Need for Fund to Fight Railways
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AN enthusiastic mass meeting was held in Manchester last week, under the auspices of the Manchester and South-east Lanes Areas of the Commercial Motor Users Association. Primarily, it was convened for a lecture by, an expert on licensing; but it was followed by speakers who urged, in no measured terms, the imperative need for a big fighting fund, to ensure equity for roadtransport operators when faced by railway opposition at traffic courts.
The lecturer was Mr. H. Backhouse, junr., who, a short time ago, was appointed legal adviser to the C.M.U.A. for the Manchester, South-east Lanes, Blackburn and Bolton Groups. Mr. S. Royle presided. Accompanying him were Messrs. E. F. Topham, F. Grindrod, H. Howard Robinson and J. H. Howarth. Others present included Mr. Mr. W. H. Macve, chairman of the Manchester area. Mr. Backhouse mentioned what he described as "the efforts of the railway companies to subdue road traffic," and said it was distressing, earlier in the week, to be at Blackburn, when there was not a solitary objector to railway applications for licences to replace horse vehicles by motors—whereas the railways steadily resisted any such application by private owners.
He foreshadowed the day when A licences would be increasingly difficult to obtain, and warned holders against giving " undertakings " when granted such. Speed and weight prosecutions should be treated seriously. The day was gone for writing a letter to the Court as the easiest way out; summonses ought to be fought and fines might be used as evidence against operators at some time.
Mr. Royle made a reference tc apathy amongst operators.