Bid To Speed Up Perry Merger Scheme
Page 20
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
FRETFULNESS among C.M.U.A. members concerning any tendency which may retard the Perry Merger scheme for the unification of operators' associations is reported by Major R. A. B. Smith, C.M.U.A., president, following a series of members' meetings which, he has attended recently in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and the Midlands.
With Mr. F. G. Bristow, C.M.U.A., general secretary. Major Smith• has addressed such meetings at Liverpool, Manchester, Preston, Birmingham and Leeds; with reference to the Perry scheme. In an interview last week-end, at Leeds, with a correspondent of this journal. Majur Smith said: " We found general enthusiasm for early consummation of the merger scheme, and some fretfulness at any, tendency that may retard it." Adding a remark which indicated that he shares this feeling of restiveness, Major Smith said: " We have got the two Perry reports. and we must act on them. We cannot afford to put off doing so any.further. To my mind, the merger could be completed forthwith, and any little differences could be easily' settled amicably after such completion."
Councillor Charles Holdsworth, of Halifax, chairnian of the C.M.U.A. North-eastern Division, and of the recently formed West Riding Area Committee of the new Road Haulage 'Association, stressed, to our correspondent, that major planning by the road-transport industry as to its future. place in the national life was being dangerousry delayed by the fact that the merger was not advancing to fruition more quickly.
" The railway companies have all their plans set and are ready for going ahead," said Councillor Hoidsworth. We in our industry have been so moth occupied by the merger project that our planning of more general policy, as distinct from ourrinternal affairs, has been largely in abeyance, and if we are not careful we are going to b& too late in putting forward' our plans."
He instanced that in connection with the projected reconstruction and improvement of seaports, the roadtransport industry should be considering the question of roads into those ports, and formulating proposals as to facilities for road-borne traffic.,' That is one of several subjects on which we ought to be going ahead with our planning, but unfortunately we have not yet got down to grappling with them as a united body," he added. " Therefore, the quicker the merger comes to fruition -he better."
As evidence of the strong desire in C.M.U.A. quarters for speedy consummation of the merger, Mr. Bristow pointed to the C.M.U.A, extraordinary general meeting which has been convened for May .'31 in London, at which will be submitted a resolution to approve the draft merger agreement and to authorize steps preliminary to the winding up of the Association.
The fact that office premises in Oxford •Place, Leeds, have been leased to house under one roof theheadquarters of the Road Haulage Association's West Riding Area, and the Yorkshire Area of the Public Service Vehicle Operators' Association and Traders' Transport' Association, was mentioned by Councillor Holdsworth when pre's,iding at a meeting of the committee of the North-eastern Division of the C.M.U.A.