Sheep Walked o Miles—by Rail !
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ST R ONG opposition to an Inverness ...)firm's application for a short-term licence for a vehicle to carry livestock was offered by the L.M.S. Railway Co. at a sitting of the Northern Scotland Licensing Authority at Aberdeen. The applicants were Messrs. •D. Robertson and Sons.
Mr. Robertson, jun., stated that livestock was now being transported by motor float, where previously the animals had been walked. He wanted the vehicle for special sales around Inverness and not for the Lairg sales. Sheep could be taken to the customers' doors if he transported them, said Mr: Robertson, but the railway companies had not the facilities to do this, and sometimes the sheep had to walk 10 miles.
Mr. J. Taylor said that the railway company could provide all the neces sary facilities to all points served by
thefl line. He admitted that of the 24,000 sheep sold at the Lairg sale, only 4,1/62 were taken to the sale by rail, most of them walking. Some took a week to arrive.
From the sales the railway company conveyed 14,066 sheep, most of them being taken south of Inverness. Messrs. Robertson had carried 1,200, and, if they were allowed another vehicle, it would further affect the railway company's trade.
It was pointed out by Mr. W. D. Connachie, for the applicants, that the railway could not deliver the sheep, which would have to walk from the various stations. It was admitted that the railway had no facilities west of Inverness.
Letters were produced showing that customers of long standing had been disappointed owing to the lijnited facilities of. the applicants. Mr. Connachie held that he had made out a case for the granting of the short-term licence within a radius of 35 miles west of Inverness. .
The, Authority granted a limited licence to carry livestock within a radius-of 30 miles west of Loch Ness.' He said that would not interfere with the railway at all, and that was as far as he was prepared to go. The licence, which took effect on September 14, is valid for a month.