Abstraction Alleged in Reheard Case S UGGESTIONS that cotton traffic ....)which
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had gone to Southampton was now reverting to Liverpool were made by Mr. B. de H. Pereira, for the railway companies, when Collier Daniels Transport Co., Ltd., applied before the North-Western Deputy Licensing Authority, in Manchester, last week, for sanction to acquire an additional vehicle of 51 tons. Mr. IL Backhouse explained that the application had been granted in February, but that on appeal by the railway companies the Appeal Tribunal had ordered the application to be reheard.
Evidence had been given at the hearing in February of greatly increased traffic from Manchester for shipping from Southampton. It was pointed out that much of this traffic was picked up later than the railways were prepared to take it and was delivered at the shipside in time for sailing the next day. The concern had, in the past 12 months, handled 1,000 tons of such goods, valued at £250 a ton. To miss shipment would have caused the loss of a week's interest on the value.
Mr. T. E. Foster, traffic manager of Collier Daniels Transport Co., Ltd., said that his company could collect up to 10 p.m. for delivery at noon on the following day. In cross-examination by Mr. Pereira, lie did not agree that to do such a trip would involve speeding. The concern supplied a relief driver at Winchester, even for vehicles of sub. contractors.
Mr. Pereira put to the witness figures to show that, far from Southampton traffic increasing, it had dropped. According to statistics of Manchester Chamber of Commerce, whereas in 1933 314,245,000 sq. yds. of goods were sent to Southampton, the figures for 1934 were 311,485,000 and for 1935 27'1,072,000. A million sq. yds. represented 80 tons.
Mr. Pereira closely pressed Mr. Foster as to the traffic of certain customers, which, he suggested, had been abstracted from the railway companies, thereby swelling the figures put in by the Collier Daniels concern.
Mr. • Backhouse intimated that he had another witness to call, and understood that nine railway witnesses were to be examined. It was obvious that the case would have to be adjourned. Mr. Pereira said that the hearing would probably require another two days to complete. Sir William Hart adjourned the application, giving two days on September 7 and 8.