Authorities Out to Stop "F"-licence Abuses
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BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
TIDESPREAD complaints from hauliers about irregular activities by W farmers have prompted investigations by the Licensing Authorities in Northern England and Scotland. They have been told that many farmers are entering the haulage field with C and so-called F licences, using duty-free fuel intended specifically for agricultural purposes.
Particularly hard hit are livestock carriers operating on A•and B licences, who allege that although their rates have been pruned to the minimum, they still cannot compete with farmers buying fuel 2s. 6d. a gallon cheaper.
Already enforcement officers have toured cattle marts in North Wales and Cumberland, where most of the complaints have originated. However, their investigations have been blocked by lack of concrete evidence on which to base prosecutions.
Mr. F. R. Ashmole, clerk to the North Western Authority, told me that the most recent protests bad come from the Road Haulage Association livestock subcommittee in North Wales, who said that their members were steadily losing more traffic to farmers.
"It was all very general," said Mr. Ashmole. "We urged them to produce some concrete evidence of irregularities so that we should stand a better chance of winning a case. They are now planning another meeting to consider the facts more thoroughly."
Inquiries had been made in North Wales, but although there were undoubtedly grounds for complaint, it would be unwise to institute proceedings against farmers unless there were a good chance of securing a conviction: If a case were lost, there was a danger that irregular activities would spread even farther afield.
The Northern Licensing Authority recently sent enforcement officers to Cumberland, but they encountered the same obstacle — insufficient evidence. However, there is a possibility that the survey may have been badly timed,. -so further investigations are shortly to be made in the county.
"The book is certainly not closed as far as we are concerned," said Mr. H. W. A. Bleach, clerk to the Authority. "We intend making a wider survey." This will again be centred on Cumberland cattle marts.
Maj. F. S. Eastwood, Yorkshire Licensing Authority, told me that he had received many complaints from the East Riding. He pointed out that he recently refused to renew a farmer's licence and warned the holder about his activities.
Trouble with farmers appears to be restricted mainly to the north. In the South Eastern, West Midland and South Wales traffic areas there have been no complaints, whilst in the East Midlands the Licensing Authority has received only one or two.
Mr. Idris Owen, clerk to the South Wales Authority, pointed out that every haulier knew that farmers encroached on the industry, but unless the trouble reached a certain point most operators did not protest.
Another view was put forward by Mr. A. E. Johnson, clerk to the Western Authority. "It is rather strange, but it has always been the same in the north,"
he said. "Of course, it may be that hauliers down here are more easy-going, or that farmers behave themselves better." .
Apart from the question of farmers' licences, the Scottish Deputy. Licensing Authority intends to pursue the question of illegal C-hiring. A number of prosecutions is already pending, and hundreds of C-hiring discs have been returned to his office by traders.