ONE OUT OF TWO GRANTED FOR MINERS' COAL
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DURING an application by a Tamworth haulier to add two vehicles to a B licence to carry miners' concessionary coal, officials of the National Union of Mineworkers told the West Midland Licensing Authority, Mr. J. Else, that they were considering applying for licences to carry the coal themselves, if present facilities proved inadequate.
The applicant, Mr. C. Wood also applied for a short-term licence authorizing three vehicles to cope with a backlog of deliveries from two local collieries—Kingsbury and Dexter. He told the Authority he would be unable to work with fewer than four vehicles.
At a previous hearing Mr. Else was told that the Union had given instructions that vehicles belonging to the R.H.A.sponsored objectors were not to collect miners' allowance coal from the collieries, and that they had entered into an agreement with Wood to deliver ail the coal (The Commercial Motor. September 27, 1963).
At the second day's hearing on Wednesday, Mr. Wood admitted that because of hiring difficulties he had not been able to utilize fully three vehicles previously granted under short-term licences, and as a result had fallen behind with deliveries.
Because of this the Union had met the objectors and asked them to haul coal from Dexter Colliery, and this was now being done satisfactorily at rates agreed between the Union and the hauliers.
After the applicant's case was concluded Mr. Else said he considered that a prima facie case had been made out for the grant of one vehicle only, but he could not grant the short-term application.
The R.H.A. objectors withdrew following an agreement.
Making the grant, Mr. Else said he would like to see the unfortunate dispute between the hauliers and the miners settled once and for all. It did not augur well for anyone when the N.U.M. said they wanted to operate vehicles to carry coal. It was their job to get the coal and not to haul it, said Mr. Else.