OPINIONS and
Page 45
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UERIES
BETTER ORGANIZATION APPEARS NECESSARY
“OW right you are to ask your readers what they are "doing to counter the nationalization threat. The little " box " containing matter to this effect, which you are including, reminds me of a recent incident.
Chancing to call at the premises of a local haulage concern, I saw on the door a very crude poster announcing that, on the same day, there would be three free cinema shows, sponsored by the R.H.A., in the town hall. Unfortunately, this particular hall is right outside the town, and practically nobody would go there except on business. I mention this point because the one poster was the only announcement I saw anywhere, and the shows wete not advertised in the Press. As I found out after, the local editors had not even been advised that the films were being shown.
Later, I happened to meet a haulier, who told me that he was supposed to be in charge of the affair, but nothing had been organized. He wanted somebody to say a few words and to urge people to sign the petition against nationalization. I agreed to undertake this, but for only one session. This, incidentally, involved me in 15 miles of motoring, but the only audience was one woman with a small child, to whom she wished to give a free show. Even the local " organizer " did not turn up, nor did he appear at the first session, which, together with the third, was abandoned. The operator expressed himself as "browned off" as there was lack of organization and co-operation.
The campaign must be expensive, and if this sort of thing goes on it will be a waste of money.
I am, purposely, not mentioning where this particular show was held as, apparently, there are other places where the experience is nearly, if not quite, as bad.
London, E.C.3. F.J.
[We are well acquainted with the writer of this letter, and are certain that he would not exaggerate the position, although he may have been particularly unfortunate in connection with the show he attended. It seems, however, that if the campaign is to be effective, it must be far
better organized and receive ample publicity. People cannot be expected to attend a show of which they have heard nothing. The films are quite attractive, apart from the fact that they can be seen without charge. Perhaps, even at this late date, arrangements might be made to display them in local cinemas, which are always popular venues.—ED.]
TRANSPORT MANAGERS MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE
YOUR leading article, "The Way to Success," in your 1 issue dated September 13, which concerned ex-Army M.T.O.s seeking positions as transport managers, was. most welcome and necessary.
Having recently returned to my civil employment of transport manager, after spending three years in the Army as a transport officer, I can heartily endorse your remarks, and would suggest that ex-M.T.O.s should spend at least two years as transport clerks, in order to gain experience; there is no easy way.
Apart from the question of making a study of running costs, recording, etc., it is most essential for every transport manager to have a complete and thorough knowledge of his concern's trade or business, and particularly when it handles perishable or fragile goods.
He must know the workings of every department from the point of view of department chiefs.
There is also the matter of drivers' hours and over
time, union rules, civil traffic regulations, insurance, negotiations with Licensing Authorities, etc.
In the Services I met many young men who had spent short spells as transport officers or carrier officers, and who had decided to take up transport when they were demobilized. Good luck to them, but I do not envy them their heartbreaks. Ex-M.T.O. London, W.3.
MORE ON LICENSING S UB-COMMITTEES WITH reference to the licensing sub-committees, it " appears that there are now three separate groups of people " adjudicating " on applications, viz., the railway companies, certain hauliers (the R.H.A. members of the committees), and, lastly, the Licensing Authorities.
Let us look at these from an angle which has perhaps been overlooked, i.e., what payment or consideration they receive for the time spent.
The Licensing Authorities are, of, course, paid by the State. The railway companies are, no doubt, repaid by the profits from the extra traffic they obtain as a result of the committee's putting lorries off the road.
But what consideration do the hauliers who sit on these committees receive? Is "nothing whatever" the correct answer? Many rank and file hauliers would like to know. Perhaps some of the committee members
will reply. EQUITY. Birmingham.
qomE people seem to be getting hot under the collar `-'about the road-rail licensing committees. They seem to overlook the elementary fact that attendance before these committees is entirely voluntary. Neither Mr. Howarth's members nor any other operators need attend unless they wish to.
One suspects the uproar to be due far more to jealousy on the part of the remnant still outside the Road Haulage Association than to any valid objections to the work of the committees.
London, S.E.1. LEONARD V. WARD (For L. V. Ward and Co., Ltd.).
WAS B LICENCE APPLICANT TREATED FAIRLY?
(IN page 197 of your issue dated September 27 is ‘-'published a report of that which is alleged to have transpired at an inquiry held in the Metropolitan Traffic Area on September 17.
If you compare this report with the verbatim report, made by the official shorthand writer, you will discover a material difference.
How can any Licensing Authority be expected to accept as proof of need a letter from a local Chamber of Commerce in which the writer simply expresses his personal opinion and undertakes to refer the matter to the members for their consideration?
Again, surely a Licensing Authority, whose duty it is to interpret and administer the Road Traffic Act, 1930, the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, and attendant regulations, must have regard to the fitness of an applicant who intends to drive the vehicle himself? As a matter of fact, this applicant admitted that he would be employing a driver, i.e., his wife.
If need can be accepted as proved by the evidence submitted in this case, I can assure you. that it will reduce the whole proceeding to a farce, and the Road and Rail Traffic Act, 1933, may as well be scrapped.
London, S.W.11. E. H. B. PALMER.