He Started "Haulage" with a Wheelbarrow F EW men start business
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in the way that Mr. William Robertson, of Wellgate, Lanark, did, and can look hack on so many changes in an industry. When a lad in his 'teens, Mr. Robertson decided that the shopkeepers in Lanark were not getting as good a service as they should. Goods arriving at Lanark railway station for shopkeepers had to be collected by the consignees. .
He decided to improve this state of affairs and informed the shopkeepers that, for a consideration, their parcels would be delivered from the station, with a consequent saving of time. For this purpose he purchased a wheelbarrow, and his customers welcomed this service so much that it was soon necessary for him to purchase a larger wheelbarrow, to cope with the everincreasing demands made upon him.
As his traffic grew and his customers increased, a further investment was necessary, and this time his capital outlay obtained for him a pony and trap. The goods were collected and delivered to shopkeepers, not only in Lanark, but also in outlying districts. From time to time Mr. Robertson added further horsed vehicles, until; in 1920, when motor vehicles were becoming popular, he decided to inaugurate a direct service between Glasgow and the Lanark district.
At the present time he operates five Leylands and runs a service to Edinburgh, as well as to Glasgow. lie i a member of many of the carriers' quarters in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and a word might be said in this connection, in order to explain their utility. Carriers' quarters are miniature clearing houses.. They are, in the main, operated by the carriers themselves.
' Suitable premises are rented, in the names of one or two individuals, and each of the carriers operating from this depot contributes a weekly rent, for the privilege of having his goods collected and stored there. A clerk is in attendance at these quarters, and his duty is to accept goods on behalf of
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any carrier and to put them in that particular carrier's portion of the premises. Carriers call there, usually twice a day, in order to collect orders and goods which have been left with the clerk.
A committee has been formed of the representatives from the various carriers' quarters, and on this committee Mr. Robertson has played an active part. Recently, the committee decided that all tenants of quarters must be members of a recognized trade association, and this Lanark carrier induced many members into the Association of which he is a director.
Not only has Mr. Robertson had time to build up an excellent service between Glasgow and Lanark, but he has also devoted time to. furthering the interests of the haulage industry. 1-le is a director of the Scottish Carriers' and Haulage Contractors' Association, and, as a representative from Lanark. has done much to assist the carriers and contractors in that district to increase their rates and thus improve their financial stability.
In 1928 he was joined by his son, Mr. Fergus Robertson, who initiated the formation of groups in Lanark, and is a group organizer.