SIX-VEHICLE SUSPENSION FOR SOUTH WALES HAULIER
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ASECTION 178 inquiry at Cardiff last week resulted in W. H. Hall and Son (Heol-y-Cyw-) Ltd. having two vehicles on each of three •licences, six vehicles in all, suspended for a period of two months. The South Wales Licensing Authority, Mr. R. R. Jackson, said the haulier concerned had not accepted his maintenance responsibilities until very recently. "I, too, have a responsibility, and I am not going to shirk it."
Presenting the case, Mr. J. Chard, clerk to the Authority, said Hall and Sons operated more than 70 vehicles at their Heol-y-Cyw and Pontypridd depots. Last year 54 prohibition notices had been issued, 16 of these being immediate. A series of checks had been made both on the rdadside and at Hall's garage; at one check at St. Athan, of five Hall vehicles checked, three had immediate, and two delayed prohibitions. The three immediate notices involved no fewer than 62 defects. In another fleet check, seven out of 57 of Hall's vehicles were in order, but among the faulty vehicles there were 32 brake faults, 20 steering faults, 20 lighting defects and 20 springing defects.
Inadequate at the Time Mr. Melvyn L. Thomas, South Wales area vehicle examiner, said that Hall's maintenance premises were quite inadequate at the time of the offences. There was no pit; the hydraulic lift seldom worked; tools, machinery and equipment were inadequate, and the premises were dirty and untidy. To the end of 1964 there was no planned main tenance system, and fitting staff was inadequate for the size of the fleet.
Excellent new maintenance premises had now been opened at Bridgend, continued Mr. Thomas. A general foreman, leading fitter, four qualified fitters, two fitters' mates and a carpenter and apprentice were now employed, and he felt confident there should be no further cause for complaint. Four other examiners gave detailed evidence of maintenance checks.
Mr. W. Kendall Hall, in evidence, said the fleet had expanded rapidly because of pressure of work on offer. "We looked after brakes and steering as well as we could ", he said. There had been labour shortage, but the new facilities now available would enable proper maintenance to be done.
Mr. C. Rosser John, for Mr. Hall, pleaded for leniency. "It was a very sorry story ", he said. Th'e fleet of tippers was in poor condition and Mr. Hall had been slow in realizing the need for proper maintenance facilities. The firm had not been greedy in taking in work; they had been pressed by customers. Many of the listed defects had recurred, despite earlier clearance by examiners. Mr. Hall had seen the error of his ways and was repentant.
Giving judgment, the Authority said he was distressed to see Mr. Hall, as representing an old family firm, in this position. "Your vehicles do rough work ", said Mr. Jackson, "but you have chosen to carry this traffic. You must also elect to carry out stricter maintenance."