Exceeded conditions of licence
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• Mr. A. B. Birnie, the Scottish LA, refused an application by Thomas Rae and Sons,
Coldstream, for a variation of its existing B licence for three vehicles at a Section 178 inquiry in Edinburgh on Tuesday. The firm admitted working outside the permitted radii of its licence and convictions for exceeding permitted hours and overloading. The firm applied for the existing licence conditions, -100 miles from base", to be extended to "150 miles from base-, to allow handling of bulk grain to Liverpool and Wales. But at the actual hearing the application was amended to cover sand and gravel to Shields.
In evidence, the firm admitted that the original authorization to carry grain had been exceeded by carrying to Liverpool because it was 126 miles from base. Immediately this matter was brought to light the trade was stopped. "In any event", said Mr. George Rae, "the trade had been highly unprofitable because of poor rates and this was traffic which they were no longer proposing to operate."
Mr. Birnie said the evidence in support was of the flimsiest. It was in the form of a letter from a firm which had not seen fit to appear. Coming at a time when the applicant knew he would have to face a very severe examination, the appearance of that witness was particularly important. He therefore refused the application.
He said he would give the strongest possible warning to the firm and there would be the most stringent examination of all its operations in future. This was a bad record and one which would be taken into account in all future dealings.