AVAILABILITY PROBED
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THEavailability figures produced by objectors at Norwich on Tuesday were stringently examined by Mr. M. H. Jackson-Lipkin, counsel for the applicant, G. Jarrett Ltd., of Norwich and Sheringham, who was asking for 17 vehicles on A licence.
During an extended fourth day's hearing the Eastern deputy Licensing Authority, Mr. J. Cazdar, said he had intended to give a decision that day but, in view of lengthy final speeches promised by counsel, he would reserve a decision until he had studied the full transcript. (The first day's hearing was reported in The Commercial Motor of June 4.) Mr. B. J. Wright, manager of Pickfords' Norwich branch, said fewer inquiries had been received for furniture removals this year than last but a higher proportion of jobs were secured. He thought there was no need for additional vehicles in the Norwich area. Mr. Wright was complimented by Mr. Jackson-Lipkin on the accuracy of the vehicle availability details he produced. "This one is not guesswork ", counsel exclaimed. "He knows what his vehicles were doing and which ones were involved ".
Mr. A. E. Janice, Great Yarmouth branch manager of Pickfords, said the present trend was towards smaller removals but his organization was interested in the small loads as well as the large.
Mr. Jackson-Lipkin closely questioned Mr. James about two vehicle availability schedules he had submitted. There were many variations in the two documents, said counsel; the second showed more availability than the first, and he had detected 14 errors out of 20 items on one schedule. Mr. James said his original list "may have been done in a hurry" but great care had been taken with the second one. Many of the relevant records had now been destroyed and he could not answer all specific questions months after the event. Mr. R. Yorke, for Pickfords and several private objectors. said operators organized fleets on the basis of work available as opposed to work which might be available. He conceded there had been human errors in some of the objectors' availability records but they showed there was availability, and no case had been made out for additional vehicles in the area.
Mr. S. I. Green, for other objectors, said the application was based on the gross under-employment of the vehicles of Norfolk and District Film Co. fan associated firm). This was not a good ground for a grant. If there was insufficient work, vehicles should be given tip. If Mr. Whatling warned to operate two businesses more economically. said Mr. Green, Jarrett's vehicles could do all the film work " in their spare time ".
Mr. Jackson-Lipkin said there were nine sets of conditions in a fleet of 17 vehicles, The words " general goods mainly ", in the published normal user applied for, had been put in on advice, but they would be deleted. Applicants had adduced evidence of need to carry 1:46,515 worth of traffic. The new licence was needed to regularize what was now being done, said counsel. It would be quite impossible, even with two sets of drivers, to marry the film transport work with Jarrett's other operations.
EVERTON COACHES THE West Midland Traffic Commissioners • L have granted a licence to Everton Coaches Ltd., Droitwich (The Commercial Motor, September 17) to operate an express service between Worcester and Margate on Saturdays in July and August next year, returning within seven or 14 days in each case, and with defined vehicle allowances. Three picking-up points in Birmingham have been withdrawn and Everion Coaches warned as to their future conduct.