A and B Squeals Tire C-Licensees
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.Road Transport is Just as Much the Bread and Butter of Ancillary Fleet Engineers and Other Staff as it is of the Haulage Man and There Should Not be a Private War Between the Various Classes of Operator
By H. M. Swift,
Chief Engineer, Usher's Wiltshire Brewery, Ltd., Trowbridge
THE title " Ancillary Users Could Help Operators" of
the article by "Tantalus," in your issue dated June 11, suggests that the majority of your correspondents supplies nothing constructive in this never-ending fight in the road-haulage field. This forces me to point out that the letter I penned, and which you kindly thought fit to print in the issue of "The Commercial Motor" dated May 21, was, to my way of thinking, just that (constructive), as all I tried to drive home was the early and utter necessity of complete unity of all classes of operator. "
Tantalus" asks what my company and other ancillary operators have done to help the haulier? I would answer that we have done nothing except join a road-transport association, financially to support and help make strong the representation of the haulier in general, for whose actual benefit associations were formed. It is because we, as favoured .C-licence operators, see the "red light," which was extinguished, so far as A and B operators are concerned, with the introduction of the 1933 Road and Rail Traffic Act, which could not have been forced upon the industry had there been 100 per cent. unity and strong representation.
I admire "Tantalus" and his articles, also his championing of the small haulier, but I think he is getting away from the main issue in thinking that this is a dog fight between ancillary operators and hauliers. It certainly is not, and road operation is just as much my bread and butter, and that of all other engineers and employees in C-licence fleets, as it is for those in the A or B category. What is making the ancillary operator tired, is this squealing of A and B operators and the side stepping of the main issue, namely, Government control foisted on an industry overnight without even a "by your leave," together with the scathing remarks of Mr. Noel-Baker in Parliament, which are, I think, sufficient to give the lie to that much-bandied word democracy," and that is what all types of haulier must fight—not each other.
Too Many Associations This is not a time, as Luton seems to suggest, to form new associations, but rather to bury a few of the toomany old ones that have let this thing come abobt, through the study of their personal likes and dislikes instead of the welfare of the industry, which they are paid to represent.
I hold no brief for the road-transport associations, as I think that they could have done more for the transport industry long before the latest catastrophe, had they got together and sunk their differences, but this also applies to road operators, whose membership is not 100 per cent. by a long way, and without which no association can say it is truly representative, which it must be when it comes to fighting decisions already made by politicians for transport operators.
Personally, I think the Government's trump card is that it is applying legislation to a blue-overalled, fraternity, but what a storm there would be jilt were blue blood!
In conclusion, I hope I' have made it clear to "Tantalus" that this is not a private war between different daises of operator, but a matter concerning everyone in the transport industry, and I think that the constructive ideas, which he complains are lacking, are best left until the industry of road haulage gains its rightful place and is recognized as other than riff-rafl. It seems a waste of time to give constructive ideas (of which I have many) for building something and then along comes a plutocrat and blows it down.
What the haulier is fighting is a Government determined to bolster up an obsolete transport system, to enforce the " ideals " in the Salter Report, and the railways "square deal." This it has tried to do in the past by excessive direct and indirect taxation, by inadequate roads and by police persecution, but still it had failed to strangle initiative and enterprise. Now it has the easy excuse—a war. So what?
All strength to your right arm, " CM.," and craving your indulgence.
"Tantalus" Gives His View [Congratulations must be accorded to Mr Swift for his broad-minded conception of the position of roadtransport and for the views which he has expressed with considerable frankness and commendable understanding. With some of his points 1 am in entire agreement, but in others I regret that I cannot see eye to eye with him. The view expressed by Mr. Swift that the road-transport associations could have done more for the transport industry deserves strong support and, certainly, will meet with the approval of hauliers generally. It would appear, therefore, that there is at least one issue upon which the C licensee and the haulier might profitably unite and take joint action. Such action, if entered upon with sufficient determination. could not fail to bring about some measure of improvement. As Mr. Swift quite rightly points out, the C licensee is a source of considerable financial income to associations; but unless such income be used to provide protective benefits for the members, the paying of subscriptions by the latter is not worth while. I suggest that the C licensee could go a long way in actually supporting the case of the haulier. The trader would be less favourably placed in the matter of transport facilities if he were deprived .of the services of the haulier. Therefore, is it not to the interest of the C licensee that he should join hands not only to control the encroachment of bureaucratic control, but also to take an active part in the fight for the restoration of the freedom of the industry? There is one point which I desire to make absolutely clear, namely, it has never been my intention to engender hostility between the two sections or, as Mr. Swift suggests, to make a dog-fight of the issue. What I have tried to do is to compare the admittedly favourable position -of the C licensee with the parloas state of affairs suffered by the haulier. In conclusion, I agree with Mr. Swift this is not a private war between different classes of operator. It is a matter of concern to everyone in the transport industry. Therefore, r would urge Mr. Swift not to withhold any constructive ideas until—to quote his own expression— mad haulage gains its rightful place," but, rather, to'ventilate them.—Tssri Aims.]