"Pirate" Operator Pays Fines at Maryport
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A LLEGED to have operated a tn. " pirate " bus service with a minibus, Ian Logan, Church Street, Maryport, taxi proprietor, was fined a total of £6 6s., with £3 3s. advocate's costs and £1 1 ls. special costs, by Maryport magistrates last week. He pleaded guilty to permitting his vehicle to be used as an express carriage when he did not hold a p.s.v. licence or a road service licence.
Mr. G. N. Worthington, prosecuting for the Ministry of Transport, said that a Ministry examiner saw ten or more people enter the vehicle at a local footwear factory. Passengers were dropped off at different places on the route to Dearham. Later. when the examiner stopped the vehicle, the driver, named Harrison, failed to produce a work ticket.
A passenger said that she paid sixpence per journey, or 2s. 6d. a week, to a Mr. H. Hodgson. Mr. Hodgson told the examiner that he hired the vehicle and collected 2s. 6d. per passenger for five days' travel. Logan told the examiner later that he received £1 7s. 6d. a week from Hodgson for the hire of the bus.
The examiner stated that he had previously explained to Logan that he could only do contract work. Logan said, "I thought it was legal."
Mr. Worthington said that if Logan was going to operate at an uneconomic rate the legitimate bus services would lose. People must be stopped from operating " pirate" services, he added.
NEW COACHES FOR WESTERN S.M.T.
PA.A NEW fleet of fast coaches is being placed on regular express services between Glasgow and London by the Western S.M.T. Co., Ltd., Kilmarnock. It comprises 20 Leyland Leopards with Alexander 30-seat luxury bodies. A special heating system, designed by Mr. R: H. Dawson, chief engineer of Scottish Omnibuses, Ltd., hai been installed in the vehicles.
There is a toilet in each coach, and a constant hot-water supply from a roof tank fitted with an immersion heater. • The vehicles are capable of 50-54 m.p.h., and have powerful air brakes.