Commissioners Not Limited by 1930 Act
Page 57
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THERE is no reason in law why the 1 Traffic Commissioners should not hear representations by persons other than those named in Section 72 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930, so long as Regulation 43 or 46 of the Public Service Vehicles (Licences and Certificates) Regulations is complied with.
This view is expressed by the Minister of Transport in his decision on an appeal by Mr. H. J. Crowther against decisions
of the West Midland Traffic Commissioners. He says also that such persons may be heard at an appeal inquiry at the discretion of the inspector. The Traffic Commissioners are not precluded from notifying factory managements of applications to increase fares on works services if they wish to do so.
Mr. Crowther, who runs express services from Droitwich and Wychbold to the Austin works at Longbridge, and from Longbridge to Rubery, appealed against fare increases granted by the Commissioners. He thought they were too low.
The Minister disagreed with the recommendation of Mr. A. N. C. Shelley, his inspector, who heard the appeal on November 27 last. The Minister's decision says that Mr. Crowther's applications were insufficiently supported by reliable evidence of the increase in his operating costs.
In the circumstances, the Commissioners could assess the need for higher fares on Mr. Crowther's services only in the light of their general experience, and by comparing his case with those of other small operators running services to the Austin factories. None of those other operators had had fares increased since 1952. The Commissioners had done broad justice to Mr. Crowther.