OPINIONS FROM OTHERS.
Page 29
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. The Editor invites correspondence an all subjects connected with the use of commercial motors. Letters should be on one . side of the payer only and typewritten by preference. The right of abbreviation is 'reserved, and no responsibility for views expressed-is accepted.
Dock Charges on -Road-borne Traffic.
The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR.
[1,857] Sir,—As a haulage contractor with a daily service between Chelmsford and London, I frequently convey machinery to the various London docks. This I do at a price which pays me, and which is evidently cheaper than. if the goods were conveyed by rail.
Yust recently I found this class of traffic had dropped off, and I got into touch with the houses concerned—with whom I am on very good terms—to ascertain the reason.
• To my astonishment they inform me that the Port • of London Authority are sending them accounts at the rate of fifteen shillings (los.) per ton, called. believe, a sub-charge, for all goods road-borne to the docks.
The firms concerned are taking the matter up, and they have asked me to do the same,and I write this letter in the hope that you, in the interest of the trade, and, what is, I think, mere important still, on principle, will kindly get to know more about this practice.
The railways appear to me to be very subtle concerns, and from the foregoing it would appear that they and the P.L.A. are working in conjunction with one another. If this system is not at once nipped in the bud, where will it end?
The result will be that concerns like My own will be squeezed out of business altogether by this sort of combine, which I consider nothing short of wicked.
Another grievance I have against the P.L.A. is the hopeless delay which occurs at many of the wharves.
I frequently am at various docks myself, and have had to wait-,as long as seven hours at one place for a five himdredweight lot of goods, and, whilst admitting the various difficulties, I know, from personal observation, that the majority of the delays are both unnecessary and avoidable, and are due to bad management.
What chance has a country carrier iikeamyself, bringing a load to London, of getting rid of it and having several docks to call at tomake up a.return load, when some docks will not accept orders after 2 p.m.?
In spite of the daily congestion, the docks -do not commence work till 8 a.m
I think it is about time that it is realized by all concerned that the only hope of salvation commercially in this-country is the working of longer hours. —Yours faithfully.
Hiurapat (Late Lieut. R. A. S (3.).