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Road Services (Caledonian) Face Excise-evasion Charges
Page 54
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THE Dumfries-based haulage company, Road Services (Caledonian), Ltd., faced charges involving a total of 187 alleged offences at Dumfries sheriff coUrt this week.
The prosecution was brought at the instance of Dumfries County Council, under the Vehicles (Excise) Act, 1949, and involves 25 lorries and 15 articulated vehicles.
It was stated during the first day's hearing on Monday that the firm contributes £23,000 annually to the local authority by way of road fund tax, and that the alleged under-payment of this excise duty, because of the vehicles being over their registered weight, was £545.
Defending the company, Mr. C. E. Jauncey denied all the offences. The case was adjourned until Wednesday after the first day's hearing, and was expec:ed to last four days.
First witness for the prosecution was Mr. John. A. Trotter, an assistant local taxation officer in charge of the motor taxation department in Dumfries.
He said that in 1954 a new company was formed—Road Services (Caledonian), Ltd.—and they took over a number of lorries from British Road Services. Later they increased the number of vehicles and replaced others.
Last year a fairly extensive investigation was made by police and a number of the firm's vehicles were weighed. Several were found to be over the weight at which they were registered. In the application form for licence renewal there was a specific question concerning alterations to vehicles which might affect the weights and so bring them into a different class for excise duty.
In the case of articulated vehicles, the licence was issued so that the tractor could use trailers of different weights, up to the maximum weight allowed under the particular licence. If a tractor was to haul a trailer which gave a combined weight greater than the figure registered
Lager in Bulk
THE first bulk shipment of Carlsberg Lager arrived at Charringtons Anchor Brewery, Stepney, last week for bottling and distribution. Normally the lager is shipped in crated bottles and using bulk shipments saves transport costs.
Three specially made wheeled containers, each containing approximately 1,100 gal. of lager, made up the first shipment from the Carlsberg breweries in Copenhagen to Felixstowe. Total weight of each container was approximately 6 tons.
A Commer tractive unit and a Scammoll 12-ton 25-ft.-long semi-trailer operated by Thomas Allen, Ltd., of Wapping, transported two of the containers from Felixstowe, the third being carried by a Bedford J-type flat platform truck operated by Carlsberg Distributors. Ltd.
ci4 for licence purposes. then an additional duty would be payable before the articulated unit was used.
Mr. Trotter agreed that, over the years, vehicles might gain weight, but that it should not be more than 1 cwt.
He then gave details of the unladen weights and the excise duty paid and the excise due on rigid and articulated vehicles which were found to be greater than the registered weights.
Cross-examining. Mr. Jauncey asked the witness: " If a lorry is just under 3 tons, and the operator is obeying the law, he should really weigh his vehicle if it becomes wet when running, otherwise he would be breaking the law?" The witness agreed that wooden platform vehicles could have their weight increased by 1 cwt. if it was really wet weather.
He admitted that in the case of one vehicle it was only 16 lb. overweight for its class, so that if alterations were carried out there had to be a pretty keen assessment of weight.
After evidence was given by weights and measures inspectors and the police on the weighing of vehicles the case was adjourned.
NO DRIVING TESTS FOR IMMIGRANTS From our Parliamentary Correspondent
THE Minister of. Transport last week turned down the suggestion that all drivers of heavy vehicles should have to pass his department's driving test before holding a licence to drive, irrespective of any licence they might hold in countries abroad.
Explaining his refusal, Mr. Marples said that such legislation would be contrary to our obligations under the International Convention of Motor Traffic of 1926. and the Convention on Road and Motor Transport of 1949.