Objectors stood idle waiting for a rate
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A COMPANY whose five tippers had been suspended earlier in the year successfully applied to the Metropolitan Licensing Authority, Mr. D. I. R. Muir, on Monday, for a B licence renewal.
Four months ago, M. O'Shea and Sons Ltd. applied for the licence, and Mr. Muir then told the company that it should not apply again until it had cleared all the summonses against it. The company was given four months to achieve this, and then the application would be considered on its merits in the face of objectors.
On Monday, Mr. Muir assured Mr. M. O'Shea, managing director of the company, that he would regard the present matter as a new application.
Five supporting witnesses appeared for the company and Mr. O'Shea produced letters from W. W. Drinkwater (Willesden) Ltd., Sir Robert McAlpine and Sons Ltd., and Willment Bros. Ltd. All three companies were due to be represented, he said, but unfortunately the three men concerned had reported sick that morning.
Site clearing The vehicles welt to be used for siteclearing work, and Mr. O'Shea could keep them fully employed.
For the seven objectors, Mr. P. Focke learned that Mr. O'Shea had visited the depots of each, and had seen no idle vehicles.
Mr. L. Heifer, Secombe Bros. Ltd. transport manager, said that he could have supplied vehicles to one of the sites mentioned, given the correct rates and due notice.
Similar evidence, particularly regarding rates, was given by other companies, and when granting the licence Mr. Muir said that rates comprised a large part ofthe application. It was a matter for the company to arrange for work as it chose.
Indeed, Mr. J. D. Hewlett, transport manager J. Fairwood (Hounslow) Ltd., said that he would often have a vehicle idle all day because he was unable to get the rate he wanted, only to put it to work for "anything" at about 5 o'clock just to cover running costs.
Summing up for the objectors, Mr. Focke said the licence would "take bread out of the mouths of those already in precarious positions" and a grant would be "unfair".
For the applicant, Miss E. Havers contended that, as none of the objectors had produced availability schedules, and they appeared to be more concerned with getting rates rather than work, the grant should be made. While Mr. O'Shea's vehicles had been idle, they had been re-plated to meet the forthcoming regulations.