LIVERPOOL HAULAGE CONTRACTORS.
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THE MEETING of Livespool steam _and petrol motor haulage contractors. convened for the purpose of discussing the formation of an association to watch their interests, and held at the Law Aesociation Rooms, Cook Street, on Tuesday evening, 9th inst., was not an unqualified success and after the claims of the locals branch of the Commercial Motor Users' Association and the motor transport section of the Liverpool Cartowners. Association had been ek. pounded, no matter how honestly the need was felt of the new association, one began to have doubts as to the wisdom of going ahead without first examining the possibilities of the existing organizations.
Many new firms have sprung up during the last 18 months or two years, and, encountering with increasing difficulties, contractors became growingly conscioes of the need of a body, designed wholly and solely to satisfy the peculiar requirements of 'their own industry. Mr. F. A. Lawson, who was voted to the chair, explained that the Century Motor Haulage Co. (Liyeepool), Ltd., as
• newcomers to the motor haulage inditetry, felt that some sort of an organization was necessary in order adequately to protect the interests of the road transport trade, and that the feeling of Liverpool contractors should be tested as to the desirability or otherwise of setting up an organization consisting wholly and solely of motor haulage contractors. The meeting ,lead not been (called in any spirit of antagonism to the Liverpool branch of the •Cotnmercial Motor Users
• Association, but it was thought that, owing to their membership largely consisting of merchants who had a preponderating vote, the Association cbuld not adequately protect the haulage contractor.
Referring to the question of the proposed taxation of commercial motor , vehicles, loading and unloading 'delays, the increased petrol charges, teliirn loads from outeitie towns and the fixing. of fair rates for distance haulage, Mr. Lawson observed that those who had e: 8 ideas on a system of organization must realize that there were men on the road competing with them who had no idea as to running charges and ,costs, and who were probably running their businesses at a loss. There were really a great many makers that ought to exercise the attention of an association—a real live association.
They (the Century Co.) went into the question of long-distance rates so long ago as November last, and applied for information to the Liverpool branch of the C.M.U.A., but without obtaining it. In Liverpool there were 20 haulage contractors in the 0.M.U.A., according to their last list, and, as members-voted on the basis of one vote per vehicle, it would be seen how small a minority they were in. 'There was no identity of interests between the merchants and the hauliers—they were . pulling different ways. That, he thought, was an unassailable fact. "We need," said Mr. Lawson, "a strong association to look after our common interests, to protest against the petrol price to watch our affairs regarding methods of proposed taxation; to see we get fairer rates, to see the motor owner.gets data that will guide him, and to do something to make sure return loads. Dealing with the Liverpool Motor Transport, Clearing House, we are not antagonistic to this concern; it can be of greet, assistance to :us."
Mr. Lawson moved, and Mr. Sington seconded, a resolution "that this meeting of motor haulage contractors considers it an imperative need, that an organization consisting solely of steam and petrol motor haulage contractors be formed, and hereby resolves that such an, organization be brought into existence."
A spirited defence of the C.M.U.A. was made by Mr. Edwards, who said that there seemed a misapprehension as to the scope of the It did not deal with rates or wages, but, on the latter point, a member of the C.M:U.A. also becomes a member of the Motor Transport Employers' Federation, which
at the present time was dealing with the matter of wages. In regard to the congestion of cross-river traffic, last year the C.M.U.A. managed to get .a. repre sentative on therChamber of Commerce Committee...dealing with the congestion of the port, which Committee has, been negotiating With the Dock Board, the neighbouring corporations and the railway companies. As to the taxation of vehicles three years ago the C.M.U.A..
interested itself, in this. subject. He ought to rnentien that there was, in Liverpool, a Cartowners' Association, which had a separate section for motor haulage contractors. Would it not be a pity to set up another association when their desires only needed being brought to-the notice of the proper people, who would try to find a remedy ? The C.M.U.A, could not do anything with regard to-rates; but, in the matter of the clearing house, it had interesteditself greatly, and had now come to an arrangement, whereby they had some influence and were endeavouring to fix up rates for long distances. It had been said there were only 20 motor haulage contractors in the C.M.U.A. Actually there were 80 contractors and 120 private members. " I can quite 'sympathize," said Mr. Edwards, with the feeling that the C.M:U.A. has not been so active as it might have been, but that is because not everybody has known all that was being done."
"Even if an association' does not resalt from this meeting, we have beea enabled to find out that there are associations in existence, which might be useful to us abd of which we had no knowledge at all," admitted, a member lef the audience.
An argument against three associations was the possibility of threS standard rates being set.
A vote was then taken en the desire, bility of farming an -association for . motor haulage contractors, and resulted in 55 voting for and 26 against.
A further meeting is to be held in a fortnight's time to discuss plans and to elect a committee,.