Mr. James Queries "Management"
Page 38
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TWO cases, in which the withdrawal of A licences were proposed, were adjourned by the West Midland Licensing Authority, Mr. W. P. James, at Birmingham on Monday. The first case, concerning Mr. Harold Henry Bannister, Nuneaton, was adjourned until Thursday because Mr. Bannister was not able to be
present. • Mr. James understood the vehicle was not being used, for reasons other than fluctuations in trade, and he proposed to withdraw the licence. Mr. Bannister, in a letter, said that he had stopped using the vehicle on September 12 when he was taken ill, and on medical advice he had taken up other employment. He had sold his lorry for £100 to a coal merchant, Mr. William Weir, and he understood the licence had been transferred to him.
Mr. J. Foley Egginton, appearing for Mr. Bannister, said that he had received no instructions from him, but he had been instructed by Mr. Weir, who was operating the vehicle as managing agent for Mr. Bannister.
Mr. Weir, also of Nuneaton, said that he began acting as manager for Mr. Bannister in February under an agreement which Mr. Bannister signed but following an interview with an enforcement officer, the use of the lorry was discontinued.
An enforcement officer, Mr. K. J.
Boris, said Mr. Bannister told him that he signed the document without reading it, that Mr. Weir was the only other person present and that he did not know the two persons who had apparently witnessed the signature.
Mr. James said he was not satisfied about the arrangement, which was said to authorize Mr. Weir to act as manager, and adjourned the case to give Mr. Bannister an opportunity to appear.
Wrong Traffic The second case concerned Mr. A. W. H. Sumner, Stoke, Coventry, who was 85. He had been in hospital for five months, but was expected to be discharged this week. Mr. Leslie Arthur Sayer told the Authority that he was operating the vehicle as manager for Mr. Sumner. The lorry was being used on National Coal Board work.
Mr. James pointed out that the normal user defined was "meat and other foods in the Coventry area." Mr. Sayer said that he understood that the normal user of this lorry was general trade. Mr. Sayer continued, "I have known Mr. Sumner for many years and when he became sick I offered to run-his business for him. He offered me some small remuneration, but I have had nothing from him yet."
The case was adjourned so that Mr. Sumner could he notified.