Hull Timber Haulage—Authority Hears More Evidence About Facilities
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THE day. before Maj. F. S. Eastwood, the Yorkshire Licensing Authority, was to visit Hull Docks to see for himself the timberhaulage-sset-tip prior to announcing his decision in the Neill and Brown application (The. Commercial Motor last week), "additional evidence " was placed before him at a public inquiry in Bridlington.
This arose on an application by H. Falkingham, of Hull, to extend a B-licensed vehicle's conditions to allow a 100-mile radius for the carriage of timber and building materials. For the applicants, Mr. R. E. Paterson said that, for some reason or other, there was no objection from the " customary " road hauliers, and the application was unopposed. He then called Mr. K. F. Gledhill, Falkingham's manager, who said that his firm operated 32 vehicles and specialized in timber carriage. .There had been a very considerable increase in their business, and a lot of time was spent every afternoon trying to get subcontractors for the following day.
• Asked about Hewson Brothers, Hunters of Hull and Key Transport (all objectors to the Neill and Brown application). witness said that Hewson Brothers carried goods of a general nature for them, but were "not very much inclined" to carry timber. Hunters and Key Transport were sub-contracting to the same extent as Falkingham's, and the possibility of getting assistance from them was "nil." He would not look upon them as timber carriers, of which in Hull there were only three other, smaller, units, including Neill and Brown, who "did a little."
Dangerous Loads
Mr. Gledhill said that timber haulage was specialized in that it could be dangerous if handled in the wrong manner. The load was subject to shifting. If loaded in frosty conditions, the driver might apply his brakes and the whole load would be thrown forward through the cab. If planed timber were carried, it was smooth and it moved. Applicants used chains, but other hauliers objected because they thought it could wreck the vehicle. He did not regard plywood and hardboard as "timber."
There were many different categories of timber and the weight varied from as much as 2 tons to 3 tons 15 cwt. per standard. The trade worked in standards of timber and were not prepared to have it put on a weight-scale. If this were to he done, the load would always be more than the declared weight. Their subcontractors came from Selby and Leeds areas mainly. and .E3 to £3 10s. was spent every afternoon in trunk calls for assistance. They had not asked British Road Services who at one time were not very interested in timber, though of late they were handling more of it. Mr. Paterson: I think there has been a considerable amount of interest developed locally in timber since the Neill and Brown application. Prior to that they were not particularly interested.—That is correct.
Witness added be had "no axe to grind" for or against Neill and Brown.
• Representing Woods Timber Co., Ltd., of Witham, Mr. A. M. Ward said that the facilities for timber haulage out of Hull, both road and rail, were strained to the utmost in consequence of increased imports. If he were asked to name timber carriers in Hull, he would say first of all " Falkingharn," after which he had a list of about six others, someof whom were away-based. Very few large hauliers in Hull could supply lorries when wanted. Hull was expecting to have a "record year "for timber.
CAR PARKING SPOTLIGHTED IV/TORE than 900 delegates from all 1V1 parts of Britain' attended a convention held in London yesterday. by the Institution. of Municipal Engineers, dealing with the problems of car parking in City centres. In conjunction with the convention,' the British Road Federation staged its Car Parking Exhibition, introduced . last. March, which is currently touring this country.
£22m. Rootes Plant
AN entirely new Scottish factory is to be built by Rootes Motors, Ltd., alongside the existing works of the Pressed Steel Co., Ltd., at Linwood, Renfrewshire. The project is estimated to cost 122m. and will be concerned with the productien of a new small car as an addition to the Hillman range.
FROM MOTHER TO SON
THE Scottish Licensing Authority, Mr, W. F. Quin, last week granted John Bowes, of Falkirk, a licence for a house removals business previously operated by his mother at Falkirk, on a B licence. The Authority was told that Mr. Bowes had managed the business for the past 14 years.