ALLEGED RATE-CUTTING IN HOT-OIL DISTRIBUTION
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• THE respective merits of the main'. tenance of heat by means of a system connected with the boiler of a steam wagon, or by insulation in the case of an internal-combustion-engined vehicle, were discussed before the .North-Western Licensing Authority at Liverpool . last week, when the Hays Wharf Cartage Co., Ltd., applied for licences for two articulated tank vehicles for the carriage of hot oils in bulk at high temperature, also one rigid-frame tanker of a similar type, all to be operated by its associated company, Pickfords, Ltd. Objection was lodged by A. S. Jones and Co., which concern was stated to be practically the only tank specialist in the district and to have carried oils of, all types for the past 15 years.
The applicant, it was stated, established business at Bootle last year, bringing vehicles from the Metropolitan area for the purpose. These vehicles would be returned to the base.
Rates charged by the applicant for certain regular journeys, alleged the objector, were normally unremunera five, and could be made profitable only by running two journeys per day instead of one. It was alleged that to do this it would be necessary for Pickfords, Ltd., to infringe the conditions relating to drivers' hours. Evidence for the applicant was given to the effect that the drivers' conditions were good. It was agreed that Pickfords, Ltd., had canvassed the objector's customers.
How the company had carried oils regularly since 1921 was described by the principal of A. S. Jones and Co. For the past four years the company had not carried vegetable or edible oils. Such work had been offered, but, owing to difficulties involved, the company declined to do it except "under security." Steam heating was employed, and thus oils could easily be kept up to temperature.
Summing up, counsel for the Hays Wharf company said 76 per cent. of the company's traffic related to edible and vegetable oils, in which, according to evidence, the Jones concern had not interested itself in the past.
The Authority reserved his decision. B23