"WHY WE DISCONTINUED GENERAL HAULAGE."
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Experiences of Firm Owning Twenty-two Vehicles and who Specialize in Tours and Furniture Removals.
rr HE road transport fleet of Mr.
• I Alfred Harding, of Charing Cross, Birkenhead, must be one of the largest undera single ownership in the district. It includes some 22 vehicles, 10 of which are motor c-bars4-bancs and 5 motor furniture removal vane., and represents quite a heterodox assortment of some of the best-known and most serviceable . ears: Ther'e are Leylands, Daimlers, Pagefiekis, A.E.C.s, Baileys, and a Straker-Squire—quite a brilliant procession.
When a Commercial Motor representative asked Mr. Harding the reason for this miscellaneous selection, he explained that standardization was impossible' owing to backward deliveries. When they wanted vehicles they had to confine their Choice to those that were available for immediate delivery.
"And having tried and experimented with so many different, vehicles, what is your opinion of their respective merits?" we queried.
"When all have served us well, it -would be invidious to snake distinctions. We cannot complain of any of them; none has given us any trouble, even during journeys sometimes up to 800 miles."
"Without a hitch or accident of any description?"
" Absolutely ! We specialize in furniture removals, and on a recent occasion one of our Halley vans made the journey from l3irken•head to London, then to Bath, and afterwards home.. Immediately on its arrival, it made a return journey to Kendal without the slightest incident." • "Do you have these long-distance furniture jobs frequently?"
"Journeys to London are very common. Quite recently we took a load imam West Kirby to Ilfracombe and brought a load back. This journey wemade in four days. This weelCf our Of ' our vans are going to Maidenhead, so you will see we keep on themove."
And do you experience any difficulty in getting return loads? " we questioned.
"Our speciality," replied Mr. Harding, "is furniture conveyance: -Our men are used to this work, and cap. deal with it with the Maximum of-efficiency. With covered Vans, Ordinary general haulage work is not so convenient, and imless we 'cah.getwhat, we Want; we would almost as soon return light.Somkimes, of course, the Vans do come back loaded; on the Ilfracombe journey, forinstance."
" Do you not do any ordinary haulage at all, then? " he persisted.
"Very little, indeed;" came the reply.
Mr Harding went on to explain that at one time they did ralonsn haulage work, but the conversion of so many to the road transport industry resulted in rate cutting and so much competition that they preferred to be outside
the pale of these excitements. They, therefore concentrated their attentions on removal work and char-à-bancs tours.
As we have stated, there are 10 coaches in the passenger services, and Mr. Harding corroborates the view of others engaged in pleasure -touring that
the public is rousing itself to the fascina tion of travelling by road. Regular trips are not run at the present time to and from appointed destinations, because there are so. many private inquiries for parties. At Birkenhead there are a number of large ship-repairing,
engineering, and other works " -employing thousands of hands, and parties of them' are constantly being taken from Birkenhead to favourite resorts in North Wales. Single passengers are rarely carried unless there are vacant seats.
"Last year we had six oaches," said Mr. Warding's assistant, " and since then the passenger hookings have gone forward byleaps acid bounds. Practically all our tours are day trips to North Wales, but we' contemplate journeys to the Lake District. Mr. Herding has, as a Matter of fact, been up in the North with a view to making catering arrangesilents for parties, but plans are not sufficientlyadvanced togo into details."
!.` How do you _calculate your charges ; on aroile.-age basis, or per head of seating capacity-? • "No.: All.. our bookings are for
parties.tell us where they want to go, ad we tell them • what the cost will he.. Most of our bookings are made collectively, and We quota similarly." During the time the. chars-a-bancs are in the -garage they undergo thorough examination, repairi are done and vehicles undergo °cleaning operadans so as to be sic and span, ready for the next day'souting.. The vehicles that were drawn up" outside the Ofaee looked in splendid condition.