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B.T.C. Chairman Defines Priority

13th May 1949, Page 5
13th May 1949
Page 5
Page 5, 13th May 1949 — B.T.C. Chairman Defines Priority
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

in Nationalization

j AM frequently asked in what order

I the long-distance hauliers are being acquired," said Sir Cyril Hurcomb, chairman of the British Transport• Commission, at the annual luncheon of the National Union of Manufacturers, last week.

"The answer is that priority is determined by the following factors or a combination of them:—Size and importance of the firm; special experience and capacity of managers or staff; ability of administrative and accounting machinery to cope quickly with substantial additional work; suitability of premises, including room for expansion; location and traffic considerations."

Sir Cyril added that for a long time there would be many Aand Blicensees who had done some longdistance work in the past, but not sufficient to make their businesses compulsorily acquirable. Many of these operators would be able to continue their services under permits, so long as they fitted in with the national scheme of long-distance road haulage.

The Road Transport Executive was rapidly building up an organization and assembling a fleet that would offer a nation-wide service for the carriage of goods by road, co-ordinated with that of the railways, said Sir Cyril. These road services would replace some railway branch lines that carried little traffic, but they would not be merely complementary. They would provide specialized facilities for traders who required or preferred their goods to be carried by road.

Later, Sir Cyril said that he hoped that traders would leave the Commission to employ the method of transport that enabled it to make the most advantageous use of its resources.

Referring to the importance of maintaining high passenger traffic on the railways, he asked members of the N.U.M. to bear in mind, in arranging works outings, that the railways were now able to carry such parties at cheap fares.

On the subject of operation by ancillary users, he commented: "We do not view the large increase ht C-licence holders with indifference, but I will only say that if traders are deliberately changing over to such licences through some fear or dislike of nationalization, they may find that they have insured against risks of injury which will never mature." The Commission intended shortly to prepare a document explaining the principles of the charges scheme to be submitted to the Transport Tribunal.

The matter would be discussed with the N.U.M. and other similar bodies, and it was hoped that differences would be overcome before the scheme was formally submitted to the Tribunal.

SEVEN APPEALS NEXT WEEK

SEVEN appeals, of which five will be grouped, will be heard next week by the Appeal Tribunal at Halifax House, Strand, London, W.C.2.

On May 17, J. Steele (Datchet), Ltd., will appeal against a decision of the Metropolitan Licensing Authority. The appeal of S. H. Croft against a decision of the South Eastern Deputy Licensing Authority will be heard on May 18.

Appeals by Edwin Clark, Ltd., Interceptor Cleansing Services, Ltd., Garage Interceptor Cleaners, Ltd., Mechanical Cleansing Service, Ltd., and Contract Gully Cleansing, Ltd., against a grant by the Eastern Licensing Authority to Messrs. Purle Bros. appear in the cause list for May 19.

N.A.F.W.R. Attitude Towards Newcomers

PARTICULARS of any concern previously engaged in general haulage and now carrying out household removals are sought by the National Association of Furniture Warehousemen and Removers. The executive committee's annual report, to be presented to a general meeting on May 18, states that no decision can be reached on the question of hauliers turning. to the removals trade, unless detailed information to the extent of any trend in this direction is obtained.

The committee is of the opinion that the road-rail negotiating committees have proved their value.

On the subject of rates, it is stated that careful consideration has been given to the possibility of drawing up a national schedule, but the committee has come to the conclusion that any attempt to apply a country-wide rates structure would not be pracEable. Many members believe that its application might create more problems than it attempted to solve, and that the best course would be to continue to emphasize the necessity always of basing charges on a scientific analysis of all costs.

It is also pointed out that the Wages Councils Act gives the removals and warehousing industry the opportunity of having its own council.

FOR PLATFORM SAFETY LINCOLN City Council last week L-Aconfirmed the transport committee's recommendation that all the municipal buses should be equipped with a device invented by Mr. George Rock, transport manager and engineer, to prevent platform accidents. This was fitted to a Guy bus showii at the Commercial Motor Transport Exhibition, last October.


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