Blow to Old-established 1-1 - Anlier I HAVE read with interest your
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reports in connection with the refusal of the Licensing Authority to renew our A licence (which was one of the first to be issued in our area) and the subsequent Appeal Tribunal ruling to confirm the original decision (The Commercial Motor, December 17, 1954).
We were advised by the finest legal advice obtainable that we had not committed any offence under the appropriate Acts, and I can only say that the decision is a cruel blow to the senior partner of our firm. He was one of the pioneers of the road haulage industry, and the loss of this licence means that at well over 70 years of age, instead of living in comparative comfort, he will have to make ends meet on a penury scale.
We were all looking forward to the " day " when our licence would be restored to its previous unlimited radius, as it was before nationalization, but instead of that, we have lost the licence in its entirety.
I have always tried to work hard, play the game, and respect old age, and have 30 years of voluntary public service to my credit; but decisions like these make one wonder whether it is tally worth while.
EDWARD H. FINLAY, Secretary, Ponteland, I. Thompstone (Haulage), Ltd. Newcastle upon Tyne. paid 62 hr. 20 min., the, additional eight hours being extra payment for Sunday duty, rest-day working and overtime pay.
I would also like to mention that the 26 weeks referred to included the summer months. As Redcar is both a popular seaside resort and an industrial area, we are short of drivers and have been working seven days a week in addition to putting in a lot of overtime, which accounts for the higher average weekly wage.
Mr. Pratt said that the available driving and conducting hours in the foreseeable future might well remain at this standard. This, however, is not so at present, because with the winter time-table in operation, the men often work only six days in the week, with little or no Overtime, which means that for these weeks. if there is no working on the Sunday, we receive pay for only 45-46 hours, or about £7, less deductions. Perhaps we are more fortunate at Redcar than at some other depots, for in the main, even in the winter, it is usual to work two Sundays in three, which naturally lifts our wages. At some other depots there is little overtime in the winter and Sunday duty is usually only alternate.
Redcar, Yorks. J. H. VASEY.