"Hauliers' Witnesses Not Always Helpful," Says Mr. Lindsay
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TRADERS wanting to support hauliers
in the traffic courts do not always send the right witnesses, Mr. J. R. Lindsay, North Western Deputy Licensing Authority, stated last week. He was hearing an adjourned application by Mr. K. Pack, Great Sankey, Warrington, for a new A licence.
One of the witnesses told Mr. Lindsay that, although his employers used Mr. Pack's vehicles, he was not himself directly responsible for transport.
Mr. E. A. Whitehead, for the applicant, said he operated two vans on special A licence, one of 1,650 cu. ft. capacity, and the other of 1,630 Cu. ft. In the year ended July 31, 1957, turnover was £4,079, although for 10 months only one vehicle was operating. In 1958, the comparative figure was £8,270.
Although one important customer had been lost this year, additional work had been obtained, and Mr. Pack was required to undertake nine journeys to London and the Midlands each week. This was impossible with one vehicle, and he wanted an additional van.
Under cross-examination, Mr. Pack admitted that since the application was made he had lost a customer whose work amounted to £4,000 this 'yeas:, but he claimed that a new customer, Kay Bros.
(Plastics), Ltd., Were expected • to make up this deficiency.
For Kay Bros., Mr. A. Smith said their business had trebled in the last 12 months, and they were " tired of bad deliveries through goods having to be distributed as return loads. About half their output went by road, and they wanted to give Mr. Pack about three loads a week to the, London area.
Mr. A. W. Balne, for the British Transport Commission, pointed out that certified figures showed 50 per cent. of Mr. Pack's total revenue had been lost, so the new work only made up for this.*
Refusing the application, Mr. Lindsay said the evidence did not justify a vehicle of 10 tons capacity. Mr. Pack had carried only one load for Kay Bros. so far, and merely hoped to make up for lost business. Even assuming he did this, there was no evidence that his existing vehicles could not cope.
E.Y.MS. FARE INCREASE?
HIGHER fares are being sought by "East Yorkshire Motor Services, Ltd. They have applied to the Yorkshire Traffic Commissioners for permission to increase contract ticket rates by 121 per cent., and to put up ordinary single and return fares.