M.P.s Back Hauliers in
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Permit Fight
Leicester Operators Demonstrate: Lord Hurcomb Replies to Critics
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT are rallying in support of hauliers whose permits are to be revoked or modified. Mr. Peter Thorneycroft anci Mr. Geoffrey Wilson took up the cudgels in the House of Commons last week. They and other M.P.s are addressing protest meetings which are being organized all over the country by the Road Haulage Association.
There was a big demonstration in Leicester last Saturday. Vehicles carrying posters paraded the streets and were eventually marshalled in Charles Street by the police.
Those taking part in the demonstration were members'of the R.H.A. The posters carried a wide variety of slogans. One read: "We pay for the roads and cannot use them Permits revoked."
A protest meeting organized by the East Midland Area of the R.H.A. will be held at the De Montfort Hall, Leicester, on November 29.
Mr. Victor Raikes, M.P.. Mr. K. P. Thompson, M.P., and Major H. E. Crawfurd will address a meeting to be held at 7.15 p.m. to-night at the Picton Hall, William Brown Street, Liverpool. It is being organized by the North Western (Western) Area of the RITA.
Mr. Thorneycroft will speak at the meeting which the Metropolitan and South Eastern Area of the R.H.A. is holding at the Central Hall, Westminster, next Monday at 2 p.m.
Approach Your M.P.
The Yorkshire (West Riding) Area of the R.H.A. has advised hauliers to approach their M.P.s. A meeting is to be held at the Temperance Hall. Huddersfield. at 7.30 p.m. on Novem
ber 22. Other sub-area meetings are being arranged.
In the West Riding, 160 revocations, 112 substitutions and 35 continuations have been notified. The Yorkshire (Holt) Area of the Association has been informed of 70 revocations, 47 substitutions and 43 continuations, affecting 43 per cent„ 281 per cent. and 281 per cent. respectively, of licence holders. In terms of vehicles, permits for 50 per cent. are to be revoked, 33 per cent. are to be substituted and 17 per cent. continued.
In the Yorkshire (Sheffield) Area there have been 65 revocations affecting 277 vehicles. 46 substitutions (105 vehicles) and 12 continuations (32 vehicles).
Mr. G. Cooper, M.P., has made unsuccessful representations to the Road Haulage Executive on behalf of Messrs. Tarran and Son, of Thomabyon-Tees, who, it was alleged, had in the matters of permits, been treated in an "off-hand, unpleasant manner." The Executive refused to receive a deputation from the Northern Area of the R.H.A. to discuss the question.
The R.H.E, said that it had recently made clear to the R.H.A. its disinclination to discuss the subject of original permits as long as the imputations against its good faith and offensive allegations against the Executive cemained on public record.
The National Association of Fornin, tore Warehousemen and Removers, members of which are vitally affected by the R.H.E.'s action on permits, has had a meeting with the Executive and has pat forward certain proposals. Another conference is being arranged. NO organized action by way of area meetings has, however, yet been initiated.
Referring to the Commission's action on permits, Lord Hurcomb, chairman of the British Transport Commission, speaking at Hull last Friday, said: "So far as we are concerned, there is nothing new or unexpected in this treatment of road haulage. We are merely carrying on, without argue precipitancy, the duty which Parliament has laid upon us, on lines which will give the public more services and better service. What other policy is possible?"
Lord Hurcomb said that compensation for hauliers was "certainly just" and many people would regard it as generous.
At a Wolverhampton meeting. members of the R.H.A. agreed not to inform the R.H.E. until the last moment of their intentions to apply for acquisition or otherwise.
It is reported from Bristol that the Western Area of the R.H.A. has so far been notified of 86 revocations of permits, 14 continuations and '10 substitutions. Many traders have informed the Association that British Road Services cannot perform the work required.
No Direct Action
The Association's South Wales Area has held meetings in Swansea and Haverfordwest, but no direct action has been approved. Substituted permits have been granted to a small pocket of operators carrying agricultural produce in Pembrokeshire and to a few lime hauliers in Carmarthen.
The Southern Area of the R.H.A. is one of the least affected by the Executive's decisions on permits. So far as can be ascertained, not more than about 100 permits are to be revoked or substituted. Because of the widespread, thinly populated nature of the area, it is difficult to issemble the hauliers.
It is being suggested in some quarters that united action may defeat its own objects. Instead, individual approaches to Members of Parliament are recommended, because some Labour M.P.s are on the side of the small haulier but resent anti-Government resolutions. A South Wales Member has offered to meet hauliers on Sundays to discuss their grievances.