R.H.A. Split Caused Coal Transport Dispute, says Major Eastwood
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NAAJOR F. S. EASTWOOD, Yorkshire Licensing Authority, in a speech at IVISheffield last Friday, criticized the Road Haulage Association, particularly with reference to the position which has arisen in Yorkshire over the haulage of open-cast coal from excavation sites to the sorting screens. He was commenting on complaints that some of the Ministry of Fuel contracts for this work, formerly carried on under the now defunct Road Haulage Organization of the Ministry of Transport, and recently put out to tender, had been placed with Yorkshire coal distributors who themselves own only C-licence vehicles. As a result, some 130 A and B-licence vehicles, which up to September 30 last were employed on coal transport by the Barnsley pool, the Don Valley pool and the Direct Motor Services (Sheffield) pool, were said to be idle.
Major Eastwood, who was speaking at the second annual dinner of the R.H.A. Sheffield sub-area, stated that his recent experience, particularly in connection with the open-cast coal, had confirmed his fears that those of the rank and file of the haulage industry who were in the R.H.A. were wondering where they were going.
He had seen evidence lately that some cracks were appearing in the R.H.A. fabric, and this had been confirmed by the recent letting of open-cast coal contracts. He had been inundated with complaints that the Ministry of Fuel and Power had allocated contracts to coal distributors operating vehicles on C licences, Instead of giving the job to A and B-licence operators. The Ministry of Fuel and Power had been blamed for this change and had come under heavy undeserved criticise& Unfortunately a split in the ranks of the R.H.A. executive had led to the present position.
No blame could be attached to the Ministry, which had asked for tenders in the normal manner, and hauliers could not expect to be protected front normal commercial procedure.
Major Eastwood went on to say he had knowledge of the rates quoted in the tenders, but these were, for the moment, being kept confidential. All he could say was that there were differ ences of more than 20 per cent. above and below the scheduled rate.
It had been suggested that the R.H.A. should approach the Road Transport Executive with a view to the latter taking over the organization for the haulage of what was a Government commodity, but apparently the Association's executive had refused to do so, only some four members of the executive being in favour of an approach. This showed a regrettable lack of foresight.
He thought it was a great pity that that R.H.A. executive was not prepared to work with the Road Transport Executive on the haulage of this particular commodity.
Referring to the position under the Transport Act, Major Eastwood said he thought there was just as much need for the R.H.A. as before the passing of the Act. Competition not only between hauliers for short-distance traffic, hut with the Road Transport Executive units was bound to be severe, and there was a great need for a strong association inside which there must be a better element of co-operation between members than appeared to exist at the moment, It would also be necessary for that association to deal collectively with the Road Transport Executive.
Major Eastwood hoped that the R.H.A. would get over its present internal troubles.