B.R.S. Horticultural Rates Checked
Page 21

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HORTICULTURAL merchants have 'reported a halt in the continued
demand by British Road Services for higher rates, now that B.R.S. have lost their monopoly in long-distance transport.
The Fruit Trade Journal quotes an •
instance of a large company of distributors in the West Riding to whom B.R.S. charges and those of a haulier for the delivery of oranges to market from Southampton differed by 54d. a case. In the Southampton district B.R.S. had offered a 10 per cent, reduction on bulk consignments from one store to a consignee.
It is understood that B.R.S. have lost much of their fruit-haulage business in Liverpool and are counter ing the situation by quoting lower rates. The original charges of 6d. for tomato packages of 6 kg., 9d. for 9 kg. and Is. for 12 kg. have been cut to 5d., 744. and 9d. respectively. This is stated to be' because of an arrangement made recently between B.R.S. and Spanish shippers of tomatoes.
The Spanish shippers have told merchants to use B.R.S. unless other hauliers "fall into line," but sonic merchants point out that the extra skill displayed by free-enterprise hauliers in handling produce makes higher payment worth while.
MR. GRESHA.M COOKE, M.P.?
LASTLAST week Mr. R. Gresham Cooke, of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, was chosen as Conservative candidate for Twickenham, a safe seat. He is expected to remain in the industry.