British Railways Lose Court Test On Motor Rivals

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 298, 17 December 1936, Page 12

British Railways Lose Court Test On Motor Rivals

LONDON. —Rights of road transport campanies in Britain to carry goods on long distance route, challenged by the railways, have been upheld in a test case.

The four British main lino railway companies decided some time ago to oppose the application of a 1: • firm of road haulago contractors for renewal of carriers’ licenses for the firm’s fleet of long distance trucks. Complaint Dismissed. The case was heard at Westminster by Mr Gleeson Robinson, traffic commissioner for the metropolitan area. The opposition of the railway companlt was dismissed. The application was made by the Bouts-Tiiiotsou Transport Company, Ltd., for the renewal of “A" carriers' licenses on 135 motor vehicles and 51) trailers. Mr Robinson renewed licenses for lflS motor vehicles and 42 trailers. Competition Under Control “I am satisfied," Mr Robinson de dared in giving his decision, “that it is very greatly in the national interest that, if possible, ail forms of transport should be permuted to develop, suuject to necessary control, the advantages which they respectively oifer." The railways, ne saiu, otijected to the renewal of the license on tho grounds that with certain exceptions Were were already railway facilities for carrying the goods and that tho capacity of tUe railways was not at present fully utilised. Rate Unfairness Charged Tho railways, he added, also complained of the fact that road haulage firms could compete uniairiy for tratnc by quoting very low rates charged, not en what tUe traffic would bear in tlie interests of traders generally, but on cost of service.

: “With further time," Mr Robinson continued, “I see no reason to doubt that railway facilities can still bo improved in many respects. 1 regard it as quite evideut that the revelation of the possibility of improved facilities which resulted from tlio development of road vehicles must have exercised an influence in suggesting an improvement in rail transport. Factor in Development

“There is moreover," he said, “no reason to suppose that the modern development of road transport has reached the limit of tho advantages which it can offer. If the use of long distance road transport had been prohibited in this country 10 or 15 years ago, it seems probable that the country would have been handicapped in competing with other countries, both in the development of transport and in industrial ac-

tivity and competition." lie pointed out that in his capacity as traffic commissioner he has no jurisdiction as to rates of road transport and it would not bo wise for him to assume that any disadvantage to which railways are subjected byhaving to compete at higher rates for the carriage of commodities which were largely carried by road transport, could be removed by no other means than tho refusal of licenses. Soon Cured

Professor Pinch walked painfully into the consulting room and sat gingerly in the vacant chair. “Doctor," he said, “my shoulders feel dreadfully stiff this morning. Can you suggest a cure!" “A simple one," smiled the doctor. "Remove your coat-hangerl"