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Helping the Haulier in Scotland
Page 145
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IN Scotland there are two familiar designation given to those who carry goods for hire or reward. One is "carrier," and the other " haulage contractor," and the trade is fully aware that, whilst a haulage contractor is open to carry all classes of goods, anywhere, and is not confined to any specified route, a Carrier in the main operates his vehicles on a specified route and offers to the public a daily service from point to point. From every large city in Scotland there are vehicles plying daily to the outlying districts.
Early in 1933 the carriers in Glasgow were unorganized, and their interests as carriers were not protected. The prominent operators in this section of the industry got together and decided that an association should be formed for this purpose, The proposition was placed before the members in the various carriers' quarters in the city, and it was unanimously decided that such an association was necessary.
Instructions were given to the late Mr. Thomas Ormiston.. of Motherwell, to proceed with the formation of the Association. His advice to the promoters was that the body about to be formed should be of a national character, and should not be confined either locally, or to only one section of the haulage industry. His advice was accepted and the Scottish Carriers' and Haulage Contractors' Association came into being, with the object of serving both haulage contractors and carriers in Scotland.
Association's Efforts Rewarded.
The new Association immediately set about, under the chairmanship of Mr. John Aitchison, Dumbarton, with the late Mr. Thomas Ormiston, as secretary, to interest all non-members, of which there were many, and to bring them into the Association, which had been formed to protect their interests. The response was great, and gave much encouragement to the originators, many of whom were now actively serving as directors. Representatives were appointed to many of the public bodies and the importance of the Association to the industry was very soon realized. The secretary's influence as a Member of Parliament was also an advantage, and important issues which otherwise could not be raised were given a hearing in official circles in London.
Towards the end of 1936 Mr. Ormiston became seriously ill and it was with deep regret that, early in 1937, the directors of the Association had to record his death. Matters then took a different shape, and a plea was put forward for a central office in Glasgow, with a whole-time secretary, and in April, 1937, the present secretary, Mr. Hamish MacDougall, was appointed full-tithe organizing secretary to the Association.
Offices were opened up in Glasgow and announcements made to the trade of the change in the operations of the Association. Mr. Aitchison, who, throughout the years since the incorporation, had been chairman, resigned and was appointed honorary president, Mr. Andrew Duncan being appointed chairman, with Mr. John Strang as vice-chairman.
The work that the Association has done since its inception has been varied, but, in the main, has been directed to protect haulage . contractor and carrier alike, both individually and collectively. On public bodies the Association has voiced its opinion and in many instances
moulded the decisions made. It has been represented on the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and the Scottish Conciliation Board for Wages. The formation of branches in Aberdeen, Inverness and Ayrshire. with part-time secretaries there, has greatly assisted members in the work of the Association generally.
Rate-schedules for ‘ smalls" traffic and other goods have been compiled by the Association, and, with the major problem of rates stabilization for the whole of the country now before the industry, it is felt that these agreements are still suitable for building up a rates structure.
This problem is being tackled by the Associated Road Operators, under the guidance of a rates expert iS.T.R., of The Commercial MotorED.] and on this Committee the Association has representation.
This link with the Associated Road Operators has been of great value to members. Whilst the Association retains its own identity and personnel, nevertheless it is realized that legislation is conceived by what is in the main an English Parliament. It is essential to have Scottish interests protected as far as possible, and this can be achieved only by such an affiliation.
Unity is Strength.
This Association has repeatedly asserted throughout the years that unity is strength, and that one large National Association for• Scotland would solve many problems. Its efforts in the past have not met with great success, but, with the rates problem yet unsolved, it is of the opinion that this state of affairs must still come about.
Conditions in Scotland have certainly improved since the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, came into force. Vehicles generally are in a better state of repair, and transport conditions are improving. There is a tendency for large units to absorb the smaller ones which have been unable to carry on, owing, in some instances, to the fact that uneconomic rates are still prevailing.
The competitor of the road haulier now is not so much the railway company as his opponent operating under A or B licences. Rates stabilization is essential and this can be achieved only through the operators in Scotland getting together through their associations and setting about the task of forming a rates structure.