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Three pantechnicons but how little they earned
Page 43
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"THESE are among the lowest earnings you've ever seen for furniture removals," said Mr. A. W. Balne in London last week. He was speaking for objectors at the Metropolitan Traffic Court when A. Elkins and Son of Northchurch, Berkshamsted, sought 'to continue a three-vehicle A licence.
Mr. Balne claimed that earnings of £5,021 with three pantechnicon vehicles last year showed the vehicles could not have been fully employed. Mr. R. J. Elkins said he founded the business in 1914 and had driven vehicles for 46 years. Packing was often a lengthy business and he did not charge as much for his own labour as for paid labour.
He employed three part-time men regularly. One vehicle had been unserviceable but the others were worked intensively and he had had to turn down many inquiries.
Mr. Balne suggested that a three-vehicle removal firm should employ eight men to which Mr. Elkins rejoined: "I know a firm with nine vans and only eight men".
When Mr. Balne suggested that applicant's vehicles had been seen standing idle for long periods Mr. Elkins said: "I'm not giving up after 53 years, licence or no licence".
Deputy LA Mr. C. J. Macdonald said the case was unusual. The business might have been run in an old-fashioned way.
He ordered that the firm's balance sheet and log sheets for all vehicles should be produced for his inspection and adjourned the inquiry for this to be done.