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No Licences Without Fair Rates for Colvilles Steel Mr. Quin

12th June 1964, Page 42
12th June 1964
Page 42
Page 42, 12th June 1964 — No Licences Without Fair Rates for Colvilles Steel Mr. Quin
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

A T Glasgow on Wednesday the Scottish PI Licensing Authority, Mr. W. F. Quin, criticized the rates paid by Colvilles Ltd. for steel haulage and requested the Road Haulage Association and British Road Services to meet Colvilles with a view to formulating a "fair and equitable" schedule of rates.

If this was not done, Mr. Quin said, he would refuse to renew short-term licences now in force authorizing me carriage of steel for Colvilles. and would refuse pending substantive applications.

Mr. Quin read a specially prepared statement before the continuation of applications by Saddlers Transport Ltd., Russell of Bathgate Ltd., Pollock (Musselburgh) Ltd. and Moore's Motors (Ayr) Ltd. He said the rates that he understood Colvilles were paying in respect of 39 vehicles which he had recently licensed on short term to Scottish operators were "so low that no haulage contractor can possibly meet his actual running costs and can only earn a modest return on the capital vested in his business by endeavouring to get return loads from the South ".

"I would remind Colvilles that haulage employers are bound by statute to pay wages fixed by the Road Haulage Wages Board."

Low rates were a temptation for operators to overload, encouraged drivers to exceed the maximum number of hours permitted and generally to break the law, said Mr. Quin.

"The steel industry is expanding ", he added, "but that expansion is not to be achieved at the expense of a bankrupt haulage industry."

When the hearing of the adjourned inquiry was continued, Mr. J. B. T. Loudon, for Saddlers, Russell and Pollock—who were applying for six, :2 and five A-licensed vehicles respectively to carry steel coil in Great Britain, mostly for Colvilles—said there had been discussions between the applicants and Colvilles. It had been agreed that the

evidence at present would not justify the granting of a total of 72 vehicles that Colvilles originally supported. The intention, therefore, Mr. Loudon said, was to convert the 33 coil carriers and the six long-length vehicles now on short-term licences to substantive licences and his clients sought to amend their applications accordingly. As a result, British Railways had no further interest in the matter, although B.R.S. maintained their objection.

Resuming his supporting evidence, Mr. A. S. Thomson, transport manager of Colvilles, told Mr. J. S. A. Buchanan, for B.R.S., that only 20 of the short-term vehicles that had been granted were being used. He said the reason why offers of B.R.S. vehicles had been refused was probably because of loading difficulties. Backlogs in traffic could result from this, plus the inability of customers to take delivery of their steel.

Progressively, month by month, there had been increases in tonnages of steel transported by road. Since his last appearance before the L.A., Mr. Thomson said that road traffic had gone up by 970 tons a week.

Even assuming that the 39 vehicles on short term were converted to full-term licences, he said it was certain that Colvilles would be supporting further applications in about three months' time.

Mr. L. D. S. Garder, B.R.S. divisional traffic officer (Scotland), said that B.R.S. would not wish to extend their facilities to carry coil steel at the present rates that were offered, which he considered were not fair and equitable for originating traffic. The profitability of a journey would have to depend on a return loading. This was the purpose of B.R.S. opposition to the applications, he added.

After formal evidence had been given in the application for five vehicles by Moore's Motors, Mr. Quin adjourned the inquiry. His decisions would be given after all the steel applications had been heard, he said.


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