Permits: No Guarantee of Renewal Says R.H.A. Chairman
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SINCE February 1, 50,000 small hauliers had been' " sitting on a barrel of gunpowder," said Mr. Frank F. Fowler, chairman, when he presided at the annual luncheon of the Road Haulage Association in London, last week.
Nearly 11,000 hauliers were operating under permits to run beyond the 25-mile radius, but there was no guarantee that their permits would be renewed. Mr. Fowler declared that it was unfair for the Government to be in a position to decide whether a haulier should carry on his business or not. Incidentally, the terms of permits often bore little relationship to the work performed by the holders before their issue.
The industry had fought since 1918, and had built up the finest haulage system the world had ever seen, but according to the Socialists, it had to be wiped away to enable "integration" of transport. Yet the Government operated only one vehicle in 16, and if no permits were to be renewed, this number would not be of great help to trade and industry, which also objected to giving traffic goods to nationalized transport. He appealed to the Minister of Transport to go to the. House of Commons and ask for the repeal of the Transport Act.
Ineffective Pleas
Lord Llewellin, P.C., said that he was not sure that the pleas of the R.H.A. against nationalization were very effective with the Government, but they were with the Conservative Party, and he referred to that Party's pledge-to restore independence to road hauliers, if it came back into power.
He emphasized the unfairness of the Road Haulage Executive being able to oppose claims of independent hauliers whilst it did not itself have' to 9btain sanction from the Licensing Authorities, Mr. B. Winterbottom, A.M.Inst.T., vice-chairman of the R.H.A., made a plea for better roads and the easing of traffic congestion.
Mr. C. F. Byers, 0.B.E., in a humorous speech, said he was glad to see that free hauliers were not daunted by the change of Colour of se; Much' transport • on the roads. It was bad for an indus try to be a State monopoly. .
Mr. W. J. Brown protested against' the heresy of size. The Government's cure for monopoly was to establish a super-monopoly. The world owed much to little 'nations and little men, and when danger came it was the men who counted, not arpsizations.
Lord Sandhurst, 0.B.E., Lord Teynham, D.S.0_, Sir Cyril Hurcomb, G.C.B., Sir Cyril Birtchnell, K.C.M.G., Brig.-Gen. Sir H. Osborne Mance, K.B.E., Sir Reginald Hill, K.B.E., Lady Tweedsmuir, M.P., Mr. G. E. P. Thorneycroft, M.P., and Mr. David Renton, M.P., were also present.
A total of 3,170 vehicles and trailers is to be auctioned from July 17August 2 at the Ministry of Supply depot, Thorp Arch, Boston Spa. Hepper and Sons, Leeds, 1, are the auctioneers.