Licence Grant Despite Fulfilled Objection
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I N considering their judgment of an appeal by the British Transport Commission against a decision of the West Midland Licensing Authority, the Transport Tribunal wondered why he had granted the Little Haywood Transport Co., Ltd., a B licence for seven vehicles although he had found that the Commission's objection had been fulfilled.
When the appeal was heard last month (The Commercial Motor, August 2), the Tribunal reduced the grant to four vehicles. In their written decision, published on Wednesday, they state that had all the gas installations to which the company delivered coal had rail sidings there would have been no . ground for any grant. However, about half the installations had no rail connections, and the B.T.C. objection could apply to only part of the company's traffic.
Little Haywood held a licence for four vehicles, and for the few months remaining until its expiry the Authority. had added three vehicles as an "experiment." The Tribunal say that the case was complicated by the company's convictionsfor breaches of the 1930 and 1933 Acts. The Authority had partly based his decision upon evidence of the company's increased hiring figures.
The Tribunal -comment that such figures showed that there were road transport facilities available to deal with the traffic. Furthermore, it would have been unsafe to measure the company's vehicle requirements by reference to their past earnings, as these had been swollen by irregularities in operation.
R.T.F. CONSIDER COMPLAINTS
PAA MEETING of Road Transport Finance, Ltd., held on Tuesday, is believed to have been called to consider complaints by members of the Road Haulage Association—the sponsoring body—about terms . offered for hjre purchase. An official said that the meeting was private and refused to comment on it.
He would not say whether the interest charges levied by R.T.F. conformed with the new agreement between the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the Finance Houses' Association. Hauliers have complained that R.T.F. offer no better terms than outside finance houses and on occasions charge higher rates of interest.
HARRIS ACQUIRE LUTON BUSINESS •
THE business of Luton Carriers, Ltd., 2a Vicarage Street, Luton, including 15 vehicles based• in that town, has been acquired by Harris Road Services,
Ltd., Northwich, Cheshire. • • It is intended to maintain the Luton establishment as a fully operational depot for Harris Road Services, Ltd., with facilities to the north-west, Hull, Norwich, Birmingham and London. The concern have a number of other depots and now operate 100 vehicles.