Hauliers Ignore Bid for Six Additional Lorries
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THE British Transport Commission were the only objectors to an application by John Smillie, Ltd., Glasgow, for six additional four-wheelers (28-1 tons) on A licence, heard by the Scottish Licensing Authority, Mr. W. F. Quin, on Tuesday. Mr. J. Smillie, managing director, said the company had 29 vehicles and five drawbar trailers on A licence. If the application were granted, three drawbar trailers would be surrendered. Earnings of their own vehicles in 1959 were £107,224, compared with £97,646 in 1958. Average earnings per vehicle in 1959 were £3,700. In March and April this year, monthly fleet earnings were in excess of £10,000, and in May and June over £11,000. . But for fleet replacements by new vehicles working a seven-day week and engaging additional drivers, it would have been impassible to meet the increased demands from existing customers. During this period there had been no increase in rates. Indeed, the tendency was for them to decrease.
Mr. G. W. Dougan, shipping supervisor of the Scottish division of RollsRoyce, Ltd., said the applicants were their regular carriers of civil aero-engines and parts. For this work they required the services of a comparatively small haulier who could give personal attention, rather than big companies with headquarters at a distance. Work at their factories at Hillington and East Kilbride was increasing since the take-over of production and repair of Dart and Avon engines from Derby. British Road Services carried spares to Derby on their trunk services and service engines to the eastern and southern parts of England.
Production Increased
Two other witnesses, Mr. J. S. C. Anderson, stock and production controller, Geigy Co., Ltd., Paisley, and Mr. W. A. Bowen, director and sales manager of Acme Domestic Equipment Co., Ltd., Glasgow, gave evidence of increased production which they wanted carried by Smillie and not by sub-contractors. Carryings for Rolls-Royce had dropped from £17,316 in 1957 to £5,822 last year, said Mr. W. H. Mack, superintendent of the Falkirk depot. of British Road Services. He said that 72 flat vehicles at the Lifter Street and Mount Vernon depots, in Glasgow, could carry additional traffic. Vehicles could also be made available for Acme and other companies who supported SmilLie. If all customers adopted the attitude of using no sub-contractors there would have to be a large increase in vehicles, he observed. Mr. J. G. Milligan for the B.T.C., submitted that the hiring proportion of 6-7 per cent, was extremely low, and had decreased in the past year. Too much weight should not be given to customers' insistence on no sub contracting, especially when the work was not specialized, he said. BR S. had facilities
available and any increase should be restricted,
Vehicle earnings alone justified the claim of full employment, said Mr. Gallic, for the applicants. It was impossible to increase hiring when customers refused to accept sub-contractors' vehicles. Mr. Quin, giving decision, said that he Was not impressed by the argument that customers refused hired vehicles. It was completely contrary to the Road and Rail Traffic Act and hauliers must not be debarred from using sub-contractors if they were satisfied with the vehicles and drivers, The evidence justified a grant of four vehicles of 19 tons in return for the surrender of three trailers, he ruled.
MORE TROLLEYBUSES TO GO
FOUR trolleybus routes totalling 40 miles will be converted to operation by Routemaster oil-engined buses next Wednesday in the seventh stage of London Transport's trolleybus replacement programme. Conversion has now reached the half-way mark. The routes are from Highgate Village to Moorgate, Acton to Clapham Junction, Craven Park to Clapham Junction, and Harlesden to West Croydon.