Agent's Rates "Not Worth Having"
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RATES quoted by a concern of Hull forwarding agents were described as "not worth having" when nine objectors appeared at Bridlington last week. The Kingston Haulage Co., Ltd., Hull, applied to add three articulated units to their fleet of 11 vehicles, subject to the surrender of a 3-tonner.
Mr. S. Godman, manager of the applicant company, said that they carried timber, wool and general goods for William Brown, Atkinson and Co., Ltd., Hull, an associated company. The applicants relied upon sub-contracting to a large degree and this had doubled over the previous year, he added.
The witness spoke of the difficulty of hiring during the " heavy " season, and produced details of requests for assistance made to local hauliers.
On one occasion, Hunters of Hull (Transport), Ltd., had been offered a considerable amount of wool but had refused the offered rate of £1 7s. less 5 per cent. In January, Kingston Haulage had received a letter from Hunters asking them to discontinue "trial requests" for assistance, as they were a waste of time. They offered to meet for discussions.
Too Busy Cross-examined by Mr. P. Kenny, for the private objectors, Mr. Godman said that Hull hauliers would not carry wool because they' were so busy with general traffic. He agreed that the general deduction on sub-contracted work was 10 per cent. He also agreed with Mr. Timmins, for the British Transport Commission, that a substantial part of their business was "of a clearing-house nature."
Two witnesses for Brown, Atkinson gave evidence of increased turnover and "utmost difficulty" in finding vehicles. Mr. B. Gelder said that their rates had been fixed "in consultation" with Hull hauliers, but agreed in cross-examination that this consisted of telephoning to ask what rate they would quote for a certain job.
He denied that they had then decided on a rate which was lower than all the others. It was put to him by Mr. Kenny that one objector had been carrying timber to Coventry at £2 a ton, but when channelled through Atkinson this had fallen to £1 7s, In another case, a " direct " rate of £1 15s. had fallen to £1 7s. when carried through Atkinson, both via Kingston Haulage.
Lost Traffic
Mr. Arthur Smith, traffic manager, Hull and East Riding Transport, said that in the past two years his company had lost half of their timber traffic to forwarding agents. They had ceased carrying for Kingston when they realized that it was a vicious circle, which .got worse and worse."
Mr. J. H. Shores, of McVeigh Transport, Ltd., admitted in cross-examination that he had always been satisfied with the rates.
Mr. Harold Hunter, of Hunters of Hull. said that he had asked Kingston to stop making "trial requests" because
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they were becoming a "daily nuisance." On one occasion, Kingston had telephoned at 5.30 p.m., when work for the next day had already been allocated. They had offered a rate of 11 5s. 3d. for wool to the West Riding, but this was 4s. below the rate of British Road Services.
Meetings had been held to try to get wool importers to pay £1 10s., but they had been unsuccessful, said Mr. Hunter. He could not afford to carry timber for clearing houses and forwarding agents, who "took a cut." Rates were falling because there were top many vehicles on the road. Those offered by clearing houses and forwarding agents were " dictatorial " because it was known that there were too many vehicles for available traffic.
Evidence of availability was given by the Commission, and Maj. F. S. Eastwood, Yorkshire Licensing Authority, reserved decision pending a similar application by Bramleys Haulage, Ltd., which was adjourned until May.