A Rates Formula is Needed
Page 40
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An Invitation to Mr. Hall
As I indicated a fortnight ago, the question of rates is becoming more and more important in licensing applications. I was dealing then with a case heard in Bristol concerning coal haulage rates which the Western L.A., Mr. S. W. Nelson, found to be uneconomical.
A case is currently proceeding in the West Midland area, before the deputy Authority, Mr. R. Hall, in which this question of rates looms all important. As in the Bristol case, the objectors consider that the rates at which the applicant, Willmatt Haulage Ltd., is prepared to work are uneconomical and the granting of the B licence—which affects eight vehicles—will probably depend on whether Mr. Hall considers the rate to be economic or not.
So far, both sides have produced detailed castings for the work concerned, but the objectors have Suggested that there are several important omissions in the applicant's figures—no provision for depreciation or the cost of road fund licences, and no charges shown for other overheads. Because of this, the deputy Authority was obliged to grant a further adjournment to enable a witness to be brought from Plymouth (the head office of the applicant company) to give evidence on these specific points.
To enable a fair comparison to be made, in applications where rates are at issue, it is essential that precisely the same kind Of information is supplied by both sides. The only way this can be done, I venture to suggest, is for both parties in a case to follow a formula that could be worked out by, say,the Licensing Authority, and for each side to automatically supply the Authority with a form giving this information.
P.s.v. operators rigidly follow a set formula when applying to the Commissioners for fares increases and there should be no difficulty in employing a 'similar system in connection with goods carrying rates cases.
Perhaps Mr. Hall will recommend this course of action when he gives his decision in the Willmott .Haulage application.
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