Unauthorized Operation Revealed at Inquiry
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AWARNING was issued by the North Western Licensing Authority, Mr. F. Williamson. to Mr. H. P. Merrick, Holmwood, Ash Grove, Chinley, at a public inquiry at Manchester last Friday. Mr. Merrick wanted one vehicle on contract A licence ,to J. J. Hadfield, Ltd., of Chinley, but it was revealed that he had been involved in unauthorized operation.
Mr. Williamson read out a letter he had received from Mr. F. C. Bradshaw, a Buxton haulier who had had a contract A licence with Hadfield's. Mr. Bradshaw had been taken 'ill and his contract had been terminated. A letter from British Railways stated that for many years they . had delivered 140 tons of coal a week to Chinley Station for J. I. Hadfield, and the cartage to their Mill had then been
undertaken by Mr. Bradshaw. , _ Mr. Merrick admitted that he had been carding coal for Hadfield's when Mr. Bradshaw had become ill and unable to do his work. Mr. H. W. Hadfield, managing director of J. J. Hadfield, Ltd., pointed out that a few months ago Mr. Bradshaw. their regular haulier, had had a heart attack. His was • a one-man business so transport had ceased immediately. _ Mr. Hadfield said that he approached several hauliers but they had all been reluctant to accept the work as it involved 140 tons of coal being shovelled by hand into vehicles at Chinley and then being transported to the mill. He had asked Mr. Merrick who had agreed to carry the coal but refused to shovel it by hand at Chinley Station, and had started to carry it direct from the pit head. If the mill had been without fuel it would have meant that they would either have to close down or revert to burning oil.
In submission. Mr. F. Coffey, objecting for British Railways, said that it had to be decided whether or not Mr. Merrick was a fit person to hold a contract licence. He had not only carried substantial quantities of coal from Chinley sidings but also by-passed the rail route and taken it from the pit head.
Mr. Williamson said he realized that Mr. Merrick was guilty of a serious offence. but Hadfield's had found themselves in a dilemma when they had no transport for their, coal. The proper course would have been for a short-term licence to have been applied for. He asked that Mr. J. Booth, for the applicant, should warn his client abont his conduct.