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The Objects of the S.D.H.A.
Page 139
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THE Short Distance Hauliers' Alliance, born in May of this year, came into being with the specific object of endeavouring, when the appropriate moment arrived, to put into force economic rates for the haulage of the various commodities which its members are handling.
In conjunction with this primary objective, the Alliance is also actively engaged in acquiring for its members various benefits which the co-operation of large numbers alone makes possible, such as insurance of vehicles at rates far more favourable than the haulier can ordinarily obtain.
These advantages, beneficial as they will undoubtedly be to an industry striving by every means to lessen overhead charges, can, however, take only second place and the condition precedent to the haulier's industrial solvency must always be the securing of economic rates for his work.
The membership of the Alliance is steadily growing, but much greater strength is needed before the specific and primary object above referred to can be accomplished. Existing legislation, promoted by the late Minister of Transport, although in many respects admirable, is nevertheless almost impossible to comply with under the present uneconomic conditions prevailing in the industry. The haulier is faced with something approaching disaster unless he be soon in a position to demand a fair return for his work and upon the capital outlay—greater and ever greater—which he will be called upon to meet.
The Value of the Show to the Haulier.
At about this time in every second year we hauliers wend our way to Olympia, there to surveyall the wonders of scientific production submitted for our benefit by the manufacturers. Their intention is, however, not that we should simply "come and look," but "come and buy," and to-day more than ever before, owing to the legislation above referred to, the haulier has little alternative other than to replace his own rapidly becoming obsolete plant by those remarkable new machines which we shall shortly be viewing, How to finance our requirements is, however, a different and much more difficult problem, and its solution cannot be found in the ordinary normal earning capacity of the fleet owned by the average haulage contractor who has to secure his work, competitively, in the market to-day. Even the reduction in working costs resulting from capital outlay upon a highly scientific tool only partly meets the case, because, as an offset, a much higher figure has to be provided for depreciation and the capital outlay has still to be met.
As a "steam" man, I may argue that in the near future the fuel for the steam-driven vehicle cannot, in reason, be anticipated to increase in cost by more than 5 per cent., whereas petrol prices might increase by 50 per cent, or fuel oil by 200 per cent., the last two mentioned at the pleasure of our American masters and/or by the force naajeure of a British Chancellor of the Exchequer. This does not, however, alter the fact that, irrespective of the type of vehicle we favour, whether it be steam, petrol or oil-engined, there is only one true solution to the haulier's problem, namely, a fair and economic rate for the load carried.
The tonnage available for road transport will ever be that which trade conditions produce. We cannot influence it, but we can secure fair, equitable and economic tonnage rates if the great body of hauliers will only realize that its very existence lies in banding together in an association in the same way as our Australian friends have done, with great success.
The Scope of the Alliance.
The Alliance of which I have the honour to be chairman is anxious to enrol all the hauliers in Great Britain, its scope being sufficiently comprehensive to embrace them all. The term " short distance" is used only to indicate that members usually operate within a radius of 50-60 miles from their home towns, but that town may be in any part of the United Kingdom.
During the past six months my committee has put in a large amount of work and effort on behalf of the Alliance—much spade work has been done—and all we ask of the trade to-day is its immediate support so that our membership may, in the near future, reach such dimensions that the fundamental question of rating may become practical politics and a commencement be made with our primary object.
Finally—and I would most powerfully stress this— my committee will not attempt to enforce rates schedules until the Alliance has an overwhelming membership, and then only after a general meeting has been held at which all members can attend and the fullest possible discussion takes place.
The secretary of the Short Distance Hauliers' Alliance, whose office is at 6, Stamford Brook Road, London, W.6, will, during the Commercial Motor Show, be available at Olympia on stand No. 315, which is the stand of F. How and Co., Ltd. The arrangement has been made with the kind permission of the standholder.
A meeting of hauliers will he held under the auspices of the Alliance at the Conference Room at Olympia (National Hall Gallery) on November 10th, at 3 p.m., to discuss important matters concerning their welfare, and all short-distance road-transport contractors are urged to attend. All news relating to the activities of the Alliance appears promptly in The Commercial Motor.