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Continental Refrigerated Traffic Battle in London

23rd November 1962
Page 37
Page 37, 23rd November 1962 — Continental Refrigerated Traffic Battle in London
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

a/IONICSINTERNATIONAL TRANS IVI LTD., of Uxbridge, successfully applied to the Deputy Metropolitan Licensing Authority, Mr. C. J. Macdonald, in London last week to have two articulated tractors with refrigerated trailers autborized under an A licence, which had previously been used under contract A licence. The application was opposed by British, Railways, who raised the question of illegal operating on the part of Monks in allowing sub-contractors' tractors to haul contract A licensed trailers returning from the Continent carrying other people's goods.

For the applicant, Mr. J. Amphlett said that in the past his client's customers. the Irish Horse Abattoir Trading Co. Ltd., delivered its own meat to the. Continent and were still doing so, so far at Belgium was concerned. The French customers, however, possibly under pressure from their Government, had adopted a new 'system and it was still not clear how things were going to be worked out. The meat haulage was to be paid for by the French customers and therefore Monks International could not continue to carry it under contract A licence.

, Continental Question

British Railways, Mr. Amphlett continued, had intimated that they were going to make allegations of irregular usage of trailers, as to whether the trailers taken to the Continent under contract A licences could return to this country loaded with other people's goods and be hauled from Tilbury to destinations in this country by tractors which were hired from fully licensed operators. " This is a very nice point," added Mr. Amphlett. However, it was completely irrelevant, Mr. Amphlett contended, but if it were felt that there was any substance in the allegation this could be put right by granting the present application for an open A licence, so that Monks could operate its own tractors.

Giving evidence, Mr. A. R. Gunton, international transport manager of Monks, said that if the application were granted, his company proposed to surrender two tractors and three trailers operating under contract Confirming the change in the arrangements for French customers, Mr. Gunton said that his company used to be paid by the Irish Abattoir. But since August there had been a change and Monks had been requested to invoice the French importers.

Supporting evidence was given by four customer witnesses, after which Mr. J. Keys, assistant Continental superinlendent of .British 'Railways, gave particulars of rail facilities between England and the Continent and into Europe.

Mr. J. M. Timmons. for British Railways, submitted that the railways Were not seeking to take away the Irish traffic from the applicant—they were not interested in the main customer but were concerned with the other customers for whom Monks wanted to carry perishable goods. With regard to the allegation of illegal operating, Mr. Timmons said that Monks had built up goodwill on behalf of work from the Continent which it was not entitled to, the benefit of which the company sought now by having the vehicles specified in an A licence. .

Making known his decision, Mr. M*.ac. donald said that the point made by Mr. Timmons about illegal operation was purely legal and had no practical significance. He leaned more to the 'side of the applicant than to the objectors in th:s matter. There was a lot to be said for the practice which Monks had adopted, which was not uncommon, but whether or not a G.V.2 form was as restricted as Mr. Timmons contended, he did not know.

If Haulier Knew' "I am sure if the haulage industry got to hear that we were endeavouring to lay down any rule which prohibited the very free movement of trailers' which exists at the present time—which is valuable to •the industry, the customer and the public generally—they would be very concerned."

It was a matter for British Railways whether the matter was raised in another sphere, he continued.

Dealing with the point about the Irish/ French traffic; he thought that the correct licence must be an A licence.

Amending the normal user to "mainly traffic for the Irish Horse Abattoir Trading Co. Ltd., to the Continent in refrigerated trailer vans connecting the ports of Preston, Tilbury and Dover," Mr. Macdonald granted the application.

Scottish Grant AN application by West of Scotland

• Excavations Ltd., Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, for a B licence to operate an artic carrying plant and machinery was granted by the Scottish Licensing Authority, Mr. W. F. Quin, last week.

The application was opposed by Pickfords Ltd., Glasgow, Gavin Wilkie Ltd., Glasgow, and Robert Pollock Ltd., Glasgow.

Mr. James Campbell, the applicant, stated that he had operated the vehicle for the past 20 years on a C licence. He used it to transport earth moving plant and machinery which he hired out. But. as his vehicle was C-licensed, he was not able to transport from the site broken down plant when he replaced it with his own. This meant his own vehicle had to return empty and he had to hire from other hauliers transport to help out his customers.


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