Heavies"—Strong Opposition
Page 56
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roadway had been carried. Mr. Stevenson's experience with sub-contractors had not been a happy one.
The facilities provided by the objectors, continued counsel, were not satisfactory. Many ot the Stevenson company's customers were of old standing and new ones were increasing the business.
Mr. Peter Stevenson, managing director, said that the vast majority of his concern's wok was for manufacturers. Between 1934-35 and 1935-36 it had had an increase of 12,000 tons in its annual carrying.
The particular feature of his company's work which made it possible to give a better service than the railways was the fact that, in many instances, Stevenson's had to wait for the goods to be manufactured and had to be in a position to deliver them at the ship side early the next morning. The railways would not undertake delivery on the following morning unless the goods were received by 4 p.m. His concern had to collect goods as late as 9 p.m.,
Mr. Stevenson instanced a Derby firm who had most of their goods carried by the railWaYs, but when they wanted to catch a ship, they came to him. Another' well-known concern had written to him', thanking him for helping it out of a 'difficulty when the railway had not enough wagons available. With regard to the objection by Garlick, Burs-ell and Edwards, Ltd., he alleged that that company had not a regular service to the points he served.
During the basic year, his Undertaking owned and used vehicles of a total unladen weight of 143 tons 7 cwt. During 1933-34 the fleet was increased by 29 tons.
Dealing with a reference to his company's work for Unilever, Ltd., at Port Sunlight and Bromborough, Mr. Stevenson said he commenced carrying for that organization in March, 1935, and since that date there had been a considerable increase. Whether that traffic had been taken from the railway company he could not say.
Abstraction Alleged.
Mr. G. H. P. Beames, for the railways, said he would produce figures to show that their traffic had, in fact, decreased. Mr. Macaulay said that perhaps the railways would also hi-MIL figures showing their increase in Nestle's traffic?
On the question of maintenance, Mr. Stevenson declared it was essential that heavy vehicles should be off the /bait every 18-20 months for a thorciugli Ov,erY haul, and this was one of the diffiduitie which }re was at present experiencing,
The hearing was adjourned.