Unity, Policy and Effort—What the Industry Needs
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SONIE days ago, Mr. W. G. Cooper: -/East Midland Area Chairman of A.R.O., addressed the annual meeting of the Scunthorpe Sub-area of the Association. Referring to the future of the industry; he said that unless the opportunity of becoming more united and better organized be taken, he could see only three possibilities for the postwar period.
The first—all-out nationalization— seemed to be looming ever closer. The second was the compulsory setting up of transport boards on the lines of the L.PT.B. The third, the maintenance of the status quo, was a remote possibility, as it was unlikely that any Government would countenance a reversion to the pre-war condition; with cut-throat competition within the industry, and competition with air and rail transport.
He -thought that few haulage contractors wouldwelcome the first, whilst the second, which might be palatable to some of the larger operators, was unlikely to. make any appeal to the smaller concerns. Referring to the unlikelihood of the third arrangement, Mr. Cooper said that air transport would play a large part in the future.
There remained only the possibility of the industry organizing itself and being able to convince the public and Parliament that it . could, of its own effort, provide a transport service superior to the services which would result from any alternatives previously mentioned. Mr. Cooper was convinced that this could be done and said that, in his opinion, the main requirements for this were unity:, policy and effort. Unity within the industry would entail the merging of all the associations. The policy must be drawn up and publicised. In this policy -the main consideration must be service to the community within the appropriate sphere of road transport, .and not private profit. Determined effort by all operators was necessary to fulfil the first two qualifications.