Haulage Rights – Home Coal Services to Be Restricted – Licences Not Renewed

February 1937

Mexborough & Swinton Times, February 5, 1937

Haulage Rights
Home Coal Services to Be Restricted
Licences Not Renewed

Applications on behalf of four colliery home delivery services for renewal of “A” licences, which enable vehicles to travel any distance with any goods, failed at a traffic Commissioners Court held at Rotherham on Wednesday. The applications were by Denaby and Cadeby Home Coal Carting Committee, Maltby Miner’s Home Coal and Transport Service, Silverwood Home Coal Delivery Service Ltd., and Kilnhurst Colliery Coal Supply Service.

At the end of each application the licensing authority for the Yorkshire traffic area, Mr Joseph Farndale, said he would defer his decision, but expected in the meantime the applications would be for a “B” license, which while restricting the radius in which the applicants” vehicles could operate, would enable them to fulfil their requirements for the transport of home coal.

Mr J. S. Walsh, solicitor of Leeds, who appeared for Silverwood Home Coal Delivery Service Ltd., submitted that according to a recent High Court decision, such societies operated entirely for hire or reward, and were therefore entitled to an “A” license. They were not in the position of an applicant for a “B” license to wanted to operate for hire or reward as well as in his own business, nor in the position of an holder of a “E” license who used his vehicle only for his business.

Mr Farndale said he had heard that point many times before. If Silverwood Home Coal Delivery Service Ltd wished to appeal he would give his decision. If not, they should make an application for a “B” license, which was the proper licence for their requirements.

When Ald. E. Dunn, MP., secretary of Maltby Miner’s Home Coal and Transport Service, giving evidence, observed that he expected the application to be merely formal as they were asking only for what had been granted them before, Mr Farndale said each application was treated on its own merits.

Ald. Dunn further observed that the Maltby service applied originally for a “B” license and were told they should apply for a “A” license.

George Starr, secretary of the Denaby and Cadeby Main Colliery Coal Carting Committee, said that, in addition to supplying men working at the colliery and widows of men who had worked there, they transported furniture for men leaving the colliery or coming to take employment.