Committees Should Be Scrapped At Once!
Page 42
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A LTHOUGH I am not a haulier, I have appeared on 2—kbehalf of a member before the licensing sub-committee which was recently set up in this area. Before I went I informed the secretary of the committee that I proposed to attend to obtain information as to the workings of the sub-committee: in connection with the association of which I am f:ecretary. He extended to me a cordial invitation to attend, along with the applicant. I appeared, to find that the road. side of the subcommittee was represented by three road haulage operators with whom 1 am on very friendly terms. The railway company was represented by two, men, one of whom I knew, very well and with whom 1 have had many tussles in the past.
Humouring the Railways
The whole atmosphere was friendly, and I formed the impression that all concerned were undoubtedly actuated by the best of motives. It was soon obvious to me that the railway representatives wanted me to concede something from the application. I pointed out that I was merely there out of curiosity and that, in any event, 1 was on a "sitter" when the matter went before the licensing committee, having regard to the evidence which I held and the several witnesses who were prepared to appear before the Licensing Authority. I did concede something very trifling—which, in fact, did not affect the applicant at all—because I felt that it was a great pity to spoil such a pleasant little party, and anyway, railway representatives must—like everyone else—be allowed to live.
Now there is no doubt in my mind, and there never was any doubt, that this sort of thing could be extremely
dangerous. I agree entirely with "Tantalus' that the scheme should be scrapped at once, for I cannot avoid feeling that my member was fortunate in meeting the right sort of people, whose honesty of purpose could not be doubted, but other operators might not be so fortunate.
Apart from the state of affairs to which "Tantalus" draws your readers' attention, I am astounded that the Road Haulage Association should have agreed to the scheme in the first place, for it is a well-knoWn fact, which cannot be challenged, that the railway companies,
• by reason of their objections, have been the best friends the associations ever had. Railway objections did more to swell the membership of the associations than all the organizers ever did.
Not Wanted This is not relevant, but nevertheless it is true, and for the reasons so ably put forward by "Tantalus," the answer to his question, "Should these sub-committees continue?" is most emphatically "No! "
notice that the Editor promised that the name of any haulier who responds to the request for information would not be made public. I have not the slightest objection to your publishing my name and position, for, in any event, I am certain that by far the great majority of reputable hauliers and association officials are not now and never have been enamoured of. this ill-advised scheme.
[We will abide by our original undertaking and publish this report (by a well-known association official) anonymously. We appreciate his offer to divulge his identity.—ED.]