"Records Kept in Tea-chest"
Page 39
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A TEA-CHEST full of slips of paper 1–t and bank counterfoils was referred to when the difficulties met by accountants trying to produce accurate figures were described at Bridlington last week.
Because figures presented did not give an accurate picture of earnings, Mr. J. H. A. Randolph, Yorkshire Deputy Licensing Authority, adjourned an application for a B licence for two vehicles by Mr. J. Harper, East Cottingham.
For the applicant, Mr. R. E. Paterson said that Mr. Harper had four vehicles on A licence, ran a shop, post office, garage and filling station, and was a farmer and stock dealer.
No separate books had been kept until January this year. In consequence accountants had found it impossible to produce figures for comparative years, except in terms of general tonnage.
The new licence was sought to carry grain for R. and R. Falkingham (Merchants), Ltd., and their customers. It was proposed to amalgamate the farm with one run by Mr. Harper's sons and, from a total of four C-licensed vehicles, two would be surrendered. An undertaking would be given not to apply for short-term sugar-beet licences.
Objecting for the British Transport Commission, Mr. A. W. Balne suggested that the figures did not separate Aand contract-A-licence earnings. Referring to convictions before Leeds magistrates in May, 1958, for irregularities in connection with the take-over of two A-licensed vehicles, he said that the figures were probably inflated by reason of the irregular operation.
A protest by Mr. Paterson that no notice had been given that Mr. Harper's past conduct would be brought against him elicited the reply from Mr. Randolph that the reference was in order. It was necessary to find out how far the figures produced had been affected by irregularities.
COMPLEX REQUIREMENTS
WHEN a haulier was fined a total of £20 by Warrington magistrates last week, it was suggested that the offences had been committed not because there was an intention to break the law, but because the lawfl was so complex in its licence requirements.
George Stanley Seddon, Laskey Farm, Heswall, Cheshire, pleaded guilty to 20 summonses of using a vehicle for the carriage of goods without the appropriate licence.