Can Standard Rates be Fixed?
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"F ROM my personal point of view, it
is impossible to fix standard rates for the whole of the country," said Mr. 14. L. Walker, chairman of the northern area of the National Conference of Road Transport Clearing Houses, at a dinner at Whitley Bay, last week. He added that, "once rate fixing is effected, nationalization will take place."
Referring to Mr. S. W. Nelson, the Northern Licensing Authority, Mr. Walker said that he looked to the future in licensing matters, instead of going back to the 1938-39 era.
"I have been told that if too many licences were granted, it would create hardship in the industry. This matter should be taken up with M.P.s," said Mr. Walker. He added that the standard of commercial vehicles had not improved sufficiently.
Mr. H. Rossington, chairman of the conference, also did not believe that rates could be standardized at present, although be thought that unification might be achieved in the future by con
sidering reasonable rates for the carriage of normal traffic under normal conditions.
He referred to the "goods-in-transit" insurance policy which the conference is preparing. He said that it afforded wide cover and that careful consideration had been given to the interests of small hauliers. Those who subscribed to the policy would not be affected by the 74 per cent, deduction for insurance by clearing houses.
Mr. Alf, Edwards, Socialist M.P. for Middlesbrough, declared that nationalization of the haulage industry had not been mentioned by the Government. He agreed that the industry was efficient, but maintained that if it were nationalized, it would become still more efficient.
Other speakers were Mr. C. S. Wahlstrand, vice-chairman of the northern area of the Conference, and Mr. R. G. Hunter, secretary of the Northern Transport Owners' Association.
The dinner was held after the area's second annual general meeting.
Mr. Rossington was a visitor at a e recent meeting of the north-eastern area of the Conference, in Leeds. He stressed the aim to promote a thorough understanding between the organization's clearing house and haulier members. He also appealed to members to do all they could to help in the fight against nationalization.
Mr. H. Firth (Huddersfield), chairman of the north-eastern area,said that applications for membership were being received almost daily.