Europe-wide consortia for removers?
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• The autumn conference of the British Association of Overseas Furniture Removers in London on Wednesday was notable for a thorough ventilation of the pros and cons of consortia • undertaking European wide removals. A majority voted against participating in moves to set up a new grouping of firms within the Federation of International Removers despite pleas from BAOFR president Mr. J. N. Tarsey to give a clear lead to Mr. Tom Mitchell, the Association delegate to the forthcoming FIDI meeting in Brussels.
Opening the debate. Mr. F. W. Hoult (Hoults Ltd., Newcastle) said he felt the Van Lines idea, working successfully in America and Canada, could be a threat to the livelihood of British removers if it developed in Europe. The idea of grouped activities seemed wonderful but language problems, varying tax laws and customs arrangements would make administration very complicated in Europe. There was already a French Van Line organization with vehicles in a common livery. If another international grouping were set up, would the French have to fall in line?
A British remover could be on good terms with German and Italian firms, but it did not follow that all European removers would be on speaking terms with each other. He wanted freedom to make flexible arrangements in accordance with market requirements. Rather than set up another Van Lines group within the FIDI, association members should work together as a group to avoid splitting the international body.
Mr. E. K. Philp (Pickfords Ltd.) said that everything depended on the discipline which must be accepted by .firms participating in a viable group activity. It was not a problem for rapid solution but if firms were prepared to sacrifice some of their own authority, accepting discipline from the censor, a new Van Lines organization could be established.
Mr. M. K. Scott (Pitt and Scott Ltd.) said new groupings in Europe would not be influenced by American firms. Grouped activities were a world wide trend. Van Lines could work in Europe and members should seek now to make them work.
Mr. Ivan Sparks (Sparks and Sons, Ottawa) said his firm were agents for United Van Line whose profits had increased by at least 2 per cent annually since the inception of the group 15 years ago. The rules of a consortia were purely the concern of member firms.
Mr. Tarsey said the rules of the Association and of FIDI did not preclude the formation of new consortia.
Earlier there was a majority in support of a Council recommendation that the membership fees of full members should be increased to £50 per annum. Home associate members will pay £16 10s. and overseas associate members £10 in future.