Laundry Agents Find They are Hauliers
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IS a B licence necessary for a vehicle used to collect and deliver articles for dry cleaning? The South Wales Licensing Authority, Mr. Idris Owen, said at Cardiff, last week, that he had been
advised that it was. But I may be wrong," he added.
He was dealing with applications by Mr. R. G. Sparkes, Fairwater, Cardiff; Mr. J. A. Williams, Pontllanfraith, Mon; Bazeley and Pearce, Ltd., Trelewis, Glam; and Mr. C. J. Drew, Tonyrefail, Glam.
Each sought to collect and deliver articles of laundry and dry cleaning, working on a discount allowed by the cleaning concerns for whom they carried. Mr. T. A. Gardner, a director of Sun Cleaners, Ltd., Taffs Well, Glam, supported Mr. Sparkes' application. He said his company had previously done their own collecting under C licence, but four years ago they sold the vans to the drivers, who now worked on a discount basis.
"Is it necessary to apply for a B licence for this kind of work?" he asked the Authority. "I would like to clarify the position in view of further applications."
Mr. Owen replied: "That is the advice given to me. I am not authorized to interpret the conditions of the Road Traffic Act, but as I understand it—I may be wrong—in order to qualify for a C licence a man must use his vehicle for his own business."
Interpreting the Act
Goods carried for laundering or dry cleaning were, however, subject to a process of some sort, and the Act said: "Delivery or collection by a person of goods which have been or are to be subjected to a process or treatment in the course of a trade or business carried on by him shall not be deemed to constitute a carrying of the goods for hire or reward."
Mr. Owen continued: "If Mr. Sparkes carries these goods, is he carrying them in connection with a business carried on by him? He is an agent of yours, and you are the person who subjects the goods to a process or treatment."
Mr. Thomas Pearce, a director of Bazeley and Pearce, said there was "quite a battle" going on between agents in the Monmouthshire valleys.
The Licensing Authority granted Mr. Sparkes a licence covering a 10-mile radius of Fairwater, whilst Bazeley and Pearce secured a licence for a 20-mile radius of Newport. The other two applications were refused.