THE "C.M." BRINGS MAKERS _ND OPERATORS TOGETHER
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'Some 500 Prominent Represent
Meet to Hear Talks on LI
of the Road-transport Industry War and Post-war Problems L' AST Wednesday, at a luncheon organized by the Editor of "The Commercial Motor," -at which Mr. Roland E. Dangerfield, . Managing Director of Temple Press Ltd., took the chair, there were present over 500 vehicle and accessory manufacturers, agentS, transport operators and representatives of several Ministries and the Services.
The success of "The C.M." Get-together Luncheon was assured from the fira, as the novelty and potential value of the meeting were immediately recognized, and the early demand for tickets quickly became a flood. In this connection, if a sufficiently strong call be made by the industry for further and similar gatherings, either during or after the war, it may be that we can get together under similar circumstances.
As the chairman very aptly put it in his opening remarks :—" This is something of a unique occasion which should find its place in the annals of the roadtransport industry. I cannot recall any other function at which there has been gathered together such a wide variety of manufacturing and operating interests, and,
all, mainly for the purpose of listening to talks by authorities on 'subjects of vital interest to the war effort, as it is related to our industry. Co-operation is the keynote now and for the future, and this is a really remark
able demonstration of that principle. If proper advantage be taken of the opportunity for discussion amongst yourselves, which will occur at the conclusion of the speeches, it may well be that. a great deal of correspondence will be avoided, and, consequently, many reams of paper saved." He then called upon Mr. Mackenzie Janner, the organizer, to explain its object. Mr. Mackenzie junner said that the idea for the luncheon occurred to hini as a result of expressions of regret from members of the industry that there were so few opportunities of getting together, comparing experi ences, and seeing friends and, possibly, clients, whom they may not have encountered for a long period, and that the need for meeting each other more frequently might well be summed up in the following modification of an old adage :—" United we stand, divided we may fall out." Whilst such a purpose alone might, he added, have justified this meeting, he thought that another— and even more useful—object could be attained by arranging for certain people who had vital messages to deliver to just those classes represented at the function, to be afforded that opportunity.
He was glad to say that he had enjoyed the willing co-operation of many friends in the Transport Press, whose guests filled quite a large number of seats.
A novel and much-appreciated feature of the function was that a time limit was fixed for each speaker, and if he accidentally exceeded this, he was ruthlessly gouged by the chairman. At the conclusion of the chats (with which this report finishes), Mr. H. Shankland, of the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd„ gave the toast of "The Chairman," and expressed his thanks both to him and to the organizer. He referred to the fact that Mr. Dangerfield is fulfilling a double role, for he is also chairman of the Council of the Trade and Technical Section of the Periodical Trade Press and Weekly Newspaper Proprietors' Association.
In his response, Mr. Dangerfield, as well as thanking Mr. Shankland, expressed his appreciation of the interesting contributions made by those who gave the chats. He also alluded to the way in which the value of the industry as a whole had been recognized, both amongst employers and employees, in the Birthday Honours.
A recognition of the better co-operation between employers and workers was well exemplified during the luncheon by the fact that the speakers ranged from a heavy-vehicle driver to a member of the Peerage.