Hines the last chapter
Page 27
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• The beginning of what is probably the last chapter in the history of D. E. Hines (Transport) Ltd., of Streetley, took place in Birmingham on Friday. The hearing of an application by Hines to substitute seven A licence artic low-loaders for seven artic flats and to substitute two B licence artic low-loaders for two artic flats, adjourned from June 5 1969, was heard by the West Midland LA, Mr. John Else.
When the earlier hearing was adjourned it was not known that Hines Transport would effectively cease to function as a business—due to a dispute with the Transport and General Workers Union, and in particular Mr. Alan Law, one of its officials, — on July 24.
Also heard with this application on Friday was an application by G. and K. Haulage Ltd., of Tipton, to take over the licences held by Hines. The two companies had already agreed to a purchase price for its 10 vehicles and the goodwill. One difficulty existed, however. Although Hines had been operating low-loaders -for at least the last 25 years", it had, in fact, never been licensed to do so. Before G. and K. finalized the agreement to purchase Hines it required it to regularize its licences.
At the hearing's conclusion the LA refused to grant Hines any low-loaders. His decision concerning the G. and K. takeover was reserved, giving its managing director, Mr. J. A. Creese, seven days to decide if he still wished to proceed with it. The LA said that should G. and K. decide against the take-over he would consider Hines' existing flats under Section 177. when in all probability they would be deleted. Mr. Else noted that had Hines not ceased to trade he would have been prepared to grant three low-loaders.
There were five objectors to the applications: Starr Roadways, Male and Son (Pensnett) Ltd., Wrekin Roadways Ltd., the NFC in respect of Pickfords Ltd., and the Receiver of Overland Contracts Ltd. The objectors' representative, Mr. N. Carless, said that if this had simply been an application by Hines to regularize its licence it would not have attracted much attention. "What overshadows the fact is that another operator, who has not operated low-loaders before, has come onto the scene wanting to establish himself as a low-loader operator."
Mr. R. W. Hines, managing director of D. E. Hines, said the trailers had never been licensed as low-loaders because up until 1963 his mother had arranged the licensing and since then it had been handled through the RHA; other than sign the licence forms he had had nothing to do with them.
In answer to his solicitor, Mr. D. E. Skelding, he said he had not advertised the business for sale but had been approached through the RHA who had told him that they knew of someone who was interested in its purchase. He was pleased, said Mr. Hines, that G and K were interested as he did not want it to go to "any Tom, Dick or Harry".
Mr. Hines told the LA that his troubles had not ended when he stopped trading. In an effort to satisfy his old customers he tried to advise them to whom to take their custom. -The TGWU told me, however, that it had the names of all our customers and would impose sanctions against those hauliers to whom we Passed our business."
Four customer witnesses agreed that Hines had given them excellent service, that the service from the hauliers who had taken over was not as satisfactory, and that they would like to use the services of G and K.
Mr. J. A. Creese, in evidence, said the company operated 21 vehicles, 19 on A licence and two on B. He agreed that he had made an unsuccessful low-loader application about 10 years ago and had no experience of this type of work. He thought that the company would soon acquire the "know how".
When asked if he would take on the drivers that were once employed by Hines, he said that as yet none had applied.
Mr. Creese told CM on Tuesday that G. and K. had come to an agreement with Hines and the take-over was going ahead as planned, though there had been an adjustment in the purchase price. Mr. Creese said he had no plans at present to apply to vary the company's licence by adding low-loaders. He thought there would be too much opposition, though if the position regarding low-loader availability changed, as he thought it might within a year, then he would reconsider his decision.