WEST MIDLAND QUARRY—LA CLAMPS DOWN ON CONTRACTS
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" VOU sold your soul ", said the West 1 Midland LA, Mr. John Else, when he adjourned an application by a Fenton haulier for a new B licence at Hanley on Wednesday. "Your figures show financial disaster. You have my sympathy but when you buy a lorry or get married it behoves you to make reasonable inquiries before you go through with the deal."
Presenting his own case, Mr. G. J. Eaton said he had signed a Contract A agreement with Derbyshire Stone Sales Ltd. with a minimum payment clause of £100 per month. From September to Christmas the vehicle had been kept pretty busy but since then things had got progressively slacker. Some days it would be idle all day; another day there would be a trip to Stafford, or perhaps two journeys to Birmingham. From January to March, earnings were £462, and expenses greatly exceeded this sum.
Mr. Eaton, who sought a B licence for a 31-ton tipper to carry roadmaking materials, tarmac and abrasives for Derbyshire Stone Sales of Matlock as required and quarry materials for David Harber Ltd., of Barlaston, for delivery within 70 miles, told the LA that other Contract A hauliers at Caldon Low Quarry, who were much concerned, awaited the result of his application. He possessed supporting letters but no witnesses could attend owing to holidays and staff shortage.
Opposing the application, Mr. G. C. Tinsdell, for H. Key, an objector, said his client also worked for David Harber Ltd. and his client was anxious that the "financial disaster" should not be transferred. Witnesses for both supporting companies should give evidence, said Mr. Tinsdell.
The LA told Mr. Eaton the application could scarcely succeed without witnesses to speak for it and he would adjourn the case to enable witnesses to appear. "In view of the story today," said the LA, "I give public notice that no further contract licences or renewals will be issued by my office for work from Derbyshire Stone Sales Quarry until a witness for the quarry comes to a public inquiry to explain what is going on there." In saying this, said the LA, he was prepared to stretch the Act of Parliament, but that was a risk he was prepared to take. He could not stress too highly the folly of persons entering such a contract as this one. It was a fundamental trouble afflicting the industry as a whole, said the Authority,