£136 Fines on Hours and Records Charges F INES totalling £136
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were imposed by Kidderininster Borough Magistrates, last week, when a local concern or potato merchants answered 44 summonses. Four of their drivers were also summoned.
The prosecution alleged that drivers did not have adequate rest periods and that proper records of journeys were not kept. Mr. N. Carloss, for the defendants, A. G. Matthews and Sons, Ltd., Kidderminster, admitted the charges.
Mr, M. T. A. Matthews, prosecuting, Said the incidents occurred in the Haverfordwest area during the early part ofJune at the time of the new potato season. The drivers had been leaving Kidderminster, travelling 142 miles to Haverfordwest and returning with loads of 6-7 tons to Smithfield Market, Birmingham.
Here they were able to get only about three hours' rest before unloading. They then left the market, arriving at Kidderminster about 24 hours later. " In one case it was 26 hours before a lorry arrived back," he said.
Mr. Matthews said inquiries revealed that the directors of the company hail filled in records purporting to show that drivers had finished earlier, and that the directors themselves had finished the deliveries:
The company were fined a total of £96 on 24 summonses, with if 5s. costs. Two drivers were each fined £12, one £10, and the other £6.