Guys and hols V our correspondent Steve Gray (CM 9-15
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April) rightly defends the decision of the RHA to continue to hold its conferences abroad. After all, he is a member of its senior staff, director of corporate affairs. However, it was not always so. When that august body made off to Marbella 14 years ago I made the news the subject of my editorial leader in Commercial Motor I was at a loss to find a suitable title for the piece. Salvation was at hand. A member of staff came out with the answer— Guys and Hols he proposed. Who was the quick-witted man? Steve Gray.
In those days the operators were fighting for better rates, drivers for better wages and both against the lobbies that would put road transport out of business. Has anything changed? It may not be a holiday spending five mornings in conference but how does it address the problems facing the operator and to which he will return? It does not What is wrong with estab lishing a conference circuit around the centre of industry like London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Glasgow?
It could be staged alongside a haulage exhibition and open to the general public. Its aim would be to promote the industry to potential customers and stave off unwarranted criticism.
It's high time the RHA stopped deluding itself that the annual conference is anything more than a pleasant break. Nevertheless, it should be proud to have a champion of Steve Gray's calibre fighting in its corner. lain Sherriff, Joyden's Wood, Kent.