Onus of Proof: B-Licensees Giving up I T is becoming
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increasingly difficult for carriers whose books do not indicate not only the nature of their work, but the. manner in which, it is expanding, to prove, to the satisfaction of -the Licensing Authorities, in the face of keen railway objections, the necessity of additional vehicles.
This fact was illutrated in an application before the North-Western Deputy Licensing Authority (Sir William Hart) in Manchester, on Monday, when Messrs. J. T. McIntyre, Bolton, applied for the renewal of a B licence for one vehicle, mainly engaged in carrying coal, and for permission to acquire a 2i-ton vehicle under their A licence.
Mr. T. M. Backhouse said that the firm's work had increased to such an extent that they were running their Alicence vehicle in three shifts, with three drivers. This had been the MSC since last November. They had also done considerable hiring. He submitted figures showing the expansion in business over the past two years.
The figures were criticized by Mr. H. Main for the railways, who pointed out • that it was impossible to analyse them so as to show how much was B-licence work and how much was in the A category. Cross-examining the witness, he asked him whether he appreciated the fact that there were no fewer than 120 A licensees and 125 B-licence operators in Bolton.
Mr. McIntyre: "A lot of the B operators have gone out, or are going out. 1-know one or two who are not renewing their B licences."
Sir William Hart: "Why?"
" Well, they consider it is not worth their while, having regard to all the difficulties."
Despite a moving appeal by Mr. Backhouse, Sir William Hart refused the additional vehicle.
He renewed the B licence, cutting down the radius for solid fuel from
to 12. miles. The coal interests bad asked that the radius should be reduced to 10