OPINIONS
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and
QUERIES
HARSH TREATMENT WHICH DESERVES AN IMPARTIAL INQUIRY.
[4965] I have perused with great interest the letter from Mr. D. K. Kinch in the January 15 issue.
I sincerely hope and trust that the letter will be the medium of getting together all classes representing the haulage industry, to unite against this cruel persecution by a Government which is certainly not equitable and just to the industry in general. The various associations to which we belong do not seem to be of much help to us. They have been tried and found wanting.
Personally. I am in complete agreement with Mr. Kinch that it is time the industry in general took up matters themselves. It could be done if all hauliers would unite. I feel confident that the powers that be could then be made to take notice.
It is not my intention to dwell at length upon what the Road and Rail Traffic Act has done to me. Suffice it to say that I held 24 tons of claimed tonnage (A licence) and three contract A licences. The Authority for the Eastern Area (Sir Haviland Hiley) has recently seen fit to take away all of these licences and left me with only two limited B licences, and I have to operate these the best way I can.
Had this happened, say, 12 months hence I should not have been placed in such a bad position. I, like most of my brother hauliers, have had to pay for my vehicles by hire-purchase, and had almost finished these payments, which have cost me approximately £240 per month for the past two years. When I was beginning to see daylight my licences were, most unjustifiably, taken away from me. Now I have lost everything, with the exception of the before-mentioned two limited B licences; my house and garage even had to come under the hammer. All my lorries, with the exception of two, had to go, and the position seems hopeless in the extreme.
Now, sir, I ask you, is this fair treatment? The wrong I did is, briefly, that I purchased a few bricks, sold and carted them on my A licence. I, like a good many more hauliers, thought I was doing right until, some three months ago, I was informed by an examiner that I was contravening the conditions of these licences. That was offence number one. The second offence was that, owing to pressure from one of my London customers, a few loads were brought back to Cambridge after the delivery of my contract loads in the Metropolis.
• My turnover for the past two years was in the neighbourhood of £860 a month, and a new garage and house had been built in connection with my business. In fact, all my available assets were put into the business. I commenced with one lorry and at the time my licences were taken away I had nine.
I consider that I have been robbed of almost everything by the Traffic Act and its ad 'nistrators, and I would ask you to believe me when I say that it has almost broken my heart. Are we al ays to be ground down like this? Practically all our earnings are taken from us in every conceivable directilm, and, after the Government has appropriated the lion's share, it would seem that it is yet in a position to [ruin us with one drastic stroke.
I consider that it is time we all began to stand up for our ancient rights. Probably, in the light of the above, you, too, will consider that this is one of the worst—if not the worst—cases that has ever been brought to your personal attention. All with whom I come in contact are definitely amazed at this injustile. What did the Road Haulage Association do? Nothing whatever. I was told by it that as II had solicitor and counsel representing me at the inquiry that they should take the matter further for me. Do you consider this to be good advice from an assbciation pledged to look after the haulier?
Unfortunately, I am extremely deaf, and, consequently, could not hear what was taking place at the inquiry, my interests being left entirety in the hands of my advisers. Naturally, you will appreciate-that I had experienced difficulty in carrying on my business, but no doubt you will agree that I could not have managed so badly, in view of my large turnover.
The Licensing Authority informed my counsel that I was not a fit person to hold the licences, but this is most strongly repudiated.
I will leave you to draw your ow conclusions, but ; before I finish may I be allowed to ex ress the hope that all hauliers will unite in an endeavour ito stop this perse HARASSING DELAY IN FANTAIL TOURS APPEAL CASE RESULT.
[4966] I wish to draw attention to the untenable situation caused by the non-appearance to date of the result of the fantail-tours appeal case. We operators have no idea how we stand in the matter, although our 1937 applications had to he sent in a week ago. To my mind, the delay is calculated and intended to harass this section of the industry.
The same remark is also intended to apply to a summons I received on New Year's Day to appear on January 21 for an offence supposed to have been committed last July. I had 28 persons booked or various of my tours from Leigh (Lanes) at their Wakes week. I am not licensed to pick up there, but one gentleman of the number booked one of my coaches to convey them from Leigh to Manchester, by contract, where they joined their various coaches. The Commissioners have made many inquiries from me, and also from the aforesaid gentleman, and after six months have decided to prose cute. It is an interesting ease. STANLEY SPENCER. Bury.
DOUBTS AS TO THERE BEING BIG MONEY IN COAL.
[4967] I have read with great interest the article "Big Money in Coal," with which I cannot agree. The writer says, "You will be surprised at the ease with which coal can be sold."
About four years ago my employer, being then very slack, ventured out on the same lines as are suggested, and I was determined to do my best to make the venture a success, but I can assure you that it.is not so easy a task. You can go up and down hundreds of roads on any new estate, and you will be lucky if you can sell half a ton all day long. You will also end up with a very hoarse throat.
The author states that thousands of people buy from the first vendor they see or hear, but again I disagree with him, as the majority of people wait to hear their own particular vendor. Another point is that most coal firms of repute have organized " coal clubs," which suit the public better than do street vendors.
London, N.W.10.. R. E. T000000.
IS THERE UNFAIR• DISTINCTION BETWEEN LARGE AND SMALL OPERATORS?
I 4968l. I was indeed interested to read in your issue of December 25, 1936, an article by " Transex " concerning the three menaces in road passenger transport, especially the section regarding the power of certifying officers, because, as far as I am aware, the subject has not previously been sufficiently publicized.
• As a private operator, I would like to know why I am required to keep my vehicles in better 'condition than are those controlled by a.combine.
it appears to me that too many certifying officers consider that the large concerns can be trusted to keep their vehicles up to standard merely because they are
large. Accordingly, they concentrate on the small man. I have seen running on the road vehicles belonging to a certain big company which, if they had been mine, or belonged to any other small operator, would have been under suspension. Possibly; the powers that be consider that the larger operators are too strong to trifle with. '
It would be exceedingly interesting to know what percentage of the total vehicles which were suspended last year belonged to combine groups, and exactly what were the defects for which this action was taken.
leforpeth. INDEPENDENT, THE POWER OF THE DIAMOND-T ENGINE..
[49691 I noticed in a recent issue of your journal that you gave the b.h.p. of a Diamond-T 3-ton chassis as 68. I was interested in this because I am running one of these chassis, and they were originally advertised as of 85 b.h.p., although I have always felt since that they did not develop so much power as this. Perhaps you could tell me if 68 b.h.p. is correct, as it is rather
low for this class of vehicle. Croydon. G. BAKER, [We understand that the Diamond-T engine is capable of
developing 85 but is governed to a speed at which the output is 68 ,b.h.p., this being considered sufficient for normal operation. The practice, of course, gives a margin of safety that should increase durability and keep down wear, etc.—ED.J