SHIPPING COMPANY FIGHTS ROAD TRANSPORT
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°THERE was a clash between road transport and coastwise-shipping interests at Hull, on Friday, when Sir William Hart, Yorkshire Deputy Licensing Authority, heard an application by Messrs. C. A. and F. Cook, hauliers, of Hull, for the renewal of their licences.
Mr. Frank Cook, a member of the applicant firm, described how the undertaking had grown from having one lorry in 1920 to 23 vehicles in 1935, with a turnover of 242,838 for the year ended February last, and a total of 38,063 tons carried during that year. Their vehicles, he said, were working to 95 per cent, capacity, and they employed from 19 to 22 sub-contractors.
Cross-examined by Mr. Alf. Masser, for the Coastwise Shipping Road Traffic Committee, Mr. Cook emphatically denied that the increase in his firm's business was due to undercutting. Mr. Masser stated that the General Steam Navigation Co., Ltd., had had to re duce its rates by 10s. a ton, in some cases, to secure even part of the work for which Messrs. Cook quoted.
Remarking that he was chairman of a rates-stabilization committee, Mr. Cook said he had never deliberately cut rates. Because his firm's rates were too high they did not obtain 50 per cent, of the traffic for which they quoted.
The Hull manager for the General Steam Navigation Co., Ltd., said the company estimated that it was losing 14,000 tons a year to road transport.
Mr. Masser stated that his objection to the renewal of the licences was confined to those in respect of discretionary vehicles. Mr. Cyril Dawson (for the applicants) said he would be prepared to produce Messrs. Cook's balance sheet to prove that there had been no price-cutting. It would be serious if short-term licences in respect of the discretionary vehicles were refused.
The Authority deferred his decision.