North and East Lancs. C.Ni.U.A.
Page 11
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Important Activities and Developments Expected.
The North and East Lancs. C.M.U.A. began a useful career some years ago as a Damen society, chiefly through the energies of Messrs, J. Orrell, F. Wearing, . G. H. Richards and H. Hunter. These users were of the assembly, on Saturday evening last, at the White Bull Hotel, Blackburn, which marked yet another stage of progress -on the part of this enlarged and progressive body. The new Chairman, Mr. J. Crumbleholm, of Matthew Brown and Co., Ltd., Preston, was in the chair at all meetings—general, committee and smoking concert. The society, it-transpired, is in a sound financial position, with some £130 in hand as a working balance. The attendance also included the following :—Messrs. W. Ainsworth (Da.rwen), E. Barnes (Preston Embee Motors, Ltd.), J. Benson (Tottington), S. Bradshaw (Bolton), J. E. Buleock (Great Harwood), T. H. Carr (Rishton), H. R. Clubley (St. Belens Cable and Rubber Co., Ltd.), D. Coleman (Rishton), J. Coulthard (Preston), W. Eccles (Darwen), T. Fielding (Darwen), F. G. Garrott (Pres. too), C. Le M. Gosselin (H. Viney and Co., Ltd., Preston)' J. Hindle and R. Hindle (Blackburn), R. H. Holden (Preston), J. T. Hope (Rishton), L. Houghton (C,e-o. and R. Dewhurst, Preston), J. Kinder (Blackburn), E. Ley (Preston), H. H. Meggett (Damen), J. Parkinson (Clitheroe), W. Peacock (Mellor), A. L. Smith (Rd. Sha-ckleton and Sons, Blackburn), J. Turner (Blackburn), and J. T. Ward (Preston), Secretary of the Association. The guests of the evening were the Editor of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR and the Secretary of the.C.M.-U.A.
A. well-rendered vocal, and instru.mental entertainment was furnished by Messrs. Roper Ward, 13. Slater,
• -W. W. Archer and G. Lang (all of Preston).
The new Chairman, Mr. Crumblehohn, opened the proceedings by mentioning the services to the Association of the retiring chairman, Me. Richards. Later in the evening, he pointed out that, whilst the Association as a body did not seek to control or fix carrying rates, there was no reason why' the Secretary should not, at the request of individual members, convene meetings for the informal discussion of such matters. Be desired, in the name of all present, to welcome 1-1-essrs. Shrapnell-Smith and Bristow. They were met as business men for an evening's relaxation, but he felt sure that they could not at the present time Jose sight of the advantage to them of hearing what thi.;ir friends from London might have to tell them about legal and other matters.
Mr. Shrapnell-Snaith opened his short address by examiningthe pros and cons of the position of employers and employees under the Derby Scheme. He stated, in reply to a question, that "carters, lorrymen and draymen" should be hold to include second men on ,steam wagons and loaders. He hoped shortly to see it made clear that the correct procedure for an employer, on the calling-up by Royal Proclamation of any Group which affected his men, was, in the case of each man separately, to certify by letter addressed to the local Recruiting Officer (not the Sergeant). that the attested man belonged to such-and-such. a Reserved Occupation, which employment •he regularly followed, and that the man would thereupon be automatically starred. There should be no necessity for these men to go before any Tribunal, as that involved waste of time. The L.G.B. view, so far as he now understood it, was that all men -so reserved were to be ranked as though they had been starred last August, before the. date of the National Registration, and should not be liable :to be.called up to serve with the Colours. They might,. however, have to comply with any call or demandfrom theMinistry of Munitions. He expected to be able to make an authoritative statement on these points soon. If, however, nothing fur
their was announced, the employers and the attested men must apply to their Local Tribunals, and afterwards appeal if necessary.
The speaker next touched at some 16ngth upon his scheme for the co-operative purchase of returned Army motor wagons by A.S.C., M.T., men. It was, he thought, of great importance gradually to develop every feasible means of reducing the likely stress, both for manufacturers and users, which must follow the conclusion of hostilities, whenever that proved to be. He intended to neglect no opportunities to prepare. His hearers might rest assured that he Was fully alive to the evils of numberless one-man con.cerns the experience of the past taught the inherent value of availing oneself of concerted plans. The returning A.S.C., MT., men who had saved money should be helped to link up forces with existing carriers, rather than to start on their own in every case. Some of them, of course, might prefer—and be qualified—to proceed independently.
Speaking of roads, Mr. Shrapnell-Smith pointed out the various considerations which affected choice of route and avoidance of damage to weak roads.
detected signs of broader views in Bolton. As to legislation, the L.G.B. Committee on " construction and use" was scarcely likely to report before June ; a Select Committee, of both Houses of Parliament, had then to sit to investigate taxation scales. Carriers and other users would then—perhaps two years hence—know exactly 'where they stood ; their busi nesses, relieved of several uncertainties, would become more definite in scope arid 'mode Of conduct, but, of course, the consumer would have to pay. T.Tntil peace came, the duty of each of us was to sub. jugate everything to the steps to secure victory.
Mr. Bristow reviewed the active work of the moor. porated C.M.U.A. during the past few months. The points for which he asked attention included : success in securing 50 per cent, rebate of the extra tax on petrol (making 3d. per gallon rebate altogether) ; success in getting the list of "Reserved.Occupations " extended so as to include drivers of heavy motors— and,he thought, mates and loaders as well ; success in the aided defence of a member who had to fight a claim of .26000 for the alleged destruction of a village by fire (sparks from steam lorry); success in negotiating with the Royal Borough of Kensington the postponeme.nt until after the war—if not for all time—of proceedings in the High Court to obtain an injunction restraining a firm of users of steam wagons from sending their machines into•any partpf that borough ; success,.in having their " Employment Bureau " for discharged soldiers and sailors acknowledged and adopted officially by the War Office, the Labour Branch of the Board of Trade, and competent patriotic associations ; success in carrying on, despite the enormous depletions -in the ranks of -drivers and mechanics dime to the war, the educational portion of the work associated with the— Annual Parades,. now of necessity suspended. He thought it was no excess of compliment to Mr. G. W. Watson, the Engineer to the Association and its members, when a well-known user, whose drivers had been unable to attend Mr. Watson's lectures and had therefore to rely on a study of them in print, had stated them to be " invaluable." Mr.. Bristow -.then ,entered. Alpon several topics of close interest to the members present, and concluded his remarks by stating--with the approval of the Hon. Treasurer—that the parent body was now strong enough financially to give at least the same amount in cash as the local association to fight any case of principle or victimixation in the district. He urged non-members to write to Mr. J. T. Ward, at 41, Fishergate, Preston, for forms of application for membership.