Three-vehicle Bid Cut to One A N application by J. Latham
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and Sons (Carriers) Ltd., Crewe, for three new A-licence vans, to improve its parcels service, was continued at Manchester on Tuesday (The Commercial Motor, January 11). Mr. H. I. Turner, a director of the company, told Mr. G. H. P. Beames, objecting for British Railways, that the company had just put in an application for three units; he gave no specific reason. No provision was made for breakdowns as all the fleet was fully employed. Servicing was done at weekends and if a unit broke down on the road a mechanic was sent out to it.
Mr. W. Simpson, of Gallaher Ltd., stated that the applicant carried cigars, cigarettes and tobacco to Shropshire, Staffordshire and the Potteries from its Cheetham Hill depot. As many customers did not hold large stocks, 24-hour delivery was essential. The company did not allow sub-contracting and occasionally traffic was held up for one day when there were insufficient vans.
The traffic manager of Rylands and Sons Ltd., Mr. F. Kennedy, said that his company used Latham to carry textiles and household goods, the carriage of which was increasing. When vehicles arrived late for collection, the staff had to work overtime.
The objectors decided not to call evidence and Mr. Beames observed that whilst a prima facie case had been made out, he had never before heard so many witnesses say so little.
The North Western, deputy Licensing Authority, Mr. A. H. Jolliffe, considered that the evidence only justified the granting of one vehicle with a normal user of "general goods: Lancashire, Cheshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, North Wales and the Midlands ".