BUSINESS CHANGED: LORRY STRUCK OFF LICENCE
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DECLARING that the statement of intent had not been fulfilled, Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, NOrthern Licensing Authority, at Newcastle upon Tyne on Monday, exercised his powers under Section 13 (3) of the Road and Rail Traffic Act and deleted a vehicle from the B licence of JosephRobson (West Farm), Ltd., Wallsend-on-Tyne.
Mr. Hanlon said that in 1954, .when the company applied for the renewal of their B licence, they stated on Form GV1B that they carried on the business of coal merchants "and dairymen, and that they intended to use the vehicles :" for or in connection with that trade or business."
Last January the company had handed over the coal and dairymen's business to a Mrs. Arthur Richard Younger, who had previously been secretary of the company, and were now doing only haulage work with the vehicles. The company's premises at Wallsend had been compulsorily acquired by the local authority for building development and the registered office had been transferred to Sandhills, Newburn-on-Tyne.
Acquired by B.T.C.
Mr. Charles Gradon, secretary of the company, said they had operated four vehicles on A and B licences up to 1951. when these vehicles were taken over by the British Transport Commission. They also had a C licence, which was used for the dairy business each day. There were other vehicles on a B licence which were not acquired.
Haulage had increased so much that it had not been possible to use the Blicence vehicles for coal and milk work, which had been covered by the C-licence vehicle and hired transport. •
" If we had premises," Mr. Gradon said, the two vehicles would still be at Wallsend. One is still -kept there, as the driver is a Wallsend man. Be has facilities for parking. The other vehicle works also at Wallsend, as the records will show. There is more work in Wallsend than we can cope with."
New Company Formed
In reply to Mr. T. H. Campbell Wardlaw. Mr. Gradon said that Mrs. Younger had formed Joseph Robson (Wallsend), Ltd., to carry on the dairy and coal business and had applied for a B licence to carry goods within a 15mile radius. They had not objected to this application.
An application by Joseph Robson (Wallsend), Ltd., was also considered by Mr. Hanlon on Monday. It had been adjourned from June 21, pending the inquiry into the case of Joseph Robson (West Farm), Ltd.
Mr. Wardlaw submitted that he knew of no authority which compelled an operator to notify the Licensing Authority of a change of base during the currency of a licence, and that the transfer to another base would not justify revocation. The sphere of operation in this case had not been changed.
In giving his decision, Mr,: Hanlon said that since January, 1956,'. both statements made in October, 1954, with regard to the carrying on of a coal merchant's and dairymen's business had not been tulfilled.
• He would not revoke the licence, but would exercise his powers under Section 13(3) of the 1933 Act, as amended by Section 9 (4) of the Transport Act. 1953, and would delete the vehicle from the licence. lie would grant the licence as applied for by Joseph Robson Wallsend), Ltd.
Intimating that there would be an appeal, Mr. Wardlaw reminded Mr. Hanlon . of the observations of the Transport Tribunal in the H. D. Ward revocation appeal, when the Tribunal stated that the revocation should not have been given immediate effect, but that time should have been allowed to perrnit that company to consider its position with regard to appeal.
Mr. Hanlon agreed not to make the order effective in the present case until the decision of the Tribunal was known. This must not, however, be accepted as a precedent.
DRIVERS' CONTEST: MORE HELP FROM R.H.A.
INCREASED support is to be given
by the Road Haulage Association to the Lorry Driver of the Year Competition. The subject was considered last week by the national executive committee, the national council and the public relations committee of the Association.
A meeting will be held in London next Wednesday between a representative of the national organizing committee of the competition, the R.H.A. and the Traders' Road Transport Association. The R.H.A. may give a trophy for next year's competition.
At the national council's meeting there was a long discussion on negotiations with the unions for an increase in the speed limit on heavy goods vehicles.
Support was given to a proposal that a readership in transport economics should be established at Oxford University.
It was decided that the annual luncheon should he held at Grosvenor House, London, on May 14 next year.
A suggestion that the Association's annual conference should sometimes be held early in the year, so as not to conflict with harvesting, was referred to the chairman's committee.
The national council will hold their next meeting on J-znuary 31.
North Staffs Bus Plan Losing Ground
THE proposal to set up a municipal bus undertaking to compete with the Potteries Motor Traction Co., Ltd., in North Staffs is losing ground. Of 35 local councils who were represented at a meeting to discuss, the proposal in May. 21 have now said they are not interested, and only eight have agreed tothe scheme in principle.
. At a .private meeting of representatives of .12 councils at Stoke-on-Trent, on Monday, it was agreed to set up a• small working party to consider details. The working party will consist of one representative from each of the councils who have signified agreement with the, scheme. These include Stoke and Newcastle-under-Lyme town and rural district councils.
Although Staffordshire County Council have not committed themselves, they also will be represented on the working party.
It will be some months before the next conference is called.
HAULIER JAILED FOR SIX MONTHS
SIX months' imprisonment was imposed on Clarence Herbert Baulch, aged 41. haulier, Forton Road, Chard, at Wells Quarter Sessions last week, after he was found guilty of stealing linoleum worth £21 18s. 5d. and embezzling LII 2s. 9d. He was found not guilty of stealing petrOl to the value
of £3 12s. 11d. • At Somerset Quarter Sessions the jury had previously failed to agree.
Mr. L. Collins, prosecuting, said that the offences occurred when Baulch was general manager of Chard and District Coaches, Ltd. later known as Wessex Motorways, Ltd.
Mr. Norman Skelhorn, Q.C.. said that Baulch had no intention at any time of defrauding the company by not paying for the linoleum. Concerning the embezzlement charge, he had never received: the money on behalf of the company.
COACH DRIVERS' PAY DISPUTE
THE Industrial Disputes Tribunal are to hear in London on Tuesday a dispute on coach drivers' pay between the Transport and General Workers' Union and the Newquay Motor Co.. Ltd,. Newquay, Cornwall. The dispute arises out of a claim that the company's drivers' rates of pay and conditions of service "should not be inferior to those applied by comparable employers.in the area,"
"STAGGER SCHOOL HOURS"
SCHOOL starting times should be 1.—/staggered between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., Mr. A. Duckworth, traffic manager of Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., told Uckfield Association of Parish Councils. He pointed out that 65 per cent, of all the company's services was run below COST.