Return Traders Right of Choice
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The Time has Come to Review the Official Policy Towards Road Transport and Plan Adequate Facilities to Meet, the Needs of Trade and Industry
T0 many persons engaged in the road-transport industry the passing of the year 1944 brought no regrets For them it provided little in the way of
satisfaction or comfort. Early hopes of bright days faded all too soon as the close grip of restriction put out its tentacles and, instead of it being possible to enjoy e some greater measure of freedom in the operation of vehicles for the common cause and national interest, the casualty list has continued to grow. -
In contraSt, -there is the other side of the picture, . which reveals a section of lAuliers who have grown richer and fatter out of the misfortunes of their smaller brethren: For them, turnover figures have swelled and profits increased. This does not mean, necessarily, that all these units so happily placed have, with malice aforethought, ' pursued a policy of enhancing end strengthening their position by such means. At the same time, it is extremely difficult to convince 'those operators who have suffered that :such is the case.
Startling as were many events during the past year, so far as the history of the industry is concerned, none was more illuminating than the statement of Mr. J. H. Stirk, the North Regional Transport Commissioner, to the effect that 10,000 vehicles were put off the road in his region as a result of restrictions. These are really alarming figures and speak for themselves in no uncertain terms, whilst it must be emphasized that they refer to one region only. If similar conditions prevlailed 'in the industrial areas of Lancashire, the West Riding, Tyneside and the vast London region, with a pre-war network of transport service second to none in efficiency and quality, it is easy to calculate the total number of vehicles which must have been removed from the roads.
Is there any reason why all Regional Transport Commissioners should not disclose information of a similar nature?. In point of fact, such figures should be made known in order that the information might provide an analytical guide for the future. The question concerning such details might be 'carried farther, even -to the point of the M.O.W.T. re-introducing the publication of the Anneal Report of the Licensing Authorities, as it was formerly known. To-day, sucha report, coming from Regional Transport Commissioners administering the Government Control Scheme, would be doubly welcome. Moreover, the information covered by such report should be available alike for those engaged in
• the industry and for users of transport. Surely in this, the sixth year of war,it is impossible to uphold any claim to the effect that the publication of a report on these lines could be of assistance to the enemy?
Production Delayed by Less Transpprt ? • As to the withdrawal of so many vehicles from the roads, what has been the cumulative effect upon war ` production will ,never be known. Proved cases continue to be received which indicate only too clearly how the denial of road-transport • facilities for the carriage of essential materials for vital War work has held up or delayed production: Any report On the lines suggested should cover this aspect, for, doubtless, the correspondence files-in the offices of the Transport Commis: sioeers would provide ample relative Material fOr inclusion therein.
Whilst there are-many hauliers who have fallenlay the way, or, rather, have been pusl d off the roads, there are others who have mafiaged to peep going as the result of hard struggle; and they are bareIy making ends meet. Their attitude is that they canno do anything about the past but they ask: " What about the days ahead? Dare we foster hope of an improv ent in our position? " Hopes in the past have been so badly shattered. Can these men reasonably anticipate any prospect of tenure of security in their businesses? Will the repressive restrictions be relaxed to permit them to earn a living as hauliers, and can they -look forward with some degree of confidence to a lifting, of their fears and anxieties which constitute a-real menace? I
These are•burning questions to-day in the minds of these men and of their families. Nothing would be more pleasurable than the satisfaction of being able to give a decisive " Yes " in reply, but that is impossible. The position remains too fluid even for the -raising of hopes which, once again, may prove tito be false. One certain thing is that the -industry is motre firmly in the grip of the bureaucratic machine and is likely to continue so to be for some time to come. That does not indicate, however, that more use could not wisely be made of road ' transport, for there is no general shortage of traffic. Constantly large quantities of supplies are being moved, and. the flow will be maintained during the war in Europe. Then, later; will follow the needs of post-war production and, in particular, of .the eiport trade.
Over-stressing Our Railway Facilities
Whilst, admittedly, the railway companies have shouldered a heavy war-time responsibility, and, in some instances, have --been overburdened, it is obvious that they could not Continue to operate in like manner in peace-time. It cannot be denied that the carrying of such additional freights has been accomplished at the expense, of the public and the trading community, who, with great patience, have endured as a war-time measure conditions which, most definitely, would not be tolerated in peace-time. Indeed, any. Government or Ministry which sought to impose such conditions as a permanency would certainly be riding for a fall, irrespective of any consideration respecting the necessity or otherwise of maintaining railway revenue. It is an acknowledged fact that the heavy work of the railways has imposed a severe strain upon the locomotives and rolling stock, and conditions do not permit the normal replacements. The time will come, however, when a new building programme will, have to be undertaken to restore the position to meet post-war needs. Daring this period it might be found necessary to reduce the load -now carried.
Has not the time arrived for a review of the policy regarding road transport so that there shall be adequate facilities available for supplying the needs of commee and induitry? Included in the review should be such points'as the restoration of the rights, of the trader to choose his own form of transport. The removal alone of this bureaucratic compulsion would provide the answer to the questions of the sorely tried and perplexed hauliers. It would provide a means whereby the claims of justice could be met.