Mr. Macdonald • Not Impressed
Page 35
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FIGURES relating to availability of vehicles and earnings did not impress Mr. C. J. Macdonald, deputizing for the Western Licensing Authority, when he heard an application at Cheltenham last week, by Mr. A. I. W. Alder, of Stroud, who sought to add four tippers (24 tons 2 cwt.) at present specified on contract A licence, for the transport of solid fuel within a radius of 200 miles of operating centre.
Mr. Alder, who is a coal merchant as well as a haulage contractor, said the average earnings of the vehicles were £3,490. All were fully employed and his business was increasing. He was making the application, be said, because he wanted to be able to carry return loads to Gloucestershire after taking coal from South Wales to various parts of the south and east of England and the Midlands.
If he could do that with his contract A licence vehicles, the business would be more profitable. If the licence was granted, he would not replace them with other contract A vehicles.
Referring to the figures "said to have been certified by a chartered accountant," the L.A. said be bad not got all the evidence he would have liked. The figures put in did not impress him at all. No doubt a case had been made out for something, but the most he could grant was a B licence for the haulage of solid fuel in respect of three firms only, on the understanding that the contract A licence was surrendered. This would be limited to 150 miles of operating centre.
The objectors were not called.