Hauliers "Not Interested" in the Carriage of Vegetables
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HAULIERS in the Eastern and Yorkshire Traffic Areas had been asked
to carry agricultural produce from the Eastern Counties and Yorkshire to the north-west, but were not interested in the work. This was alleged at Preston last week when Killingbeck (Transport), Ltd., Blackburn, applied to Mr. F. Williamson, North Western Licensing Authority, for an additional articulated unit on A licence, Mr. R. Killingbeck, managing director, said that sinee,August, 1959,the transport of root vegetables from Lincolnshire and surrounding counties to the north-west for Miss Eatough, Blackburn, had become substantial.
A short-term licence had previously been sought, but the Authority had stated that hauliers in the areas concerned should be given the opPortunity of doing the work.
Mr. Killingbeck said that he had approached the chairman of the Yorkshire Area of the Road Haulage Association, who had told him that his members could do it, but a letter requesting rates had not been answered. .
A similar communication to the R.H.A.
office atCambridge, Where haft of the
, . , .
work originated, was not answered until October 21, The reply stated:that, Cambridge operators" Were not greatly con. cerned with Lineolpshrre.
Although a short-term licence had been refused, no haulier from the originating areas had carried any of the vegetables,
said Mr. Killingbeck. • . .
For the applicants, Mr. J. A. Dunkerley explained that they–forinerlY. traded as Nightingale and Harvey. Ltd., in association with T. I. Walmsley, Ltd., Blackburn, who specialized in ferry work to Northern Ireland.
In March, 1959, the. Walmsley shareS were disposed of with the ferry work. whilst the general haulage was 'retained by Killingbeck. Two of Walmsley's rigid vehicles were retained on hire, but these were to be withdrawn on January 31.
Nominal Figure Although the turnover figures were shown from January, 1958, those for the first 12 months could not be used for comparison. This was because Killingbeck hired to Walmsley at a nominal figure when the two companies were under the same control, .
It was not possible to spilt figures between five Aand four B-licensed vehicles because the B vehicles were used for collection and delivery for the longdistance vehicles.
Cross-examined by Mr. J. Booth, for British Railways, who objected. Mr. Killingbeck agreed that part of Mis4 Eatough's work was formerly done as return loads by Walmsley.
Mr. BO-6th submitted that as the two companies were closely linked and Walmsley had an application pending, their two cases should be linked. This was especially desirable in view of the " unusual " hiring arrangements.
c4 Of six Walmsley vehicles previously engaged on general traffic, only three were now working for Killingbeck. If the other three had been transferred, the company would have a surplus. Killingbeck had taken over the goodwill for traffic without the vehicles to carry it.
In reply, Mr. Dunkerley pointed out that additional special-A vehicles had been. acquired to dealwith the Walmsley traffic. The two companies were no longer connected and the Walmsley vehicles Werenot based at Blackburn.
Miss_Eataugh stated that although rail rates were cheaper than road, the service could not be compared. ..In October, a rail delivery of vegetables from. Hahne, Ca.mbs, to Manchester took five days.
Later in. the month a Consignment took four. days and the goods had to be disposed of for cattle food. Grdwers refined to use the railways again.
' The hearing was adjourned: POLES SUPPLYING TURKS
POLAND 'is_ to Sell 40 tankers to Turkey. They will be built at the Zastal works and delivered within the first.nine months of this year. The deal was negotiated by-Metalexport, the Polish foreign-trade agency.