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C.M.U.A.-R.H.A. Merger imminent
Page 87
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A SIGNIFICANT statement-, which 1-t suggested that the amalgamation of the Road Haulage Association and the Commercial Motor Users Association will soon be an accomplished fact, was made by Mr. F. Fowler, of the R.H.A., in a speech at the first annual dinner of the Leeds Sub-Area of the Association, at Leeds. Mr. Fowler.dicl not mention by name any organization other than the R.H.A., and the broad hint which he gave might cover a merger even more extensiVe than of the R.H.A. and the C.M.U.A.
" I think the R.H.A. must now lose its identity, So far as the title R.H.A. is concerned, " Said Mr. Fowler, " because' we have reached the point where even that seemingly adequate name will not, in the future, fully describe the combined interests which it is our intention to merge into' one great 'body. Therefore, I feel that your second annual dinner in Leeds will definitely not be held under the title of the Road Haulage Association."
Remarking that since a little' more than a year ago, the membership of the R.H.A. had increased 'from 1,600 to a figure approaching the 8,000 mark, Mr. Fowler added: " It is not sufficient for us, as the R.H.A., to build up our membership even in the remarkable way in which we are doing. There are at least three interests in toad transport—the haulage contractor, the ancillary user and the passenger-carrying operator. Unless we can get those three interests speaking with one voice in the House of Commons, we are always likely to be at the greatest disadvantage."
Speaking of the financial position of the R.H.A., Mr. Fowler said -that, by a policy of rigid economy, they had built up a financial position ot extraordinary strength. In order to combat future legislation, however, the membership subscription would no doubt have to be'increased.
Mr. A. H. Butterwick also touched on the question of increasing the membership subscription. H only operators would work together in the political and economic fields, he said, the time would come when haulage contractors could really feel that they were masters of their fate.
Mr. E. Borrowdale, secretary of the Leeds Sub-Area, and Mr. W. R. Hargrave, solicitor to the Yorkshire
• Regional Area, also spoke. Mr. Hargrave surveyed the position of haulage contractors in the light of .experience in the courts of the Licensing Authorities and the Appeal Tribunal, daring the past seven months.. He stressed the need for operators to be .armed with full evidence when making applications.
Remarking that there was no need for hauliers to despair, Mr. Hargrave • . added that; if they would realize the position and deal, With it, there was • no reason why there should be the slightest diftkulty in obtaining every thing which operators reasonably desired and deserved.
The dinner was attended by about 200 persons. Mr. L. Blackford, chairman of the Leeds' Sub-Area, presided, and, in addition to the speakers pre
, viously mentioned, including Mr. M. C. Vickers, secretary of the ..Yorkshire Regional Area, he was accompanied by, among others, Mr. T. Turnbull (chairman, North Shields Sub-area), Mr. F. Cook (vice-chairman, Hull and East Riding Sub-area), Mr: T. Spencer (Hull), Mr. Newham Dawson (Scarborough), and Mr. L. Cadwallader (secretary, Yorkshire Motor Coach Owners, Ltd., Leeds).