C-Licence Vehicles Used Illegally?
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rOMPLATNT of alleged illicit opera
tion by C-licence holders, who were stated to have regularly used C-licence vehicles for A-licence work, was made at a meeting of carriers at Halifax, under the auspices of the Halifax Transport Owners Association.
The complaint was made by Mr. Harry Clark, of Leeds, one of the joint secretaries of the Yorkshire Conciliation Board, when replying to a question as to whether C-licence holders were likely to be brought under the jurisdiction of the National Joint Conciliation Board. There was a growing feeling among A and Blicence operators, said Mr. Clark, that C-licence holders should observe the conciliation agreement, and he had received four or five resolutions which expressed that view from various trade associations. There was much dissatisfaction, lie stated, because some C-licence holders were using their vehicles for work which should be done under A licences. He knew of a firm who, for a long time, had been putting their three C-licence vehicles to A-licence work for three days a week, and of another firm whose common practice was to use their two C-licence machines for A-licence work for two days a week. He was of the opinion, however, that the injustice to A and B-licence holders would eventually be remedied. The trade unions were even more active than the employers on this important question.
Asked if anything was being done with regard to owner-drivers who work for excessive periods, Mr. Clark replied : "In due coin se, they will be dealt with. In fact, I know of a move • ment on foot with that end in view."
In an address, Mr. Clark dealt with the Yorkshire interim agreement, the question of enforcing it, and the subject of increased haulage rates. "Now that the wages and general working conditions are settled for the interim period," he said, "the tremendous' task of enforcemeut must be carried out. Any evasion of the law is bound Ito bring trouble soon ei or later."
Mr. Clark declared that increased haulage rates must come. "I have never been able to understand," he said, "wily the haulage contractor should charge shillings less than the railways, when ne is providing a quicker and better service. I venture to suggest that, in the tutu m, you will find a remarkable change. which will materially benefit the genuine haulier."
The various ra■es committees in Yorkshire had done splendid pioneer work, averred .N1r. Clark, but they had discovered that a great weakness was lack of power to enforce the rates that they had agreed on. "In due course," he added, "through the machinery which is now established to improve the industry, the rates problem will, up to a point, settle itself."
Questions were asked concerning the wages of drivers who handle different weights of vehicle in the same week, or who frequently work in different wages zones, and it was agreed that where the changes are more or less equal, the most practical method is to strike an average.
Mr. H. H. Beaumont, president of the association, presided.