What the Associations Are Doing
Page 35
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YORKSHIRE A.R.O. MEMBERS TO FIGHT L.N.E.R.
Yorkshire members of A.R.O. are to fight new applications to the Yorkshire Licensing Authority by the. L.N.E. Railway Co. for A licences for additional road vehicles.
The principal applications concern Hull, Beverley and York. In order that objecting members of A.R .0. may have more convenience for giving evidence in opposition to these applications, the Yorkshire headquarters of A.R.O. has asked that the hearing of the Hull and Beverley applications should be transferred from Leeds to Hull, and the hearing of the York application from Leeds to York.
The Hull application, which involves the most tonnage, is for authority to displace four motor vehicles (11 tons) and 33 horses by 31 motors and 20 trailers (56-tons 3 cwt.).
A number of other railway applications listed concerns Bridlington, Harrogate, Kirby Moorside, Leeds, Leyburn, Malton, Ripon and Whitby. It is expected that most, if not all, of these applications will also be opposed_ by A.R.O. members.
Special meetings to consider the matter have been held in various districts concerned.
Guidance for Applicants.
The holding of a mock traffic court was suggested by Mr. David Karmel, barrister-at-law, at a meeting of A.R.O. South London Sub-area, last week. The staging of such an event would, he said, enable hauliers to understand the lines on which a licensing sitting proceeds, and the class of evidence and cross-examination to be expected.
Mr. Karmel, who has made a name for himself as a road-transport advocate, expressed his willingness to represent the railways at such a mock sitting, whilst Mr. Gilbert Woodward. who appears for the railways, had agreed to defend the road haulier.
Mr. John Max-Muller, who has a wide experience of police court work, explained the best course to adopt in the case of different classes of prosecu
tion. He stressed the need for obtaining an independent witness in charges concerning pedestrian crossings. Expert evidence was necessary in court cases relating to worn tyres.
• Major Eric Long requested members to send to Association headquarters written evidence of rate-cutting, Yorkshire Operators Organizing.
The following have been elected to the new committee of A.R.O. Malton Sub-area: Messrs. R. Cook, A. C. Bell, G. Lawty, W. Pawlin, C. Donkin, W. Craven, H. Holliday, L. Thackray, J. Reemer, T. Stones and F. Turnbull. Mr. T. Dennis has been elected hon. secretary.
A recent meeting of the sub-area unanimously decided to oppose applications by the L.N.E. Railway Co. for additional vehicles at Malton, Kirby Moorside and York.
Monthly meetings are to be held on the last Wednesday in each month, at 7.30 p.m.
Cornwall C.M.U.A.: New Chairman.
Ald. A. Richards has, owing to pressure of work, resigned the chairmanship of the Cornwall Division of the C.M.U.A. Mr, Richards was chairman of the local operators' association for five years prior to its amalgamation with the C.M.T.3.A. Mr. W. C. Taylor has, we understand, been elected chairman of the division. PLYMOUTH ANCILLARY USERS TO LINK WITH A.R.0.?
The linking up of Devon C-licensees with A.R.O. appears to be temporarily delayed while negotiations concerning membership fees are discussed. A second meeting of ancillary users was held at Plymouth, last week, under the chairmanship of Ald. Solomon Stephens, who stressed the need for unity among ancillary users.
Mr. Norman J. Bennett, A.R.O. area secretary for Devon and Cornwall, mentioned that, there had been great apathy among C-licence holders.
It was unanimously decided that Plymouth ancillary users should elect officers for their new association, which, if agreement concerning subscriptions can be reached, will he affiliated to A.R.O. Aid. Stephens was appointed president, Mr. W. E. Luxton, vice-chairman, and Mt. Bennett, secretary.
Hauliers Forced to Accept B Licences.
Mr. F. G. Bibbings, Yorkshire Area secretary of A.R.O., in an address to members of Killamarsh Sub-area, complained that there was an increasing tendency on the part of Licensing Authorities to uphold railway submissions whereby hauliers, although they used their vehicles solely for hire or reward, were being forced to give up A licences in favour of B licences, merely because, in the past, they had not operated beyond a certain radius, or because their vehicles were being used for comparatively few clients.
Mr. Bibbings' contention was that the class of licence issued should be determined by the use to which a vehicle was put. If it were just to force hauliers to accept B licences, in the circumstances which he had mentioned, the railways, when they applied for permission, to acquire motor vehicles to be used within a definitely circumscribed area, should also be compelled to take up limited licences.