Transport Director for Trial
Page 49
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A DIRECTOR of Quorn Transport, PI Ltd., Barrow-on-Soar, Leics, was sent for trial by a special Loughborough court, last week. He was accused of allowing the fraudulent use of a registration mark on a lorry; permitting the use of a goods-vehicle licence disc on the wrong vehicle; and allowing fraudulent use of an Excise licence.
Edwin Everest Hopley, Marktield Lane, Markfield, Leics, was remanded on bail in his own surety of 7E50 after pleading not guilty. Quom Transport were also committed for trial at the Northampton County Quarter Sessions, on March 10, for alleged fraudulent use of an Excise licence and of a registration mark, and for using a licence disc with intent to deceive.
Seven other alleged Excise offences against the company were adjourned. The alleged offences came to light after a six-wheeled lorry, registration number MTE 417, was stopped by a police car. P.c. P. S. Smith told the court that he recognized the number as one belonging to afour-wheeler of a different colour.
On examining the registration plates later, P.c. Smith found the impression of another number, 15 MRF.
ASSOCIATION'S FUTURE IN DOUBT,
THE future of the Road Passenger and Transport Association, the local Midland organization of coach operators and hauliers. is in the balance. The management council have held a series of meetings to decide whether the Association continues to serve a useful purpose in view of the facilities offered by the national bodies, but no conclusion has been reached.
Meanwhile, Mr. D. E. Skelding. who has been manager for many years, has resigned to become general manager of Traffic Consultants, Ltd., 8 Newhall Street, Birmingham. The company will advise operators on licensing and arrange representation in court, Their services will be offered to the R.P.,and T.A.
TROLLEYBUSES EARN LESS
TROLLEYBUSES in Belfast last year brought in less money, carried fewer passengers and covered less mileage than in 1958, according to a schedule submitted to the transport committee. Allround increases by motorbuses were shown.
Trolleybus receipts dropped £59,667 to £869,387. passengers carried fell by 4,156,147. and mileage decreased by nearly 313,847. Motorbus receipts increased by £45,364, and passengers carried rose to 80.116,100, with 444,837 more miles covered.
ROOTES PLAN FOR SCOTLAND
ANEW factory is likely to be built at Linwood, near Paisley, Scotland, by the Rootes group. When The C'oinntereial Motor closed for press on Wednesday. the construction of a new plant on Merseyside by the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., was expected to be announced.
Residents For and Against Terminus
RESIDENTS on a new housing estate at Downend, Bristol, last week divided into supporters and objectors to an application by the Bristol Omnibus Co., Ltd., to extend their stage service to match development of the estate.
Mr. T. D. Corpe, for the company, told the Western Traffic Commissioners that, although the terminus needed to be extended, "no one wanted a bus stop outside their front door."
It was proposed to move the terminus to a lay-by, and Mr. Corpe spoke of complaints about rowdiness at the existing terminus after public-house closing times, and of a meeting of 260 parents who had objected to the extension.
The Commissioners made a grant. Mr. S. W. Nelson; chairman, said: "We do so rather regretfully and we are sorry if this is going to have any effect on private households. The local council is in favour of the proposals, and it is quite impossible to please everyone."
CRITICISM BY MR. HANLON QEVERE criticism was made by Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, Northern Licensing Authority, last week, because he had not been notified that three vehicles of Teesside Carriers, Ltd., Stockton-on-Tees, had been disposed of. The company were applying for a short-term licence for three vehicles to carry steel and other goods. It was stated that an Official Receiver had been appointed in June. 1958, but that the assignment of three special Alicensed vehicles did not come to light until May, 1959. Mr. W. E. Wagstaff, who said that he assumed the managing directorship in October last year, told Mr. Hanlon that the concern fell into difficulties through paying dearly for special A-licensed vehicles.
The application was refused.
SIGN NOT LEGAL
PIA PARKING summons against a motorist was dismissed by Bishop's Stortford magistrates last week after he had submitted that because the "No Waiting" sign was fixed to a wall, instead of being on a pole, it was not legal. Police evidence was that a sign of this kind could he put up under special authorization, but because there was no evidence of this the magistrates rejected the charge.
GRANT WITHOUT COMMENT
LICENCES for express services, tours and excursions were formally granted without comment by the West Midland Traffic Commissioners, at Birmingham on Tuesday, wizen Mr. J. Else, for Don Everail, Ltd., Wolverhampton, told them that all the objectors had withdrawn.
BROCKHOUSE BID FOR SHARES AN offer is to be made by J. Brock1-1 house and Co., Ltd., for the remaining ordinary capital of Albion Drop Forgings Co.. Ltd. Brockhouse already own a part of the capital. The Albion company are to be completely integrated into the Brockhouse group.
Industry Needs New Highways
NEW roads capable of supporting industries in North Devon and North Cornwall were needed immediately, said Mr. D. 0. Good, vice-chairman Of the Road Haulage Association, addressing the Barnstaple Sub-area at their annual dinner last week.
Although the GoVernment wished to finance the establishment of new industries, they seemed unaware of the necessity of roads to serve industrial expansion, he added.
Political and industrial difficulties still faced the R.H.A. 'Even if the Labour party appeared to have abandoned their basic creed, they would still, he thought, attempt to secure the renationalization of haulage. The return of free-enterprise road transport in 1953 was unforgivable in their eyes.
Mr. Good stated that, the lack of M.P.s with first-hand knowledge of freeenterprise haulage was steadily being overcome. More M.P.s of Tory and Liberal persuasion were becoming interested in haulage through the entry into the House of Commons of Mr. Percy Browne, a haulier who represented Torrington.
WORKER GAVE 10s. LIFTS: FINED £5
A FACTORY worker who carried his r-Icolleagues to work in his small bus, and charged them 10s. a week, was fined £5 for using the vehicle as an express carriage without a road service licence at West Bromwich, last week. • Supt. EL Dix, prosecuting, said that a police officer and an official of the Traffic Commissioners saw two passengers alight from the defendant's vehicle in West Bromwich on December 4, 1959.
George Henry Sanford, Pattison Street, Walsall, also paid fines for having no vehicle insurance, no current driving licence, and for driving a public service vehicle while not having the appropriate driving licence.
It was stated that a coach service provided by his employers ended in A ugust.
MAINTENANCE BONUS CLAIM VIAINTENANCE men of Sheffield 11f1 Transport Department last week pressed for a further approach to the transport committee for bonus payments. They held a mass meeting following the refusal by the committee to accept a bonus scheme based on efficiency.
Men at Wolverhampton and Salford already receive such a bonus.
MORE A.E.C. SALES
AMARKED improvement in sales has been achieved by A.E.C. (Australia), Pty., Ltd., who have ordered 54 vehicles. These comprise 30 Monarch Mark VI models, 12 Mandators and 12 Mammoth Major six-wheelers. A total of 87 A.E.C. vehicles has been ordered by Australian operators since the beginning of this year.