Contract Licence Refused to Save
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Fuel: Appeal in September
ARRANGEMENTS are being made by the Appeal Tribunal for the early hearing of a vital appeal against a decision by the South Wales Licensing Authority on an application for a contract A licence. The appeal is by Harold Sargeant, Castle .Garage, Rogerstone, Monmouthshire, who was refused a contract A licence for which application had been made under Section 7 (i) of the Road and Rail Traffic Act.
The Licensing Authority refused the application . on the ground that, if it were granted, certain hauliers concerned would lose a large proportion of their work and would seek other work for which they would be entitled to an issue of fuel. In addition, return loads -which Mr. Sargeant had handled would have to pass to other operators and extra fuel might have to be granted for that purpose.
Reconciling his duties as Licensing Authority and Regional Transport Commissioner responsible for the administration of fuel rationing, he said: "It therefore seems wrong to me to grant this application if it is to lead to an increase in the issue of fuel at a time when the Government has decided that there is to be a further 10 per cent. cut in the issue to commercial operators and a general tightening up of the issue of fuel. I can, of course, as Licensing Authority, grant these lieences to the applicant, but at the same time refuse A24 to issue him any fuel for this purpose, but that would seem to me to be a wrong course to adopt and would tend to bring the administration of the Act and the fuel rationing system into public disrepute and possibly ridicule."
The Licensing Authority also said that, where tH duties of Licensing Authority and RegionalTransport Commissioner conflited, he felt he should have "greater regard to the question of fuel issues than to the strict interpretation of the provisions of the 1939 Act insofar as it affects the issue of A contract licences."
The Tribunal's long vacation starts to-morrow and extends fo, about six weeks. It is therefore unlikely that the appeal can be heard earlier than in the week beginning September 20. It is understood that the hearing will take place in London and may occupy several. days.
The associations are much concerned over this case and certain of them may make representations during the hearing of the appeal.
A FLYING VISIT TO U.A.S.
SOME of the members of the Omnibus Society flew from Croydon to Darlington last Sunday on a visit to the offices and central works of United Automobile Services, Ltd. . A complete tour was made, and the four weeks' course of training which every conductor undergoes was described.
NEW 'DENNIS FIRE TENDER: PERKINS ENGINE IN PAX
AEMBERS of the Institute of Road MI Transport Engineers visiting the works of Dennis Bros., Ltd., at Guildford, last week, saw a new four-wheeldrive fire tender and a Perkins-engined goods chassis. The latter will be for export only.
The fire tender is powered by a RollsRoyce straight-eight petrol engine and is geared to give a high maximum speed. It is intended for use on aerodromes, and the body and chassis have a high ground clearance.
Perkins P6 70 b.h.p. oil engines will be available, as an alternative, in the Dennis Pax models, but for the present will be offered only for export. With the exception of the engine mountings, the chassis components used are the same for both makes of engine.
The party, conducted through the works by the Dennis executives, showed particular interest in the method of gear grinding and the subsequent testing for imperfection in the tooth form. When passing through the tinsmith's shop, there were many of the overseas cabs to be seen. Chromium-plated bars across, radiator grilles give a Continental touch.
Midland members of the Institute visited the Coventry works of Transport Vehicles (Daimler), Ltd., on July 20, and were received by Mr. F. G. Couch, a director, and Mr. Boxall, sales manager.
ARE MASS OBJECTIONS• VALID?
ARULING on the admissibility of "omnibus" objections to applica--. tions for licences is to be sought by Mr. A. Robertson, Scottish Deputy Licensing Authority. He will report to the Treasury solicitor attached to the Ministry of Transport, objections lodged by two agents at a -public inquiry in Inverness on July 21.
Mr. J. Mitchell. solicitor, for a Nairn contractor, pointed out that he was opposed by nearly all the hauliers in the area. " Only one of these objections is signed by a haulier," he said, "and I am against Secretaries of the [Road] Haulage Association lodging bulk objections on their own."
In another case, Mr. J. R. Hamilton, solicitor, claimed that one of the objectors named had not 'even been consulted about objecting.
The managers' section of the Municipal Passenger Transport Association will hold a meeting in Douglas, Isle of Man, from September 8-9.