Unwarrantable Slur' says Baker's Advocate
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IT/HEN Mr. W. Partington, assistant VV heavy haulage manager of Pickfords Ltd., was shown photographs of two Pickfords low loaders carrying drums of cable and asked to comment on the way the vehicles were loaded he said in respect of one of the loads; " I would have criticized the driver and taken him to task."
This happened at the Transport Tribunal last week on the second day of the hearing of appeals concerning the grant of three 111-ton articulated/ independent low loaders to Bakers Transport (Southampton) Ltd. Altogether there were three appeals—one by Pickfords against any grant by the South Eastern deputy Licensing Authority; an appeal by Bakers because they were granted only three instead of six trailers, and an appeal by several independent operators against the grant to Bakers (see last week's issue).
Earlier in the hearing, the Tribunal agreed to allow Bakers to produce photographs of Pickfords vehicles carrying drums in a way they had said was unnecessary at the public inquiry. The Tribunal also allowed Pickfords to call Mr. Partington to explain why Pickfords had used the method of loading shown in the photograph.
About the method of loading. Mr. Partington said that the battens used to secure the load were not adequate as to width and depth.
Asked if he would have required the driver to have adjusted his load or allowed the vehicle to continue on its way, Mr. Partington said he would have allowed it to go on, but. he continued, " I would expect him to make a better job of any future movement ".
Mr. Partington explained that the drums of cable shown in the photograph weighed 29 tons each. The trailers were of 35-ton capacity, weighing approximately 11 tons 3 cwt.—the same size as those in dispute in the appeal. Had the drum weighed 25 tons (the size Bakers said they wished to carry) a 6-4-ton trailer would have been sufficient, he added.
Commenting on film which was shown to the Tribunal showing trailers with forecarriages being hauled over rough ground delivering cable For Pirelli, Mr. Partington said that Pickfords would not in practice allow their trailers to be " mauled " across such ground. "I would not like to imagine what would happen to brake mechanism and hydraulic cylinders after the trailer had been manhandled through the mud."
Mr. M. H. Jackson-Lipkin, continuing his address on behalf of Bakers, said that remarks made by the deputy L.A., Mr. A, C. Shepherd, in one of his decisions (altogether, because of confusion two decisions were Riven by Mr. Shepherd) about Bakers withholding information concerning increases in the weights of trailers, were "a quite unwarrantable slur ". He continued: " A solicitor of the highest repute in road haulage [Mr. Torn Corpe—Ed.] had made it quite clear to the Licensing Authority, Mr. Thom, at a very early stage that the trailers were strengthened and different trailers".
The appeals were adjourned until January 11, 1965.