Four Continental Artics for Cawthorn and Sinclair
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NA 0 R E vehicles will be run by ,LY-1 Cawthorn and Sinclair Ltd.. of North Road Garage, Birtley (Co. Durham) direct to Paris and the surrounding districts as the result of an application granted in part by the Northern Licensing Authority at Newcastle last week.
The firm, which already runs two vehicles to France each week, applied for six artics on A licence. The LA, Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, granted the application for four vehicles.
Mr. T. H. Campbell Wardlaw, on behalf of the applicants. said that the firm had a fleet of more than 30 vehicles, mainly on A licences. Many of these were employed on the services of Thorn AEI and associated companies, makers of radio valves and television tubes.
" This company has a large factory at Sunderland where more than 1,200 people are employed ", said Mr. Campbell Wardlaw. "There has been tremendous efforts to get into the Continental market. .and its sales in France, which face fierce competition, are increasing."
Various methods of transporting the goods from Sunderland to the Continent had been tried,. but these had proved unsatisfactory. The company then decided to conduct a number of experimental runs by road with the applicant company. "These," added Mr. Wardlaw. " have been tremendously successful."
Breakages by Rail and Sea Mr, George Thwaites, commercial manager of Cawthorn and Sinclair, said that the television tubes were sold in the UK and all over the world. More.than 25,000 tubes had been sent by sea, he said. Of these 200 had broken en route. This had cost the company £1.100. Some 28,000 had been sent by rail as an alternative, hut of these 400 broke. This cost £2,200.
• Cross-examined by Mr. David Patterson, representing the objectors. British Railways, and British Road Services, Mr. Thwaites said that three vehicles would • he needed in September. He said that during the months after this his company was foreseeing even greater demands.
Mr. Patterson submitted that " there is certainly no case for six. I think the best policy is to wait and see In reply Mr. Wardlaw told the court that although only three -vehicles would he needed in September. the trip took 10 days and as Thorn AEI wanted three vehicles to leave each week this meant that six vehicles would be necessary.
Mr. Hanlon, who said that the export trade should not he interfered with by the Licensing Authority, granted the application for four vehicles. He also granted a second application for two 3I-ton fourwheelers to be used for local collection and delivery and occasionally longdistance operation.