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Minister to Adopt New Plan for Disposal of R.H.E.?
Page 24
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1T is believed that the Minister of Transport is considering two or three substantial amendments to the Transport Bill. If he decides to adopt them, they will be incorporated at the report stage. • Points in connection with them have been discussed with representatives of the road haulage industry.
From a usually reliable source it is confirmed that the Minister proposes to adopt in part the plan for the disposal of the Road Haulage Executive's assets put forward during the committee stage by Mr. Aubrey Jones, with Socialist and Liberal support. It is favoured by many users and was analysed in "The Commercial Motor" on January 2.
In the House of Commons the Government rejected the proposal as being time-wasting and expensive.
The scheme envisages the formation by the British Transport Commission or the Road Haulage Disposals Board of a number of companies holding R.H.E. assets. These undertakings would be sold as going concerns by .means of a transfer of shares. This procedure would be employed only in suitable cases and would certainly, not be applied to more than half the total assets.
It is thought that particular units would be offered for tender and persons tendering for them would be informed that companies Would be set up. After the shares had changed hands, it would be for the new owner to decide how he operated the business.
The advantage claimed for this method is that it would speed up disposal arid minimize the dislocation of services. Its implications are being closely studied by the Road Haulage Association.
The R.H.A. is still pressing the case of hauliers for the amendment of the Bill. As reported in "The Commercial Motor" last week, the Association's negotiating committee has again met , the Minister. At the meeting, a long discussion took place on matters of detail, particularly in relation to the disposal of the R.H.E.'s assets.
It is claimed that progress is being made with negotiations on a number of points, although the Minister appears not to have changed his mind about amending Section 8, which deals with the relaxation of licensing.
Leaders of the R.H.A. met Conservative back-benchers this week, in pre
paration for the report stage of the Bill, and are arranging an interview with the transport committee of the House of Lords.
FREE FROM ACCIDENT FOR 31 YEARS TWENTY-THREE drivers of the
Road Haulage Executive who have driven for at least 25 years without blameworthy accident were presented with safe-driving awards by the chairman, Maj.-Gen. G. N. Russell, C.B., C.B.E., on Monday. The highest awards, for 31 years' freedom from accident, went to Mr. T. Howard and Mr. A. W. Choat, of the Finsbury Group. Mr. Howard has for many years driven a van carrying bullion and has often had more than Lim. worth of load in his vehicle.
Gen. Russell referred to the importance which the R.H.E. placed upon
high driving standards. A standard design of cab had been evolved which afforded utmost visibility and comfort, whilst providing a good degree of control.