Apathy Kills a Great Project
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THE public-spirited members of the national council of the Motor Hirers and Coach Services Association have, in the failure of the plans for the National Road Passenger Transport Week, suffered greater disappointment than they have ever previously known. They—and with them the whole road passenger-transport industry—are humiliated entirely as a result of the appalling apathy of many operators towards any effort that is made to further their interests and to which they will be required to make a small contribution.
The powerful combine companies, many of which, despite their constant complaints of hard times, are still able to pay handsome dividends, are as much to blame for this as the small operators; in fact, their financial strength places upon them additional responsibility to give assistance to movements designed for the benefit of the industry.
It was necessary to raise £1 ,250 for expenditure to be met nationally from. headquarters, whilst £5,000 was required for the event to be staged in a manner properly representative of the importance of the industry. We would have thought that over 6,000 public-service-vehicle operators would find no difficulty in subscribing the necessary sum; an average levy of about 16s. per concern would have enabled the campaign to have been conducted on generous lines. What measure of support was obtained? After despatching many thousands of letters and undertaking much voluntary, canvassing work, the organizers secured subscriptions totalling less than £100. Those who have the interests of the industry at heart have freely given their energy and resources to the organization of the movement and have devised an attractive programme, but all their efforts are wasted. One is reluctant to think of the effect that such bitter failure must have upon the railways. Their opinion of the substance of their competitor must drop considerably, whilst the Minister of Transport, the Traffic Commissioners and the public may be inclined to feel that the road passenger-transport industry is not worthy of sympathy or protection.
The disappointment is increased by the fact that some measure of co-operation was beginning to be achieved and there were prospects of strengthening the position of the industry to combat the fierce competition of the railways. It now appears, however, that unity is far from being an accomplished fact and, in this respect, the hauliers have much to teach coach and bus owners.
The future success of the road passenger-transport industry will not be assured until all engage4 in it forget their internal disagreements and work unselfishly for the common good. It is to the shame of those dilatory operators responsible that so laudable a cause as the National Road Passenger Transport Week has been allowed to collapse when the negotiations were at an advanced stage.