Extra Vans to Ease Strain on Drivers?
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G1VING evidence at the resumed hearing, last Friday, by the Metropolitan Licensing Authority, of the application of N. Francis and Co., Ltd., for eight extra parcels vehicles under A licence, Mr. C. A. T. Poole, traffic Manager, said that the additional vans would relieve the strain on drivers. He did not think that they could stand much more stress. The company could not execute their obligations with their present 74 vehicles.
Since the previous Friday, he added, the company had received six inquiries • for service, but had been ttnable to take on the work. They never canvassed for business.
Cross-examined by Mr. J. R. C. Samuel-Gibbon, for the British Transport Commission, who objected, Mr. Poole could not give instances when next-day delivery could not be made_ Mr, C. F. Waters, a driver, said he had a regular route and made an average of 150 deliveries a day, as well as collecting goods. He always took out a full toad and often had to leave parcels behind to be delivered by other
drivers on supplementary runs_ Last week he had to leave parcels behind on three days out of four.
Mr. Edward Jackson, a director of O. Wray and Co., Ltd. (London, Kingston and District Carriers), said that his company had a reciprocal delivery agreement with N. Francis and Co.,. who delivered 98 per cent. of Wray'S parcels.
Representatives of four customers gave evidence. One of theni, Mr. D. G. Payne, manager of the Sylglass Co., who have a new plant at Stepney, said that his company were attempting to break into the retail market and therefore required next-day delivery service. Carter Paterson's service was inadequate.
The hearing will be continued on April 26.
WARNING ON LONGER P.S.V.s
BEFORE authorizing any further increase in the lengths Of public service ■,ehicles, the Minister .of Transport should ensure that there would be no added difficulties in built-up areas with narrow streets and sharp bends.
A representation to this effect has been made to the Minister by the County Councils' Association, who say that the negotiation of such streets and bends by long vehicles is believed to be the cause of occasional traffic congestion.
`DROP CONCESSION" THE concession to C-licensees allowing them to carry each other's goods during fuel rationing should be withdrawn, stated Mr. J. Walsh, chairman of the Dudley Sub-area of the Road Haulage Association, last week. He said that it had been violated with impunity while some honest hauliers had taken a quarter of their fleets off the road. A31