Figures in Eight-vehicle Case Must be Brought Up to Date
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CLAIMING that a haulier's applica tion for a new A licence covering eight vehicles should be accompanied by details of the vehicles' present earnings, Mr. J. Edward Jones, for the British Transport Commission, successfully applied for the adjournment of a hearing at Manchester, last week.
The application was by W. R. Wilson (Transport), Ltd., Manchester. Mr. J. A. Dunkerley, for the applicants, said they specialized in food distribution. Their fleet consisted of seven vehicles on A and B licences, and eight vehicles, including two articulated outfits, on contract-A licenee to Pickering's Produce Canners, Ltd. The application was made because of Pickering's changing method of distribution, and the contract would be surrendered if the aalication were granted. Formerly, Pickering's had warehoused their products in various parts of the country 'before distribution, said Mr. Dunkcrley. This had been found to be unsatisfactory and they were now turning more to direct deliveries to retailers from their factories at Glossal) and Denton. The result was a tendency to small lots, instead of bulk • loads, often with 30or more drops. Shopkeepers were no .longer keeping big stocks, so deliveries were becoming smaller.
This work had become uneconomic under contract, and there had, been many complaints of late delivery. The applicants' A-licence vehicles -did work' for a large number of other provision concerns, often delivering to the same shops, and all they were seeking was to fuse this work. No other haulier could be affected.
The application had been made at the instigation of Pickering's, and there was no question of back-loading.
Mr. Jones submitted that the contract vehicles were for two concerns. Pickering's Produce Canners, Ltd., and Pickering and Co. (Cereals), Ltd. The figures should show the work done for each, he said.
Referring to a letter received from the Road Haulage Association, Mr. J. R. Lindsay, North Western Deputy Licensing Authority, said it suggested that the figures had been taken no further than last October because of fuel rationing. There had, since been four suggested dates for a hearing and ample time to bring them up to date. The hearing would be adjourned until the applicants 'notified the Authority that the figures were ready, and it would then be re-listed.