Newcomer Succeeds Despite Opposition
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BOTH the railway companies and the Road Haulage Association objected when a Leicestershire ex-Serviceman, on behalf of himself and two brothers, successfully applied to the East Midland Deputy Licensing Authority, at Nottingham, for permission to run an extra vehicle. They pointed out that he was a newcomer to the industry. Messrs. Douglas, Leonard and Robert Wheat, of Birstall, already running a lorry within a 50-mile radius of Birstall Post Office under a B defence permit, applied to Lt.-Col. H. Bradwell for a licence to acquire another vehicle for transporting building and agricultural goods within a radius of 50 miles and coal within 20 miles of Birstall. "This newcomer," said Mr. H. F. R. Sturge, representing the railway companies, "came into .the industry in a very fortunate way, when many others have been turned aside, and within a matter of months seeks a highly prized award for long service in the haulage industry. It would be unfair not only to existing hauliers in the district and to the railways, but to those applicants who have been in the industry a long time and have applied unsuccessfully for new vehicles." Mr. L. W. Thurman, secretary of the local branch of the Road Haulage Association, who also opposed the application, supported Mr. Sturge's contention. He said that in the Leicester area there were vehicles available to do the work for which a licence was being sought. Lt.-Col. Bradwell granted permission to continue using the existing vehicle and to acquire another vehicle to transport building materials within 50 miles of Birstall Post Office, agricultural requisites within 20 miles and coal within 10 miles.