'Alice in Wonderland' application, says LA
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REFERRING to evidence given by one of a group of seven small tipper hauliers applying to extend conditions on their B licences at Birmingham on Friday, the West Midland Licensing Authority, Mr. J. Else, remarked: "This gets more like Alice in Wonderland every minute".
The applicants were seeking a new condition on their licences of "tippable materials, England and Wales, as directed by A. Fletcher and Co. Ltd.". There were a total of 75 objectors, including British Railways. Evidence given at Friday's hearing, which was adjourned, and at a previous hearing last month, showed that most of the applicants were already working wholly for Fletcher.
It was stated that two thirds of Fletcher's business was sub-contracted to a large number of hauliers. All said their vehicles, totalling 13 between them, were fully employed, but they would like back loads. Nearly all the traffic given them by Fletcher was solid fuel.
Mr. Else made his remark after applicant M. Orpwood, of Burton-on-Trent, had been unable to tell him the reason why Fletcher automatically deducted five per cent of the payment for each load.
Owner-driver of a six-wheeled tipper, Mr. L. G. Gainham. of Lichfield, said he had been told by Fletcher to make the application. His traffic was mainly to Bletchley and Hemel Hempstead.
Answering the LA, he said that if the variation were granted, he expected to get return loads from London, but he did not know what the traffic would be or what the rate would be. He agreed there was not much point in asking for Wales as he had not been there for three years.
Mr. Else told him: "You are a haulier in your own right. You come along and make an application, but you cannot say what you are going to carry or at what rate. Does that present a very good picture of you?
"You have sold your soul. You do only what your lords and masters A. Fletcher and Co. tell you to do. What I do not understand is what lies behind it. You have sold out to this firm and you pay them five per cent of your earnings from them, seemingly for the pleasure of doing so."
Cross-examined by Mr. N. Carless, for most of the objectors, Mr. Gainham agreed that although he was always paid by Fletcher, there was no mention of that firm on his licence. The rate he received was 21s. 6d. per ton for the 90 miles to Hemel Hempstead, and 14s. 6d. to Bletchley, less five per cent.
Mr. Ronald Johnston, managing director of Fletcher, of Ibstock, Leicestershire, told the court that his firm had 17 vehicles on A licence in the East Midlands. Most of them were eight-wheelers with 24 tons capacity. The normal user was similar to the condition the applicants were seeking. They earned about £5,000 each in 1965-6.
Higher Fares Sought : West Riding Automobile Co. Ltd., Wakefield, is to apply for higher fares because of an increase of £100,000 in running costs. It is proposed to increase by Id. adult fares from 9d. to 2s. inclusive, and by 2d. fares from 2s. Id. upwards. Minimum fares of 3d. for an adult and 2d. for a child are also proposed.