'Lax Operations' by Southampton Company, says LA
Page 17
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THERE was a "truly innocent explanation for what seems like a series of gross irregularities ", said Mr. M. H. Jackson-Lipkin, on Monday. Counsel was representing Diarquil Ltd., of Southampton and Bermondsey, at a Section 178 inquiry before Mr. C. J.
Macdonald. Metropolitan deputy Licensing Authority.
Reprimanding the company, Mr. Macdonald said he thought there was no malice behind the irregularities but they indicated much laxity and any repetition could lead to serious consequences.
Mr. D. E. Goulden said he was principal shareholder of D. E. Goulden Ltd. (a company controlling a clearing house, T. Davies (Transport) Ltd.) and a number of haulage companies, including Diarquil. The latter worked only for the clearing house, amongst whose customers were Ford Motor Co. Ltd. and Dimplex Ltd. Mr. Goulden admitted journeys to Carlisle, Liverpool, Aberdeen and many other places using a Diarquil vehicle with a restricted normal user, but said this was mainly during the holiday shut-down of his normal customers.
Continuing, Mr. Goulden agreed that he had failed to notify the LA when Henry Lane—who had supported a license transfer when the business of a Mr. Hassett was acquired—was lost. Irregularities concerning the declared weights of hired vehicles were discovered only when a hired vehicle was weighed, said Mr. Goulden. The hirers, he added, had retained the log book.
Appealing for clemency, Mr. JacksonLipkin said a detailed analysis of work done outside the London and South Coast normal user would be provided.
Mr. Macdonald said that much trouble and confusion had been caused by operations from London and Southampton with no responsible focal point, and much more attention must be paid to licensing requirements.