Competed With Old Company
Page 53
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
ADRIVER who set up as a haulage contractor was obviously in direct competition with his former employers, Mr. C. R. Beddington told the Transport Tribunal last week. Mr. Beddington was appearing for the former employers, Hill and Sons (Botley and Denmead, Ltd.). Curdridge, Botley, who contested a variation of a 11 licence held by Mr. R. Goodfellow, of Waltham Chase, Southampton..
The variation added one 4-ton vehicle to Mr. Goodfellow's licence, with special conditions for the carriage of pigs within 75 miles of Waltham Chase. After a two-day hearing, the appeal partly succeeded. The acting president, Mr. I. C. Poole, modified the licence so that the vehicle could carry pigs and goods within 25 miles of Waltham Chase. Mr. Beddington said Mr. Goodfellow was employed by Hill's for many years
as a driver. Hill's had about 100 vehicles, and 15 4were used for the carriage of livestock, mainly in Hampshire.
Mr. Goodfellow left the company in 1951 and started up his own business in the same part of Hampshire. When the Fatstock Marketing Corporation came into operation, Hill's were appointed carriers for an area covering a large part of Hampshire. However, in June, 1955, a large part of the area was given th Mr. Goodfellow. Hill's still had available the vehicles used for the Corporation's pigs, when they held what was virtually a monopoly of the traffic.
Mr. Beddington added that Ivir. Goodfellow had applied for an additional vehicle on the basis that a vehicle which he had hired was no longer available to him.
Two witnesses had given evidence of an expected increase in pig traffic, 'but neither of them ,fortified that with any factual evidence, Increase in Traffic
For Mr. Goodfellow, Mr. J. R. C. Samuel-Gibbon said he had experienced a substantial increase in traffic and this was likely to continue, particularly in the carrying of pigs. Hill's had not proved that they had vehicles available to do the work, or that any such vehicles were suitable.
Announcing his decision. Mr. Poole said the Tribunal felt the figutes put in by Mr. Goodfellow might have been more accurately prepared, but there was no reason for thinking the reasons set out for the application were exaggerated.
Mr. Goodfellow should have the vehicle to replace one he had been able to use until the end of 1956, but the Tribunal thought the South Eastern Licensing Authority had . been overgenerous in allowing the vehicle to carry pigs for 75 miles.