Licensing Sub-committees
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Should Continue
Sags R. G. Crowther, A Yorkshire Operator, in a Stinging Reply to the Suggestion by "Tantalus" that they Should be Disbanded
I T is not only usual, but necessary, when one makes a Suggestion of such a definite nature as does "Tantalus," when he says "Scrap the Licensing Sub-committees," that such suggestions are based on undeniable fact, that the criticism is helpful and the course constructive. These requirements seem to be singularly lacking in the article by "Tantalus" in the issue of " The Commercial Motor" dated August 23.
He states that "vivid imagination is not needed in visualizing the procedure at one of the sub-committee's inquiries." This is certainty true, as nothing unusual takes place. The whole of " Tantalus's " argument is simply the accumulation of his own vivid imagination. His article is a gross distortion of the position. For some reason he has attempted completely to discredit the work of the licensing subcommittees by describing them as conducting a "star chamber." Clearly he has never sat on such a committee or attended as an applicant.
This matter was brought into prominence by the comments—not disclosures —of Major F. S. Eastwood and in such circumstances it may be fitting that a reply to this article should come from Yorkshire.
Confidential Discussions The work of the licensing subcommittees is of a private and confidential nature. Consequently. it is not possible to give actual details of any particular case, but it is no betrayal of confidence to say that at least 90 per cent, of the applicants who have met the particular committee on which I sit, have gone out of . their way to express their thanks for the help and assistance that they have received. This is not intended to mean that the other 10 per cent. have been "pressed," bullied, grilled or otherwise subjected to third degree, and have crawled out in a state of mental exhaustion. It has always been made perfectly clear that anyone meeting the committee can agree, or not, according to his own wishes; that whatever is said or discussed is forgotten. No notes of the discussions are taken and, generally, an applicant can have the committee's assistance or ignore it at his own free will.
"Tantalus" insinuates that the committees are usurping the authority of the Commissioners, that they prejudice applications and that appearamce before the committees is an ordeal. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
" Tantalus " once more demonstrates his ignorance of facts when he talks about the associations' legal assistance for applicants in court. Surely the two things are entirely separate. Nothing that transpires in a licensing committee —other than the agreement, if reached —has the slightest effect on the preparation and conducting of an applicant's case in court. In the Yorkshire area the member of the staff responsible for all licensing applications has no knowledge of the discussions in committee, and the preparation and appointment of legal assistance by him is quite independent of deliberations by the committee.
"It would be interesting to know whether the big fleet owner is sum monedto appear before his local licensing sub-committee when he submits an application for an additional vehicle," said "Tantalus." It would be more interesting to know whether "Tantalus" has ever seen the letter which is sent to applicants and, if so, whether he has seen anything more unlike a summons.
Equal Opportunity
The answer to his question is that the big fleet owner is given the same opportunity of *attending the meetings of the sub-committee as the holder of the " smallest " B licence. The same invitation would be sent to the railway companies if they applied for additional vehicles. The letter says:— " To this end I am.. to invite you to meet my committee (which is composed of representatives from road and rail interests) to see whether, after discussion, an agreement can be reached so as to remove the need for objections. In the event of agreement being reached, notification thereof will be forwarded to the Licensing Authority and any objections withdrawn, and you will no doubt find this of considerable assistance to you. If, unfortunately, agreement cannot be reached, then it is an express term of the arrangements under which my committee was set up, that all information supplied is to be treated as confidential and privileged. and is not to be used or referred to outside. the committee."
Should these sub-committees continue? Of course they should. The mass of operators throughout the country would overwhelmingly assent if it were possible to take an accurate ballot.