LA. Rejects Application 'Shrouded in Mystery'
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I N a reserved decision, Mr. D, I. Muir, the Metropolitan Licensing Authority, has refused an opposed dual application, which he said was "shrouded in mystery ", and an outstanding unopposed application by F. W. Dawson and Co. Ltd., of London.
The opposed application, which was heard on October 5, was for two additional attics and for a new A licence on which these and four existing vehicles would be authorized with a normal user of general goods 25 miles and north-west England.
Mr. Muir said that there was " a remarkable reluctance on the part of the group to refer to its major source of revenue ". He added that the company, which was one of four controlled by Mr. V. R. Coward and Mr. H. G. Coward, had been awarded contracts towards the middle of 1960 to carry press, printing rollers, and ink for the printing presses. and that much of the work was between London and the north-west.
"it seems surprising that F. W. Dawson and Co:, which at the relevant date had direct control over only eight vehicles normally to do short-haul work round London, should have sought and obtained contracts of great magnitude involving regular journeys between London and Lancashire," says the Authority.
Commenting on the fact that none of Dawson's customers had been called to give evidence but only customers of Coward Bros. (Haulage) Ltd., one of the other companies in the group, the Authority said it was "an extraordinarily tortuous method of proceeding.
" I do not feel much d;sposed to licence vehicles which will not be used to meet the needs of the customers who gave evidence but of the customers who stayed away," he commented.
Having refused the application for the two additional vehicles and the new A licence for these and the existing vehicles, Mr. Muir felt that in view of the decision he must also refuse an outstanding unopposed application for the substitution of another vehicle.