R.H.A. to Recommend Higher Rates ?
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THE national executive committee of the Road Haulage Association were asked at their meeting on Wednesday to consider recommending an increase in haulage rates to cover higher costs. They were also requested to review the problem of deliberate breaches of the law on hours and records by a minority of the industry.
Other matters on the agenda included exhaust smoke, security and conference arrangements. The committee also had before them the question of a licence application by British Road Services, who seek to set up a depot at Bedford with 46 vehicles and 17 trailers. More than 50 hauliers have lodged objections and are asking the R.H.A. to back them.
LABOUR'S " GRAB-BACK " THREAT MADE "COMMERCIAL long-distance road
\--4 haulage will be renationalized and built into an integrated transport system." This is stated—as was expected--in the Election manifesto of the Labour Party. There is no elaboration, and the matter of compensation is not raised.
The current road-building programme is described as entirely inadequate. "But to solve the problem, road-building must be related to a national plan which covers all the transport needs of an expanding economy. It must also deal with the appalling problem of road casualties," says the manifesto.
The Liberal Party echo this theme (also sounded by the Conservatives) in their Election address. More and better roads in the countryside would enable industry to be dispersed so that people would move from overcrowded cities. Present road expenditure, avow the Liberals, should be doubled.
DANGEROUS VEHICLE: DRIVER FINED
THE driver of a lorry described to
Barnsley magistrates on Monday ashaving inefficient brakes, steering and speedometer, and dangerous mudguards, was fined £4. His employers, Henry Field and Son, Ltd., Barnsley, were fined £1 on each count.
The driver also paid a £3 fine for driving without due consideration. The charges arose out of an accident.
MORE DIESEL TRAINS
BUS operators in Yorkshire are stated to be concerned over British Railways' plans to introduce more diesel trains. In November, these trains will link Bradford and Penistone via Halifax and Huddersfield, and later run between Leeds and Halifax and Leeds and Manchester.
ROOTES FACTORY FIRE
THE effect of the fire at the Rootes factory at Ryton-on-Dunsmore on Tuesday night on deliveries of new Commer light vans could not be estimated on Wednesday morning. The damage done in the blaze, however, was not as great as was feared at first.