1,000 Guests at R.H.A. Dinner
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ELL over 1,00 people attended the " annnal banquet, -1a1st Monday, of the Road Haulage Association's Metropolitan and South Eastern Area. The chairman, Mr. C. W. H. Sparrow, presided. The Lord Mayor of London, Sir John -Anderson, G.C.B., Sir David Maxwell Fyfe, K.C., Sir Walter Monckton, K.C.M.a. and Brigadier R. 1. 0. Dowse, C.B.E., were among the guests present. -The national vice-chairman, Mr. Frank F. Fowler, said that vehicle exnorls were saving the country from an economic-eollapse, but the cost of prOduction must' be 'reduced; instead, railwaY 'rates Were rising. The railway problem must be solved, but not at the expenk of _trade and industry. He alleged :that .at the -proper time and plaCe the-, hauliers of Britain would
solve it.: . _ ThelLord. Mayor said that .one link between the R".H.A. and the :City was that when the Government failed to find transport for 40,000 Home Guards in case of invasion, Mr. S. H. Jardine, Metropolitan Area secretary, had arranged with the R.H.A. to provide it. Mr. Sparrow declared that too few people were aware that free hauliers were dependent upon their biggest competitor for freedom to run over the 25-mile radius, whilst the Road Haulage Executive could compete within the free limited area. Hauliers were bound by the 1933 Act and the R.H.E. was not, but hauliers would never give up the fight. Sir David Maxwell Fyfe said he had not changed his views on transport. British trade and industry demanded the best form of transport at the lowest price. He would never accepethat the British people should be condemned to an inferior form. He demanded freedom for the road haulier from the 25-mile limit and promised to help him in every possible way. ,
Mr: E. R. Taylor, J.P., said that nationalization was expected to' 'reduce the Meinbership of the RILA.;"inst'ead, it had increased by: some3,000—all free hauliers.