Hauliers Fined for Carrying
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Coal Illegally FINES amounting with costs to over £200 were imposed on several hauliers who were charged at the Hanley (Staffs) magistrate's court last Tuesday with carrying coal from Hemm Heath Colliery, Trentham, to the Buildwas power station, on unlicensed vehicles.
William Evan Dyke, Ketley Town, Wellington, and his brother Frederick Richard Dyke, Council Houses, Moorville, nr. Bridgnorth, pleaded not guilty to 20 charges of carrying coal on two lorries not licensed for the purpose.
Alfred Walters, Bayley Road, Wellington; Samuel Wilkinson, Haywood Avenue. Donnington, nr. Wellington. and Gordon Watson, The Wharfage, Iron bridge, all pleaded not guilty to charges concerning alleged unauthorized transportation of coal to the Buildwas power station, a total of seven vehicles being used by the three men. Wilkinson was also charged with aiding and abetting Watson.
Contract Vehicle Used A contract A licence for one vehicle was held by Alec Richard Welling, Cosbermere Drive, Brooklands Estate, Wellington, who had used this unit for the illegal carriage of coal to the Buildwas power station. He pleaded guilty to two charges against him.
Mr. B. A. McKnight, prosecuting, said that Stephenson Clark, coal factors, had had a contract with the Buildwas power station early in January this year, supplying them with 1,000 tons of coal a week. Seeking for hauliers, they negotiated with William George Allen, Belt Road, Hednesford, and Allen had advertised work for tippers saying that the necessary licences would be provided.
Dykes Answered The Dyke brothers had answered the advertisement and had been told by Allen that they would be paid 10s. 6d. for every ton of coal carried. At the time the Dyke vehicles were not licensed, but the brothers had been assured that licences would be obtained to cover the work. Walters and Wilkinson had also contacted Allen and had been offered work. One of Wilkinson's lorries had been stopped by a traffic examiner on January 13 and he had informed Allen of this. Over £1,000 of haulage had been performed on the unlicensed vehicles.
Left to Allen
Mr. J. K. Blackshaw, a representative of Stephenson Clark, said that they had had nothing to do with the carriers' licences and had left this to Allen. Mr. H. Clark and Mr. K. J. Burris, traffic examiners in the West Midland traffic area, described interviews with the individual hauliers. Checks on certain vehicles had shown that none of them were licensed to carry coal. Allen had said he had taken no steps to see that
the hauliers had the appropriate licences.
Allen pleaded guilty to 81 charges of aiding and abetting the Dyke brothers. Walters and Wilkinson, but it was said on his behalf that when he had advertised he had believed that Stephenson Clark would supply the necessary licences. He Was young and inexperienced and had started to sub-contract before his firms' affairs had been properly crystallized.
Allen was fined £75 and costs; the Dyke brothers, £26 6s., including costs; Walters, £12 3s., including costs; Wilkinson, £57 15s., including costs; Watson. £10 3s., including costs; and Welling, £3 2s., including costs.
T.G.W.U. Dues Up
riN Tuesday the Transport and
General Workers Union agreed to raise the membership subscription by 3d. per week from the present rates of Is. for men and 9d. for women. This affects 1,360,000 members and brings them into line with the National Union of General and Municipal Workers.