Group Organizers Protest Against Restrictions
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GROUP organizers all over the country are, no doubt, well aware'of the practice of the Ministry of Transport in reducing the amount of supplementary ration allocated to them for distribution, to far below the margin required for the satisfactory running of goods vehicles.
The organizers of the Group comprising West Bromwich, Smethwick, Oldbury and Wednesbury have become seriously perturbed at the situation, and recently held an extraordinary meeting to consider what steps could be taken to ameliorate it.
In his opening remarks, the chairman said that road-transport operators were seriously concerned at the drastic cuts in the fuel rations, and in the discussion that followed it became evident that all the organizers felt that in the reduction of rations lay an attempt by the Ministry to force goods from road to rail, to the detriment of the national interest.
As a result of the war, manufacturers are more than ever dependent upon an efficient road-transport organization. If goods were to be sent by rail, the quick' delivery essential to various important supplies, particularly those required by the Service Departments, would not be forthcoming. The demands made on manufacturers by such Departments are increasing weekly, and it is obvious from the delays that are taking place that the railways A16 are incapable of giving the quick transit which could be afforded by road; this apart from the vexed questions of packing and damage.
As experienced traffic men, the organizers, in their ordinary course of business, are being inundated with complaints as to the late delivery of goods for warded by rail. At present the railways are, in many instances, 10 days behind with deliveries, and there are cases where goods have not been received three weeks after dispatch.
As various Government Departments are concerned in the issuing of fuel, there have been overlapping and muddle. For example, bus operators have been running special vehicles to greyhoundracing tracks; meanwhile, goods vehicles are being held up for lack of petrol, with manufacturers and others crying out for the delivery of urgent goods and materials.
As a result of this meeting, it was decided that a deputation of five members, representing the various classes of road operator, should be sent to the District Traffic Officer in Birmingham with a letter of protest, and to place before him details of the difficult position that is fast arising, as it affects the three important links in national defence, e.g., the supply of raw materials, the manufacture of munitions, and commercial transport.