"Price Ring" Charge Over Haulage
Page 49
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
ALLEGATIONS that a group of heavy hauliers have formed a price ring and were charging exhorbitant rates for the carriage of abnormal loads, were made before the Northern Deputy Licensing Authority. Mr. G. W. Duncan, on Tuesday at Newcastle upon Tyne, during an application by Siddle C. Cook, Ltd., of Consett, Co. Durham.
For the applicants, Mr. T. H. Campbell Wardlaw said that his clients were applying to vary an A licence by the addition of two trailers, one of 50 tons and the other of 40 tons capacity. If granted, they would surrender a special A licence for two trailers, which was expiring at the end of October.
The application raised an interesting point of law which was of considerable importance, he went on. The trailers when purchased in 1958 were not lowloaders but platform trailers of 3f tons each, Whilst he apprehended that the objections were because of the heavy weights of the trailers, it was significant that nowhere in the 1953 or the 1960 Acts were trailers referred to in terms of unladen weight. They were only referred to in number and type, and it was accepted throughout the industry that where trailers were required with the benefit of special A licences, they could be freely interchanged subject to them at no time exceeding the number authorized.
Mr. Wardlaw: "I ask you to say that you are not directly concerned at all with the weights of these trailers." He contended that the statutory form which referred to the unladen weight of trailers, was " bad." He could not understand
why it should appear in the form, and submitted that it was ultra tires.
Supporting evidence was given by a representative of the Dowsett Engineering Co., Ltd., and a Mr. G. R. Clay. Both spoke of delays they had experienced in getting excavators moved, and both complained of " exhorbitant rates charged by the objectors, who held a complete monopoly in the heavy haulage field. They hadiound Cook's charges to be very reasonable, and hoped that with another competitor in the area the prices would be more competitive. Robert Wynn, Ltd_ B.R.S. (Pickfords), Ltd., and Hunter Bros. were the objectors.
LONDON GENERAL CAB IN NEW
GUISE
/-1 A WIDER field of developmentswas
expected, Sir Neill Cooper-Key. chairman of the London General Cab Co., Ltd., said on Wednesday when announcing that it was intended to make financial arrangements for Transport Group (Holdings), Ltd., to become the holding company of the London General Cab Co., Ltd., Blox Services, Ltd., and Parking Developments, Ltd.
The new 'name was indicative of the wider field in which developments were anticipated, he remarked: For exaMple, the commercial vehicle hire service provided by Blox Services,Ltd., was expanding rapidly, and though maintenance was at present based on their depot at Morden, further branches outside the London area were envisaged.
BLACK SMOKE DECREASING
THE problem of black smoke emitted from diesel 'engines is decreasing due to the wider use of the diesel engine, the National Road Transport Federation stated on Wednesday. The wider use of oilers, the N.R.T.F. claimed, meant that the men responsible for maintenance were getting familiar with diesel engines. It was felt that the police had adequate powers to deal with all cases, and that these powers were used in a sensible way by the officers concerned THE Cummins Engine Co., Ltd., have extended their range of Scottish-built engines , by the introduction of. two 14.6-litre six-Cylindered units, the NH-250 and the NT-380. The engines are substantially siniilar to. the established 12.17-litre NH-220, having identical overall dimensions to it. The additional capacity. is given by increasing the bore size to 5+ in. from 5f in.
Ratings for the NH-250 are 250 la.h.p. (SAE) at 2,100 r.p.m. and 660 lb.-ft. torque whilst the NT-380, which is virtually the same engine with turbocharging, develops 380 b,h.p.. at 2,300 r.p.m. and 1,000 lb.-ft. torque. The new power units will .make their debut at the Public Works Exhibition, Olympia, London, from November 14-19.