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ACROSS THE IRISH SEA

30th July 1965, Page 65
30th July 1965
Page 65
Page 65, 30th July 1965 — ACROSS THE IRISH SEA
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

SUPPOSING that the report of the Geddes Committee were accepted and the British licensing system abolished. Many of the experts and advisers who have specialized in traffic court business might then feel inclined to make their way to Northern Ireland, where the long-expected Transport Bill has now been introduced into the House of Commons by the Minister of Development.

POINTS CONSIDERED BY MINISTRY The Ministry is required, among other things, to examine the previous conduct of an applicant as a person providing facilities for the carriage of goods for reward; to gauge the effect which a grant would have on existing facilities and on existing licence holders; and to keep in mind "the need for ensuring fair competition ".

Would-be hauliers must first apply for an operator's licence, which will remain in force for three years or more at a fee of for each complete year provided thaf the Ministry of Finance does not fix a different fee. Conditions attached to the licence include the payment of proper wages.

The holder of an operator's licence may then be granted a vehicle licence to which conditions may be attached. In particular, the Ministry may specify the classes or descriptions of goods which may be carried, the districts within which, or the places between which, the vehicle may be used and the persons or classes of person for whom goods may be carried for reward.

Fees are to be laid down in due course for vehicle licences which will normally remain in force for one year, although short-term licences last The Ministry may revoke or suspend a vehicle licence for breaches of the conditions, for failure to maintain the vehicles properly or to keep records of hours of work, for not paying the right wages, and for contravening the regulations concerned with taxation, speed and weight limits and drivers' hours. Where within a period of 36 months there have been three or more revocations or suspensions and they have affected one-tenth or more of the number of vehicle licences held, the Ministry may revoke or suspend the operator's licence, In these circumstances there is provision for an appeal to the county court, whose decision will be final. There is no provision in the Bill. however, for an appeal against the refusal to grant a licence in the first place.

flHEAVY PENALTIES FOR FALSE STATEMENTS Heavy penalties of up to EICIO or six months' imprisonment or both are proposed for an operator who knowingly makes a statement which is false in a material particular in order :o obtain a licence or prevent the grant or a licence. There is a hint here that an established operator will he able to give evidence against an application from another operator but the Bill contains no direct reference to the setting up of machinery for hearing and sifting objections.

Concessions are. made for farmers and milk hauliers. In neither category is an operator's licence needed if the use of vehicles for reward is limited to a specified field, and in each case the vehicle licence will cost only £1 or whatever other sum" the Ministry of Finance lays down. The farmer's privilege is extended to work for other farmers within a radius of three miles. The milk haulier will not require an operator's licence for the collection or delivery of liquid milk "not contained in sealed airtight containers ".

The powers and duties proposed for inspectors are for the most part similar to those which apply in Britain. One slightly unexpected provision is that an inspector may ask for information not only about the goods and the journeys, but also about "the reward for the carriage of the goods ".

BILL REPLACES DTA MONOPOLY The Bill is designed to replace the monopoly held by the Ulster Transport Authority for the carriage of goods for reward with one or two exceptions, nottbly for work in or around Belfast and Londonderry. Plans for better roads are among the reasons which have prompted the Northern Ireland Government to introduce competition into road transport. The fairly numerous operators already working under the present limited conditions will almost certainly be first in the queue for the new licences. The extent to which the more remote parts of the country will be served remains to be seen.

In the meantime many British operators will be examining the possibilities of extending their activities to Northern Ireland. There is nothing in the new Bill to prevent them from obtaining operators' licences and according to reports the Northern Ireland Government would welcome their assistance in ensuring that a complete and efficient service is provided.


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