"Industry Being Denuded of Reliable Drivers"
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ALEEDS lorry driver who, when due to begin .a journey with a load of war material, used the vehicle to take members of his family on a Sunday outing, was, as a result, recently sentenced at the city's police court to six weeks' imprisonment. Under the Defence Regulations he was punished for using motor fuel for a purpose other than that for which it was issued.
For the prosecution, it was explained that the haulage concern for which the driver worked at the time was engaged in the transport of certain war material to the south. Sometimes this material had to be despatched on Sundays, as in the present case. The usual procedure was to sign the driver off on Saturday, with full instructions for his Sunday journey. On the Sunday in question, defendant collected the load at 3 p.m., as instructed, and, acCording to his log sheets, he then. began his journey to the South. This was shown as having occupied the usual time, but .although the goods were delivered on the Monday at the time expected, the driver did not actually begin, his journey from Leeds until late on the Sunday night.
After having collected his load at a factory in Hunslet, which was quite near his outward route to the South, he drove theloaded vehicle to his home, picked up members of his family, and carried them on the lorry to Bramley. There the vehicle remained outside licensed premises from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Men the police questioned the driver, he said he intended taking his family home again, awl apparently with this intention he left Bramley about 10 p.m.
The defendant pleaded guilty and immediately after the incidents leading to the present proceedings, was dismissed from 'the employment of the haulier in question.
A member of the haulage concern cited the case as an instance of the difficulties which were being caused through the industry being denuded of reliable drivers by the calls of the Services. " The authorities are paying much attention to preventing wastage of rubber and petrol," added this operator, " but I suggest there is a tremendous -wastage of men by the call-up policy applied to the road haulage industry."