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Mr Michael S. Wells is wrong to attribute the decline in RHA membership to a dissatisfaction of the way the association is run (CM September 2). If he was correct, then I am sure that the majority of RHA members would have voted with their feet a long time ago.
No — the decline in membership is a direct repercussion of Britain's adverse economic situation which has hit all sectors of industry, be it shipbuilding, steel-making, textiles or carpets.
As a service industry, road haulage does not produce goods — it carries them. It follows, then, that when there is a decline in industrial output, there must be a decline in the demand for the services of a road haulier.
It also follows that, if a haulier is not busy, he looks for a way of reducing his overheads and one of the first things for the "chop" happens to be membership fees.
All of us concerned with the RHA are certainly not complacent and have taken forward steps to maintain and revive interest in the RHA. We have already had pleasing results from an initial membership campaign, and if, as we are promised, the economic future of the country improves, so will the membership, Mr Wells may or may not know that the largest percentage of the RHA membership are owner-drivers, which speaks for itself. I personally believe that more than ever, we do need an organisation such as the RHA and fully realise that to make progress, the RHA (or any other similar body, come to that) have to adjust to present-day needs and new ways of thinking. I think we have gone some way towards this and with the young executive section beginning to show their paces, the future looks much brighter.
He also complains of lack of research. It would appear that he might be a little guilty of this himself, but be this as it may, it has given me an incentive to reply. Surely this must be a good thing and I hope much more interest in the RHA will be stimulated as a result.
K. A. DARVALL, chairman, RHA Public Relations Committee.