L.A. and Lime Racket
Page 43

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WHEN E. Hall and Sons, Ferryhill, Co. Durham, applied last week for a variation of their B licence to allow them to carry lime for another firm within a 60 miles radius of Ferryhill, the Licensing Authority, Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, said he would not grant the application unless he was given further particulars • about the amount of lime carried, the rates received for the work, the name of the persons paying the rates, and any other details which might be requested.
Mr. Hanlon said that public money was being spent on agricultural lime, and it had been alleged at a public inquiry that there was a racket by which the actual hauliers did not receive the full amount claimed from the Government. Hauliers were being employed at rates very much lower than the rate actually paid by the Government, and if this were true he would find out the facts.
He alleged that two hauliers, acting on instructions from a lime agent, had refused to give the Licensing Authority details of the rates they were receiving. This conduct was against the meaning of the Act, and would be taken into consideration when the hauliers applied for the renewal of their licences. When public money was involved, then the people actually doing the work were entitled to the money.