'Underhand Rail Methods Alleged
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COMPLAINTS of railway methods to '...,obtain information concerning the operations of road hauliers were vigorously aired at a meeting of the transport section of Bradford Chamber of Trade, on Monday.
One member said " They watch to see where your vehicles are going, and next tims: you find that that particular traffic has been carried by a railway company—by load.'' Another member declared that at night he had seen a railway representative at the top of his firm's yard, watching the loading of vehicles.
A third speaker asserted: " If there is a railway employee who knows you, they pump him for information about your business."
A further complaint put forward was that after one local operator had disclosed at the traffic court business information to which the railway companies had had access, he found that railway canyasszrs had gone to his cus tomers seeking to obtain the business.
The discussion arose on the question whether, during the hearing of licence applications by hauliers, railway representatives have a right to see the books whicn the applicant produces in support of his case. In reply, it was suggested that the railway representatives could not demand to see an operator's books, hut they could demand to see a statement of figures certified by an auditor.
Particular reference was made to a recent case in Yorkshire, during the hearing of which, it was stated, a railway representative not only examined the books produced by the road operator, but rise took notes of information in the ledgers.
It was suggested that a specific complaint should be made concerning this case, and that the whole question as to the uso. of information supplied by applicants should be taken up in the proper quart e".