Rate-cutting Row at Bristol

21st September 1962, Page 85

21st September 1962

Page 85

Page 85, 21st September 1962 — Rate-cutting Row at Bristol

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[NDERC(JTTING of rates and other

allegations were made. against an erator at Bristol last week when Mrs. M. Parker, described as a. market swer and merchant, applied through r husband for a B licence in respect of .ee vehicles to carry fruit and Vegedes for named Bristol fruit brokers to :ions parts of the country.

iomc months ago Mrs. Parker had plied for six vehicles and at that time, d the Western Licensing Authority, '. S. W. Nelson, reference was made to certain amount of illegal running," ere had been no illegal running since. rs. Parker had a small acreage of land the outskirts of Bristol and then stated it the vehicles were required for her siness as a market gardener. , Mr. McGregor Johnson, for the appliit, now said one vehicle only would used for Mrs. Parker's own market :•den work. With the other two she ended to run three services, one to the rth of England, one to the west of gland (Devon and Cornwall) and one South Wales.

He called the representatives of three istol fruit brokers, who said they nted to use Mrs. Parker's service :.ause of the great difficulty of getting table transport for perishable goods, wcially small lots entailing a' number drops.

Eross-examined by Mr. F. D. R. skins, for a. number of independent• erators, a witness said he did not ?eet a taxi service: but he did want a vice which could guarantee delivery les. He was prepared to pay_ proper es for that. He did not kpow,, that ries Transport, who previously handled traffic, lost a lot of •rnoneybecause the low rates and he was not aware it a number of operators had declined handle the traffic because of the rates ered, lie did not use B.R.S. because :itrates were prohibitive and they aid not guarantee delivery times.

Answering Mr. Jenkins about rates, ather witness said his firm had been oted 3s. 5d. a case for a six-ton load oranges against ls, 6d. to 2s. "by other Mr. Claude Parker, husband of the plicant, was closely, questioned by Mr. skins, who suggested that some people mid not employ him because of his mfortunate history." James Transport :1 not lose a substantial amount of sney under his transport managership, he said. He admitted he formed another company which went into liquidation. He was not responsible for a number of summonses issued against drivers of James Transport who were fined for working excessive hours, one of them 181 hours at a stretch.

Mr: Jenkins suggested that some of the rates charged were fantastic, for instance 115 for a return journey from Bristol to Liverpool. 'Do you expect to Make this business pay on Is. 21d. a mile? " Mr. Parker was asked, and the reply was "Yes."

The hearing was acljoinrned until October 1, when the objectors will be called.