our Processions Bring Hauliers' Campaign to a Climax
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THE campaign in support of the Transport (Amendment) Bill reached I its climax last Saturday with processions of hauliers' vehicles in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Wolverhampton and Southampton. About 300 vehicles took part in the four demonstrations, all of which were organized by the Road Haulage Association.
l'he Glasgow demonstration had been stponed from the previous Saturday, len the magistrates refused permission it to be held because of the number large football matches in the city, and fear of congestion. The parade was ,ided into three parts, with about 40 licks in each. Loudspeakers relayed isic as they travelled slowly through streets.
rhe vehicles bore posters and &aux, and one of them carried a It. steel lifeboat, to be delivered next y to a shipyard. Broadcast messages led on the public to write to Members Parliament, asking them to vote in our of the Bill.
In Edinburgh, the R.H.A. encountered ficulty with the city authorities, and , procession was reduced to a handful vehicles. In the evening, however, a nest meeting was held, and was tressed by Lt.-Col, Sir Thomas vre, C.B.E., M.P., and Mr. Colin ornton-Kemsley, ORE., M.P. A n show was also given.
Vlore than 100 vehicles took part in Wolverhampton parade, which eered a 15-mile route through )1verhampton. Willenhall, Darlaston. xley and Bilston. A large poster, sealing for support for the Bill, which is printed in the colours of the Averhampton Football Club, aroused .ticular interest among members of public.
rhe Southampton procession cornsad nearly 70 vehicles, and started m Bassett in a heavy rainstorm. It ,sed through the main thoroughfares of Southampton and dispersed on the Winchester road. Mr. J. W. Hescroff, Southern Area secretary of the R.H.A., told "The Commercial Motor" that the police were most co-operative.
Leaflets explaining the case of the free haulier were distributed on the route and members of the public were asked to sign printed postcards to their Members of Parliament, calling for support for the Bill. Many of these cards were signed on the spot and were handed to R.H.A. officials for posting. Three models of the white elephant, symbolizing nationalized transport, were brought to London this week, to stimulate interest in the Transport (Amendment) Bill, which will receive its second reading in the House of Commons to-day.
The idea of using a white elephant in protest processions originated in "The Commercial Motor" office, and was quickly taken up by the R.H.A.
Messrs. Fred Davis and Sons. a London firm cf hauliers, have had a poster, 18 ft. by 9 ft., mounted on a 20-ft. low-loading trailer. It shows a representation of a soldier pointing to a map of the world, and another of the same man dressed as a lorry driver. pointing to a map of England, Scotland and Wales. The caption reads: "Yes, it's the same man! In this country's fight for freedom, as a Service man he could travel the woad, but as a truck owner-driver he will not be allowed to travel more than 25 miles in this country for which he fought. Surely this is not British freedom."