Ward. Case Heard: Decision Deferred
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MAGISTRATES at Alriwick deferred their decision last week when Frank Ward, Wolsingham, Co. Durham, was charged with using an articulated vehicle to carry a gross weight exceeding 24 tons. Defendant pleaded not guilty and contended that the outfit was not articulated but a tractor and trailer. in which case the gross weight could be 32 tons. The two parts were taxed as a tractor and trailer and not as an articulated unit.
Mr. R. G. Grey, prosecuting for Northumberland County Council, said that on February 14 the vehicle was examined and weighed by Mr. C. Arlidge. chief weights • and measures inspector of the county. Mr. Arlidge held that the vehicle was articulated because some part of the trailer. which had four wheels, was superimposed on a portion of the tractor.
'Mr, T. H. Campbell Wardlaw, foi Ward, said that the prosecution had failed to prove that part of the trailer was superimposed on the tractor. The 'bolster block was part of the tractor, not the trailer, and the pin which joined the trailer to the tractor was merely the coupling. The swan neck bolted to the trailer acted as the coupling bar, stated counsel.
This vehicle could not conceivably be described as an articulated vehicle, so one is forced to the conclusion that it can only be described as a vehicle and trailer," submitted Mr. Campbell Wardlaw.
[The road outfit concerned in this case is one of the large timber-carrying fleet of H. D. Ward, Ltd. Between the times when the Northern Licensing Authority revoked the company's C licence and the Transport Tribunal ordered its restoration, the fleet was rununder contract to the company by Mr. Frank Ward, and the date of the alleged offence occurred in that period.] OBITUARY
WE regret to record the death of./V1a, SAMUEL DUCK ITT. Mr. Duckitt was joint managing director of the .Moss Gear-Co:, Ltd.. which he joined during the 1914-18 war.