Six resolutions on roads were dispatched within an hour after
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lunch on Tuesday. The first, which was carried, stated that in the interests of road safety local authorities should constantly supervise all disturbances to the surfaces of roads until they were finally reinstated. Afterwards there should be a periodical inspection of the repairs.
Mr. T. H. AmbIin, in a lively address, said that twice in the past few years front axles had been torn out of his vehicles in crossing a trench in the road, which had sunk badly because of heavy rain. On the second occasion the unlighted trench was 2-ft. deep, but the police took no action against those responsible.
Mr. Amblin successfully carried another resolution declaring that all allocations to local authorities for road expenditure should be used up by March 31 each year, or should be forfeited. Under the present system less efficient spending frequently occurred. His point was that each authority was forced to reserve enough money to deal with emergencies during the last few months of the financial year, which in a bad winter could be heavy. Towards the end of February most of the uncertainty was over and there was often a mad rush to use up any surplus money. Either a reasonable part of the grant should be carried into the next financial year, or the year-end should be changed to a time when the weather was not so uncertain.
No Motorway Markers Delegates threw out a motion proposed by Mr. V. Smyth and seconded by Mr. F. R. Bird that suitable markers should be erected at intervals to indicate the boundaries of the new motorways. It deprecated the abolition of raised kerbs. Mr. Smyth suggested light wooden markers. Mr. Bird proposed that earth banks should be erected On each side of the road.
It was a foregone conclusion that delegates would carry unanimously a resolution proposed by Mr. F. H. Hiscox, and seconded by Mr. A. Maarlin, from Devon and Cornwall Area that there should be no toll roads.
82.8 After Mr. A. Neely had declared that the motion was too elementary and pointless the Conference threw out a recommendation to the Minister of Transport "to ensure that when road improvements were made provision for not less than three-lane traffic should be borne in mind by his Department." Mr. McFarlin and Mr. Hiscox sponsored it.
After a count of hands, delegates agreed to a motion "that before consideration is given by the Government to the grant of funds for construction of inner ring roads, construction of suitable outer ring roads or by-passes should have been completed." Its sponsors were Mr. .1. S. Wright and Mr. G. E. Jackson.
Mr. Wright declared that outer ring roads were often more effective in diverting traffic. By-passes started 30 years ago were still not finished.
Mr. Ingram put the matter in a nutshell when he said that there must be inner ring roads, as well as outer by-passes.
Wednesday's proceedings were opened by Mr. D. R. Miers, one of the Association's vigorous young men, with a proposal that the R.H.A. should sponsor schools for commercial vehicle drivers where men could learn the full range of their duties. He spoke Of the shortage in the Midlands of good drivers for local and medium-distance work. It was difficult to assess a man's ability, in an interview and on a short road test, and his company had paid heavily for unfortunate choices of drivers.
Mr. J. Holden agreed in principle with the scheme, but pointed out that it would be costly, and thought the Transport and General Workers Union should accept responsibility for training. Mr. Goo.dier thought the National Road Transport Federation should take schools under their wing because C-licence drivers greatly outnumbered Aand B-licence men.
Mr. P. H. R. Turner proposed that action should be taken to obtain the co-operation of business houses in extending facilities for collecting and delivering their goods, and was warmly supported by Mr. J. T. Turner, a colleague from the Metropolitan' and South Eastern Area. Mr. P. H. R. Turner said that the pink zone scheme in London had been reasonably successful because all concerned with the delivery of •goOds had co-operated.
Mr. C. Collins emphasized that the problem' was becoming more serious every day and its effect on costs was• profound. Mr. J. Adcock urged that the R.H.A. should set up a special committee to deal with the matter. The resolution was carried..
Delegates also endorsed a motion asking the Association to produce for members a standard form to be used by drivers when obtaining loads from clearing houses. On the form, details would be entered of the rate and job; particulars of the liabilities of both the clearing house and the haulier would be included. The object was to prevent the exploitation of hauliers by unscrupulous clearing houses. Mr. W. G. Hill, the proposer, said that there might, be a difference of as much as 10s. a ton between a verbal rate quoted by a clearing house and that actually paid. Mr. F. W. Baker, the seconder, envisaged that the form would be given to 'the driver in a sealed envelope. Mr. Harfoot wanted the gross rate and discount to be shown separately.
Scottish Success
Scotland, represented by Mr. James Barrie and Mr. H. Bell, were successful in proposing that a national benevolent fund should be established for the benefit of hauliers and their employees. He pointed out that the wheels of the welfare service provided by the State moved slowly, and urgent help was often needed. He thought the chairman's committee could administer the fund, and pointed out that with a levy of only £1 a member per year, a fund of £17,000 would be created.
Delegates threw out a motion that the Minister of Transport should be asked to take more active steps to ensure the enforcement of the law on licensing, drivers' hours and overloading. The resolution was proposed in the interests of law-abiding operators. Mr. A. J. Dale, who put it forward, complained that the industry's name was being dragged in the mud by unscrupulous operators. Mr. Rudman, in a characteristic speech, said it was not the Association's function to act as policemen. The R.H.A. were being asked to tell the Minister that it was a disreputable industry, and to invite new restrictions. Mr. J. B. Mitchell, the national chairman, thought the spirit of the resolution, although not its wording. was accepted and pointed out that the Association did, in fact, take action with the authorities in suitable cases.
The Last One
The last resolution, which was carried, was one of the most important on the agenda. It recommended that the Association should examine the problem of waiting time, which is likely to become more serious as the working week in industry shortens. Mr. T.. Atkin, the proposer, said there was every indication that the working week would become shorter, but it was impossible to reduce the running time of vehicles. He quoted a . case of a nationalized undertaking refusing to receive goods after 1.30 p.m., and referred to the serious consequences of the virtual elimination of Saturday morning delivery.
Mr. A. Dunn, the seconder, declared that customers must be made to realize that they must pay for delays--a theme echoed by Mr. Ingram. Mr. Dale thought hauliers should be recommended by the R.H.A. to make. specific charges for . delays. Mr. Adcock wanted the Association to call a national conference with other trade bodies on the oroblern.