2s 6d per ton £2 lOs per hour
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• An application by a Taunton haulage contractor for a B licence variation was partly successful this week.
The Western LA, Mr. J. R. C. SamuelGibbon. granted Mr. P. O'Reilly, of Taunton. a variation to add one 44--ton vehicle and a tipper to be acquired, both to carry goods for Kingston Minerals Ltd. within 80 miles.
Mr. O'Reilly also sought to carry other road, building and quarry materials within 25 miles.
Mr. Samuel-Gibbon said he was prepared to make a grant limited to Kingston Minerals and could not go beyond that.
Questioned by Mr. James P. Inness, appearing on his behalf, Mr. O'Reilly said his existing vehicles were fully employed, mainly by Kingston Minerals. He could get increased. traffic from this company and had had to turn down requests for transport from other companies in the area.
"I have been asked to help out on a number of occasions, but my vehicles have been fully employed,he said.
Mr. Ian Jenkins, appearing for the objectors. Taunton Excavating and Plant Hire Co., C. H. Ridd and Son, I. W. Govier and Son, and Kerslakes Transport, questioned Mr. O'Reilly about his rates received from Kingston Minerals.
Mr. Jenkins: "How much do Kingston Minerals pay you?"
Mr. O'Reilly: "2s 6d per ton, but this is a contract job. I can get in five or six loads per day. I can do two trips in an hour which amounts to about £2 10s per hour."
Mr. Jenkins: "Would you agree with me that the rate you would get for a haul for another customer would be a good deal higher than 2s 6d per ton.
Mr. O'Reilly agreed he would, but emphasized that this was a contract. Mr. Jenkins said the accepted rate for a four-mile haul was somewhere between 4s and 5s per ton as opposed to 2s 6d.
The solicitor suggested that other hauliers had had to stop working for Kingston Minerals because of the rate.
Mr. O'Reilly agreed that the earnings of £4,000 for the first year of operation and slightly more for the second year were nearly all from Kingston Minerals, Mr. Charles R. Ford, Somerset area manager for Kingston Minerals, said that from November his company would cease to operate any of its own transport in Somerset. This was due to the plating regulations.