PLEA FOR EXAMINATION OF P.E.T. BOOKS FAILS
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Stoke Withdraws from Hearing of Appeal Against Abolition of Coupon Fares frITIE withdrawal of Stoke-on-Trent .1Corporation following the decision of a Ministry of Transport inspector net to order the Potteries Electric Traction Co., Ltd., to produce its books in court, concluded the heating of the municipality's appeal against the abolition of coupon fares.
The appeal was heard by Sir Henry A. Wynne, and the corporation sought to prevent the company from withdrawing the coupon-fares system, which would have the effect of raising rates.
For the corporation, it was stated that the sole ground for the P.E.T. application was that the present fares were uneconomic, but that the books showing operating costs were never produced to satisfy the local authority and the public.
For the company, it was argued that it was necessary to satisfy the Commissioners that the fares sought were not unreasonable, and mention was made of the increased cost of petrol and the extra expenses resulting from the operation of the Road Traffic Act.
It was said that, at the time of the hearing of the application to vary the fares conditions, no request was made that the books should be produced. It was submitted that for the corporation 1 to be given a " roving commission" into the operators' books would be most inequitable and inquisitorial.
Counsel for the corporation pointed out that, at the time of the hearing, complaint was made of the inadequacy of the information provided by the P.E.T. concern, and that its accuracy was not accepted.
Sir Henry Wynne announced that, in his opinion, he would not be instilled in making an order for the books to be produced. It was then declared that the corporation would await a decision of the Divisional Court in connection with the right to inspect the documents, and, if the result was unfavourable, the authority would withdraw its appeal.