Contract Haulier Allowed Open A Licence on Appeal
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THE Transport Tribunal on Monday reversed a decision of the I Eastern Licensing Authority, who refused Mr. B. H. King, Silverdale Street, Kempston, Beds, an A licence for four vehicles running under contract-A licences. They Ave allowed Mr. King an A licence for two vehicles, subject to the surrender of four contract-A licences.
Mr. M. D. Van Oss, for Mr. King, said that not only had the Authority refused the conversion of the contract-A licence but also a modification to allow his client to carry mainly marketgarden produce and agricultural requisites to Bedford. London and the north-west, and general goods on return journeys.
Mr. King sought the conversion because his farmer-customers were dissatisfied with the service under the contract-A -system. • His vehicles were also carrying for other customers, with the result that they arrived at farms at a late hour, 'after workers had left, to load produce. This caused annoyance and inconvenience.
Many Complaints There were constant complaints and, when Mr. King suggested he could provide a better service on open A licences, farmers agreed to support him.
Mr. King carried regularly and to a large extent for a big concern of hauliers, Messrs. Cooper's, of Sandy, whom he regarded as good customers. The Authority took the view that. because Cooper's were hauliers, Mr. King could not obtain further tonnage until he gave up Messrs. Cooper's work to any extent that might be necessary to fulfil another need. It was, said Mr. Van Oss, unreasonable to apply a special rule to a customer because he happened to be a haulier.
He submitted that the Authority's decision was put in tendentious form against Mr. King, particularly when dzaling with the effect of customer idence.
Loads Picked Up Late
Mr. J. R. C. Samuel-Gibbon, for the respondents—the British Transport Commission. Kilby and Davidson, Ltd.
C. Ginn, Ltd., E. Hull, Ltd., and Messrs. E. T. Collis, of Bedford; Welch's Transport, Ltd., Henlow; and Evel Transport, Ltd., D. Lewis and Bros., Ltd., Messrs. R. W. Harvey and Son, Messrs. W. E. Ayes, and Messrs. F. W. Daniels and Sons, of Sandy—said that Mr. King's application was based on suggestions that agricultural loads were picked up later than farmers liked. There was no suggestion that any load had had to wait from one day to the next. Transport facilities in the area were substantially adequate to meet requirements even at the peak harvest periods.
Counsel said that Messrs. Cooper's had not given evidence in support of the application. If Mr. King chose to work for Messrs. Cooper's on sub-contract at the expense of his own customers, it would not be right to make a grant.
Mr. Hubert Hull, president: " I don't see any. difference between that which is introduced or handed over by a person who is, in fact, a haulier, or that which is introduced or handed over by a person who is not a haulier. It is work which he is doing at the moment with his vehicles, and affords evidence in the ordinary way that he will get that amount of work in the future."
LORRY-VAN • FOR SAFES
A MODIFIED Commer 5-t000ef has 1-1 recently been supplied to Chubb and Sons (Lock and Safe) Co., Ltd., by Rootes Ltd., from their St. John's Wood depot. Powered by a Rootes oil engine, the chassis was originally, a 5-ton 11-ft. 9-in.-wheelbase model, but has been modified to 13-ft. 6-in, wheelbase to accommodate a special body and cab. The cab has a double compartment, and the body a canopy at the front which houses lockers and a floormounted winch.
Chequered plate is employed to cover the body floor, which has internal dimensions of 15 ft. 6 in. long and 7 ft. wide. The sides are 2 ft. high. The vehicle is fitted with 7.50-20-in. (10: ply) tyres.
The bodywork was produced by D.B.S. Coachworks Ltd., North Kensington, London, W.10.,
NEW A.A. ROAD BOOK
A NEW edition of the "Road Book
of England and Wales" has been published by the Automobile Association, and the book is available to members, price El. It includes 480 pages of touring information, and over 6,000 towns are listed together with notes on historical and archmological interest.
A large-scale map of the West End of London is incorporated.