Rail Fish-transport Monopoly Bid Fails
Page 32
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A LLEGATIONS of, railway. -interference were .made at hearings, before the Northern Licensing Authority, last week, of a number of applications by operators for the renewal of their A licences.
Applications were made by B. and C.L. Transporters, Md., North Shields; Blyth Transport Co., Ltd., Blyth; Messrs. Booth Bros., WalLsend; Messrs. T. Brainbridge and Sons, Quay; J. H. Turnbull and Sons (North Shields), Ltd., North Shields; Mrs. J. M. Burgess, North Shields; Mr. It. H. Smith, North Shields; and Mr. IL G. Armstrong; Westerhope.
A number of the applicants was represented by Mr. T. H. C. CampbellWardlaw, and the A.R.O. secretary for the Northern Area co-operated with him in obtaining information. It is reported that, as a 'result of investigations, almost all the fish importers agreed to give evidence in support of the road services, and, although these witnesses were available at the inquiry, their evidence was not required, as the railway company "threw in the towel" halfway through the proceedings.
During the application of J. H. Turnbull and Sons (North Shields), Ltd., Mr. T. Turnbull said that at the Tyne Commission quay there were no facilities for the selling and repacking of imported Norwegian fish. The witness protested against the behaviour of railway officials at various places, and alleged that, at Nottingham and Birmingham fish markets, railway employees were going about with flashlights every night. examining ',the
number plates and licences. . Mr. E. P. Merritt, for the railway company, announced that he was unable to prove that the services provided by the railways, were suitable and adequate to provincial towns, and, in view of this, he withdrew his company's objection to the application: also to the applications of Mr. R. H. Smith, Messrs. Booth Bros.'. and Mr. R. G. Armstrong.
When the application of Mrs. J. M. Burgess was heard, the railway company alleged that she had been operating vehicles without a licence. Mrs. Burgess strongly denied these allegations and stated that her drivers were complaining that they had been pestered by railway officials in various markets.
Mr. E. P. Merritt, for the railway, called a detective-sergeant to prove that Mrs. Burgess was using certain vehicles without a licence. Witness was, however, unable to give definite information regarding the vehicle alleged to have been used, and stated that the information had been passed on to him by someone else, and he could not vouch for its accuracy.
Mr. Merritt unreservedly withdrew the allegations and apologized that the suggestions had been made. The application was granted.
Mr. W. McKeag represented Blyth Transport Co., Ltd., 'and B. and C.L. Transporters, Ltd., in their applications for renewals.. He described the railway objections as an application for a monopoly of the fish trade. Decision was reserved.