"End Uncertainty on Private_ Hire"
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.I.V1 -Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association, speaking at their annual dinner in London on Monday, asked the Minister of Transport to end the uncertainty over contract-carriage work. He called for the early amendment of the law to allow legitimate private-hire work to be done freely, but with protection for regular operators.
He complained of the new powers given to London Transport under the Transport Act, 1953, and said that the British Transport Commission should be divested of all their bus interests. The small operator should be encouraged to the full.
In reply, the Minister, Mr. A. T. Lennox-Boyd, said that the extended powers given to London Transport were a small matter in comparison with the great changes wrought by the Act.
New Conditions of Fitness Regulations were, he revealed, to be made. Referring to the roads, Mr. LennoxBoyd said that he had on his desk local schemes that would cost £1,100m. to execute.
Both Mr. Seddon and Mr. LennoxBoyd paid high tributes to three public figures who were retiring from office— Sir Cyril Birtchnell, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Lt.-Col. Gordon Tucker, South Eastern Licensing Authority, and Sir Arnold Musto, Western Licensing Authority. The Minister also referred to the fine public work being done by Mr. F. J. Speight as a member of the Thesiger Committee.