Unfounded Fears Cause Complications
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1 INFOUNDED fears of a number of
operators in North Wales had complicated the case, commented Mr. F. Williamson, North Western Licensing Authority, when he granted a base change for five vehicles of 14f tons to B.R.S. (Parcels), Ltd., at Llandudno last week. The application was to transfer the vehicles from Liverpool to a new depot at Llandudno (The Commercial Motor, May 13). Witnesses called by Mr. J. Edward Jones, for the private road hauliers who objected, said that they had facilities to deal with more traffic. Mr. W. Cooper. managing director of W. Cooper and Sons, Ltd., Prestatyn, who had operated a parcels delivery service throughout North Wales, Cheshire, and the Liverpool area for 12 years, said that they had often helped B.R.S. Their vehicles were fully employed but they were afraid that a grant might jeopardize their business. Mr. E. Williams, managing director of Williams Bros., Ltd., who ran a group of companies in North Wales and operated a parcels service, said that if they delayed customers' goods as B.R.S. had done, they would soon be out of business. In cross-examination, no witnesses could produce operational figures and Mr. G. H. D. Beames, for B.R.S., observed that it was impossible to ascertain the capacity of the objectors' vehicles to carry more traffic. Mr. Edward Jones submitted that the figures gave an overall picture of the fleet and did not deal specifically with the units in question. He concluded: if the units were to be fully employed they would abstract work from Welsh hauliers. Summing up, Mr. Beames recalled that when the application opened in March, he had called 15 trade witnesses who had spoken of transport difficulties. Giving his decision, Mr. Williamson said that he had no hesitation in granting the application and was sure that none of the objectors would suffer abstraction as a result.
SUB-CONTRACTING ONLY IS UNSATISFACTORY
REFUSING a B-licence variation at Edinburgh last week, Mr. W. F. Quin, Scottish Licensing Authority, said that it was unsatisfactory that a haulier should be confined to operating as a subcontractor.
• For Mr. Joseph Hutchinson, TilIicouItry, the applicant, Mr. R. Currie said that the essential point was the proposal to deliver coke, turnips and other materials on sub-contract for 13R.S. in the Alloa area. No witnesses, letters or details of earnings were given because preliminary agreement had been reached on the initial questions, he stated. Mr. Quin said that a case might be made out for the work, but there must be evidence of the potential user. "It is something unique that a man should apply for conditions to carry for another operator. I don't like it," he said.