Irregularities
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TOO many cases which came before I him for the take-over of businesses under Section 11(3)(b) disclosed irregularities, said the West Midland Licensing Authority, Mr. W. P. James, at Birming ham, on Monday. A business must remain in the hands of the vendor until the licence was transferred, he said, when Mr. L. Bourne applied to take over the business of Daniel Wootton, which included a 3-ton vehicle on B licence.
Mr. Bourne said that, although the vehicle had been operated by him and driven by his driver since February, and receipts had been paid to Mr. Wootton, no sale and purchase agreement had yet been completed.
Mr. James said he would exercise his discretion and grant the licence. But he had reached the conclusion that the business had been Mr. Bourne's since February and that the vehicle had been used without a licence.
Too many of these cases, said Mr. James, savoured of irregularities and he would have to take a stricter view of them. Some cases arose from ignorance— although that was no excuse—but he placed a more sinister interpretation on the others.
BELFAST TROLLEYBUSES TO GO
BELFAST trolleybuses are to go and all services are to be taken over by motorbuses. The transport committee decided last week that 88 trolleybuses, the first of which went into service in 1940, should not be replaced.
Mr. Joseph Mackle, general manager, said: "The development of housing and industry on the outer fringe, the increasing use of private transport and changing social habits, indicate the need for a flexible type of vehicle which does not require the expenditure of large sums on route equipment."
The type of vehicle selected would have a 20-year life and would have to be kept in service until 1980, added Mr. Mackie.
B.T.C. BUS REVENUE UP
THE provincial and Scottish bus inter
ests of the British Transport Commission earned £37,115,000 in the first 32 weeks of this year, compared with £36,815,000 in the corresponding period of last year. London Transport's road passenger services produced £33,297,000, against £27,377,000 in 1958, when the bus strike occurred.
Rail freight receipts have declined from 1201,530,000 to £184,585,000. The Commission's overall receipts from transport operations have dropped from £404,724,000 to £393,848,000.
MORE ROADS BY TORIES
ANEW Conservative Government would plan feeder roads, urban throughways and road works in the West Country and eastern counties, in keeping with the current development programme, Mr. Harold Watkinson. Minister of Transport, said in a Conservative Party publication.
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