Jones Case Decision Reserved
Page 29
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FOR many years the Road Traffic Act had maintained a proper system of road haulage in Great Britain, said Mr. J. Edward Jones at Manchester last Friday. All the principles which came under discussion in a traffic court were relevant to the case in which he was appearing and each must be carefully considered, he contended.
Mr. Jones was appearing on behalf of over 100 operators who objected to an application by Jones Transport Services • (Liverpool), Ltd., involving the switch of 30 vehicles from Contract A to Public A licence (see The Commercial Motor, February 2). It was now clear, he said, that the 30 vehicles, which had been on contract to the British Aluminium Co., Ltd., had been carrying for the Alumina Co., Ltd. (one of its subsidiaries), at the same time. This should not have been done, even if there was a good reason for it.
If the application were granted, British Aluminium had been told that their rates would be stabilized or reduced, but it had not been stated how they would be amended. There were many advantages in having 30 vehicles on an A licence, but other hauliers had to be considered and the regular pattern of traffic maintained. Part-loads would be needed for the return journeys, but no real evidence had been called in respect of them.
Several haulage contractors were afraid that they would suffer abstraction if the facilities of Jones Transport were increased.
The North Western Licensing Authority, Mr. F. Williamson, said he would reserve his decision.