`MARPLES A GREAT MINISTER'
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MR. D. 0. GOOD, national chairman of the Road Haulage Association, proposing the toast to H.M. Government at the Association's conference banquet at Brighton on Wednesday, called for a vastly accelerated road programme and a reduction in the present high rates of taxation which road operators have to bear.
Mr. Good said the Minister of Transport, Mr. Ernest Marples, had conic in for a good deal of criticism. The R.H.A. had not always seen eye to eye with him and had not hesitated to say so. "In spite of this," he continued, "it is my belief that he will go down in history .as one of the great Ministers of Transport."
Among Mr. Marples' good deeds was the appointment of Dr. Beeching and the subsequent acceptance by Parliament in principle of the Beeching plan.
As had been stressed throughout the conference, the future of transport lay in intelligent co-operation, and from the Association's discussions with Dr. Beeching it was clear that he believed this also, continued Mr. Good.
Mr. Marples had not hesitated to bring in new regulations which, in some respects. were harsher than those they replaced, and the Association had found it necessary to protest when such regteafiat's were thought to be unfair to road operators and drivers. Another good deed on the part of the Minister was the decision to set up the Geddes Committee on licensing.
But. Mr. Good continunl, hauliers would appreciate encouragement rather than Government intervention. They p35