Stiff Opposition to 'General Goods' Bid
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THgRE was strong opposition by British . Railways to applications by R. Garner Ltd_ and its associated company, J. T. O'Hare Ltd., for the renewal of two A licences with normal users of " general goods, Great Britain" in Manchester last week.
Six vehicles were on the Garner licence, and three on the O'Hare licence; a change of base was involved for all the units to Albert Road, Farnworth. 'Previously they had been at Crumpsall Vale, Blackley, and New Allen Street, Manchester, 10.
• Mr. J. Moylan, a director of both companies, said that they regarded themselves as general carriers, and he produced operational figures of both fleets. Accounting for a drop in earnings of the Garner vehicles, he added that they had been in need of some Major, repairs at the time the business was acquired and had been off the road for long periods.
Mr. I. Booth, objecting for British Railways, said that the applicant must prove that the vehicles were fully utilized, and that the wide normal users were justified. Mr. Moylan told him that before they took over the Garner vehicles four of the units had been used on a trunk service to Scotland but since the take-over this had been abandoned, and they were being operated differently.
At this juncture, Mr. A. H. Jolliffe, the North Western deputy Licensing Authority, observed that the figures submitted showed that the six Garner vehicles had earned about 17,000 in nine months and the three O'Hare units had earned £8,228 over the same period. Mr. Moylan replied that 'the Garner vehicles had needed so much maintenance at the time of the take-over that this accounted for the difference.
In submission Mr. Booth urged that the applicants had not made out a care for "general goods and, as' they had abandoned. a trunk service which had occupied four vehicles, he did not think the whole fleet was -fully, utilized. The figures showed that the three O'Hare vehicles ,had earned more than the six Garner units.
Mr. J. Backhouse, for the applicants, said that they carried geneial goods all over the country.. To justify the deletion of vehicles from, a licence the Licensing Authority had'to be' satisfied that there would be an excess Of facilities if they were granted... There had been no evidence of other facilities, Mr. Jolliffc reserVed his decision.