Three Months "Probation"
Page 43
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
AFTER calling W. B. Ovenden and Sons, Ltd., Bury, in front of him to inquire into their conduct as hauliers, the North Western Licensing Authority, on Monday, reserved decision upon the tenure of their licence for three months.
Mr. J. A. Dunkerley, for Ovenden, said that they had seven vehicleson B licence engaged upon the carriage of slaughterhouse by-products and hides. After an inquiry, at the last licence renewal, into vehicle maintenance and drivers' records, the licence was renewed for 12 months only. A letter from the Authority on July 9 intimated that, following six prohibition notices between September, 1955, and March, 1956, and many discrepancies in the records, the question of the conduct of the licence would again be inquired into.
Mr. Ovenden fully appreciated the seriousness of the position, but there were mitigating circumstances. The main difficulty was that this was a filthy type of work. Although the vehicles had metal bodies, chemicals used on the hides escaped on to the vehicles and caused damage. Drivers were not interested in this work and it was impossible to get good men. The company had done everything possible and had provided distance clocks on all the vehicles. A full-time mechanic was employed.
The Authority said the applicants appeared before him on July I, 1955, in connection with the condition of their vehicles and a long list of convictions since 1951. He then warned the company that unless there was great improvement he would either refuse the renewal or delete some vehicles from the licence. His only reason for not
refusing it now was that the vehicle examiner had reported a recent substantial improvement. He was still far from satisfied. Ovenden's had again been convicted at Manchester for lack of maintenance as recently as April, and there had been further records of infringements.
Decision would be reserved for a further three months. Inspectors would pay frequent visits.
REGISTRATIONS DOWN IN MAY
REGISTRATIONS of new vehicles, excluding cars and motorcycles, totalled 20,021 in May. This was a substantial drop on the figure for April. The greatest decrease, of 2,818, was in the "Exempt vehicles " class.
Registrations of "other goods" vehicles rose by 20 10 compared with
the previous month's figure. Details are given in the table below.