Users Endorse the New Bill
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ON behalf of Mr. Harry Yates, president of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, Mr. Arthur R. Knowles, secretary-general, has sent a letter to the Minister of Transport re-affirming that the A.B.C.C. supports the Government's aim of returning road haulage to private ownership.
" The creation of a State monopoly of long-distance road haulage was, in the Association's view, a serious mistake," said Mr. Knowles. " The Association considers that only by the re-introduction of the widest possible measure of private ownership and management into the industry can a really efficient, flexible and economical road haulage service be provided."
He expresses confidence that the variations the A.B.C.C. suggested could be achieved within the framework of the Transport Bill. Mr. H. S. VianSmith, secretary of the home affairs and transport committee of the Association, outlined modifications that might be made to the Bill when he spoke at Southampton last Friday (see page 518).
In a letter to the Minister, Sir Leonard Browett, chairman of the Central Committee of Transport Users, has endorsed the new Bill. He said that this view was solidly backed.
At a recent meeting of the Traders' Co-ordinating Committee on Transport, a large majority of the 71 constituent bodies represented voted in favour of the changes. The new proposals were endorsed by the Grand Council of the Federation of British Industries and by the National Union of Manufacturers.
Every Member of Parliament has received a letter from the British Road Federation protesting against the levy. The B.R.F. states that it is not essential to the Bill, being merely a device to transfer any possible loss resulting from the disposal of nationalized vehicles from the State itself to a selected number of users of road transport.
"It is not reasonable that particular sections of an industry [users of road transport] should be required to underwrite political action affecting the country as a whole," says the letter. It points out that motor taxation already amounts to £340m. a year, 85 per cent. being contributed by commercial and business interests.
• TIPPING-GEAR MAKER PROPOSES MERGER
AN offer to buy the issued capital of Edwards Bros. (Tippers), Ltd., has been made by Bromilow and Edwards, Ltd. The price is 015,000, or 26s. 3d. per 5s. ordinary share. The capital is to be raised by f350.000 to L500,000.
Sir Lionel Kearns is to leave the board and three directors of Edwards Bros. (Tippers), Ltd., are to join it. They are Mr. R. Law, Mr. J. S. Edge and Mr. E. W. Tonge. It is proposed that Mr. J. Adamson shall also become a director, and that Mr. Law shall be appointed chairman and Mr. Edge managing director.
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