Hopes of Haulage Rates Agreement
Page 42
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Important Points Discussed at a London Rally Held by the Road Haulage Association
THE subjects of rates and wages were discussed at length at a rally of hauliers held in London, on March 16, under the wgis of the Road Haulage Association (Metropolitan Area Regional Committee). Only three brief speeches were made, these being by Mr. E. C. Marston (chairman of the Association), Mr. J. S. Nicholl (vicechairman), and Mr. J. P. E. Pye (chairman of the Metropolitan Committee), who also took the chair at the meeting. The object of reducing the length of the speeches was to give more time for discussion of points of interest.
Mr. Pye, in opening this, the second, rally, stated that considerable progress had been made since the first rally was held in London some nine weeks ago (reported in our issue of January 13).
Mr. Marston announced that membership in the Metropolitan Area had, during the period mentioned, increased by some 70 concerns. He emphasized the fact that the R.H.A. could now be considered as a powerful national body. He foresaw that a great deal was to happen during the next few weeks, for a Bill was to be introduced in Parliament to make law certain of the recommendations of the Salter Report; but for the R.H.A., said Mr. Marston, the Report would already have been placed on the statute book.
The Fight Against the "Report."
He remarked, with some pride, that Sir Josiah Stamp, at the annual general meeting of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Co., had stated that hauliers were putting up a stronger fight against the Report than were the railways to implement it.
Applause followed Mr. Marston's criticism of Lord Ritchie's attack on road transport, at the annual dinner of the Institute of Transport, describing it as "bad taste," in view of the fact that many of the members of the Institute are concerned with road transport.
Mr. Marston further expressed the view that the future of road transport was in the hands of the industry, and confidence was given to those present by his statement that hauliers who were previously bitter rivals, were now working much closer together.
Mr. Nicholl traced the history of the British Road Federation and explained that the Federation had already obtained a measure of Parliamentary sympathy, and that useful work was being done in connection with publicity for road transport. Despite B28 the large number of associations affiliated to the B.R.F., there was a gratifying measure of agreement between the various bodies.
Some surprise was caused by Mr. Nicholl'a observation that probably nearly 100 associations were directly or indirectly interested in road transport. He pointed out that the R.H.A.'s interest in the B.R.F. was to ensure that the commercial welfare of hauliers was protected.
Dealing with the Salter Conference, he expressed the view that, at the time of the appointment of the Conference, there was no association able to nominate four representatives of road transport.
Mr. rye briefly explained the efforts of the Association to secure agreement on rates, and he reported that it was hoped, in two or three weeks' time, to receive from the provinces, reviews of the activities of the local branches of the R.H.A. in connection with the stabilization of rates. In this respect, negotiations in Kettering, Leicester and Birmingham were, said Mr. Pye, proceeding satisfactorily.
The meeting was then thrown open for discussion, and a question was asked concerning fair-wages clauses. Mr. Pye, in replying, said there was every reason to believe that, in the measure to be introduced into Parliament, provision would be made to deal with fair-wages clauses.
Mr. Gupwell explained that, as the result of a number of Birmingham hauliers meeting regularly, a satisfactory position in connection with the stabilization of rates now obtained. On March 27 a meeting is to be held in Birmingham at which a definite scheme for the standardization of rates will be put forward.
Mr. Gupwell remarked that, before any definite step could be taken to secure agreement on rates, it was necessary for at least 30 per cent, of the hauliers in the district to be members of the Association. A satisfactory percentage was 40, whilst success could be achieved with a membership of 50 per cent, or over.
Afterwards, Mr. Gupwell explained to a representative of The Commercial Motor that, in Birmingham (West Midland Area), 300 concerns, including most of the large ones, are members of the Association. There may be, he said, 900 in the area that are possible members, but he does not think that more than 600 are of any real importance, "Our membership of long-distance hauliers is over 50 per cent.," added Mr. Gupwell, "but there are, say, SO per cent. of the short-distance hauliers not with us yet."
In reply to another question, it was pointed out that the reason for the lack of standardization of rates in London was that there were only some 250 members of the Metropolitan branch of the Association.
When a question was raised concerning the admission to the R.H.A. of ancillary users, Mr. Marston referred to the practice of some transport operators in this class, of carrying their own loads to a certain destination and obtaining return loads at cut prices.
A Difference of Interest.
The reason for the R.H.A. not admitting ancillary users to its membership was that the interests of the haulier and the ancillary user were not always mutual. The latter class of operator should join the Commercial Motor Users Association, with which the R.H.A. was working in close touch. He pointed out that, under forthcoming legislation, ancillary users carrying loads for profit would probably be subject to the same regulations as hauliers.
Answering a question, Mr. Nicholl said that, although it was difficult to make a definite statement on the subject, he believed that road-transport trade-union rates of wages for drivers were, on the average, higher than the scales laid down by the railway union.
Mr. ISlarston could not foresee, for some time to come, an agreement between the R.13.. and the T.G.W.U. in connection with wages, by reason of the comparatively small representation on the R.H.A. of the total number of hauliers in the country.
In concluding the meeting, Mr. Pye reported that the recent luncheon held by the R.H.A. had helped considerably in obtaining Parliamentary sympathy, and several meetings had since taken place in the House of Commons.
It is proposed to hold rallies of hauliers, in London' every three months or so, and it is the duty of every transport contractor to attend.