Haulage Business "Built Up on C Licence"
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A. FLAGRANT case of a pseudo-farmer building up a haulage business by the . use of C-licensed vehicles, was how the Yorkshire Licensing Authority, Major F. S. Eastwood, described an application at Darlington by Mr. S. W. Johnson. Shiptonthorpe, to switch three C-licensed vehicles to B licence.
British Railways, British Road Services, and nine independents objected and after allegations of illegal operation by carrying from sales and markets, which were denied, the original inquiry was adjourned for investigation of log sheets and vehicle operations.
Mr. C. Amble, for the applicant, said that Johnson's father was a farmer and his son originally farmed 10 acres of land which had now been reduced to we He owned five vehicles, two on A licence and three on C licence, plus two cattle containers. Because of a shortage of transport the demand for agricultural haulage had been such that it became necessary to concentrate more and more on haulage.
Increased Turnover In the past 12 months haulage turnover had increased from £5,000 to more than £10,000, and five farmer witnesses and 24 letters supported the need to carry for farmers outside his own neighbourhood. A large proportion of the work of the C vehicles was haulage for neighbouring farmers, both local and long distance.
After examining the figures produced. Major Eastwood commented that a net profit of £1,604 from five vehicles for 1960 suggested rate cutting, thereby obtaining work which should have been done by hauliers who were properly licensed.
The Licensing Authorities, he said, had often complained to the Minister that farmers were abusing the C licence condition enabling them to carry for neighbouring farmers for hire or reward, and in this ease two acres of laud had been used to allow a haulage business to be built up on C licences. I.o.T.A. OFFICERS
A T the annual • Meeting of the ri Southampton Centre of the Institute of Traffic Administration the following Officers were elected for 1961: chairman, Mr. H. Ward, British Railways, Southern Region; vice-chairman, Mr. L. J. Evans. Shell-Mex and B.P. Ltd.; Treasurer, Mr. J. R. Thomson, Pirelli General Cable Works Ltd.; Secretary, Mr. H. G. Brown, Hampshire County Council; Committee, Mr. F. P. Bishop and Mr. S. J. Mould. SouthamptOn`Co-operative Society Ltd., Mr. L: A. Colegate, William R. Warner and Co., Ltd., Mr. F. R. Pywell and Mr.
• V. H. Lovelace, Shell-Mex and B.P. Ltd.