THE RHA AND THE DOVER DISPUTE • The Hawk's informant
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(CM 19-25 May) does not appear to have discussed very widely the reactions at the RHA dinner to the drivers' blockade at Dover.
The association's senior executive officer had appeared on both the breakfast television programmes that morning (10 May) to express the RHA's understanding of the reasons for the drivers' action, although not condoning the action.
The RHA director-general expressed the same views when interviewed on the subject by Jimmy Young on Radio 2, and the senior executive officer again explained the RHA view on Capital Radio that evening. As a result, the whole matter was the subject of much discussion at the dinner and the national chairman made a specific reference to it in his speech.
Immediately following the dinner there was a discussion by some members of the RHA International Group Committee about what might be done to help secure a removal of the blockade.
As a result, three members, led by one of the group's vicechairmen, Geoffrey Cave Wood, spent the whole of the following day at Dover talking to drivers and ferry company representatives and trying to persuade the drivers that their complaints and frustrations were understood and that they should return to work.
The members reported their reactions the next day and the RHA issued a press release calling for members and shippers to show understanding for the drivers' actions and their financial losses as a result of the reduced ferry services.
Throughout the whole period of the blockade the RHA was consistently in touch with the situation through members of the International Group and the association played its part in trying to persuade drivers that their frustrations and troubles were understood, although their actions could not be supported.
It is not the role of the RHA, as suggested by The Hawk, to act as mediator between the P&O management and the National Union of Seamen.
Derek Witcher Press and PR Manager, Road Haulage Association.
CPC — WILL THERE EVER BE AN ANSWER?
• With reference to Commercial Motor 21-27 April on News Extra (CPC), I am in total agreeance with what you have written.
My wife has been trying for 18 months to get her CPC, taking the test five times, which meant going on a course for 10 days and studying a home-study pack from Manchester College, neither of which covered the whole of the questions in the exams. Many of the questions do not seem to be relevant to the laws.
I have owned a lorry for around 30 years, but now need a standard licence and we all have the problem of passing this stupid exam.
I only want to own and use one tipper lorry for local quarry work, and try to earn an honest living, so why all this bother? Surely, if I have run a lorry for 30 years it should not be this difficult?
Could you advise me on what to do to pass this exam? My wife has passed Module B. R A Baber, Okehampton, Devon.
BUDGE & SCRAM THE BUILDERS • With reference to Bird'sEye View (CM 21-27 April) regarding appropriate names, last year at the Enfield Pageant of Motoring Rally, there was a restored van supposedly owned by Messrs Bodge and Scram Builders!
In writing, [also wondered if you had noticed that vehicles adorned with the "Keep your distance" sticker are invariably the ones that carve you up and push in when traffic is held up for one reason or another.
Years ago, the favourite sticker used to be "First Aid Kit Carried". Almost without exception the vehicle also had a few dents and scrapes. I always wondered whether the first aid kit was for the driver or his or her victims!
J R Carter, Lincoln.