Difficulty Over Contract Licence Leads to Prosecution
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rtIFFICULTIES. frustrations and •
Ldr obstructions" which were said to
have faced a firm who tried to obtain a Contract A licence from the West Midland Licensing Authority were described to Harewood End magistrates when George Henry Powell, of Mordiford, and William T. L. Phillips. of 51, Guthlac Street, Hereford, pleaded guilty to using a vehicle for hire or reward without a licence.
In evidence, Mr. Phillips said that last July, his firm arranged with a Mr. Williams, a Shropshire timber merchant, for the haulage of timber. • Mr. L. J. Slade. for the defendants,
• said that to carry out the contract,' they bought a vehicle, and at the end of July filled up a form and sent it to the Licensing Authority. They did not receive a reply until August 17, when a document was enclosed, giving guidance to those who wished to apply, for contract licences. This was dated March, but in Julythe Ministry of•Transport had issued another document
countermanding it.
On August 22, Mr. Williams was pressing for the contract to be carried out and, in desperation, the defendants took a load of timber. The day after the vehicle had been stopped by the
police, Mr. Phillipsto the Licensing Authority's oce in Birmingham, where, after much difficulty, the file was found. Mr. Phillips was told that if he inserted the words "pole wagon in the contract and paid a fee of 30s., all would be in order.
The words were added and the fee was paid, but on October 22. the defendants were informed that the application had to be considered at a public inquiry, and that Mr. Williams must attend. He did not do so and the application was not granted.
On November 4, Mr. Williams told the defendants that he had made other arrangements for the haulage of the timber.
The chairman of the Bench said that a conviction must be registered, but the defendants would be unconditionally discharged.