Better Training for Removal Workers
Page 44
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A SUGGESTION that a training 1—k school for employees of removers should be established was made by Mr. E. B. Haynes at the annual dinner of the National Association of Furniture Warehousemen and Removers, in London, on Monday. He was alluding to the difficulties of attracting and keeping skilled labour, and stated that the position had steadily deteriorated since 1939.
The substance of Mr. Haynes' remarks was expanded, on Tuesday, by Mr. D. R. Pearce at the Association's conference, when he presented a paper, "Trade Education and Today's Opportunities in the Trade." Education, he said, was the responsibility of the Institute of the Furniture Warehousing and Removing Industry, and he looked forward to further development in the instructional facilities offered to employees.
Mr. Pearce thought that there were, today, more opportunities in the trade through the pre-war adoption of minimum standards regarding conditions of work and mechanical fitness of vehicles.
In the discussion, Mr. E. W. Reeves contested Mr. Pearce's statement. With current legal and financial restrictions, he averred, there were fewer opportunities for small men wishing to start in
A34 removal work. Mr. Pearce agreed with this, but said that he was referring more to employees. The chances for them to learn the intricacies of the trade, with the object of promotion, were wider today than before.
Earlier, Mr. G. F. Green read a paper entitled "Area and Sub-area Activities." A sub-area activity needing loyal and prompt support, he said, was the lodging of objections to applications for licences. The N.A.F.W.R. had seats on the road-rail negotiating committees and this privilege should not be neglected. There was little, at present, for these committees to deal with.
Increased Competition New legislation would providemany opportunities for other operators to penetrate farther into the removal trade, particularly when the 25-mile limit was raised. All sub-area members should be prepared to take their turn on the road-rail negotiating panels.
Mr. W. S. J. Wilkinson suggested that a fee of £5 should be payable by an applicant and should be forfeited if he did not attend the hearing of his case. This idea, however, was not favourably received by other members.
A warning that an increase in rates for removals should be imposed in anticipatIon of a probable slackening in traffic was given by Mr. D. W. Bishop. who spoke on "The Troubles and Pre-occupations of a Private Owner." Whereas costs had quadrupled since 1919, charges had only doubled, he said. Economy had been maintained only because of the heavy volume of work undertaken in the post-war years.
Mr. Bishop thought that unless charges were raised, there would be fierce competition, which might develop into k "racket." He believed that the value of a load, as well as its volume, should influence price. Improved services could be offered to the public only if remuneration from them were sufficient.
Members mostly disagreed that rates should be advanced, considering it unfair to the public. They also deprecated a suggestion that a small surcharge be introduced to supersede the practice of "tipping."
Mr. E.B. Haynes was elected president for the ensuing year, in succession to Mr. C. A. Ball. Mr. Ball has been ill for some weeks and was unable to attend the conference. Mr. W. S. J. Wilkinson was elected senior vicepresident and Mr. H. C. Ballam, junior vice-president The honorary treasurer is Mr. S. J. Harris, who was also prevented by illness from attending the conference.