Salford Operators Seek Status Quo
Page 47
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
LTHOUGH Beaumont Transport, rI Ltd., Salford, had only returned to haulage with two special-A vehicles this year, their present application for a new A licence for five vehicles was merely to restore the pre-nationalization position with their main custoilier.
This was submitted to the North Western Deputy Licensing Authority, Mr. J. Lindsay, in Manchester on Tuesday.
Mr. J. A. Dunkerley, for the company, said the vehicles they wished to put on A licence were at present operated under C licence by James Hodgkinson (Salford), Ltd. Ever since 1928 the two concerns had been closely connected, the Beaumont family doing the haulage work. Prior to nationalization, Messrs. John Beaumont and Sons had four vehicles working for Hodgkinson's, all of which were acquired.
Bought Own Fleet Hodgkinson's, who saw no reason to alter their transport arrangements, then purchased their own C-licence fleet, which was jointly managed by the three Beaumont brothers. Although there were 10 other vehicles on C licence, they were all on local work, The five concerned were long-distance vehicles carrying mechanical stokers, refuse destructors and similar items to hospitals and factories all over the country, The special-A vehicles were also working substantially for Hodgkinson's, who now wanted to get back to the old position. A considerable amount of the work was part loads, and there were numbers of Beaumont's other customers who were anxious to have part use of the vehicles.
Mr. T. B. Atkinson, objecting for the British Transport Commission, submitted that it should be realized lint when Hodgkinson's took out their C licences they were not in substitution for the vehicles taken over which were still in use. It was difficult to rebut the case, but as it stood an A licence was not justified when 90 per cent. of the work was to be done for one customer.
No Inconvenience There was no evidence of inconvenience. The application was misconceived, and should have been for a B licence.
Beaumont Transport had no other business than haulage. said Mr. Dunkerley. The Transport Tribunal in the Carmichael case held that carriage for one customer only was not a ground for refusal of an A licence.
Mr. Lindsay said the circumstances were most unusual. Decision would be reserved until the tonnage and mileage figures of the C-licence vehicles were audited by an accountant. Questioned by Mr. Lindsay, Mr. Beaumont said none of his family had any shares or interest in Hodgkinson's.
IS "RECORDS" FINES
FOR failing to ensure that their drivers kept proper records, James Noel Duggan and Gerald Aubrey Hill, trading as Messrs. Foster and Hill. Brecon Road, Abergavenny„ were fined £5 in respect of each of two drivers, and ordered to pay costs and advocate's fee, amounting to £4 9s., at Abergavenny magistrates' court last week.
The two drivers concerned were each fined 10s. All defendants pleaded