Ex-haulier Sues B.T.C. Employees for Damage to Premises
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A N ex-haulier last week brought proceedings at Leeds City -C'ciart " against three officials of the British.Transport Commission's depot at Water Lane, Leeds, and five drivers. The drivers were alleged to: have damaged a gate and lock, and the officials were accused of having aided and abetted. All the defendants pleaded not guilty." The drivers were formerly employees of the coniPlainaut,. Mr. Thomas W. Nightingale, of Low Road, Htmslet, whose business has been taken over by the Commission Mr. P. Stanley Price, for the complainant, said that the summonses were issued to bring to the notice of the public the high-handed methods of the B.T.C., and to show the " strong-arm"
attitude adopted in this case. Earlier this year, he explained. Mr. Nightingale was notified that his haulage business and vehicles, but not his premises, would be acquired by the Commission. The take-over date was fixed for Nlarch 15, but later it was put back for four weeks, because arrangements had not been completed, the price to be paid for the lorries being unsettled.
The vehicle licences expired on March .24. and Mr. Nightingale informed the B.T.C. On April 7, one of the officials notified him by telephone that the vehicles would be taken over by the Commission on April IL but Mr. Nightingale said that he could not agree to this, as terms had not been settled and the vehicles were not licensed.
Authority Disputed When the official telephoned the following day to say that the police had staled that it would be in order for the lorries to go on to the road, Mr. Nightingale replied that nobody could give this permission.
Mr. Price said that on April 12, the officials and the drivers, who had been told by Mr. Nightingale to keep away from the premises and surrender their keys, arrived and said that they wanted to put licences in the vehicles. Acting on instructions from the complainant, the garage manager refused them
Mr. Fred Ward, said that. on April 1-2 he locked the gale after, two of the lorries had been driven away. Later the officials gave orders to the drivers to lift the gate off its hinges... and ae further five vehicles were driven away.
The hearing was adjourned until September.
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