12-vehicle B-t ci-A Deferred
Page 13
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'THE, heavy haulage business has been 1 slack during -the past six months, according to Mr. C. R. Beddington, who made the point in summing up for four objectors Whom he represented in a twoday hearing before the Metropolitan 'Licensing Authority, Mr. D. I, R. Muir, on: Tuesday. Mr. Frederick Hope, of Hatton Road, Bedfont, had applied for a total of 12 vehicles to be transferred from 13 licence to A licence; six for Hope Transport Ltd. and six for his associated firm, 1. Steele (Datchet) Ltd. This was to enable the firm to carry general goods, livestock and indivisible loads in Great Britain (at present the terms are for general goods, livestock, occasional indivisible loads and furniture). Mr. Hope said, on the first day of the hearing, that in the past six Months he had -received a number of complaints. He had not been able to give as good an A licence service because vehicles had been worked to The full. When the hearing continued to deal_ with the J. Steele application, Mr. Hope told the Authority that the two firms were run separately because the Steele firm had a Royal • Warrant to carry horses. He said he wanted redeclaration of normal user terms so that his two A-licensed fleets worked on exactly the same conditions. Both applications were opposed by Joseph Huxley and Sons; Adams Brothers (Kingston) Ltd.; Dallas (King ston) Ltd. and G. Adams Ltd., all represented by Mr. Beddington, and the British Transport Commission, represented by Mr. J. M. Timmons. Mr. Beddington said in his final address that the objectors had not only found business slack, but turnover was down, subcontracting was . down and there had been vehicles available month after month.
He submitted that if the application was granted, it would enable Mr. Hope to compete more favourably than he did at present with other operators. He maintained that there was no evidence that Mr. Hope was unable to meet customers' requirements, and any difficulties were only minimal. Mr. Timmons, for the Commission, said the effect of granting the application would be that Mr. Hope would be ableto do more work over a more extensive area. Such a grant w'ould be quite wrong and would lead to an excess of facilities.
Miss R, Havers, for -Hope Transport, said the fact that Mr. Hope had vehicles at present on B licence should not be an obstacle to the grant of A licences. The application was made with the intention of easing the burden on his existing A-licensed vehicles and giving a better service to his existing customers. She said the Steele fleet would be used as subcontractors to Hope.
The Authority's 'decision was reserved.