"Held to Ransom .9 9
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said he quoted the 75s. rate so that the steelwork contract should not go to foreign competitors. Recently he had asked some of the people who were objecting to his present application to carry loads from Cargo Fleet. They had taken some shorter loads, but on most occasions they said they had no vehicles available. Once he paid £5 a ton to get some of the steel moved.
Mr.. T. H. Campbell Wardlaw (for Cook's): What it really amounts to is this: they have been holding you to ransom?-Yes, sir.
The objectors were British Road Services, Ltd.; Sunter Bros., Northallerton; and A. Stevens and Co. (Haulage), Ltd., Great Ayton.
Mr. Wardlaw said it was clear that there was important work to be done by pole vehicles on projects such as atomic power stations, and it was not work which would adversely affect other hauliers. Three vehicles had been operating on a short-term licence, but this was due to expire shortly.
Mr. J. L. R. Croft, for the objectors, said B.R.S. would withdraw their objection to the vehicles for exceptional loads, but the other concerns considered they had adequate vehicles for much of the traffic. On the dates quoted by Mr. Cook there had been a shortage, mainly due to difficult weather conditions.
The application was refused.
There were no objectors to a further application by Cook's—to add a 11-ton tractor of special design to their A-licensed fleet of low-loaders. MT. Cook said the new tractor could he coupled to any of his existing„Scammell vehicles, and would considerably improve braking when double-headed towing of exceptional loads was being carried out.
The company were also given permission to add a 3-ton 15-cwt. platform vehicle to the fleet for carrying tackle. D9