Watson-Russell Transport Deal
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HE heavy transport contracting part of their business has been sold by
• and J. R. Watson, Ltd., civil engineercontractors of Edinburgh, to Russell Bathgate, Ltd.
At the Scottish Licensing Court last onday Russell's asked for transfer of e relevant licence covering one tractive lit of 5* tons and one articulated tiler of 9* tons. British Railways and itish Road Services (Piekfords) opposed e application which covered "abnormal divisible loads for public works eontctors and building contractors in t. Britain."
Mr. W. Russell, managing director, said at Watson proposed to transfer to his mpany their heavy transport activities, eluding the low-loader involved. They emselves would concentrate on con:uctional work. Purchase price of the tic. was 12,600. The low-loader would .ntinue to serve Watson's, who would :t first priority from Russell.
Mr. D. Brown, for Pickfords, eontided that this was not a true sale and at no evidence whatsoever had been lvanced to show the earnings of the hide, or data to show its journeys in .otland, England or Wales. There was question of continuation of a licence ice what was being sought was in fact new licence.
There was not --a single word of idence to justify the vehicle being lowed to go anywhere. It was one jog to have this vehicle in the ownerip of a company concerned with buildg, and another thing to give it to a an whose sole interest was transport. vehicle of this type in the hands of a marnic transport man like Mr. Russell Duld be a very different proposition to vehicle which had ceased to be an onomic proposition for a building conwtor who owned it.
Mr. W. F. Quin, the Scottish Licensing uthority, said that the Act required a easure of protection for existing owners id operators. Therefore he had to con
sider what would he the effect of transfer on the objectors, and he agreed that a vehicle operated by Russell was a very different kettle of fish to the same vehicle operated by Watson. But he could see no reason for not granting the application, except the objectors' apprehension. That would be putting a premium on efficiency, so he proposed to grant the application.
SIX-WHEELER GRANTED
ro the grounds that trade was V./ increasing in 10-ton loads, for which four-wheeled vehicles were not suitable, Mr. J. I. Johnson, of Westlinton. Carlisle, director of A. W. Johnston (Hauliers), Ltd., successfully applied before the Northern Deputy Licensing Authority, Mr. G. W. Duncan, at Carlisle last week for an additional six-wheeler and the deletion of one four-wheeler from his A licence.